2 Readers respond to Brian Convery’s anti–one-God CONNECTIONS article 3 Dixon Cartwright thinks the Bible canon is the elephant in our room 3 Charles Groce muses on what we TheJournal expect when a minister shows up 4 Orlin Grabbe wrote his “Memories of News of the Churches of God Pasadena” while at Harvard in ’79 Vol. XV, No. 4 Founded 1997 Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) Pastor says forgive and Bobby Fischer movie features your pain will go away Harry Sneider The writer is publisher of THE JOUR- tors the Huntsville Church of God. NAL. This article contains opinions of His sermon’s title was “Freedom, RCADIA, Calif.—Harry the writer. Freedom, Freedom.” He spoke of lib- Sneider, former WCG and eration from pain and suffering caused AAC employee and person- By Dixon Cartwright by hating and holding grudges. al trainer to actor and former gov- IG SANDY, Texas—Albert ernor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Foy remembers a night in Taking control many other notables, is featured in B1959, when he was 12, when On that night in 1959, while look- a new movie about the late chess his dad “whipped” him for his failure ing up at the heavens, the preadoles- champion Bobby Fischer. to respond fast enough to a fatherly cent Albert decided he “had to get The film, Bobby Fischer Against directive. control of my mind” and “had to the World, appeared in January The “spank- make a decision.” 2011 on HBO television and in ing, whipping, He decided that he could make movie theaters. beating, whatev- “this pain go away.” Mr. Fischer moved to Pasadena, er you want to Mr. Foy’s sermon was not about Calif., in 1972 to be near the col- call it,” hurt the pros and cons of corporal punish- lege and church headquarters after young Albert ment. It was about what forgiveness his triumph over Boris Spassky in not only physi- can do. the World Chess Championship in cally but emo- Reykjavik, Iceland. tionally. Sometimes God won’t forgive? “He was a coworker with the Afterwards Mr. Foy was disturbed the first time Church of God, and Mr. Herbert Albert Foy FEELING HIS CHEERIOS—Harry Sneider poses in front of the Laemmle Music Hall he found him- he noticed a passage in the Bible that 3 theater in Beverly Hills, Calif., with a Bobby Fischer movie poster. The film Bobby W. Armstrong wanted to help self gazing out a window of the four- says God will not forgive people un- Fischer Against the World appeared on HBO cable television and in cinemas in January Bobby in any way he could,” Mr. room house “that my dad had paid less they forgive other people. 2011. It’s available as well on DVD. Mr. Sneider was Mr. Fischer’s friend and personal Sneider remembers. cash for” that was home for his par- He had long since forgiven his fa- trainer in the 1970s. He worked with other famous people as well, including actor and “He gave him fantastic support ents and his 10 brothers and sisters. ther, but that verse, Mark 11:26, star- California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. See the article at right. See a related photo with outstanding legal advice and He was staring at the moon and stars tled him. on page 11. [Photo by Sarah Sneider] See AC’S TRAINER, page 11 with “tears running down my eyes.” Even though the Bible advises peo- “My dad was the type of man who ple to forgive others even if the of- wanted us to be respectful and good fending parties do not ask for forgive- citizens and always to obey,” Mr. Foy, ness, God seems to hold Christians to a now in his 60s, said. higher standard than He holds Himself Holding everybody accountable: Some say AC He was speaking before members to when it comes to forgiveness. of the Church of God Big Sandy at a Almighty God, according to that alum’s Web site is the grandfather of Wikileaks Sabbath service on Nov. 12, 2011. Bible passage, will forgive people only A 1969 graduate of Ambassador when they forgive their fellow tres- By Dixon Cartwright Central America, he led a colorful and Wikipedia.com, he “specialized in the College, Pasadena, Mr. Foy was up passers. Yet Jesus set an example of for- Web site that posts commen- iconoclastic life. study of financial derivative instru- from Huntsville, Texas, where he pas- See PASTOR CITES, page 37 tary with a libertarian leaning He wrote about the four years of his ments and published important pric- Ahas credited an Ambassador history he spent at AC in an insightful ing models for futures, forward con- College graduate with being the essay that has kicked around for tracts and options, especially in the grandfather of Wikileaks. decades on the Internet. foreign exchange (FX) markets.” Or, more precisely, the Libertarian Mr. Grabbe wrote it in 1979 while In 1986, while a faculty member at International Organization says J. a graduate stu- the Wharton School of Business at the Organizer says Texas AC ’60s Orlin Grabbe’s Web site was the dent at Harvard. University of Pennsylvania, he wrote “Wikileaks granddaddy site.” He had traveled a book, International Financial Mar- reunion was worth the wait Wikileaks.org, founded by Austra- the well-worn kets, that is still frequently cited as a lian Julian Assange, has startled and path of many a reference for financial traders. The writer was a student at Am- ly time for the coming together of all outraged governments and corpora- young man grow- Linked to Wikileaks bassador College, Big Sandy, Texas, of the people from Big Sandy who tions when it has released private cor- ing up in the 1965-68. His wife, Nancy, recently had so deeply impacted each other respondence and other embarrassing Radio/World- Mr. Grabbe politically was a liber- built and now the Williamses admin- in their youth. information to newspapers and the wide Church of tarian and anarchist and, in later years ister the first social Web site espe- In March 2011, after many years general public. God who felt the from his home in Costa Rica (where cially for AC Big Sandy students of wanting to have a really big re- As a teenager in 1966 James Orlin call to apply for he had moved in 1998), maintained a who attended 1965-1977. It’s at www. union, my wait was over and the Grabbe traveled from his West Texas J. Orlin Grabbe admission to an popular Web site. It featured his own ambassadorbigsandyalumni.com. planning finally begun. home to Pasadena, Calif., to enroll as “obscure private writings and links to other articles and We decided to aim it specifically a freshman at Ambassador College. college,” as he described it. posts on science, political intrigue, Mr. Grabbe, who in print usually philosophy, conspiracy theories, quan- By Tom Williams at Big Sandy alumni with special Mathematical interests ACEYS SPRING, Ala.— emphasis on the classes I knew best: styled his name as “J. Orlin,” died tum physics and metaphysics. Since 2002 I had tried to the pioneering students of Ambassa- unexpectedly in 2008 in his residence Between Ambassador and Harvard, He edited a weekly online newspa- locate all of the kids from dor College, Big Sandy, Texas, who in San José, Costa Rica. He was 60. Mr. Grabbe pursued his interests in per, The Laissez Faire Electronic Times, L for two years beginning in 2002. Ambassador began their study at Big Sandy from Between his years growing up in science, especially mathematics. Ac- College, Big 1965 to 1969. Hale County, Texas, to his death in cording to an article about him at See OPPOSITION TO TYRANTS, page 4 Sandy, in hopes John Dickerson set the date, Sat- that we could urday, June 25, 2011, and the Dou- come together ble Tree DFW, Irving, Texas, was for a once-in-a- the place. The race was on. HQ construction to Reports say Church of lifetime reunion. It was now time for me to recon- For years I tact and reconnect with the ACBS have researched, students I had found and connected begin in 2012 on April 1 God minister indicted scoured the In- with over the years and turn up the ternet, called ev- heat to find all I hadn’t so far. ADSWORTH, Ohio—David C. Pack, pastor INCINNATI, Ohio—News outlets including a eryone I could Tom Williams Over the next four months it was general of the Restored Church of God (RCG), Fox News–affiliated television station reported find and followed up on each new endless days of E-mails, letters, Wannounced plans for his church to build a C in November 2011 that a federal grand jury in lead, trying to find every one of my calls, cajoling and pleadings. “magnificent World Headquarters” in Covington, Ky., indicted a Church of college classmates. With the help of many other exc- Wadsworth starting April 1, 2012. God minister, Ronald E. Weinland. During that time I discovered that ited Big Sandy students, more than A press release at the RCG’s Web The 62-year-old elder is accused of John Dickerson, Russell Bettis and 450 former ACBS folks were con- site said the headquarters will consist attempting to evade income taxes in Phil Arnold, all from the Class of ’70, tacted and urged to sign up and head of a “state-of-the-art complex, remi- the amount of $357,065 over several had met for many years with a few on down for a Texas-sized get- niscent of the Worldwide Church of years beginning in 2005. of the alums for a small get-together together. God’s” Pasadena, Calif., campus. “It will provide a beautiful setting Mr. Weinland is a minister of the every summer in Houston, Texas. Church of God Preparing for the Nice surprise for the rapidly expanding Work of Ronald Weinland David C. Pack Kingdom of God (CGPKG). The time was right In the beginning John and I God,” the release said, “and also serve as a Conference and Festival site, as well as a location THE JOURNAL sent Pastor General Weinland three In 2008 I accepted their invitation thought that between 75 and 125 E-mails to invite him to comment for this article but and flew to Houston and joined attendees would constitute a home to receive visiting dignitaries.” For more information go to www.thercg.org. received no response. them. I knew right then it was final- See 211 FORMER STUDENTS, page 37 See CGPKG MINISTER, page 10 2 THE JOURNAL Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) Letters from our readers

Love truth and survive [The teaching implies] that hank you for publishing the the Son commits abomin- How to subscribe to THE JOURNAL excellent and comprehensive able acts with the Fa- Keep up with news of the Churches of mail to one of these addresses (when Tarticle on the “one God” issue ther’s wife by its tenets God and your friends in all the groups by ordering from the U.S. address, please by Brian Convery [in the CONNEC- ... Doctrines such as subscribing to THE JOURNAL:NEWS OF THE remit in U.S. funds): CHURCHES OF GOD for (in the United TIONS section of issue No. 145 of THE this do not emanate THE JOURNAL, P. O. Box 1020, Big Sandy, States) $15 for six issues, $28 for 12 is- JOURNAL]. from the Father but Texas 75755, U.S.A.; info@thejournal. sues or $49 for 24 issues. Gift subscrip- I believe that this is a must read for org. (See subscription prices above.) from the most self-cen- tions to THE JOURNAL are available. For anyone serious about truth. tered and egotistical being non-U.S. subscriptions mailed from Big THE JOURNAL, c/o Lewis McCann, 24 Most readers know that there are which has ever been in Sandy, the price is $17 for six issues, $30 Bradvue Cres., Bradville, Milton Keynes many false teachings out there in existence.” for 12 issues or $51 for 24 issues. For MK13 7AJ, United Kingdom; £18 for 12 “Bible land” posing as truth, as there Here is now Brian clos- prices for ordering through one of our issues; [email protected]. always have been, but thankfully God es his article: international distributors, below, please check with the individual distributor. Canadian subscribers: Please sub- the Father and God the Lord Jesus “We live in an age of scribe through the Big Sandy address. Christ will by Their Holy Spirit lead abhorrent evil. The body To subscribe, renew or order a gift sub- Canadian subscriptions in U.S. dollars the called-out ones into all truth. beginning on page 23 of the CON- of Christ is under continuous attack scription in the United States, Australia, are $17 for six monthly issues, $30 for 12 We will be corrected by God if we NECTIONS section], you denounced the ... Unfortunately at this time much Britain, Canada, South Africa, New Zea- issues or $51 for 24 issues. Please remit heed and obey. bad shepherds. You seem to be hurt a of it is coming from ravenous delud- land or elsewhere, use the coupon on the in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank or as The letters to the churches in Reve- lot from your departure and disfellow- ed brethren who once walked in the last page or a plain piece of paper and a postal money order. lation 2 and 3 are a historical record of ship from the WCG. newness of the spirit and the truth correction and encouragement to Unfortunately, in your recent article, once delivered.” All this silliness Daniel 12:1 calls Michael “the prince Christians of all times. I believe that I find a similar attitude. What you are Brian’s advice: “Do not fear them, Please look at the letters (of the He- of thy people” (Israel). those who love truth will survive, condemning is just what you are doing. but at the same time have nothing brew alphabet) in Genesis 1:1, Isaiah John 5:25-29 says the dead shall while those who don’t won’t! By wanting to be so righteous in preach- to do with them after a first and pos- 48 and John 1:1 and end the silliness hear the voice of the Son of Man and Chuck Biggs ing a gospel of fear (like the PCG and sibly a second admonition . . . I hope of “What is the nature of God?” they shall live. RCG), you are self-righteous. Big Sandy, Texas I have given you reason to reject The Bible is inspired: all the letters, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says that “the Do you mean to say that it is “bet- such a perverted doctrine as to the words, verses and chapters. Please This is not difficult ter to be at the right place” (as Dave Lord himself shall descend from heav- The alert reader of Brian Convery’s one-god being/a different gospel print something on this. en with a shout, with the voice of the Pack says), otherwise we are delu- about Christ.” Jeffrey Alan Telesca attempt to deconstruct the very straight- sional? So, being delusional, is that archangel” (Lord of Hosts?). forward biblical monotheism of Jesus What is the church to do? Moon Township, Pa. It does not say descend from heav- the deal the Father and the Word made “The Bride of Christ must boldly and the Bible [in the CONNECTIONS God, angels or what? en with a shout and also with the together when They were Elohim? expose the filth and fallacy of such section of issue No. 145] should take From your article, page 24: “We Over the last few years much has voice of an archangel. fright at his various references to teachings . . .” been discussed over “God”: Is He don’t know exactly when the Elohim I hope that in the future Brian Con- Will the dead hear two voices, or “more than one Elohim.” This is of Genesis, the Us of verse 26, decid- one? Is He two? Is He more than two? are the voices one and the same? merely a veiled polytheism inherited very can follow up with a stronger Is Jesus God? Or is He just man? Or is ed to enter into this new relationship and longer article to let us know how We may not know the answers to from Herbert Armstrong. of Father and Son, but we do know He both? Etc. the many questions we ask, but they Singular personal pronouns, we all he feels. A good article overall to We would do well to remember that when it was formalized . . .” wake us up. are food for thought. should know, designate a single per- Where did you read that? Certainly it was an angel that stopped Abraham Gary Servidio son, and the Hebrew Bible labors to Bernie Monsalvo from sacrificing his son, saying, “Now not from a special book of faith deliv- Gladewater, Texas Redding, Calif. tell us, with thousands of singular per- ered once for all. I know that you fear God, for you sonal pronouns for the one true God, A cosmic impossibility have not withheld your only son from Judged by our teachings Sadly, here again we have a nice In your letters section there have that God is a single Person. heritage from our history. I am compelled to answer the arti- me” (Genesis 22:11-18). “Do we not all have one Father; has cle by Brian Convery in THE JOURNAL It was an angel with whom Jacob been several addressing the topic of not one God created us?” Malachi Michel Danis [issue No. 145, dated Sept. 17, 2011] wrestled. “Jacob” means “one who pre- “how many Gods.” Most reference 2:10 sums up the biblical position Montreal, Que., Canada on “The One-God-Being doctrine.” vails with God.” Yet Jacob said, “I have previously written articles. Something without further ado. Make your point He doesn’t seem to understand the seen God face to face and still live.” I feel has been lacking in the letters is I’m not sure what Mr. Convery I have finished reading the nine- meaning of one who is infinite = It was an angel who appeared to See MORE LETTERS, page 39 means by “one God Being.” That is to page ad by Mr. Convery. I know these boundless, depthless, measureless, Moses in the burning bush. It was an mislabel the unitary-monotheistic posi- tion. We believe God to be a single Please let THE JOURNAL divine Self, unaccompanied at creation. (Isaiah 44:24 has changed many minds.) know when you move This one God of the Bible and ‘I hope that in the future Brian Convery can follow up with a Please notify THE JOURNAL before you of Jesus did not speak in a Son (“in move or change your mailing address. one who has the qualities of son”) in stronger and longer article to let us know how he feels.’ Post offices do not forward periodicals- Old Testament times (Hebrews 1:2). class postage, therefore THE JOURNAL Luke 1:35, then, very simply, gives us must pay the U.S. Postal Service for each issue returned from an invalid the explicit basis for Jesus being the angel who brought the children of American address. Send your old and Son of God. nine pages are revenue for THE JOUR- heightless, incomprehensible. Israel out of Egypt. new addresses to Change of Address, It is a mistake to read John 1:1 as NAL, but God is clear, concise and Heaven of heavens cannot contain The laws of God (Torah) were P. O. Box 1020, Big Sandy, Texas though it said “In the beginning was a direct. If you cannot make your point Him (Yahweh) (1 Kings 8:27). given by the disposition of angels 75755, U.S.A., or to the appropriate second Person”; “word” (no capital) is in one page as Mr. Westby did in his So how can a second Elohim do the (Acts 7:53). address listed in the box at the top of the self-expression of the one God of advertisement in the same issue, then same? Impossible. 1 Kings 8:60: Elo- It was an angel in the pillar of fire this page. Or you may fax 1-888-488- Israel, and “it,” not “he,” was eventu- you are wasting my time. him alone. 2 Kings 19:19: Thou art and cloud that led the people for 40 6603 or E-mail [email protected] or ally manifested in the human being leave a voice message at 1-866-949- John Stickel Elohim alone. Deuteronomy 4:39: He years through the wilderness and 7294 to report your address change. Jesus, supernaturally generated = Springfield, Va. is Elohim alone, there is no other. brought them to the Promised Land brought into existence. Tell us how you really feel, Brian Isaiah 37:16, 20: Thou alone art (Exodus 23:20). None of this is difficult if we stay Elohim. It was an angel who revealed the with the creed of Jesus that “the Lord Thank you very much for publishing the Brian Convery article titled “The Read also Isaiah 40:18, 25; 41:4; book of Revelation to John (Reve- our God is one Lord” (the Greek of 43:10; 44:26; 46:5-6, 14, 19; 45:22; lation 1, 22). TheJournal Mark 12:29). One God-Being Doctrine Is a Perverted News of the Churches of God and Different Gospel About Christ!” 46:9; Jeremiah 10:6; 49:19; Hosea Was it God in the Garden of Eden, The scribe agreed with Jesus that 13:4; Psalm 86:8; 89:6-8; 2 Chron- or was it an angel representing God? P. O . B o x 1020, Big Sandy, Texas 75755 God was a single solo Divine Self. Right from this title I knew that Bri- an was going to explain how this doc- icles 2:5; Nehemiah 9:6; Matthew Was it God talking to Abraham on THE JOURNAL:NEWS OF THE CHURCHES OF GOD is pub- For our two full books on this sub- 24:36; Luke 4:8; 18:19; Colossians the plain before Sodom and Go- lished by JMC Associates. ject please go to restorationfellow- trine would qualify as “another Gospel.” I was not disappointed. The article 1:19; 1 Timothy 6:16; Hebrews morrah, or was it an angel represent- POSTMASTER:Send change-of-address no- ship.org, available also at (800) 347- tices to HE OURNAL, P.O. Box 1020, Big [in THE JOURNAL, issue No. 145] ran 1:9; 9:14; John 20:17; and Revela- ing God? T J 4261). tion 3:2. The fact is, when God places His Sandy, Texas 75755. Anthony Buzzard about 19,200 words, and I could fol- low the logic of the clearly and un- If you check these scriptures you name on an angel, that angel can be SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S.: $15 for six issues; $28 Fayetteville, Ga. will see it’s impossible to have two or called “God” or “Lord” and wor- for 12 issues; $49 for 24 issues. Outside complicatedly written article with no U.S., mailed from Big Sandy: $17 for six M God Historical heritage problems. even three I A s. The words and shiped as God and can punish as God issues; $30 for 12 issues; $51 for 24 issues. A response to Brian Convery in Lord are not names but titles. would (Exodus 23:21-23; 33:10). The writer emphasizes the attri- THE JOURNAL is an independent publication regards to the article “The One-God- butes of Jesus Christ and His function Somebody did a special test with The word God means ruler, magis- not affiliated with any church organization. very large computers sending out sig- trate, judge, deity. It can be talking Being Doctrine” [full title “The One- as the Word, Creator and Savior. He Printed in U.S.A. © 2011 JMC Associates. God-Being Doctrine Is a Perverted draws support from the Old and New nals to outer space. about angels or even men (John All rights reserved. No part of this publica- and Different Gospel About Christ!” Testaments, especially from Paul. The computers worked out the dis- 10:35; Psalm 82:1-6; Job 1:6; Judges tion may be reproduced or transmitted in beginning on page 21 of the CONNEC- I like the way Brian expresses him- tance the signal traveled and back 6:12-13). The word eloah means a any form or by any means, electronic or TIONS section, issue No. 145 of THE self in colorful phrases that leave no again. They found it to be an amazing singular God, ruler, etc. Elohiym im- mechanical, including photocopying, record- JOURNAL, dated Sept. 17, 2011]: doubt as to where he is coming from. 15 billion light years away. plies “many.” ing or any other information-storage-and- In your previous article, “The Hire- So how great is our Yahweh? Re- retrieval system without the written permis- Here are a few: The word archangel can mean chief sion of the publisher. ling and the Wolf” [in issue No. 144, “Terrible deception, a grotesque member, heaven of heavens cannot angel or ruler angel, or someone who spiritual infection . . . A false teaching contain Him. You cannot divide infin- is the ruler or chief over the angels EDITOR AND PUBLISHER: Dixon Cartwright of the angel of light . . . causing con- ity. It’s a contradiction of terms to (“Lord of Hosts”). CONNECTIONS EDITOR: Darlene Warren Letters policy fusion and damage . . . The strong even suggest dividing it up. The Lord of Hosts doesn’t have to CONTRIBUTORS: Ewin Barnett, Ian Boyne, Trey All letters are subject to editing for There can be only one infinite Yah- Cartwright, Earl Cayton, Dave Havir, Reginald length, clarity and technical style. delusion of error . . . The lie of anoth- be an angel himself. Killingley, Kathleen McCann, Mac Overton, Please limit letters to 300 words. In- er Jesus put to shame publicly by . . . weh. You can’t have one extra person There is only one archangel men- Jamie Payne, Eric Snow, Ellis Stewart, Bill clude full name, city, state or province heretical teachings . . . A sick supposi- in the so-called Godhead or even three tioned in Scripture, and that is Mi- Stough, John Warren, Wesley White, Ken and country in letters sent by regular or tion . . . Would be incest if we carried calling themselves the I AM. chael, meaning “who is like God.” Westby electronic mail. THE JOURNAL does not publish unsigned letters but may occa- it through . . . This sick teaching is You can be a partaker of Yahweh’s Gabriel and Satan are never referred CIRCULATION: Linda Cartwright, [email protected] sionally publish letters with writer’s camouflaging: the Father and the Son Spirit, but you can’t be equal to it. So to as archangels. WEB SITE: Alan Ruth, [email protected] name and/or city of residence withheld. the Messiah was and is the holy per- having the same wife, the same wom- How could there be more than one THE JOURNAL will not knowingly print inaccu- Mail letters and subscription inquiries an! . . . Right out of the filthy, dement- son whom Yahweh chose to dwell in to THE JOURNAL at P.O. Box 1020, Big Lord over all the angels? rate information. THE JOURNAL will run correc- Sandy, Texas 75755, U.S.A. E-mail ed mind of Satan . . . A heretical trip- fullness (John 14:10, 20). Deuteronomy 32:8-9 says that God tions if notification of errors is received with- [email protected]. ping stone by the deluded teachers . . . John M. Hunter apportioned up the nations’ inheri- in a reasonable time after publication. Afilthy rag of unrighteousness . . . Carsluith, Scotland tances but kept Israel for Himself, and Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) THE JOURNAL 3 Columns and commentary Cartoon by Earl Cayton, San Francisco, Calif. Lo and behold, an elephant is in our room The writer is editor and publisher believed it, because Martin Luther be- Churches of God generally reject. of THE JOURNAL. lieved it, because the Roman Catholic Protestants and the COGs follow Church believed it and because the the principle of sola scriptura: Scrip- By Dixon Cartwright forerunners of the Catholic Church ture only. They and we claim there is IG SANDY, Texas—The search believed it. no sure word from God except the 66 for eternal truth can be a beau- I’m speaking of what Bible schol- books of the Protestant canon. Btiful thing. ars call the canon, the collection of Yet, paradoxically, at the root of our It can also be accepted and acceptable books that adherence to sola scriptura lie the lovely to realize make up the Bible and that conserva- teachings, writings and traditions of it’s possible we tive Christianity, including the COGs, the Roman Catholic Church. don’t have all believes are the very Word and words This is paradoxical because the Cath- the truth. That of God. olic Church does not believe in sola doesn’t mean Yet where did our approved list of scriptura. It unapologetically looks to truth isn’t there. Bible books come from, and how do church tradition as an authority, one that But it’s just con- we know that God inspired and even it sees as equal to the Bible. ceivable that we “breathed” them as holy writ? need to search The proof of the Bible An inherited collection for it a while What is our proof that the Bible is “Our car is acting up again. It hit a mailbox longer before we Dixon Cartwright The Protestant canon of 66 books the very Word and, in its entirety, the on the way home from church.” know it all. —39 in the Old Testament and 27 in words of God? Conservative Christianity, includ- the New—was inherited at the time of In our tradition we have looked at ing the Churches of God, looks to the the Protestant Reformation from the two proofs: Bible as the source of eternal truth. Yet Catholic Church. (The original King Prophecies that we see as having I believe it’s possible, even probable, James Version included what Protes- come to pass. that the churches have misconstrued tants and the COGs generally now Bible passages that we interpret the Bible in a fundamental and pro- consider to be strictly Catholic—and as verifying that the Bible is what we found way. Orthodox—scripture: books known as believe it is: the inspired and coherent What do you expect when a They have done that by believing the Apocrypha.) Word of God. something important about the Bible The elephant in the room is the Mr. Armstrong wrote a booklet in that isn’t true. canon. It’s right there beside us, even 1958 called The Proof of the Bible. In minister walks into the room? They believe it because they’ve in our faces, and we don’t notice that it he cited prophecies of the city of The writer is the president of the someone else with construction ex- always believed it, because Herbert the books we virtually venerate reside Tyre that he declared have been ful- Church of God International. perience. W. Armstrong believed and taught it, in our system of beliefs thanks to the filled. Mr. Armstrong said the accuracy When there is a minister in the because the church he came out of— imposed authority of a religious orga- of fulfilled prophecies proves that the By Charles E. Groce room, what’s expected of him? Peo- the Church of God (Seventh Day)— nization that Protestants and the See ON THE CANON, page 10 YLER, Texas—There are ex- ple will turn to him for—what? Is he pectations that come with expected to preach, to perform, to Tevery occupation, including draw attention to himself? the ministry. A few examples: Is he expected to be a social gad- If you’re at a social gathering fly, a drink in one hand and cigarette and someone becomes ill, everyone in the other? Is he expected to be an Reunion brings to mind choices, destiny will ask if there is a doctor in the authority on politics, health food or house. investing? The writer is a former member of have remain connected over the years. Three years later my mother sold If a group Ministerial relevance the WCG who attended AC in Califor- For those who might not remember, our home in Illinois and relocated to of people is nia and Texas in the 1960s. Mr. Vance I had the dubious distinction of being Laguna Hills, Calif., thereby ending traveling on a A recent article in Leadership Jour- owns and operates three businesses in dismissed from AC, while I was back my connection to Chicago, where the bus and the bus nal raised a question about the val- the Tulsa area: Sunbelt Beverage home in Chica- Vances had entered the Worldwide breaks down, ues and relevance of ministering. It Parts, Sunbelt Sports Sales, and Sun- go on summer Church of God under the tutelage and people will look was written by a Navy chaplain as- belt Sports Embroidery. break in 1967, auspices of Dean Blackwell and Joe for a mechanic. signed to the II Marine Expedi- just 10 days be- Tkach Sr. If, in a tionary Force. By Gary Vance fore my junior Poignancy in Dallas neighborhood He was wondering what kind of ULSA, Okla.—On June 25, year in Big meeting, a few difference he made to people he 2011, I went to Dallas for a re- Sandy was sup- So many of the conversations I en- people ask how Charles Groce served in church, in their homes or Tunion with former Ambassador posed to begin. joyed in Dallas after an interruption of difficult it in a hospital room. College classmates whom I hadn’t Among other 45 years were entertaining, informa- would be to repair a dilapidated The writer of the article, Lt. Cmdr. seen in 45 years. (See a related article consequences, tive and poignant. building, they will ask a carpenter or See GOD USES PEOPLE, page 9 and photos beginning on page 1 of this my abrupt and Speaking of poignancy, during the HE OURNAL reunion I watched the photos and issue of T J .) unexpected and Gary Vance In 1965 my brother Bruce was ac- unwarranted dis- names of our departed fellow students cepted to attend Ambassador College missal cost me my student ministerial and faculty members scroll by on the in Bricket Wood, England, as I was to deferment while the Vietnam War was screen during Charlie Groce’s Power- attend in Pasadena. in full bloom. Point presentation. In 1966 I was transferred to Big I noticed that the list of the dearly The key to fellowship Sandy, where I met so many that I saw Family history departed that night during the reunion at Dallas again. Leaving Big Sandy under a cloud, I included neither Herbert W. Arm- Dixon Cartwright Jr. was one of my moved to Oklahoma and enrolled at strong nor Garner Ted Armstrong. That with the GCI is forgiveness roommates, and he and Linda and I the University of Tulsa in 1967. See GARNER TED, page 38 The writer was born in the WCG’s attending services with the Church Toronto East congregation and while (the GCI). Or with any splinter growing up attended many years in group, or even any other denomi- Victoria, B.C. Former editor of the nation. Purple Hymnal blog, Miss Delorey, I did attend Internet “meetings” Is God required to say yes to your prayers? who attends Sabbath services, in with the Reli- Newfoundland, is often found at gious Society The writer pastors the Church of Jesus likened faith to be of sufficient he had faith in the words of the law New Zealander Gavin Rumney’s of Friends God Big Sandy and is a regular col- power if it was only the size of “a and prophets (Acts 24:14), and he also blog, otagosh.blogspot.com. (Quakers) off umnist for THE JOURNAL. grain of mustard seed.” had hope in the resurrection of the just and on for the It appears that it doesn’t take much and unjust (verse 15). By Velvet Delorey space of about By Dave Havir faith to produce powerful results. Here are ways to describe the dif- ORNER BROOK, Nfld., two years, but IG SANDY, Texas—In three Hence the next question. ference between faith and hope: Canada—It feels as though I nothing other consecutive church services at Faith is the knowing, while hope C have lived several lifetimes than that. Bthe Church of God Big Sandy Why so hard to get and keep? is the anticipating. between this and my last article for Over the THE JOURNAL in September 2011, I gave three ser- Why is something that is Faith primarily concerns the (in issue No. 144, years, on the Velvet Delorey mons as part of a three-part series small (as faith is described) head, while hope primarily con- dated May 1, 2011). various blogs titled “Understanding True Faith.” so hard to get and to keep? cerns the heart. At the time I wrote that article, and forums, there have been hints My purpose was to help people My answer: That’s why “Atheism Can Serve as a Helpful that maybe the Church was no have what I consider to be a clearer we are talking about the Misinterpreting promises Step Along the Way,” I was not yet See ATTENDING SERVICES, page 38 view of the subject of faith. At this subject. It is also my perspective time I would like to share some of that another large problem those thoughts with you. Faith or hope? with the subject of faith is It is my perspective that a huge that people misinterpret promises. Will Jesus find faith? problem with the subject of faith is Paul wrote in Romans 4:21: “. . . When you’re out and about on the Web, stop in at I began the series by asking: When that people confuse the meaning of Being fully convinced that what He had Jesus Christ returns to this earth, will faith with the meaning of hope. promised He was also able to perform.” He find faith on the earth? We know that both are important. If God said it, believe it. TheJournal That question was posed in the Peter wrote that God raised However, if you think that God News of the Churches of God Bible by the writer Luke in Luke 18:8: Christ from the dead and gave Him said something He really didn’t say, “When the Son of man comes, will He glory so our faith and hope can be in do you see how you can claim to find faith on the earth?” God (1 Peter 1:21). believe a promise that was never real- We’re right where you’d expect us to be, at My answer: He will not find much. Paul wrote that faith, hope and love ly granted? www.thejournal.org Lest you think that I am being over- endure forever (1 Corinthians 13:13). I recommend that you read the fol- ly pessimistic, consider Luke 17:6. Luke quoted Paul as saying that See WHY WOULD GOD, page 12 4 THE JOURNAL Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) Memories of Pasadena: Helping the Beast fulfill prophecy to be snotty and tell him the truth. Mr. Grabbe wrote this memoir in 1979 while a graduate student at Har- “Radio Church of God.” So it was vard University and circulated it private- called then. “It was founded by a Jew Opposition to tyrants is obedience to God named Jesus in 31 A.D.,” I said. ly at that time to a few friends. It is his account of his sojourn as an He looked nonplussed. Then, after Ambassador College student in Califor- Continued from page 1 Grabbe, some Internet sources allege see his “Memories of Pasadena” mem- a moment’s thought, he leaned for- nia in the 1970s. Its original title: “Mem- A while back, the folks at the Lib- that as a young man he worked for the oir, reprinted in its entirety, begin- ward with a sudden glint in his eye, ories of Pasadena.” ertarian International Organization U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. ning on page 4 of this issue of THE ready to pin me to the wall with unas- Mr. Grabbe died in May 2008 at his (LIO, at libertarianinternational.org) Web site still up sailable logic. home in San José, Costa Rica. linked him posthumously to Wiki- and running “It couldn’t have been founded by THE JOURNAL has lightly edited this re- leaks. Jesus because they didn’t have radios printing for technical style and to add In fact, the LIO referred to Mr. Friends of J. Orlin in His day,” he said. subheads and additional paragraphing. Grabbe’s Web site as “the Wikileaks Grabbe are keeping his Which demonstrated that attempted See a related article and photo on granddaddy site.” Web site (orlingrabbe. communication with the goyim was page 1. Mr. Grabbe, declared the LIO, com) going. Promi- futile. nent at the top of its “predicted that with the rise of infor- Viewing with suspicion mation availability old structures of home page is Mr. By J. Orlin Grabbe official secrecy, information denial Grabbe’s guiding prin- The leading gentile nation was Ger- he arrival of Franz Josef Strauss and even copyright would crumble” ciple: “OPPOSITION TO many, a nation descended from an- had generated an atmosphere of as “users became empowered.” TYRANTS IS OBEDIENCE cient Assyria. Any German was viewed Teschatological ecstasy and hu- Attempts to suppress the process TO GOD.” with suspicion at Ambassador. If not a bris. Speculation was rife. Perhaps the of revealing information “would only The saying is from a closet Nazi, he was, at a minimum, a church would not flee to Petra in ad- cave near New Haven, mean son-of-a-[gun]. speed it up as users did work-arounds RUBY RIDGE—Orlin Grabbe plays a cameo part in a vance of the German-led European to generate imitators, and the back- Conn., that in 1661 One of my roommates, for exam- takeover of America. The church 1996 made-for-CBS-television movie, The Siege at fire would ignite growing public dis- sheltered two English- Ruby Ridge. The film starred Randy Quaid, Kirsten ple, was obsessed with Germans. He might still be around, headquartered in cussion to abolish improper or out- men who had signed Dunst and Laura Dern. Mr. Grabbe (left) looks on while would stumble into the study area in California, but allowed to escape be- moded restrictions.” the death warrant of actor John Dennis Johnston speaks. See page 1 for the morning, click his heels, give a cause we knew the Führer personally. A writer at the LIO quoted famed King Charles I while another photo of Mr. Grabbe. mock stiff-arm salute and then get Strauss would address the student economist Milton Friedman as re- officials of the Crown down to the important business of body. The press would be there, if for ferring to Mr. Grabbe as “Einstein- were searching for them in Con- JOURNAL. See also “AC and Harvard proving the continuity of German no other reason than to discover why like.” necticut. The slogan is carved on a Grad, Economist, Physicist Orlin plans for world domination from the the Bavarian politician should be vis- Although not mentioned at the LIO wall of the cave. Grabbe Dies,” THE JOURNAL, issue 1890s to the present day. iting an obscure private college in or the Wikipedia article about Mr. For another side of Mr. Grabbe, No. 127, dated April 30, 2008. He reflected a general preoccupa- Pasadena. tion. We were all in archival pursuit of As editor of the student newspaper, the Nazis, uncovering the source of I was charged with chronicling the ing mountains of bodies into vast Thus in one sense Jews were just Levi, who was in manner and practice continuing influence, exposing the significant events of the “latter days.” chasms. Gaunt figures with clubs part of a large family of nations de- a thorough gentile. We would sit in evil we expected to engulf the world Remembering photographs I had chased rats for food, silently moni- scended from Jacob (Israel). church-history class and hear about once more. seen of Hitler, out in his garden on a tored by vultures in gnarled trees. This view of history, known as the brilliance of Einstein and Bern- The recommended reading list for sunny day, affectionately petting his Mushroom clouds rose from metro- British-Israelism, had once merited stein, as well as about Jewish tenden- aspiring leaders at Ambassador con- dog or stroking the chin of a blond- politan areas, while terror-stricken great respect. Its first manifesto was cies of tenacity, haggling and obses- tained some 40 books on Germany, haired Mädchen (“der Führer loves suburbanites clogged the streets in published in 1649 by a Puritan mem- sion with money. works like The New Germany and the dogs and children”), I decided to show flight. The text foretold the return of ber of Parliament. Later, Queen Vic- Slowly Stan began to mold himself Old Nazis, Germany Tried Democ- Strauss in a relaxed, unofficial mo- concentration camps. toria and King Edward VII were in accordance with the vision. Though racy and The Grand Design. ment, since it wasn’t good public rela- patrons of the movement. bright, he never bloomed to brilliance, The latter book was by Franz Josef tions to brand him with a swastika. Like it was predestined Thus, upon their arrival at Ambassa- but he did learn to dicker and make Strauss. Opinion was divided whether The photographer struck pay dirt. He It was not predestined that I would dor, it sufficed that recruits from the deals. In the end, there was nothing he it was a snow job designed to mislead caught Strauss in the makeup room in attend Ambassador. It only seemed Kentucky hills and other areas of philo- couldn’t get for you at a better price. the reader regarding Germany’s real preparation for an interview on The that way. sophical tohu-bohu realize that differ- When someone would occasionally goals, or a blueprint of things to come World Tomorrow, Ambassador College’s Though the Ambassador publica- entiation between the descendants of suggest he was being a little material- in the grand tradition of Mein Kampf. telecast of news, prophecy and pith. The It certainly urged the creation of a Beast, as Strauss was generally known United Europe. around Ambassador, was wearing a bib and beaming Gemütlichkeit. Thus it was that Herbert Armstrong told Herr Strauss, Hitler was hiding About the Beast as they sat in the kitchen of the chancellor’s residence, Ambassador had long prophesied the emergence of a United Europe led While growing up in the Texas pan- ‘We think God has a special job for you.’ by Germany. Originally, the return of handle, I had never heard of Strauss. Hitler from exile to assume the leader- But I knew all about the Beast, a sym- ship of this union was expected. But bol for a European-based empire as tions always struck me as slightly Israel and other—gentile—nations was istic for an Ambassador senior sup- as the years passed, and the hiding well as the man who would run it. naive, I attributed that to the mysteries the key to past-present-future. posedly rounding out his spiritual de- Hitler grew older, Ambassador began Knowledge of the Beast was born of Providence. In those days I de- velopment, Stan would shrug: “I can’t to look around the German political of revelation and boredom. Before I spised religion and religious people. Each tribe had its advantages help it; it’s in my blood.” arena for a strongman replacement. learned to read, there was little to do My feelings were only partly assuaged But one quickly learned that not all It selected Strauss as the most like- when herding cattle or sheep on horse- by the fact that Ambassador College Israelites are the same. Each tribe had Excess commandments ly possibility, on the basis of occasion- back, other than to sit in the saddle, served as the nerve center of a church its special characteristics according to The main problems with Judaism al flashes of demonically inspired look for rabbits and daydream. which thumbed its nose at all other the prophecies in Genesis 49 and Deu- were perceived to be a Talmudic ten- speaking as well as what were per- Afterwards I always had a book or, sects and religions, with the exception teronomy 33. dency to footnote footnotes and accu- ceived as neo-Nazi leanings. That he on Saturdays, a few pieces of free lit- of Judaism. In particular, Jews were brilliant. mulate excess commandments. And, had also written a book about a United erature from Ambassador College in Fundamentally I believed the proph- Superior. This was partly the result of naturally, that Jews hadn’t accepted Europe added to his credentials. Pasadena, Calif., whose radio programs ecies, and hence there was no escape. the fact that, unlike the other tribes— Jesus as the Messiah. Thus it was that Herbert Armstrong were all over the Texas airwaves late I was constantly tempted to leave the such as Ephraim, which had settled in The Jews misinterpreted the role of told Strauss, as they sat in the kitchen at night. infinite flatness of my hometown, to England, or Manasseh in the United Jesus because they hadn’t kept Passover of the chancellor’s residence, “We Sometimes I would sit behind the forever forget Ambassador and to ex- States—they had kept their identity properly and hence failed to identify think God has a special job for you.” saddle, or crossways, or backwards, or plore the world. But that seemed futile and hadn’t intermingled with inferior Him as the sacrificial lamb. Otherwise The statement shook Strauss up a perched in a yoga posture. if the Germans were coming. races or adopted pagan customs. all the Judaic writings were combed for bit, Armstrong would boast. Arm- Or I might stand in the grass hold- And it was partly a consequence of insight, since these works reflected the strong did not, of course, elaborate on ing the reins, with my back to the sun Jews per se the fact that God intended it that way. forgotten heritage of all Israel. the nature of the employment he had to keep the glare off the page. Then there were the Jews. Despite Jews were natural leaders in any en- Ambassador kept the Sabbath, the in mind for Strauss, but the word had Thus I learned about the Germans. growing up on unleavened cornbread deavor according to the prophecy commanded festivals from Passover gotten around some years later, when The Nazis had gone underground after for Passover, I never became con- “The scepter shall not depart from to Sukkoth, and viewed Sunday obser- the official press secretary for the West the war and spent the postwar era per- scious of Jews per se until I arrived at Judah nor the ruler’s staff from be- vance, Christmas and Easter as vile German government asked an Am- fecting a master plan to conquer the Ambassador. tween his feet.” nonbiblical practices adopted from bassador representative if he thought world, starting this time with the U.S. The central pillar in the orthodox The chancellor of the college, and pagan religions. Willy Brandt was “the Beast.” Hitler had fled to Argentina in the final interpretation of prophecy was that the head of the church, Herbert Arm- Historical Christianity was essen- German Intelligence had prepared a days, and the Germans would welcome people of the United States, Britain strong, claimed to be a descendant of tially seen as a Vatican conspiracy, file of Ambassador publications and him with open arms upon his reappear- and the countries of Northwestern Eu- ancient King David. Another execu- stemming ultimately from the ancient determined that the Beast would be a ance, at which time he would pretend rope were descended from the 10 lost tive averred that it was his “Jewish Babylonian priesthood. “Outsiders” German leader. The rest was a matter to have been resurrected by the pope. tribes of Israel. nature” that got to people: He was not found all this confusing. of extrapolation. 1975 in prophecy Following the reigns of David and to be faulted for an acerb disposition, The Ambassador representative Solomon, ancient Israel was split into since that was a natural concomitant No radios in Jesus’ day wisely refrained from explaining that Ambassador College monitored the two parts: Israel and Judah. of his cunning, executive ability and Once, some years earlier, I had left the organization was looking for some- progress of Nazi reemergence with The kingdom of Israel fell to the genetic lordship. home without notice, ostensibly to at- one slightly more right-wing. continual news reports on Europe and Assyrians in 721 B.C., and the 10 tend Sukkoth, the Feast of Tabernacles, Flaming torch the Common Market, which were cal- tribes which comprised the kingdom Valuable advantage but really to get away from the mo- culated to lead the public to the prop- eventually made their way into Eu- The fear of the Jews fell upon ev- notony of dried bones and burnt grass. The beginning of the ’70s was a er interpretation of Daniel and Reve- rope, melded into the surrounding eryone. It was usually not long after A few hundred miles down the time generally for stirring the political lation, expounded in works like 1975 people and lost their identity. his or her arrival at this academic out- road I met a local sheriff who thought cauldron, co-opting the opposition in Prophecy. By contrast, the tribes which com- post of the Millennium on South I ought to be in school and hauled me and spreading messianic fever. A few The illustrations in the latter book- posed the kingdom of Judah survived Orange Grove before each student had in for vagrancy. I explained that Suk- months after the Strauss visit, Arm- let, provided by a church member, an until 586 B.C., were taken captive discovered a Jew or two in the family koth was something like a Jewish Okto- strong was reading Zechariah to Zal- established artist whose work fre- by the Babylonians but later returned tree. And those of more immediate berfest. This led to more questions, man Shazar, the president of Israel: quently appeared in Mad magazine, to their homeland and preserved Jewish origin learned to press their like what church is this, who founded “On that day I will make the clans were not calculated to comfort. the ancient traditions. They became advantage for all it was worth. it, is it Jewish. of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst One saw bulldozers at work, push- known as Jews. I entered Ambassador with Stan I didn’t like his attitude and decided See WE WERE, page 5 Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) THE JOURNAL 5 We were, as it were, extraterrestrials destined to change the world Continued from page 4 additional purpose of the empire, was the most direct route to a field for male and female, were good Rohan had once applied to Ambas- of wood, like a flaming torch among which he had discovered by reading appointment where they could exer- enough for Yahweh, they were good sador. He was rejected, according to sheaves; and they shall devour to the the book of Malachi: cise church authority and teach people enough for the lingua franca of the the evaluation in the files, on grounds right and to the left all the people Jesus would be returning to Jeru- how to live right, took a dim view of modern-day sons of Israel. of being “a nutty guy.” round about, while Jerusalem shall still salem and sit on the throne of David. an occupation that was always engen- Take Bohu, who, driven out of East- be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.” David’s throne was in Zion, south of dering heretics. ern Europe one cold winter with his Synchronistic universe “This is a prophecy directed to you, the Temple Mount. Therefore, Arm- So they devoted themselves to “be- brother Tohu, settled into the sunny But no one was surprised that it was Mr. President,” Armstrong said. “Is- strong realized, it was nec- someone like Rohan in the center of rael is a flaming torch that devours the essary to polish up the the news. Nor that the initial intense surrounding Arab nations.” throne according to the embarrassment would end with the Shazar grabbed Armstrong’s hand. prophecy “I will send my president of Israel declaring he had the “Mr. Armstrong, I want you to know messenger to prepare the highest respect for us. that I know all about your church. And way before me.” We saw the invisible web that per- I have the highest respect for it.” It wouldn’t do to have meated the universe and connected all Jesus dirty His hinter parts things. There were no coincidences. Money, media, prophecy on the “gentile debris” that There were only synchronicities. There It was money, media power, and a had collected over the cen- were no surprises. penchant for helping Yahweh fulfill turies. Therefore, Armstrong We were not surprised when Bobby prophecy which brought Ambassador said, he was donating funds Fischer, the chess prodigy, applied to to the notice of foreign political leaders. for a joint Ambassador Ambassador. Nor that he was turned When I had first arrived in Pasa- College–Hebrew Univer- down. dena, in the fall of 1966, Ambassador sity archaeological dig at We were not surprised that Teddy was still so enshrouded in shrubbery the site (under the supervi- Kollek would want some of our mate- that some customers of the supermar- sion of Benyamin Mazar), rial translated to Hebrew for distribu- ket across Green Street had shopped and moreover would sup- tion in Jerusalem. That Anwar Sadat for years in blissful ignorance of the ply 50 students as laborers would ask us to carry a confidential college’s existence. each summer. message from Cairo to the U.S. Then one day the foliage was A few eyebrows were We were not surprised when the cleared with much pomp and circum- raised over the issue wheth- name of the chancellor’s son, Garner cision. And in the midst of the clearing er an archaeological dig Ted Armstrong, was found in Sirhan rose a giant honeycombed administra- was the most efficient way Sirhan’s diary following the Robert tion building which couldn’t fail to to remove rubble. But, at Kennedy assassination. When you’re capture the attention of the most stub- any rate, selected students different, and vital, all the misplaced bornly myopic. The Ambassador cam- were happy, Jerusalem- of the world seek you out, perhaps pus quickly became the architectural bound, except they had to sensing a kindred spirit. marvel of Pasadena. pay their own way. A king literally cries 23 high-level meetings We were extraterrestrials We were not surprised that the em- During my freshman year the stu- For we took everything in peror of Japan would ask to cosponsor dent body had given a standing ovation stride at Ambassador. It was with Ambassador an institute for com- to a disc jockey from Pittsburgh out of self-evident to us that we parative study of Eastern and Western gratitude that such a distinguished and were destined to change the religions. That King Bhumibol Adul- accomplished “radio man” would deign world. We were, as it were, yadej of Thailand would literally cry to visit our little campus. extraterrestrials, dropped on on Armstrong’s shoulder. That other By contrast, at the time of my de- this strange planet, which leaders would treat our pronounce- parture from the group, in the fall of we were now duty-bound to ments as the oracles of God. 1973, Chancellor Armstrong was writ- roam as our domain. Inter- We were not surprised that the in- ing his fans: national events would affect telligence services of three nations “In these past four years, I have had us, and we would interact MR. ARMSTRONG VISITS A WORLD LEADER—Pastor General Herbert W. Armstrong (right) of made regular reports of our activities. personal meetings with twenty-three with them. the WCG meets with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in Cairo in the 1980s. Mr. Mubarak assumed We were not surprised when mem- the presidency on Oct. 14, 1981, after the assassination of President Anwar el-Sadat. Mr. Armstrong heads of government—of whom four As students, we found was acquainted with both Mr. Sadat and Mr. Mubarak. President Mubarak stayed in office 33 years until bers of Henry Kissinger’s staff asked are kings, two crown princes, nine life was intrinsically so se- Feb. 11, 2011, when he was ousted during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. The military government put to edit certain articles in our magazine, presidents, seven prime ministers, and rious that we never ap- him on trial for alleged premeditated murder of 840 protesters during the revolution. The trial of Mr. The Plain Truth, for “national security one governor—besides many foreign peared to take anything se- Mubarak, who is said to be in poor health and bedfast, was set to resume on Dec. 28, 2011. Mr. reasons.” ministers, ministers of education, etc., riously. We busied our- Armstrong died in January 1986. See Orlin Grabbe’s remembrances of his days as a student at We were not surprised at the regu- and many legislative members, such selves with the past and Ambassador College, including AC students’ involvement in and support of Mr. Armstrong’s ministry to lar attacks waged on us by fundamen- as senators and congressmen.” future, which we acted out world leaders. See the article beginning on page 4. [Photo courtesy Robert Macdonald] talist Christians. Then, having writ, he was off in his in myth and ritual. Gulfstream II to see Prince Mikasa of Even Armstrong himself could ing balanced”—drinking beer, drib- Southern California bed next to mine, Ancient city of Petra Japan, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi never quite fathom our approach. One bling and learning to preach. where he would stare at the ceiling and When the apocalyptic events, de- of India and Emperor Haile Selassie year, in accordance with the vision The rest of us set about finding roots. deliver speculative discourses on the scribed by the prophets of old, would of Ethiopia. It was necessary to carry that today’s world was an era of sin thought processes of angelic beings. occur, we expected to ride out the the warning of the impending End to matched only by the “days of Noah,” Hebrew taking over When two ministers came over to storm, under God’s protection, in the the great gentile nations also. we did a skit that depicted Noah build- Historically, getting into the Greek visit the apartment one evening, Bohu ancient rock city of Petra. This was ing an ark in a corn patch, with degen- and Hebrew at Ambassador had meant was on hand to greet them in the Ur- based on an interpretation of Isaiah. Radio contract with Jordan erate tourists arriving by bus to take getting into the Greek. sprache: “Glad you two piercers could During the civil war in Jordan, Before the End would come, in the pictures and make catcalls. But now Hebrew took over with a stop by.” in 1970, we thought it probable Is- Ambassador prophetic scenario, the A sudden thunder burst sent the vengeance, partly because of the And so we passed the time, prepar- rael would expand its territorial con- word had to go out from Jerusalem. So scoffers into a chorus line singing a Jerusalem dig, but mostly because of ing for the end to come and delving trol eastward to the Lawrence of Ara- (in 1967) Armstrong had negotiated revised standard perversion of “Oh those of us who demonstrated a re- into politics. bia railway. We would certainly not an exclusive contract with the Jor- No! Don’t Let the Rain Come Down.” vealed preference for the Old Testa- have been surprised to find Petra in danian government for the broadcast All this had perturbed Armstrong ment above the New, and were always Denis Michael Rohan the hands of our brothers and new- of Ambassador’s radio program from in that he felt it failed to reflect Am- somewhat put off by that Pauline cre- The Israeli connection nearly abort- found friends. Jerusalem, a contract aborted by the bassador’s motto to “recapture true ation that George Bernard Shaw ed before getting off the ground. It Six-Day War, when Israel seized con- values.” called “Crosstianity.” was the end of the first summer of the No bizarre stories trol of both sectors of the city. So the next year we wrote a scene One fellow arrived back from New Jerusalem dig, when the diggers were In retrospect, I do not see all this as a Ambassador took pause, wonder- bizarre story. There are no bizarre sto- ing how to slip a semi-Christian Yah- ries. Only stories, far away, seen through weh past the Israelis. The diggers were on the bus heading to the airport for the wrong end of time’s telescope. Then a fellow in the German office It was at that time that I began to met a photographer. The photographer the return to Pasadena when behind them they noticed a systematically explore Kant’s three knew Leopold, the ex-king of Bel- questions: (1) What can I know? (2) gium. Leopold glared when Arm- curious spiral of smoke rising from the Temple Mount. What ought I to do? (3) What may I strong addressed him as “sir” instead hope? One finds the answers starting of “sire” but was still interested in from wherever one happens to be. funding for his anthropological films in honor of Armstrong’s newfound York after a summer’s study with a on the bus heading to the airport for Those questions and my answers to of the “Belgian Congo.” position in the vanguard of scientific rabbi and became the uncrowned king the return to Pasadena. them would eventually lead me away To Armstrong’s surprise, he found research: the upcoming Jerusalem dig. of the Hebraicists. Right away in Gene- Behind them they noticed a curious from Ambassador. It was a path that that, with the proper introductions, a The single prop was a large papier- sis he noticed that the root for “female,” spiral of smoke rising from the Tem- still lay in the unsuspected future. rich man who came bearing thousand- mâché mountain that a sign carefully nkv, could also mean something that ple Mount. But I lived in the present, that day of dollar pieces of Steuben crystal as identified as “Gentile Debris.” Arm- was pierced or a hole in the ground. Denis Michael Rohan was in the the Strauss visit. I stood in my office in token gifts was accorded welcome in strong loved it. Thinking of the obvious physical process of creating an international the top floor of the Hall of Administra- the hallowed halls of worldly muck-a- analogy, he investigated zkr, “male.” minicrisis by attempting to burn down tion looking over the hillside. mucks in Belgium, the Philippines, Devoted students To his puzzlement the root served only the Al Aksa Mosque. At the campus stream, bubbling Thailand, Indonesia, India, Japan, The Hebrew movement was given to designate something in remembrance, At the time of Rohan’s arrest later, down to a pool that mysteriously nev- Germany and Israel. a new birth. Getting into the “original like a memorial stone. Israeli authorities found Ambassador er overflowed. At the tree-flanked Armstrong detailed the visits with Greek and Hebrew” of the Bible had Then, pitom! One remembers some- literature in his possession. From it steps that swept up the hill to the for- full-color spreads in The Plain Truth, always been a tradition at Ambassa- thing because it has pierced the mind. Rohan learned that the ungodly Mos- mer mansion of Hulett Merritt, a scene a college-church–sponsored magazine dor. Greek or Hebrew roots served as Hence the Hebrew for “male” and “fe- lem structures were a fulfillment of that had served as the opening shot in with a monthly circulation of two Rorschach blots out of which aspiring male” meant “piercer” and “pierced.” prophecies about the “abomination of an old TV series, The Millionaire. At million. Naturally, the CIA would scholars produced revelations that desolation,” a sacrilege that had exist- the tops of the towering palms reach- take notice. were a combination of folklore, in- Inspired margins ed since 667 A.D. ing up behind the mansion. At the sun, sight and asininity. Such esoterica were mostly noted Rohan decided he would do every- hanging low in the sky, dark red, part- Preparing the way The more upwardly mobile and in Bible margins to wow the folks out one a favor and ignited kerosene- ly masked by fronds. Back from one of his first trips to anti-intellectual students, however, in the field. Others felt, however, that smoked rags in one of the most sacred It was the End Time. And it was Israel, Armstrong announced a new who knew that the basketball team if inspired designations, such as those Moslem holy places. good to be living in it. 6 THE JOURNAL Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) Readers report on Baltimore, Branson, Paignton, Kachinland ollowing are Feast of Taber- there would be a prayer session for Lest we forget, our dear videogra- ting to know one another as well. could purchase his own print. (See nacles reports readers have sent those who were sick in body and go- pher, Deacon Thyon Woodland, worked Tom Kerry spoke on Sabbath, giv- another photo of the group on page 8.) F to THE JOURNAL. This is the sec- ing through economic crises or family very hard to see that all the services ing an update on the progress of the Cindy and Kathy, who own An Old ond installment of articles about the challenges. and fun events were recorded. work, comparing it to last year in Time Photo, did an excellent job in Many came forward on the LGD growth and delivering a sermon, choosing the props and outfits that fit 2011 festival, which most fellowships Plans for 2012 and individuals observed this year for prayer as the elders and deacons “Being Ready Against the Third Day.” our looks and personality. They took the from the evening of Oct. 12 through anointed with oil and prayed for the Pastor Woodland, Beverlie and the Later that evening everyone came time to make sure we were posed right. sick. It was a moving experience. brethren of the Baltimore Assembly together for George Palmer’s famous Oct. 20 (counting the Last Great Day, Best group ever Great Last Day or Eighth Day). THE The Nutrition Seminar with Dr. look forward to hosting the Feast for fried tacos, which were served in the JOURNAL will print reports in a total of Ingrid Espinet gave everyone an op- 2012. Arrangements have already café below the meeting room. Cindy told us we were the best three or four issues. portunity to “Ask the Doctor.” These been made to block off 70 one-bed- After the meal Chuck Bush and group they had ever worked with, sessions were life-changing for many room suites at $55 per night and two- Dave Campbell entertained with mu- which was a great compliment to the DESTINY OF HOPE as well as educational. bed suites for $75 per night. sic, songs and humor along with fel- people of God. I’ve already heard ALTIMORE, Md.—The Destiny Brethren left inspired to change Each has a full-size refrigerator, a lowship and laughter. from other people who want to get in their diet and take better care of them- two-burner gas stove, pots and pans, on next year’s fun photo shoot. Bof Hope Ministries (destinyof Feast raffle hope.org) in partnership with the selves physically, knowing that our cable TV and wireless Internet (con- After the photo shoot a cookout fol- Church of God International is bodies are the temple of God. nection fee of $5 for the entire Feast). Monday evening the raffle was lowed at Table Rock State Park. The pleased to report another wonderful The Seniors’ Luncheon was a de- It will be a home away from home. conducted by Gary Shipman with the weather had turned cold and people Feast of Tabernacles in Baltimore. were huddled around the fire, but it Brethren from New Hampshire, didn’t dampen the spirit of God’s peo- Texas, New York, New Jersey, Vir- ple enjoying good food and one an- ginia, Washington, D.C., Canada, Tom Kerry spoke on Sabbath, giving an update on the progress other’s company. Trinidad, Jamaica and the surrounding of the work, comparing it to last year in growth and delivering On one of the days after services areas of Maryland attended. Mai Guffey prepared a wonderful Viet- A total of 64 persons attended on the a sermon, ‘Being Ready Against the Third Day.’ namese chicken-and-rice dish. high holy days and the weekly Sabbath, Each morning Wanda Rhodes pre- while a steady 57 gathered on non–holy pared the coffee and Gary Shipman days. (See the photo on this page.) light. The food was superb and the People are still talking about the help of two young ladies, Padyn and provided doughnuts for anyone who The testimonies that came forth, music great. Beverlie recited a poem substantive Word of God that came Jessica. wanted to come early before or after expressing the enrichment of the Word titled “Not Growing Old.” forth this year. They are still giving It has become one of the Feast services and visit. of God, were presented by the various The Fun Show and Reggae Social testimonies of their experience of the highlights within some of the Church- On the last evening of the Feast speakers, such as Pastor George Ra- were indeed a lot of fun for everyone. love and warmth portrayed among the es of God.Prizes are donated by mem- Bob Marshall from Michigan gave a mocan, Brother Eliud George Ramo- The Feast of Tabernacles photog- brethren as they interacted and fellow- bers to be given away for the raffle. great Bible study on “strongholds.” can, Pastor Robert F. Woodland, Elder rapher, Jemal Countess of New York, shipped. Many have expressed their Popcorn was served during the fun- What could a stronghold be that you Louis Williams, Elder James Pope, generously gave of his services in desire to attend in 2012. Beverlie Ra- filled event. personally need to overcome? Are you Minister Clifton Buchanan and Dea- service unto God. mocan-Woodland, Baltimore, Md. One of the after-service highlights aware of it? He told us how to over- of getting to know one another was come through prayer and by spending con Mark Ellis. Permeating the Feast UNITY IN BRANSON Pastor Woodland and Deacon Ray through a new Feast tradition of hav- more time with God. Hall were excellent moderators. Spe- The brethren exemplified exuber- RANSON, Mo.—With unity in ing an “old-time photo” made of the Throughout the Feast God blessed cial-music renditions with Deaconess ance, warmth and the love of God that Bspirit and faith, seven Churches of group. His people, and a new excitement was Beverlie Ramocan-Woodland, Sister permeated the Feast. God came together in beautiful Bran- I have never heard so much laugh- in the air that only the love of God can Kimberly Ramocan, Sister Demetra Deaconess Sharon Woodland, vol- son at the 2011 Feast site of the Church ter as I heard that day, with everyone provide through His Spirit. unteer facilitator, provided excellent of God Ministries International. waiting in anticipation of who was Buchanan, Mother Vivian Hall and Building memories Sister Vadim Sealy were voices of in- assistance and recommended strate- Dave Campbell, Feast elder and co- going to wear what. gies with her team of helpers. ordinator, made sure the Feast was fo- We were touched and blessed with spiration as they ministered in song. North and South Renditions of the Melody of Praise Deacon Ray Hall of the New York cused on giving glory to God the Father. the children who attended, and we choir and the Men’s Choral Group, Assembly and Ray’s Copy Service The sermons were tightly fitted Some men were dressed as from shared in their excitement of special under the direction of Brother Byron provided hymn books, chorus book- together and included “The Coming the South, some as from the North, a things they enjoyed throughout the Feast McKoy, were indeed a tremendous lets, Feast-activity books for the youth Kingdom of God,” “Edifying One An- sheriff, Billy the Kid, Ma and Pa while they too were building memories. blessing. and Feast calendars for everyone. The other,” “Being Ready Against the Kettle and a gambler, and some of the Jessica got to go to Silver Dollar New York brethren were the focal Third Day,” “Harden Not Your women were Southern belles and wore City and receive a special pink parasol Prayer session strength of volunteers for the Feast. Hearts,” “Thinking Outside the Box,” big hats, with fans and long flowing with her name on it. The children gave two renditions of There was one baptism at the Feast “Full Assurance of Faith,” “Three dresses. Curtis, who is 5 years old, got to choreographic praise dance, and My- this year, as well as the ordination of Forms of Prayer” and, ending the It took about three hours to get drive the Ride the Ducks in the water kala Buchanan, the Buchanans’ amaz- deacons and deaconesses from the Eighth Day, “Unity of Faith.” through the process, but no one cared along with his brother Trent and par- New York Assembly. because we were meeting new friends ents, Shannon and Denise. ing 4-year-old daughter, read the en- Getting to know you tire book of Jonah like an adult. Ev- The Feast also attracted a couple of who now are our extended family and Oh, if you could have seen his little eryone was in astonishment to see the the hotel personnel as well as hotel The Branson Feast started with hos- share a memory that will forever be eyes light up with excitement while mighty power and presence of God guests who asked the right questions pitality night by sharing a meal as it talked about. he was gesturing with his arms telling manifested in the life of little Mykala. and made it possible for Pastor Wood- was in Christ’s day when they came The Mount Vernon, Mo., congrega- his story. Early in the Feast Pastor Woodland land and his wife to witness to them in together and broke bread. We imagined tion paid for the group photo for the Then there were Jenna and Justin announced that on the Last Great Day a substantive way. them laughing, sharing stories and get- annual Feast album, but each person See DAVID MOFFITT, page 7

13 10 16 9

24 20 6 28 26 15 4 22 7 1 25 2 27 11 3 23 21 12 19 17 14 8 5 18

37 39 32 30 31 29 35 33 38 36 40

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HOPEFUL FEAST—A total of 64 Feastgoers met in Baltimore, Md., for No. 8, Nicole Ellis; No. 9, Demetra Buchanan; No. 10, John Carnegie; Tekleab Abraham; No. 30, Beverlie Ramocan-Woodland; No. 31, Shirley a Feast of Tabernacles observance sponsored by Destiny of Hope Min- No. 11, Vadim Sealy; No. 12, Clenard Costley; No. 13, Pastor Fred Redd; Williams; No. 32, Elder Louis Williams; No. 33, Amina Suleman; No. 34, istries, which partnered with the Church of God International in Baltimore No. 14, Marge Cool; No. 15, Curt Cool; No. 16, Elder James Pope; Mykala Buchanan; No. 35, Djimon Sealy; No. 36, Aubrey Ellis; No. 37, for the Feast this year. Forty of the Feasters sit or stand for this photo. No. 17, Marjorie Pope; No. 18, Rosa Sanchez; No. 19, Winifred Hoo; Amon Gomez; No. 38, Salma Suleman; No. 39, Sarina Suleman; and No. They are, No. 1, Pastor Robert F. Woodland; No. 2, Mother Vivian Hall; No. 20, Harry Buck; No. 21, Carmen Francis; No. 22, Mark Ellis; No. 23, 40, Marilyn Gomez. Not pictured is photographer Bro. Jemal Countess No. 3, Daphne Roberts; No. 4, Eliud George Ramocan; No. 5, Heather Gail Best; No. 24, Ray Hall; No. 25, Celia Thompson; No. 26, Byron and the 23 other brethren who attended the 2011 Feast. See Destiny of Hanson; No. 6, Kimberly Ramocan; No. 7, Minister Clifton Buchanan; McCoy; No. 27, Sharon Woodland; No. 28, Thyon Woodland; No. 29, Hope Ministries’ Feast report on this page. [Photo by Jemal Countess] Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) THE JOURNAL 7 David Moffitt reports on three Tabernacles sites in Caloundra Continued from page 6 with other church groups and of being the LORD, as the waters cover the that having “no need of moon or sun” and how we should be living today. with their parents, Josh and Brittany, judged now. sea”—and encouraged us with other doesn’t mean those heavenly bodies At this UCG meeting was a fellow who just lit up your heart with their In the morning Geoff Williams Bible verses. won’t be there. who also attended the first church ser- talked of our need to prepare for the There were a lot of performances of vice in Sydney back on Jan. 30, 1960, warmth. United Church of God We are taught from Scripture to Kingdom, and John Sianidis spoke special music that helped give a good just after Garner Ted Armstrong came train up a child in the way that he about God as a songwriter, about the atmosphere to the Feast. The United Church of God, run to Sydney to open the office in North should go and when he is old he will Israelites crossing into the Promised On the tables at the back of the hall by Bill Bradford, met at the Kawana Sydney. not depart from it. My husband, Land, the complexities of life and why were a number of Ron Dart’s books Waters Community Centre. Another fellow was also there who David, and I have personally experi- God divorced Israel. for sale: The Lonely God and his Time On Saturday there was a message has been in the church since 1961, and With God series, which are about the about people being dissatisfied with both have been attending church for enced that scripture and know that Brother’s keeper God is faithful to His Word. book of Psalms. life, of young people wanting to be more than 50 years. The next day (Friday) we heard older and older people wanting to be Feast transformation about the firstborn sons of God, the Early Australian years younger, but that we should be content Tithers preferred I saw a transformation this Feast of resurrection and that we grow from a It was good to see people from the with where we are and also that we I also met some who do not attend actual love and concern for one anoth- grub to become a beautiful butterfly. early years of the Australian church. have been given gifts but that they Murray Allatt’s GTAEA (Garner Ted need to be unwrapped so we can make Evangelistic Association) group be- use of them. cause they were told by those in the Other excerpts of messages: “Be- GTAEA that they could attend the hind every successful man is a pushy Feast only if they were tithe payers. woman.” That Prince Charles says he Garner Ted did not stop people will be the protector of all faiths and from attending the Feast because they that we can know what the government were not tithing to his church. Garner in the Kingdom will be like from Isaiah Ted said that “tithing and giving, 1:26 and 2:4, where it says: “And I will while taught by the church, is volun- restore thy judges as at the first” and tary, and is not monitored.” “He shall judge among the nations.” Let’s give the groups a hand 2 Kings prediction I enjoyed meeting and spending On the 18th of Tishri (Sunday) Geoff time with new and old friends, and Robertson tackled the prediction in 2 again this year I crossed paths with Kings 22:20 that King Josiah would die others Feastgoers who were visiting in peace rather than being killed by the groups meeting around Caloundra. VISITING THREE SITES—The brethren meet in Caloundra, left). “There seems to be little difference between the church- in the Australian state of Queensland, for Feast of es,” Mr. Moffitt said, although he wanted to applaud at times Pharaoh-nechoh, king of Egypt, in a bat- But there was not enough time to do Tabernacles 2011. David Moffitt attended sites sponsored by but wasn’t allowed to at the UCG site. See Mr. Moffitt’s report tle at Megiddo, as told in 2 Kings 23:29. all we hoped, and we couldn’t be in the Christian Biblical Church of God, Christian Educational beginning on page 7 of this issue of THE JOURNAL. [Photos by Geoff went to some length to explain two places at the same time. Services (above right) and the United Church of God (above David Moffitt] this is not a contradiction because pre- There seems to be little difference destination is like buying a ticket to a between the churches, although the er, and it didn’t matter what group the We were reminded about being our Mike Linacre and his wife, Maureen, destination but is conditional, because lack of freedom to applaud at the UCG people of God attended with. They brother’s keeper and that we are ac- who worked as a receptionist in the we can get off before we arrive. meetings is a deadening experience. came together to meet in unity to wor- countable and need to be humble and office at North Sydney. She was there He said predestination is the sure I borrowed some old World Tomor- ship and serve our great God and follow Jesus’ example and that we with her arm in a sling because she has promise if we follow God. row tapes from the 1970s to copy from Father and His Son and our Savior, should limit our criticism of children’s a tumor under her arm and has been In 2 Chronicles 35:23-24 there is a a collector at the Feast and have Jesus Christ. artistic efforts and try to understand suffering from breast cancer. different story about the death of King already added some of them to the Before the Feast was ended David things more vertically than horizontally. Another of those attending also Josiah that tells us he was shot by “GTA Tape Library” Internet site. was asked if he would perform a On Monday Geoff Robinson, visit- attended the first church service in archers and died in Jerusalem. Perhaps After visiting another church friend “renewal of wedding vows” for a cou- ing from the United Church of God, Sydney back in 1960 and told me about Geoff will explain this contradiction at who follows the visual lunar calendar, ple from Kansas at next year’s Feast. spoke about King Josiah. the time in August 1960 when Garner next year’s Feast. which was in harmony with the He- Ted Armstrong came back to Australia brew calendar this year because the What a perfect occasion it will be to Ron Dart DVD A tug-of-peace perform such an act: the Feast of to find a new radio station for the World dates coincided, I borrowed some of Tabernacles. So hopefully next year On the 21st of Tishri, or the seventh Tomorrow program after he was “kicked Reg Wright mentioned that one of his GTATV tapes with programs from there will be a wedding Feast. day of the Feast of Tabernacles, also off” radio station 2CH in Sydney, the picnic activities was called a tug-of- the 1990s as well. It takes many people serving to One night we watched some GTA make a great Feast. They know who tapes made into DVDs at his home, they are without my mentioning all but the sermon was very long and we their names; the list is long. Fred Coulter, on DVD, said: ‘Without faith it is impossible to were tired and I think we all fell asleep Many thanks go out to all of them before it finished. for making it a wonderful Feast this please God. That’s why God never answers the atheists.’ But this year it was yet another year. I have learned that the most joy great Feast for us on the Sunshine you can have is serving someone else Coast in beautiful Queensland, Aus- and not expecting anything in return. tralia. Hallelujah! David Moffitt (GTA As the last day ended, everyone called the Last Great Day, was a DVD which was run by the Council of war and suggested it be renamed a tug- Tape Library), North Sydney, Australia. by Ron Dart made in 2008 before the Churches. This was because they did of-peace. Following this was a DVD was already making plans for next BREEZY, SUNNY FEAST year, saying our good-byes with sad- serious fall that has since left him out not agree with his way of presenting the from the United States by Dennis Luker ness, for it ended but with true love of action. gospel. called “In Pursuit of the Kingdom of NDANG, Philippines—Brethren and affection for one another. The DVD was called “Until Christ (GTA tells this story in his sermon God,” which included interviews with Iduring the Feast of Tabernacles of Each of us has to go back into the Be Formed in You” (Galatians 4:19) called “Preach Christ”—May 17, 1986 UCG members, their lives in the church the Church of God based in Imus, cares of the world, but we know we and is available from CESA. —which is available at the GTA Tape and some church history. Cavite, Philippines, posed one day for are not of the world, for Christ said, “I It was followed by a sermon by Rex Library Web site, www.icg.org.au.) a group photo after morning services. Lehmann, who said he didn’t think Who inherited? (See the photo on page 8.) will never leave you nor forsake you.” Fred Coulter DVD Till next year, God be with you till this was the best Feast because it On Monday was a sermonette on The site was blessed with breezy, we meet again. Lanora Campbell, might mean all the previous ones were The Christian Biblical Church of being faithful like Caleb, who inherited sunny weather throughout the eight Springfield, Mo. not as good. God, run locally by Greg Paxton, held days of bountiful physical and spiritu- He talked about God’s grace and its meetings in the Caloundra Scout al food. Max Noble, Imus, Philippines. FROM GRUB TO BUTTERFLY forgiveness in the lives of Cain, Jonah Hall in Arthur Street. They had a DVD FRONTIER EVANGELISM ALOUNDRA, Qld., Australia— and David and that God desires mercy by Fred Coulter for each day of the CIt was an enjoyable experience to and not sacrifice. Feast and provided a transcript of the AKE INDAWGYI REGION, DVDs for people to follow. Kachinland—For 2011 we were visit some new places on the trip to Separate festival L this year’s Feast at Caloundra in Fred, on DVD, said: “Without faith blessed to successfully celebrate the Queensland. On the Eighth Day, the 22nd of it is impossible to please God. That’s Feast of Tabernacles in our home- I was reminded of previous Feasts Tishri, Roy Hickford said that the why God never answers the atheists.” town. Even though we are small as the bus passed through Port Ma- eighth day is a separate festival and to And: “The whole financial system groups, we were gathered at our home quarie, where the WCG Feast was call it the “last” day gives the wrong is soon going to collapse and usher in from Oct. 12 up to 22, and we sang held from 1979 to 1981; Coffs Har- impression because God wants us to a one-world-currency system.” many hymnal songs every day. bour (the 1985 CGI Feast); and Bal- see this day as a new beginning for all In the morning of the eighth day, the We studied the Bible truths. We lina (the Feast site for the CGI, ICG mankind. 22nd of Tishri, Fred said this was the prayed together. We witnessed more and LCG in 2005). He referred to many uses of the day of the Feast when Jesus stood and about the miraculous works of God number eight in the Bible and said, cried, “If any man thirst, let him come very happily. Open-door church groups “Today is not the last, but the start of unto Me, and drink,” and referred to I preached the Feast sermons every There were a number of “open something.” the day as the “Last Great Day” and day before the church members. This door” church groups meeting in the Then Alan Dean from the UCG the “Great White Throne Judgment.” year the participants were only 15 per- beautiful surroundings of Caloundra opened his sermon by saying, “This He said that the “Water Ceremony” sons including the children because on the Queensland Sunshine Coast for is the Last Great Day,” but then cor- concluded on the eve of the eighth day. KACHINLAND FEAST—Lazum Brang some scattered church members from rected himself because of Roy’s ear- (According to Jewish sources, it was (above) filed a report from a Feast of eastern parts could not come to partic- this year’s observance. Tabernacles observance in his native Ka- The Christian Educational Ser- lier sermonette and said, “No! The not carried out in the evening but in the chinland. Pastor Lazum serves brethren in ipate in our Feast site. vices Australia (affiliated with Chris- Eighth Day.” morning and it ended on Hoshana Kachinland, a country that was once inde- War during the Feast tian Educational Ministries in the Alan told us how he became inter- Rabba, the “Great Hosanna” that is the pendent that now lies within Burma and United States) meetings were held in ested in the church after reading the seventh day mentioned in John 7:37.) borders on China, India and Tibet. See During the Feast time, the terrible the Events Centre and run by John and booklet Is This the Only Day of Sal- Using Matthew 13, he said it is Pastor Lazum’s report beginning on this fightings between Kachin battalions Wendy O’Donnell. vation? and talked about his friends given to us to understand the mysteries page. [JOURNAL file photo] and the Burma military government are They started on Wednesday eve- who attended Ambassador College of the Kingdom of God. going on day by day, and more and ning with a talk by Andy Patey about with him. Fred spoke about the blasphemy of Hebron (Judges 1:20). Bill Bradford, more in the eastern parts of Kachinland. the church being like the many parts He read Ecclesiastes 7:16—“Be not the Spirit, the “unpardonable sin,” the who had returned from visiting the Our Feast site is located in the used to build a bathroom that are of righteous over much”—and said we coming age and that Jews cannot UCG Feast at Merimbula, gave a run- western part, and there is no fighting little use on their own but are used to are all made equal (Matthew 20:12). understand Ezekiel 37 without the down of other UCG Feasts around the yet here. complete the building. He turned to Isaiah 11:9—“The New Testament. world, followed by David Holladay, We all praise God so much that He He talked about our interaction earth shall be full of the knowledge of Citing Revelation 21:23, he said who talked about the world tomorrow See FOR A FEAST, page 8 8 THE JOURNAL Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) For a Feast like you’ve never observed before, visit Kachinland

Continued from page 7 Recounting the story of Saul’s crip- protected us from this terrible war dur- pled son Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9, ing the Feast time. Mr. Boyne empowered the audience An old-age widow from the eastern with the truth that, despite their finan- part came alone to us. Because of this cial and other problems, they were not terrible war, over 30,000 Kachin Chris- forgotten or forsaken by God. tians were fleeing to China borderlines From a wider perspective he showed as refugees. too that, despite the environmental, Some are still now hiding in the social and political problems faced by thick forest and high mountains. Some mankind globally, God still has a plan are coming to Myitkyina, the capital to restore earth and reward and vindi- town of Kachinland. cate His people during the Millennium. Only these refugees are fed and He showed that just as the crippled helped by the Christian denominations former prince Mephibosheth—whose because they came to stay at the church name meant “son of shame; despised compounds. one”—ended up in a decrepit Samari- tan slum called Lo-debar, so can Shields and covers God’s people find themselves in pain- Still now, Kachin civilians are usu- ful, desperate circumstances. ally captured by the Burmese armies Like Mephibosheth, we might feel for porters and are sent to battlefields abandoned, helpless and hopeless. to be used for shields and covers. But, just as David remembered his Kachin Christian young women covenant to Jonathan and restored and girls are usually raped and killed Mephibosheth to prominence at the by the Burmese cruel soldiers. So king’s table, so will God remember many Kachin villages are now becom- His covenant with His people. ing desolate areas. This message resonated powerfully We the Church of God cannot help with the vast majority of persons who the refugees yet, because we all are were keeping the Feast despite their faced with financial crises in this year. worst year financially, with many hav- During the Feast time we used and ing severe unemployment and other expended only US$5 per day for our challenges. daily foods. Theological defenses Even though we are very poor fam- ilies, we are very happy every day be- Mr. Boyne’s two subsequent ser- cause we have the great hope of the mons were theological defenses of the BRANSON AND THE PHILIPPINES—Two cheerful groups of what group the people of God attended with. They came together Church of God’s positions titled “The Feast observers, 8,400 miles apart as the crow flies, pose for pho- to meet in unity to worship and serve our great God and Father Second Coming of Jesus Christ, who tographs. Above: Brethren of the Church of God Ministries Inter- and His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.” Max Noble reported will redeem us from this sinful world. Godhead” and “The Hope of Israel.” national (CGMI), based near New Orleans, La., meet in Branson, from the Philippines that his site was “blessed with breezy, sunny The most clichéd Feast phrase of all Greetings to Americans Mo. Below: The brethren in the Philippines smile for the photog- weather throughout the eight days of bountiful physical and spiri- time must be “the best Feast ever.” Yet rapher at the Indang site. Lanora Campbell, writing about Branson tual food.” See the CGMI’s report by Mrs. Campbell beginning on Please convey to all the American it is hard to improve upon it for accu- from the United States, said she saw a “transformation this Feast page 6 and the report on the Philippines site by Mr. Nobel on page church members about the present vic- racy in describing the feelings of the of actual love and concern for one another, and it didn’t matter 7. [Photos courtesy Lanora Campbell and Max Noble] tims of the Kachin people. The Burma Mili- tary Government pur- chased the latest weap- ons from North Korea and Russia, and the Burmese armies use these weapons during these wartimes. Our Almighty God is always with the Ka- chin people now. May God bless you and give you more wisdom, very prosper- ously. With a lot of thanks and hopes, I remain your fellow servant in the services of Jesus Christ. Pastor Lazum Brang, Gospel Minis- ter and Frontier Evan- gelist, Kachinland. RECORD ATTENDANCE AND EIGHT BAPTISMS CHO RIOS, Jamaica—A record Jamaican brethren at this year’s obser- itual toll. He gave practical steps to themes: empowerment, restraint, res- one’s mind-set. Referencing Ephe- O410 exuberant Feast keepers vance. stay watchful amid unpredictable exi- toration and reconciliation. sians 6, he impressed members to give filled out the scenic Ruins Auditorium The constant refrain was that the gencies and inevitable problems. His second sermon was “How to primacy to the salvational helmet, Be a Better Watchman.” which, he pointed out, meant guarding in Ocho Rios to celebrate the 2011 Feast messages were the best they had The widow’s oil Feast of Tabernacles. ever heard. In his post-Feast assess- and protecting the mind. Mr. Alwood’s sermonette bolstered Persevering faith It was the first time that the Jamai- ment, Pastor Boyne also commended HWA speaking competition can Church of God International had the speakers, all of whom he said did the faith of many with the lessons he Mr. O’Connor’s sermon, “Perse- more than 400 persons at one Feast an excellent job this year: the best ever drew out from the story of Elisha and vering Faith,” referenced scriptural Another Feast highlight was the site, which comprised all four local in his view. the widow’s oil (2 Kings 4:1-7). His texts such as James 1:3 and 1 John exciting Herbert W. Armstrong Me- congregations: Kingston, Maroon morial Speaking Competition. This Town, Ocho Rios and Spanish Town. year, in a keenly contested theological A Feast highlight was the Herbert W. Armstrong Memorial battle, Stacy-Ann Hall recaptured her Eight souls baptized trophy, which last year went to The Feast ended on a high with the Speaking Competition. This year, in a keenly contested Kimani Young. baptism of eight souls. Amid the excit- This year’s debate topic was the ed singing of traditional hymns and theological battle, Stacy-Ann Hall recaptured her trophy. doctrine of “The Perseverance of the choruses by more than 145 members Saints,” sometimes called “Once and curious onlookers, the eight were Saved Always Saved.” baptized in the calm tropical waters of In addition to Pastor Boyne and me, thesis was that when we are at the end 5:1. He exhorted brethren on the Forgive the cliché—which happens the Caribbean Sea by Pastor Ian Boyne the speakers included Ricardo Hall, of our rope, figuratively speaking, we importance of overcoming difficulties. to be true for the Feast-keeping island- Shannon Henry, Stephen Scale, dea- should always turn to God; He will be ers in Jamaica—but Feast 2011 was and Deacon Paul O’Connor. Surviving war Worship leader Deacon Chris Hen- cons Paul O’Connor, Gilbert Bell, there for us. the best Feast ever! Glenford Smith, Fenton Tracy and Derrick Alwood and Mr. Scale’s well-researched and dy- Kingston, Jamaica. dricks kept the tempo of the First Day Depend on God worship high, interspersing traditional the CGI overseer for the Caribbean, namically delivered sermonette, titled Feast hymns with well-selected praise- Pastor Bill Watson of Ohio. Mr. Watson delivered the sermon “Surviving the Spiritual War,” made a THE WCG’S AUTUMN FESTIVAL and-worship choruses and relevant Here are a few of the highlights: on days three and four. He reiterated huge impact. He laid bare the ele- AIGNTON, England—“Inspired Scripture readings. some of the themes of Mr. Alwood’s ments of Satan’s master plan to defeat P Scripture” was the theme for the Be prepared sermonette, emphasizing the need to the elect with every resource at his Worldwide Church of God U.K.’s Lo-debar to Jerusalem Mr. Hall’s sermon, titled “Reaching depend upon God because the prob- command, including his demons, 2011 Autumn Festival Oct. 12-20. The special-music offerings fea- the Kingdom: Living Out the Period of lems of mankind are too complex to Babylon and human nature. This festival site has been in use by tured solos and assorted ensembles the Ten Virgins,” focused on keeping be resolved by human beings. the West Country congregations (and that served as precursors for Pastor alert while waiting for Christ’s return. The fall holy days, he stated, repre- Helmet of salvation those from afar who wish to attend) Boyne’s well-chosen and poignantly Citing Jesus’ parable of the 10 vir- sent how God will bring closure to Mr. Bell delivered an important ser- for 26 years, with many longtime min- delivered sermon, “From Lo-debar to gins (Matthew 25), Mr. Hall showed mankind’s problems. monette about “the helmet of salva- isters and other members, and quite an Jerusalem.” how the cares of life could take a spir- They encapsulated four important tion,” emphasizing the importance of See READ ABOUT, page 9 Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) THE JOURNAL 9 Read about Paignton, Phoenix, Shipshewana and Winchester Continued from page 8 that the Communion was absolutely and the final evening concluded with SHIPSHEWANA AND CROSSVILLE usual. I think we all need to pay atten- not mandatory and that people might “Caribbean Night.” tion to what our role will be in the international group, in attendance. HIPSHEWANA, Ind.—Just want- Situated in a quiet “caravan park” attend or not, as they so chose. (This Prayer meetings were held for one coming Kingdom of God and how we (two- and three-bedroom trailer homes reporter chose not.) hour before services each morning, Sed to write a little article about our need to prepare for it. laid out in a parklike setting with stone Afternoon services, modeled on except for the free day, and averaged a Feast and trip through the mid-South. We had some good special music at paths, trees and amenities such as a “workshops,” included Mr. Millman, turnout of around five people. We went to Shipshewana, Ind., for both sites. The lady who played the launderette, toilets, an on-site restau- on the book of Revelation, “The Gos- Most prayed aloud (this reporter the first three days and then down to harp at Shipshewana was great, and rant, a pub and a convenience store), pel in Art,” “Can You Trust the Bi- chose to pray silently). Crossville, Tenn., for the rest of the we had a whole family of talented the festival has long provided extra ble?” and “Adventure Camp & SEP Prayers offered encompassed a Feast. musicians at Crossville. slide show.” range of topics and issues, both per- Both sites were sponsored by the income for Beverley Park (the name See you next year of the campground). (The U.K. WCG does have SEP, its sonally for the individuals giving Christian Biblical Church of God of The park provides a lovely setting Summer Educational Program, in them, corporately for the Church and Hollister, Calif. We got to see old But the Feast ended, as it always for the members to fellowship togeth- does, and we went our separate ways. er for meals, visiting and attending Most we won’t see for at least anoth- services on site a few short steps away. er year. For singles there are one-bedroom James Henderson, Bob Millman, James Lambu, Jim Robertson, We left Crossville on Friday after caravans available at Ashvale Park, a the Feast and drove over toward the short walk from the main caravan park Tim Sole, David Gibbs, Francis Bergin, Gavin Henderson and Smoky Mountains in eastern Ten- where the meeting hall is. festival coordinator David Silcox all gave sermons. nessee. There is also a large grocery-chain We went through Sevierville, home supermarket within walking distance, as of Dolly Parton, and Gatlinburg, well as public-transit access and a zoo. which was so crowded it was a slow The park is 10 minutes away from Scotland every year and had 110 globally, for all nations, all brought friends and meet new ones in both crawl through. lovely Paignton, with several attrac- campers in 2010.) before the throne of the Almighty Liv- places. We had quite a trip back to Osceola. tions, including the Paignton seaside. Finally, Mrs. Silcox conducted a ing Father. We enjoyed seeing Fred Coulter the Betty and Joe Chikar, Osceola, Ind. “Day by Day” workshop to generate There were also many opportuni- first evening and day of the Feast and The seashore is also a quick hop over LEARNING TO HELP PEOPLE the hill from the caravan park. outlines and train writers for the “Day ties available for volunteer work. had a nice lunch between the morning by Day” Web site that the WCG U.K. So if your goal at the Feast (as this and afternoon sermons. INCHESTER, England—Warm, English Riviera sponsors (www.daybyday.org.uk). reporter’s is) is to live out the in- We drove down to Crossville Sun- Wfriendly and open and of one day afternoon and spirit was the Feast in This area of the South West Coun- Astonishing number of children struction by example that we will try is known as the English Riviera, provide to all in the Kingdom of didn’t have any Winchester, Hamp- and it lives up to the name! An astonishing number of children God, then the English Autumn Fes- trouble until we got shire. The opening-night sermon was by were around, and there was a wide tival definitely has many opportuni- stuck in traffic try- This small city boasts U.K. national director James Hender- array of sponsored activities for them ties for such growth and contribu- ing to cross over a history of English son. He spoke on John 6:32-37 and as well as a separate “children’s church” tion. Velvet Delorey, Corner Brook, the bridge at Louis- kings around 1,000 how it related to the theme of this that was held in another room during Nfld., Canada. ville, Ky. years ago making their year’s festival as embodied in 2 Tim- the main services on two days. We ended up tak- capital here. othy 3:16 (concerning the inspiration It was definitely an agreeable festi- GCI/WCG PHOENIX FEAST ing a narrow, wind- Our president, Den- of Scripture). val location for children of all ages. HOENIX, Ariz.—Scores of breth- ing road through nis Luker, and his wife According to the registrations for Evening services, which were billed P ren attended the full eight-day fes- Kentucky down to traveled from the Unit- the festival, 381 people attended over- as “seminars,” included John Stetta- tival held at Phoenix and sponsored by Tennessee, which I ed States to spend the all. Not a large site by any means, but ford on the history, inspiration and the local Sabbath-keeping GCI/WCG wouldn’t recom- first two days here. Mr. it was large enough for this reporter, creation of the English Bible, with congregation. mend to anyone. Luker is as warm in who is no longer used to large crowds. several very old Bibles from his per- There were up to 140 in attendance, But we finally person as he is on the Mr. Henderson, Bob Millman (Ed- sonal collection on display. with an average of 120. got to Crossville DVD screen. monton, Alta., Canada, church), James There were also two evening semi- We had brethren visiting from sev- and checked into There were four bap- nars by Mr. Millman on the book of the condo at Lake tisms here, with mes- Lambu, Jim Robertson, Tim Sole, eral countries including the Nether- David Gibbs, Francis Bergin, Gavin Revelation, modeled mainly on the Tansi Village by 6 sages including “Learn- recent sermons he has given that are lands, France, Australia, Canada and p.m. or so. ing to Help People in Henderson and, last but certainly not Great Britain. least, festival coordinator David Sil- available on the Edmonton WCG’s Services this year the Millennium” and cox all gave sermons. Web site (edmonton.wcgweb.org). High- On each day of the festival a ser- were at the Thunder- “Lessons From Eccle- They all managed to tie in with the ly recommended! mon covering one of the feasts or holy bird Recreation Cen- siastes During Taber- theme of this year’s festival, “All This reporter does not personally days was discussed in depth so that the ter in the village. nacles” and “Showing brethren would receive a good re- TWO CBCG SITES—Joe and Scripture Is Given by Inspiration of agree with all of Mr. Millman’s con- David Lineber- Betty Chikar (above) attended at Love and Forgive- God and Is Profitable for Doctrine, for clusions, but he does provide an in- minder of the plan of God. ger and Joe went two sites in 2011, in Shipshe- ness.” Reproof, for Correction, for Instruc- depth look as to how the professing- In addition to services, there were fishing one day, and wana, Ind., and Crossville, Tenn. The weather was tion in Righteousness.” Christian denominations, by and large, planned activities such as an evening David caught a cou- Both observances were spon- ideal, with hardly any view the Revelation of Christ. of astronomy and stargazing and plen- ple of pretty good sored by the Christian Biblical rain. Temperatures were Double and triple services Other nights included a General ty of fine dining at restaurants and ones, but Joe got Church of God, pastored by Fred 15 to 18 degrees Cel- This festival site does have double Knowledge Quiz (the round at the end each other’s “temporary dwellings.” skunked. Coulter. See the Chikars’ report sius (60 to 65 degrees Several brethren pooled their re- beginning on this page. [Photo (some nights triple!) services, but ev- had Bible questions), two dances, two Gail and Betty courtesy Joe and Betty Chikar] Fahrenheit). eryone is free to attend all or none of evenings with live bands, and Life sources and rented large homes with went shopping while Because this was the the services. Club, structured similarly to the way beautiful backyards, swimming pools they fished and picked up a few sou- third time in recent years we have The largest turnout was apparently the old Spokesman Club was but open and Jacuzzis. venirs. Then we all sat around the been to this site, the attendance was for the Saturday Communion, which to all ages and both men and women. These physical blessings provided condo and visited a while and ate din- lower than usual: just under 100. saw about 320, including weekend- and the setting for many hours of fellow- ner at Cracker Barrel. Bus tours, including a visit to day-pass visitors, not just those who Ross Jutsum evening ship and the development of a deeper Windsor Castle (one of Queen Eliza- were staying on site. There was also “An Evening of care and concern for one another. Fred good as usual beth’s homes), were provided. David The coordinator did make the point Praise & Worship with Ross Jutsum,” Anonymous. Fred’s sermons were good, as Young, Edinburgh, Scotland. God uses people like you and me to give comfort to others Continued from page 3 A minister’s presence, whether at a John 14:19-21 tells us what happened preaching and teaching? What did them what you are not: God. Your Bruce Crouterfield, told how he came graduation, scout activity, court hear- when Jesus came into the upper room. Jesus give His disciples? presence brings the God-with-us fac- to understand his relevance to those he ing or delivery of a sermon, carried the Here’s what He did and did not do: He gave them what they needed tor. You become what is known as the was there to serve. expectation of the importance of He didn’t lash out at His disci- most: comfort and a sense of safety Emmanuel factor. doing and saying what God would do. ples; He reached out to them. (reassurance). And He brought about a Feeling safer Most likely you don’t see yourself He didn’t discourage them; He change in their behavior. That’s serv- Bearing God’s presence He asked the marines and sailors that way: as a person who does what encouraged them. ing. That’s ministering. When you come alongside another what they thought about chaplains. God does. When you look in the mir- He didn’t condemn them; He for- In 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Paul reminds after God has come alongside you, When a chaplain came into a room, ror you see someone with faults who gave them. us that comfort comes from God God is there. what values came with him? That makes the Christian who has A marine said, “When the chap- received the comfort of God a bearer lain is on our convoy with us, we feel Jesus gave them what they needed most: comfort and a of the presence of God. safer.” A person’s life is relevant when he Another said, “When the chap- sense of reassurance. And He brought about a change in becomes a bearer of God’s presence. lain is around, the gunnery sergeant is Living the presence well might not nicer.” their behavior. That’s serving. That’s ministering. allow us to be an expert in anything, A corporal told him, “Sir, when but it allows us to fulfill the calling of the commanding officer comes in the God and share His presence with room he gets respect, but when the struggles with life’s decisions, who is He didn’t give them up; He lifted through the agency of human beings. others. God is with you; let Him work chaplain comes in the room he gets occasionally conflicted. them up. God uses people like you and me to in you. reverence.” In this remarkable example Jesus deliver comfort to others. Jesus sent out the disciples as ser- Lt. Cmdr. Crouterfield talked to 100 Jesus the minister reminds us of the most important val- When you come alongside some- vants. People changed their behavior marines and sailors. No two answers You see someone who wants to be ues associated with ministering. These one else and share the comfort you because of the comfort and reassur- were exactly alike, but he detected a loved, accepted and valued. You see are revealed in us when we preach, have received from God, doesn’t God ance that came with them. trend. someone who has fears and worries. teach, anoint, counsel, visit and serve come with you? In a sense, you are a The disciples were bearers of God’s For some the chaplain offered a Where in all that is the presence of the flock. bearer of the presence of God. presence. sense of comfort. For others, a sense God? Bringing comfort to someone is the They lived the gospel. And people of safety. For still others, the chap- Perhaps the best example of what Gave what was needed most basic form of ministering. When followed. lain’s presence caused a change in the happens when a minister walks into We also see where the emphasis you comfort those who are troubled, That’s what should happen when a behavior of people. the room is that left to us by Jesus. should be in serving. Is it just in stressed or in a crisis, you bring to minister walks into a room. 10 THE JOURNAL Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) On the canon: Origins of the Bible can be a touchy subject Continued from page 3 Mr. Armstrong attempted to do that not try to move beyond our self-im- The system that included the canon I believe that the Gospels contain Bible is what Christians have said it is. when he wrote the Proof of the Bible posed hindrances to understanding carried over into the Protestant world some of the most impeccable and It is debatable whether the specific booklet. But he did not accomplish and knowing Him? at the Reformation. The Protestants flawless sayings ever written. prophecies he refers to in the booklet what he set out to do. Our blind acceptance of the and the COGs have simply borrowed However, they, and the other Bible were actually accurately fulfilled in The booklet, by citing prophecies Catholic-Protestant canon leads us and championed the Catholic institu- books, also contain political state- the modern age since a city of Tyre, or that he believed had been fulfilled, into wars, rumors of wars and fight- tion of the supposedly inspired listing ments that obscure the compassionate Sur, existed in what is now Lebanon does not prove that the Bible is the ings among ourselves and with every- of canonical books. gospel message. long after the events Mr. Armstrong’s inspired Word of God. If it proves body within range. What is the compassionate heart of described in his booklet. anything, it simply shows that there is Because we as conservative Chris- Being aware the gospel message? We are our broth- However, their fulfillment or lack such a thing as prophecy and such a tians believe we have everything fig- Should people stop being Chris- er’s keeper. The Golden Rule (Mat- of fulfillment is not proof one way or thing as events that can be understood ured out—starting with what is Scrip- tians? No. I don’t think Christianity thew 7:12 and elsewhere) is a corol- the other of whether the Bible is the as fulfillments of prophecy. ture and what is the nature of God— should disband if Christians suddenly lary of the brother's-keeper principle inspired literal and infallible and iner- we feel free to impose our understand- are aware of esoteric information its first implied in Genesis 4:9. rant Word and words of God. Why bring this up? ings, ideas, doctrines, dogma and prej- scholars and seminarians have known But, thanks to the canon and our Many other books, which no one Why am I bringing up such a touchy udices on everyone else. for centuries about the Bible. unwavering acceptance of it, Chris- accepts as Scripture, have made pre- —yea, heretical—topic in my news- This same misguided impulse has Rather, Christians should do their tians can also justify, from the Bible, dictions that have come to pass. Yet paper? fueled persecutions, bigotry, wars, individual part, one day at a time, to what could be called the code of those books are not accepted as God’s Here are some of my reasons: genocide. When people so legalisti- reform the Christianity they individu- blame. Rather than loving our ene- inspired Word. The acceptance of one written cally anthropomorphize their view of ally practice. mies and praying for them, we slap It is not logical to accept a set of source—sola scriptura—of inspira- God as an equally legalistic and fre- We can slowly but surely reform them when they slap us. books as holy writ because they con- tion and revelation limits our view of quently temperamental Supreme Be- Christianity—in our case Church of The blind acceptance of the can- tain predictions that eventually come God. I don’t think we can limit God, ing, they can feel free to inflict dire God Christianity—by being aware of on—which borders on bibliolatry— to pass. The fulfillment may prove that but we can certainly impose limits on injury on their fellowman—for their the situation: realizing that because of obscures our view of God by compell- prophecies can come to pass, but that our view of God. fellowman’s own good, of course. the obfuscating nature of the canon we ing us to take things literally that we is not the same as proof that the Bible Although the Bible depicts God as This is true even though the Bible, have much to learn about God. never should have understood literally. is the inspired, coherent, infallible Deity who loves and blesses us as His on the other hand, depicts God as One We, especially in the Worldwide There isn’t a good reason to revere Word of God. offspring, it also depicts Him as capri- who demands that we love our ene- Church of God splits, have learned to presumed authorities—even if one of cious, irritable and even tyrannical. mies and pray for those who despise question and reject human authority. them is our way of viewing Scripture— ‘All Scripture’ Can God really be that way? I believe us and turn the other cheek and go the We question the supremacy of an if doing so comes between us and our What about the Bible’s own sayings He cannot. extra mile. elite clerical class, the authority im- honoring and comprehension of God. on the matter? For example, 2 Timothy plied in the primacy-of-Peter doctrine: Why do we not know the truth about 3:16 says that “all Scripture is given by Dramatic allegories Blatant politics the principle of apostolic succession. the canon? inspiration of God, and is profitable for In the New Testament, Jesus is usu- I’ve said a mouthful, I know. Other We question the odd notion that I think it’s because of the hallowed doctrine, for reproof, for correction, ally depicted as the peace-loving Son people who have come to similar con- only an elder whose ordination is part institution of secrecy. The world runs for instruction in righteousness.” of God. But even He, in the book of clusions have, as a result, rejected the of an unbroken chain that includes Mr. on secrecy, in politics, government, We take these words to mean that Revelation, will slaughter everyone Bible outright. If there are problems Armstrong can legitimately anoint and business, executive sessions and cer- the Bible—the 66 books of the canon tainly religion. The secrecy of the good —is the inspired Word of God. Yet old boys in positions of power stands that conclusion is equally illogical. Some have concluded that, since there are problems right up there at the heart of the Here are some problems with it: world’s biggest problems. What does the passage mean by with the Bible and the canon, God does not exist. the word scripture? The term, after all, Recommended reading simply means “that which is written.” That conclusion is illogical, and that is not my conclusion. I attended Art Mokarow’s confer- The verse actually says that “everything ence back in March 2011 in The Wood- that is written is profitable for reproof lands, near Houston, Texas. The theme and correction,” etc. “Everything that is who disagrees with him in the Battle with any of Scripture, they reason, then pray for somebody’s healing. of Mr. Mokarow’s meetings was the written” includes many more books of Armageddon. there is nothing valuable about any of it. The matters I speak of reside in the nature of the Bible. than just the Bible. We would not think It’s one thing to learn from the dra- In fact, some have concluded that, same class. We have the canon—our At the conference a young elder of accepting all writings as God-in- matic allegories in the Bible. It’s an- since there are problems with the Bible collection of accepted, received books from Conroe, Texas, made a presenta- spired Scripture (Ecclesiastes 12:12). other to take something like Armaged- and the canon, God does not exist. —as a result of someone’s assumed tion that caught my ear because it was The phrase “are profitable for don literally. That conclusion is illogical, and that authority. about one of my interests: the canon. reproof and correction” does not mean Which of the two views of God is is not my conclusion. Just as beauty lies Should we not recognize that reali- Alex Ciurana, pastor of a congrega- that the writings spoken of in 2 Timothy accurate? In my opinion, the former. in the eye of the beholder, a child of ty and work that recognition into the tion of the Church of God (Seventh 3 “are to be considered as holy, infalli- God loves and blesses us and provides God can find much in the Bible, Old and attitudes, approaches and decisions Day), addressed the canon and related ble Scripture.” For that matter, the us with ample opportunities for learn- New Testaments, that is profitable for that affect us and our families and all subjects and suggested ways to partic- writer of the Timothy epistles had no ing and even adventure. him to consider in his walk with God. other people, and that affect our view ipate in the far-reaching and potential- concept of a canon (the Jewish canon of He is not capricious, irritable and There are ways to be a Bible-read- and understanding of God? ly explosive discussions of the canon the Old Testament dates from after A.D. tyrannical as He is depicted in parts of ing Christian that accept the canon for and the inspiration of the Bible. 70), much less a New Testament canon. the Bible including the stories of the what it is: a list of recommended writ- Our God-given curiosity Mr. Ciurana’s approach is not the Other religious writings have Israelites attacking and slaughtering ings compiled and edited by humans Many of us see our lives as a jour- only way to deal with the situation. claimed to be holy writ, yet we don’t their enemies at His command. for not only religious reasons but ney in search of truth. Even though we But his is a positive, optimistic one. accept them as such. To accept a book Our Christian view of God, based political reasons. may not reach our destination during I’m happy to publish a version of or set of books as inspired Scripture on these problematic passages, is that Emperor Constantine and others, es- our threescore and ten, we do the best his presentation beginning on page 11 based on sayings in the book itself is He’s just like us, only bigger and bet- pecially the participants in the church we can with our God-given resources of this issue of THE JOURNAL. to commit the logical fallacy of circu- ter. He’s a good and righteous, if councils, compiled and sanctioned the and curiosity. lar reasoning. sometimes temperamental and vio- canonical list to build a wall around I believe in the value of Christian Comments welcome For example, I can say I am the lent, male human being writ large. believers in God and their religion. fellowship and happily meet with my The canon is a vast and important president of the United States. That I bring up this subject because it is The canon—which didn’t exist in brothers and sisters—my family for subject. Readers of THE JOURNAL are does not mean I am president of the better to allow ourselves to perceive a its present form until A.D. 376—ulti- most of my life—on the Sabbath and welcome to send us their comments United States. more-accurate view of God and how mately was conceived and built as a the other festivals the Churches of about it. We plan to print at least a A novel written in 2011 can state He interacts with us. Since I see prob- system of control. God observe. sampling of civilly expressed opin- somewhere on its pages that it is holy lems with our view of the Bible, specif- Other books that were inspiring Although I don’t like dogmatism, I ions, no matter what they are. writ. That does not make it holy writ. ically the canon, I think we are not able Christians were banned from church- do not denigrate church traditions and Write THE JOURNAL, P.O. Box 1020, Any book’s claim that it is holy writ to have an unimpeded view of God. es, or at least not allowed as part of the approaches that noncoercively and po- Big Sandy, Texas 75755, U.S.A., or in and of itself proves nothing. An canon. They were deemed seditious. litely add to life’s learning experiences. E-mail [email protected]. See THE Self-imposed hindrances argument that a book or set of books is Church leaders saw the noncanonical I believe in miracles including heal- JOURNAL’s writer’s and advertising Scripture must come from outside the Does God care if we have an inac- books as working against a political ings and other blessings from above guidelines at tinyurl.com/guides01, book or set of books to credibly at- curate view of Him? unification of Christianity under the (although I’m flexible on who can tinyurl.com/guides02 and tinyurl.com/ tempt to prove anything. Whether He cares or not, should we umbrella of the emperor and pope. properly anoint and pray). guides03.

CGPKG minister Bible investigation features range of perspectives declines comment Continued from page 40 Zion 7th Day Church of God congre- English translations of the Bible and thanked Mr. Mokarow. about indictment Baptist from Decatur, Ga., stated that gations in Brooklyn, N.Y., and New the preservation of Scripture. “I consider it a very special honor Continued from page 1 “the Bible we have is not the Word of Britain, Conn., presented a discussion He noted that the Bible is a library to be invited to be included and to be According to the CGPKG’s God . . . I believe the given this special place” as Web site, Mr. Weinland believes Bible contains the Word concluding speaker, Mr. Jesus Christ will return on May 27, of God, because there are Rose said. 2012. so many things that are Mr. Rose noted that the Bible is a library “I want to thank God for Write Mr. Weinland at P.O. Box written in the Bible that of 66 books written by more than 40 Art Mokarow and for bring- 14447, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250, or God did not say.” ing us together in such a [email protected]. Visit the CGPKG’s On Sunday Stephen authors over a span of 1,500 years. gracious fashion. Web site at cog-pkg.org. Grisham of Los Angeles, “May God bless this See also “Elder Says He’s God’s Calif., presented “A Case man with long life and End-Time Prophet, Reveals His health and fruitfulness as for the Preservation of the Inspired Prophecies,” THE JOURNAL, Feb. Word of God.” of “the counter-temple movement.” of 66 books written by more than 40 he gives honor and blessing for the 29, 2008, and “Toledo Pastor Dis- He gave his reasons for believing The final scheduled presentation authors over a span of 1,500 years. Word of God.” fellowships Board Members; Most was by Whaid Rose, president of the A lively question-and-answer ses- the King James Version is God’s “one of Congregation Leaves,” THE Denver-based Church of God (Sev- Grateful for Mr. Mokarow sion and Mr. Mokarow’s closing re- inspired, preserved Word.” JOURNAL, Feb. 29, 2000. Gilford Monrose, pastor of Mount enth Day), who spoke on landmark After his presentation Mr. Rose marks wrapped up the conference. Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) THE JOURNAL 11 Essay The boundaries of the canon: Why do we think it’s closed?

The writer is pastor of a Church of sured within Catholicism. Where the the New Testament at its inception if Take on Tongues,” THE JOURNAL, issue A person inspired God (Seventh Day) congregation in Bible does not authoritatively speak (or, the same conviction was held then. No. 138, dated June 17, 2010.] Up to this point I have only hinted Conroe. This essay represents the perhaps, does not provide the desired This should cause every Protestant An open canon simplifies at the basis for inspiration. It is one of opinions of Mr. Ciurana and does not response), church tradition does. a bit of head scratching. Why is it that those matters that are nearly undeni- Yet another benefit to fresh inspira- reflect the official view of the General Such tidiness is not the privilege of the modern Christian is somehow hand- able once realized, but quite invisible tion is its inherent relevance. It pretty Conference, Church of God (Seventh the Protestant, however. Operating cuffed, prohibited from reaching out and silent until then. much goes without saying that C.S. Day). Mr. Ciurana presented a ver- from its Reformation heritage, Protes- for fresh inspiration of either a per- All manifestations of inspiration, Lewis is more accessible to the mod- sion of this essay on March 25, 2011, tantism rejects the dual notion of au- sonal or corporate (i.e., ecclesial) sort? all masterpieces, all offerings of in- ern mind than is 1st-century Paul. at the conference sponsored by Art thority and sides with Scripture only: If little or no scriptural mandate for spiring and inspired quality, every bit Lewis lived during the 20th century Mokarow in The Woodlands, Texas. sola scriptura. such restrictions exists, then the re- of selfless love, each captivating brush and wrote as a modern man. One can See related articles and photos begin- striction is artificial, a tacitly held sen- stroke or ink blot—all must first live Biblical silence read and understand his works without ning on pages 3 and 40. timentality with no divine authority or and blossom within someone. Yet nowhere does the Bible state first digging deep into the social, eco- precedent. Inspiration does not reside in a that God stopped inspiring sacred nomic, political and religious climate By Alex Ciurana Marxsen (1972) presses further: book or painting or anything inert. writing.1 of his day. ONROE, Texas—Since the “Why shouldn’t the modern church These objects are the results of inspi- This biblical silence, however, does It is not so with the apostle Paul or dawn of the scribal arts, man have the same right of making its ration. To say that the Bible—a physi- not stop the church from teaching time any other ancient author. In fact, the C has expressed an innate desire experiences normative as the fourth cal object—is inspired is to leap over and again that the canon is forever hermeneutical task has become all but to record encounters with the divine. century church? Or were those fourth the most crucial basis for its divine closed. overwhelming and increasingly out of Writings manifesting themselves in century experiences in some way spe- value: the inspired authors. sacred lore, fanciful tales, mythical- But on what basis can such a claim cial?” (p. 17). reach for the modern lay member. nationalistic his- be made? Protestants (and the Church- Consider how many specialized Heaven touches earth Is it outlandish to rethink? tories, wisdom es of God) simply cannot establish a books the student of the Bible needs to The first lesson the Bible teaches is proverbs, apoca- closed canon via sola scriptura and so Now we are met with an intriguing study the Scriptures: language lexi- that the divine joins with the human. lyptic imagery, must, quite embarrassingly, kiss the concept, namely that religious experi- cons, books on Bible idioms, refer- Heaven touches earth, and this inti- poetry and vari- pope’s ring, confessing that they too ence and theological preference con- ences on manners and customs, atlas- macy gives birth to all that is beautiful ous other genres need tradition to uphold church dog- tribute to what is considered inspired es of Bible lands, variant-manuscript and good. have found a spe- matics. (“God-breathed”) and, in turn, what is texts, guides to literary forms, Hebrew So how odd and sad to think that cial place in the This shortcoming should be no sur- eventually canonized. and Greek word studies, background God suddenly ceased this loving way hearts of millions. prise, for not only is Scripture silent in Therefore, is it outlandish that the studies in ancient Egypt, Mesopo- and now blithely mandates all human- In time, most closing the canon, but it was powerless modern church also needs the freedom tamia, Palestine, Greece and Rome. ity to venerate the love acts of the an- religious tradi- Alex Ciurana to form the canon in the first place: to affirm the creative acts of God, be One college textbook states in its cient past! tions compiled “The Protestant church, born in the they found in literature or art or col- conclusion: The human spirit is the same as it certain texts, preferring some to oth- Reformation, maintains that its norm is lective experience? “You might now better appreciate was long ago. The Bible is the evidence ers, and ascribed authority to those the Bible alone: sola scriptura . . . The Would not such freedom cut the the theological problem that has faced 2 that personal inspiration is not only texts for official and/or devotional use. Protestant then faces the dilemma that tethers of potential “Scripture-alotry” Christianity over the past two millen- possible but always fluttering about our Today most major religions have the canon could not have served as a that suffocates God’s continued reve- nia. That theological problem has been ears, eyes and fingers. It is upon our lips writings considered more or less guideline as the church debated the prob- lation in these modern times? and continues to be how to make and quietly percolating in our hearts. authoritative. Some religions, however, lem, since the canon did not yet exist! “A proper view of the Scriptures known the Good News of Jesus in Within mainstream Christianity it is maintain or have maintained a perpetu- “In other words, the church could does not lead to an either/or position, terms of the ever-kaleidoscoping cul- difficult to find formal expression of al stream of holy writ whereby writings this, and perhaps the only ones to do of more-recent times are considered so with charming simplicity are the worthy of special status. This dynamic How do we know God ever stopped writing the Quakers. is typically known as open canon. “The ‘Word of God’ is Christ, not In contrast, other world religions Bible? HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? It could be going on right the Bible . . . The Scriptures are prof- have adopted the concept of closed itable in proportion as they are read in canon whereby writings of modern now through you, me and others all over the world. the same spirit which gave them forth times are never viewed as “Scripture” ... Nothing, I believe, can really teach because it is believed the divine us the nature and meaning of inspira- action of inspired literature has come not abide by the principle of sola scrip- able to find God in the Bible but no- tural scripts that cover the world like a tion but personal experience of it. That to completion. tura in deciding what should or should where else, or at least not so strongly crazy quilt” (B.J. Malina, The New Tes- we may all have such experience, if we Simply put, an open canon provides not be canonical. At that time canonical and palpably in other places. tament World, 1981, John Knox Press). will but attend to the divine influences borders that expand; a closed canon Scriptures were unknown, and the “It does not teach us to shy from Spirituality not about syntax in our own hearts, is the cardinal doc- has fixed borders. church’s decision could in no way be the world of art and letters, philoso- trine of Quakerism” (Quaker Spiritu- ‘according to the Scripture’ ” (Willi phy and mathematics, science and If making the basic gospel message The dynamics of a closed canon ality: Selected Writings, edited by Marxsen, The New Testament as the technology, but to thrive in it, and within the Bible digestible for present Emilie Griffin, Douglas Van Steere and Christianity is governed by closed- Church’s Book, 1972, Fortress Press). to pursue the knowledge of God in culture has been a daunting task to Rick Moody, 2005, Harper Collins). canon dynamics. Although the num- all these areas, confident that the God trained clergy for centuries, how can ber of books considered canonical dif- What if early Christians had who could create a world can con- Summing up believed in a closed canon? we expect the layman, sitting in an fers from Protestant to Catholic, each tinue to reveal himself in every facet easy chair, King James Version in When I heard the title Art Mokarow shares the conviction that its canon is Besides the disharmonious clang be- of that world, through every vessel hand, to glean real understanding from gave his seminar March 18-20, 2011, complete: that sacred literature is no tween sola scriptura and closed can- who loves and appreciates it, and the entire body of writings? seminar in Houston, Texas—“Why longer being breathed forth (“in- on, a simpler observation may be not- even some who don’t” (John Killin- This conundrum is largely solved Did God Decide to Write the Bible?” 3 spired”) by God. ed. Namely, Christianity would never ger, Ten Things I Learned Wrong once the grammatico-historical meth- —I thought to myself: For the Catholic this is an open- have produced or compiled the New From a Conservative Church, 1972, od of biblical hermeneutics is no long- What a strange and anthropomor- and-shut issue with no foundational Testament writings if the early Chris- Crossroad). er viewed as required for spiritual un- phic way of discussing biblical inspi- inconsistency. The councils, the syn- tians were proponents of a closed Some may think that the idea of an derstanding or Christian growth. ration, for we all know that God did ods, select writings of the Early canon; i.e., believing that God stopped open canon is too drastic and consti- This is not to dismiss the value of not write the Bible. People wrote it, Fathers and papal decrees all form a inspiring writings at the end of the Old tutes a complete change from present scholarly interpretation and criticism of even though we believe, of course, body of guidance equal to that of Testament prophetic age. operations of church life. literary texts. It is only to maintain that that something divinely supervisory Scripture. This is known as the dual How ironic that the doctrine of This is simply not so. Every Sun- spirituality is about spirit, not syntax. was going on in that process. authority of Scripture and tradition. closed canon—which seeks to protect day millions of Pentecostals and A layman with no formal training in However, the more I thought about So a certain degree of tidiness is en- the Scriptures—would have squelched charismatics gather for worship, and literary criticism may open the Bible the seminar’s title the more I liked it. quite often a message is declared to and glean existential meaning and So now I borrow from its rather the congregation that is received as transformative ideals from its pages. plebeian phrasing and ask you: How authoritative. In this arena an open heart is more do we know God ever stopped writing AC’s trainer back in the day A message may be packaged in the important than hermeneutical skill. the Bible? How do you know that? It form of an ecstatic utterance (“tongues”) Of course, when the two are com- could be going on right now through or a “word of knowledge” or a sensa- you, me and others all over the world worked with Bobby and Arnold tional sermon. Whatever the outer bined an impressive combination of who want to see His Kingdom in its form the message takes, it is normally scholarship and spirituality may result. Continued from page 1 page and on page 1 of this issue of radiance and influence. received as a “word from God” in James Fowler (writing in 1981 and a nice apartment to stay at” and THE JOURNAL. 1995) recounts how his seminary train- I want to see, hear, taste and touch assigned Mr. Sneider, a world-class Pentecostal and charismatic circles. This is not to suggest that such hap- ing was animated by an ancient prac- God in things ancient and modern, trainer, to help keep him physically tice involving as much heart as head: and I see no obvious benefit in catego- fit and encouraged. penings are necessarily genuine reve- lations from God. I note these phe- “Instead of my reading, analyzing rizing the ancient as more holy than “We physically trained sometimes the modern. as much as three hours a day, which nomena merely to illustrate that in and extracting the meaning of a Bib- many Christian circles the canon is lical text, in . . . prayer I began to learn The God who is the same yester- consisted of walking, weight train- day, today and forever moves through ing, swimming, racquetball, soccer already open in practice in spite of its how to let the text read me and to let it officially closed status. bring my needs and the Spirit’s move- this very time and people too. drills, dynamometer training and ______other exercises,” Mr. Sneider said. [The phenomenon of “tongues” is ment within me to consciousness” Mr. Sneider quoted his friend even quietly present in the Churches (Stages of Faith: The Psychology of See Dixon Cartwright’s editorial Bobby Fischer as saying: “The will of God of the Herbert W. Armstrong Human Development and the Quest about the canon beginning on page 3 to win comes with daily training as tradition. See “Pastor Has an Unusual for Meaning, 1995, HarperOne). of this issue of THE JOURNAL. much as 16 hours a day of chess, Never give your opponent the feel- OLDEN DAYS—Harry Sneider (left) ing that they can beat you.” poses with Arnold Schwarzenegger on the FOOTNOTES Harry and Sarah Sneider have campus of Ambassador College in Pasa- worked together as a team for more dena in the late ’70s. Mr. Schwarzenegger 1 Revelation 22:18-20 is often used as support that the canon commentary on Revelation 22:18 in The New Jerusalem Bible. was noted in those days as a world-class is closed. However, the context of the passage is clearly a 2That is, being guilty of idolatrous affections for the Bible. than 40 years. Phone them at (626) athlete but was not yet an actor or gover- warning not to “add” to or “take away” from the content of 355-8964 or write them at harrysnei- nor of California. See a related photo on the book of Revelation itself, displayed by the qualifying 3The title of Mr. Mokarow’s conference as I quoted it here was [email protected]. page 1 of this issue of THE JOURNAL. [Photo phrase “this book.” Further, such warnings were common in actually a misunderstanding on my part. The actual title was See photos of Mr. Sneider on this courtesy Brian Knowles] works of antiquity to protect against textual tampering. See “Why Did God Have the Bible Written as His Word?” 12 THE JOURNAL Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) Essay Precept upon precept? But what does the Bible really say?

The writer has been an active part line; here a little, and there a little.” cept, precept upon precept, line upon Verse 15 mentions the people’s A mimicking of the Church of God since 1967 and How many times have you heard line, line upon line, Here a little, depraved condition. Let’s take a bit closer look at the participates in a home study group in this verse referred to as a guide to there a little.’ Drunken scoffers as Bible teachers words spoken in this stupor. Here are Arizona while connecting to the COG understanding the whole meaning of a “For with stammering lips and just a couple of marginal references. at large. He attended AC Pasadena in topic in the Bible? another tongue He will speak to this We see here a description of people The NIV Study Bible note says the 1970s. But is this what this verse really people, to whom He said, ‘This is the so intoxicated with wine they are in a “Hebrew / sav lasav sav lasav / kav says? Let’s examine it a little more rest with which You may cause the drunken stupor. In their stupor they lakav kav lakav (possibly meaningless By Wesley Booth carefully. weary to rest,’ and, ‘This is the re- respond to God’s prophetic warning. sounds; perhaps a mimicking of the UCSON, Ariz.—Many readers Some basic guidelines for Bible freshing’; yet they would not hear. Let me ask you: How well can any- prophet’s words).” of THE JOURNAL have been study are in order. One is to read the “But the word of the LORD was to one in a drunken stupor respond to The Jewish Study Bible has this Taround the Church of God for context. We need to find out who is them, ‘Precept upon precept, precept God’s instructions or warning? Are we marginal note: “The Hebrew consists many years. How many times have we talking, who is the audience, what is upon precept, line upon line, line upon to learn from drunken scoffers about of repetitive gibberish; Isaiah’s audi- been admonished to carefully study the topic and what is being said. line, here a little, there a little,’ that how to understand the Bible? ence disregards his poetic warnings as the Scriptures and they might go and fall backward, and Overcome with wine The Lord responds according to monotonous nonsense.” prove all things? be broken and snared and caught. their words: Now let’s continue examining by We see in fact Often it is best to read the entire “Therefore hear the word of the The phrase “So the word of the looking at The Zondervan NIV Bible that Paul gave an chapter, if not multiple chapters, to LORD, you scornful men, who rule this LORD to them will be” (verse 13, Commentary on Isaiah 28:9-10: admonition to the grasp the context. people who are in Jerusalem, because NASB) could be the way the people “As the prophet declares the word church in 1 Thes- We will therefore start in Isaiah 28:1 you have said, ‘We have made a cove- heard the message or specifically how of God in this drink-dominated setting, salonians 5:21 to to see who the audience of this mes- nant with death, and with Sheol we are God replied to them. his hearers make their response. The “prove all things; sage is: in agreement. When the overflowing Notice His warning to them. He drunkards feel insulted. Are they not hold fast that “Woe to the proud crown of the scourge passes through, it will not warned them “that they might go and themselves spiritual leaders, well able which is good.” to teach others? What right has this A translation man to teach them the spiritual ‘milk’? that gives us a Wesley Booth Are we to learn from drunken scoffers how “Isaiah’s words have hardly pene- practical and pow- trated the alcohol-impregnated atmo- erful daily application of this admoni- to understand the Bible? Then why would anyone sphere that surrounds his hearers. What tion is the New American Standard they have picked up are simply a few Bible: “But examine everything care- quote this verse in this manner? stray syllables, some of them repeated, fully; hold fast to that which is good.” like the baby-talk that delights the child Examining the Scriptures but insults the adult. They mouth this drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fad- come to us, for we have made lies our fall backward, and be broken and gibberish back at the prophet. When we examine this admonition ing flower of its glorious beauty, which refuge, and under falsehood we have snared and caught” (Isaiah 28:13). “Their judgment lies in their failure carefully, we see why Paul gave it to is at the head of the fertile valley of hidden ourselves.” to hear the word that could have led the Thessalonians. In Thessalonica there those who are overcome with wine!” Comparing translations Not a guideline for Bible study them back to God; but there is anoth- were people who fomented an uproar The people in this discussion are Another guideline to understanding er judgment on its way, most appro- against the preaching of Paul, and the “proud crown of the drunkards of Wow! Do we see the context? God, the Bible is to read other translations, priate in its form. Their sin has turned therefore he fled the city (Acts 17:5). Ephraim . . . who are overcome with through His prophet Isaiah, is talking since the Hebrew and Greek many the word of God through Isaiah into a Notice the contrast in Berea, the wine!” to a bunch of drunkards. times do not have exact equivalents in meaningless noise that may just as next city Paul visited after his flight. Let’s continue in verses 7-15. No- Did you catch in verse 7 that the English. Let’s start with a common well have been a foreign language.” The Bereans are cited as a good tice the prophet is talking to people “priest and the prophet have erred translation of the “line upon line” pas- example for us in “examining every- who are drunk, who have “erred through intoxicating drink”? sage (Isaiah 28:9-10) from the New Drunks as teachers? thing carefully” in Acts 17:10-11. through wine.” In fact, they are so They don’t listen to the warning. International Version: Are we to learn from drunken scof- They were “more noble-minded than drunk they are vomiting, and “no So why do we take this as a guide- “Who is it he is trying to teach? To fers how to understand the Bible? Then those in Thessalonica, for they re- place is clean.” Let’s read this section line for Bible study? It has nothing to whom is he explaining his message? why would anyone quote this verse in ceived the word with great eagerness, to grasp what is going on: do with a method to use for gaining bib- To children weaned from their milk, to this manner? Isaiah 28:10 is just a quo- examining the Scriptures daily to see “But they also have erred through lical understanding. Quite the opposite! those just taken from the breast? For it tation of a bunch of meaningless words whether these things were so.” wine, and through intoxicating drink spoken in a drunken stupor. Summary of the context is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, The people in Berea examined the are out of the way; the priest and the rule on rule; a little here, a little there.” Now we can see that the verse has Scriptures to see if what a preacher prophet have erred through intoxicat- As we examine this a little more What’s this all about? This is dras- nothing to do with a guideline for was telling them was true. The preach- ing drink, they are swallowed up by carefully, here is a quick summary of tically different from the King James Bible study. er in this case was Paul. wine, they are out of the way through the context: translations. Notice how the Jewish So what else in the Bible have we In examining the Bible to under- intoxicating drink; they err in vision, Verses 1-8 are a graphic descrip- Study Bible renders the passage: missed the true meaning of? Are we stand a given topic, we must use the they stumble in judgment. tion of drunken people who are not lis- “To whom would he give instruc- “examining the Scriptures carefully” whole Bible because most subjects are “For all tables are full of vomit and tening to God. tion? To whom expound a message? to see if what we hear is true? not completely covered in one place. filth; no place is clean. Verses 9-10 are the drunkards’ To those newly weaned from milk, Are we holding our preachers ac- “ ‘Whom will he teach knowledge? response to God’s message. countable as the Bereans were doing? Here a little, there a little just taken away from the breast? That And whom will he make to under- Verses 11-14 are God’s response same mutter upon mutter, murmur Are we proving if what our preachers In this context, another verse that is stand the message? Those just weaned to the drunkards’. upon murmur, now here, now there!” say is true according to the Scriptures? often quoted is Isaiah 28:10: “For pre- from milk? Those just drawn from the Verse 14 notes that the drunkards Does this start to add some clarity ______cept must be upon precept, precept breasts? are scornful (or “scoffers,” as the NIV to what is being said as the drunkards’ The original version of this article upon precept; line upon line, line upon “ ‘For precept must be upon pre- and NASB translate it). reaction to Isaiah’s reproof? appears at theriveroflight.com. Why would God say no to David even though he was fasting? Continued from page 3 2 Samuel 12:15-23. Verses 5-8: Asking a friend for Psalm 21:2. God said no to David even though lowing verses. Some people use them 2 Corinthians 12:8-9. bread at midnight. Psalm 145:15-16. David was fasting. I suppose that Verses 9-10: Asks, given; seeks, Now let me quickly pose a ques- God appreciated that David was fast- to assert that God is required to an- Three concepts swer every prayer with a yes. finds; knocks, opened. tion: Do you view a request for justice ing, but He said no anyway. As you read the verses, consider the I would like to introduce three con- Verse 11: If a son needs bread, as a need or as a desire? But sin is not always the reason that following theological point of view: cepts about the subject of faith: does the father give him a stone? If a It is my perspective that a request God says no to a prayer. Sometimes When God says that all things are pos- I believe that God (as a perfect son needs fish, does the father give for justice really reflects a desire of He says no for other reasons. sible, does that mean that all things are Father) will supply our personal needs him a serpent? our heart. It is an understandable de- Notice Paul’s example (2 Corin- promised? —because He is trustworthy and Verse 12: If a son needs an egg, sire. Nevertheless, it is a desire. thians 12:8-9): As you read the verses, consider the because He loves us. does the father give him a scorpion? Christ did not receive proper jus- God’s strength was made perfect following practical question: How I believe that God will often give God is the perfect Father who pro- tice from people during His physical in Paul’s weakness. should loving parents handle the re- us the desires of our heart—because vides our needs. And He wants us to life (Acts 2:23). The power of Christ rested upon quests of their children? He loves us. come boldly before the throne of However, Christ was given jus- Paul. Matthew 7:7-8; 17:20; 21:21-22. When Paul was weak, God helped Mark 9:23; 11:22-24. him to become strong (verse 10). John 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23-24. This type of attitude often gives the impression that God is Learning to pray effectively 1 John 5:14-15. some genie in a bottle who is required to positively respond Let me quickly list four examples God says no of prayers involving faith: Since you enjoy reading the Bible, to all requests, whether the requests are beneficial or not. Genesis 18:23-33. you know that sometimes God says no Exodus 32:10-14. to a request. Why would He do that? Luke 11:1-8. The apostle James wrote that God I believe that God sometimes grace (Hebrews 4:16). He promises tice by His heavenly Father through Luke 18:1-8. sometimes says no because people ask says no to our requests (which are of- help in time of need. the resurrection (verses 24-36). Repeating three points ten desires of our heart)—because He Likewise, Philippians 3:10 re- for the wrong reasons (James 4:3). Often gives us our desires Some religious people like to proud- loves us. veals that believers may experience Let me leave you with a listing of the The apostle Peter wrote that believ- temporary injustice in this physical three points that I mentioned earlier. ly claim that they have the “faith” to Supplies our needs have all their prayers answered. ers should cast all their cares upon God life before receiving true justice in the I believe that God (as a perfect This type of attitude often gives A scripture that some people use in (1 Peter 5:7). That action may begin resurrection. Father) will supply our personal needs an attempt prove their point that God with our needs, but it also includes our —because He is trustworthy and be- the impression that God is a genie Sometimes He says no in a bottle who is required to posi- is required to answer all prayers with a desires. cause He loves us. tively respond to all requests, yes (Luke 11:9-10) actually proves the As a loving Father, God is general- Earlier in this article I mentioned I believe that God will often give whether the requests are logical and opposite. ly happy to hear our little voices tell three examples where God said no to us the desires of our heart—because beneficial or not. Notice the context: Him about the desires of our heart. His servants. He loves us. Notice a few quick examples where Luke 11:1: “Lord, teach us to I believe that God will often give us With Moses (Deuteronomy 3:23- I believe God sometimes says no God said no. pray.” the desires of our heart. Notice the fol- 27) and David (2 Samuel 15-23), God to our requests (which are often desires Deuteronomy 3:23-27. Verses 2-4: The model prayer. lowing: said no because of their sin. of our heart)—because He loves us. Connections: MMeemmbbeerr ttooMMeemmbbeerr Issue No. 134 PUBLISHED BY THE JOURNAL: NEWS OF THE CHURCHES OF GOD Dec. 20, 2011 Shake and bake Texas style

By Darlene Warren field. And these were not isolated incidents. noises. By that I mean we had just recently Later that morning I asked my husband IG SANDY, Texas—What a weird This was happening all over the state. fixed the squeaky floors in our house, and what in the world he had been doing moving last few months. First it quit raining, Churches put up signs telling people to when I awoke that morning that’s what I around at 4 in the morning to make the floor Blike someone turned the faucet off so pray for rain. The number of dead trees is heard: strange sounds coming from the squeak like that. hard that it was impossible to turn it back on. staggering. So many ponds dried up upstairs. He immediately denied ever getting out Then came the unbearable record heat and, that farmers all over the area used the It all began when my grandkids of bed. Later when we turned the TV on we most recently, the earthquake. situation to their advantage and had were visiting us and they and I learned an earthquake had struck parts of their pond beds deepened, somehow decided to spend the night sleep- Oklahoma. The state’s on fire knowing that one day the rain ing on the floor down in the base- The baking heat and drought that Texas would come. ment in front of the woodstove. Rocking and rolling experienced this past summer was unlike Thankfully, that day has come It was supposed to be a nice, We also heard from a neighbor that his any other that I can remember. Of the 254 for a few of us, and we are again cozy little sleepover, staying trailer had rocked back and forth enough to counties that comprise Texas, at one point receiving some rain here in East up late watching movies and wake him. Assuming that it was due to 251 were under burn bans (more than half of Texas. But it will take a long, long eating popcorn. wind, later that morning he went outside to the counties in Texas still are). time to recover from the historic We did stay up late that inspect the stablilizers only to find that they Absolutely no outdoor burning was record-breaking temperatures and Saturday night, which is why were tight and secure. allowed, not even a barbecue grill. There drought of the summer of 2011. around 4 o’clock on the morning If you live in this part of the country you were many mornings when you could step of Nov. 6, 2011, when the squeak- can expect the summers to be hot and you can outside your house and smell smoke in the Strange noises in the night ing, screeching sound began, I didn’t get expect it will be dry, but I don’t ever expect to air. You knew immediately something was Earthquakes aren’t something I generally up and investigate. have my house move and make strange nois- wrong because no one in his right mind spend much time worrying about. Unless of I do distinctly remember thinking: What es unless I’m in the middle of a hurricane. would start a fire deliberately. course I’m awakened by one in the middle is John doing up there? My 4-year-old The next time you’re tempted to com- Fires were started by leaving your run- of the night. granddaughter woke up crying, which she plain because the rain is inconveniencing ning car parked too long and the grass That is exactly what happened, though at never does. The sounds probably didn’t last your outdoor plans or because you truly underneath it would ignite. A malfunction- the time I just thought my husband was very long, but at the time they seemed to go don’t need the rain, look up and ask God to ing baler started a fire in a neighboring hay- wandering around the house making strange on and on. redirect it to Texas. We could sure use it.

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A lesson from polygamy

olygamy, or more specifically plural mit adultery. One must conclude that Keener in And Marries Another (pg. 87) a man can’t afford it or he has so many wives, is generally outlawed in the having multiple wives is not adultery. (Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, Mass. one is ignored? P Western world. That doesn’t mean “If brothers dwell together, and one of them 1991), multiple wives were illegal under Probably very few if any reading this it has been completely abolished, but it is dies and has no son, the widow of the dead man Roman law during the time of Paul. So have the legal option to marry multiple hidden from general view. The few stories shall not be married to a stranger outside the no one in Asia Minor where Timothy wives. The matter does not really con- that surface about it tend to indicate a family; her husband’s brother shall go in to her, and Titus were would have had multiple cern us. So why are plural wives univer- connection with abuse and teenage preg- take her as his wife, and perform the duty wives. However, that law did not apply in sally condemned among us when our nancy. Certainly there have been abuses. of a husband’s brother to her” (Deu 25:5). Judea. So if someone with multiple wives Master tells us how to make it work? Is this inherent with plural wives or a Again, there is no exception if the broth- from Judea had moved to a gentile area Likely it is because we trust our own reflection of the man in charge? er was already married. He was expected he might be considered for the function opinion above that of our Master and Monogamous women, if not all West- to father a child for his brother. Their of elder. His marital situation, though, ern society, seem to be universally op- firstborn would be considered the child would have been technically illegal and Maker. We don’t seek to understand how posed to the thought of plural wives. of the dead brother (vs. 6). This certainly might have offended the community at He thinks about things. We are content They’re entitled to their opinion, right? allows that there could be additional chil- large. This is more likely Paul’s concern with how we look at things, not consid- We l l, yes, but do we hold our opinion dren. She was to remain his wife. since his recommendation didn’t apply ering how our opinions were formed. above that of the Creator? Do we trust Yes, Adam was told to cleave to his to the indigenous population. How many other matters have we decid- the values of our society that shaped our wife. The intention is that the relation- There are many scriptures that sup- ed for ourselves that don’t line up with the opinion above those of our Creator? ship be permanent as Messiah said “. . . port a man’s option to have multiple thinking of our Maker? If we hold tena- what God has joined together, let not man sep- “If he takes another wife, he shall not wives—Deuteronomy 21:15, Leviticus ciously to an opinion on this matter that is arate” (Mat 19:6b). If Adam had been told diminish her (the first wife) food, her clothing, 18:18, II Samuel 12:8, Genesis 16:3 and really of no direct concern to us, will we and her marriage rights” (Ex 21:10). At the to cleave to his wives everyone would really seek His will in other matters that think every man must have at least two. Jeremiah 3:8-14 to name a few. The les- same time Israel was told don’t commit we want decided to our own liking? adultery they were instructed how to That is not required. son we need to consider from this is how care for two wives. Paul also indicated an elder should tenaciously do we hold to our own opin- Will our Creator establish someone as “If a man entices a virgin who is not be- have only one wife, but he didn’t say why. ion, given the evidence of the instruction a judge on His behalf that doesn’t seek to trothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay Do we jump to the conclusion that plur- of our Creator? Do we insist that plural understand His perspective? Seek His the bride-price for her to be his wife” (Ex al wives must be bad? Why do we do wives in Scripture were only begrudging- opinion, not your own or that of some- 22:16). There is no exception for a mar- that? Does the thinking come from the ly allowed and it’s really inferior to hav- one ordained of men. Examine carefully ried man. He just bought himself anoth- instruction of our Creator or the influ- ing just one wife, or can we look honest- His thinking so you know how His spirit er wife. Again, this instruction came at ence of society? ly at our Maker’s instruction and realize works. His commandments, His cove- the same time Israel was told not to com- Consider that according to Craig that He doesn’t see it as a problem unless nant, are His ways. ★ www.CreatorsCovenant.org or .com ★ PO Box 1002 • South Pasadena, CA 91031

This page is part of CONNECTIONS: MEMBER TO MEMBER, the advertising section of THE JOURNAL 14 ★ ★ ★ THIS PAGE CONTAINS PAID ADVERTISING ★ ★ ★ Issue No. 134 (Dec. 20, 2011) Calendar Reasoning

that. He verified first that God DID exist, and then that month COULD possibly occur based on observations. This ad was first published in the January-February 2007 the Bible was God’s word. THEN, he trusted the Bible In other words, the calculations were used to verify Journal. I have decided to have it reprinted here again in case on faith to provide further revelation from God. Read that the observer claiming to have seen the new some did not have the opportunity to read this. the Autobiography, Vol. 1 for verification of this point. moon, actually could have seen it. I also wish to point out that at the end I mention that faith Next, the Jews were given God’s “oracles” to For those unfamiliar with how the calculated calen- is necessary to believe certain things. Those things I point transmit through time. (As a side note, some claim dar works, the timing for the starting point of the out which require faith to believe in are most definitely the term ‘oracles’ refers to something more than the month is based on a calculation which predicts the not things that I think we should believe in. By saying that meaning given in Strong’s of “utterance (of God).” average (over the course of years) date of the new it takes faith to believe in those things, I am saying that it To support this claim, they offer no proof I have moon. This new moon is the average conjunction of takes blind faith. found.) There is no doubt that God worked with the the earth, moon, and sun so that the moon is not visi- In other words, it’s the same kind of belief that the propo- Jews to preserve His words and Law. But does this ble from the earth. When all three are aligned (in con- nents of evolution use to believe in their theories. To believe in mean that whatever the JEWS teach is GOD’S word? junction), with the moon in the middle, we can only what the “church” teaches about the calendar is equal to belief Even a child who has attended with the WCG or any see the shadow side of it, which is dark and not visible. in evolution, because you have no logical foundation to stand splinter group knows that Christ was VERY clear that This true conjunction is what modern science calls the on. You have only the statements of the leaders telling you to the TRADITIONS of the Jews astronomical new moon. The astro- believe what they want you to. could not always be trust- nomical new moon varies from the I am sorry if that offends some, but the truth is that the ed. He, Christ, constantly average calculated conjunction, or “church” is grasping at straws to support their claims about the referred back to the WRIT- Molad, as the Jews call it, by a small calendar. The logic used to support their claims is clearly faulty. TEN word for His teach- amount. I cannot begin to read the minds of those who uphold the ings, and violently rejected What the Jews in Christ’s day currently used “Sacred Calendar,” but whatever those reasons many of the traditional used to set the start of a new are they do not follow what HWA taught them to do—which is (read ORAL) teachings of month was the observation of the to always seek the truth, and act on that truth. the Jews. By the author’s first faint crescent of the moon as own words in the Good visible from the vicinity of Jeru- News article, the oral teach- salem. Due to the angle of the sun, ing is the basis of the He- moon, and earth, this usually oc- y faith we know that the leadership in the brew calendar. curs 12 to 24 hours AFTER the true “ Jewish courts did preserve the rules of the Third, based on our astronomical conjunction. Since calendar committed to them.”mnnnnnnmm acceptance of the Bible by the Jews have done a very good job B m“It is all a question of government— faith, we must also accept, at predicting this conjunction, the whether God is capable of ruling. Whether God can on faith, the traditions the first crescent is visible also between intervene in the affairs of His people to correct their Jewish calendar is based on. 12 to 24 hours AFTER the Molad, or errors—no men are perfect.” I hope that one can see that average conjunction of the earth, “And the Pharisees, too, sat on Moses’ seat. It was simply because one state- moon, and sun. their court that determined the Hebrew calendar. It ment is claimed to be true Hillel II, for undocumented was their court’s decision that determined which day does not cause an unrelated statement to be true. reasons, also included some modifications to the cal- was the beginning of each month.” Logic demands (and God is the most logical being) culations which postpone the start of the new month “Hillel II, whose responsibility it was to regulate that for two statements to be logically equal, they if certain conditions are present. Specifically, if the the calendar, was forced to issue a decree for the year must be related. The logical claim in the Good News Molad occurs at certain times of the day or on certain AD 358-359 to (re)institute the authority of the fixed article is that since faith is required for one item, we days of the week. Most Jews cite the reasons for calendar.” must also exhibit faith in the second. (Faith that the these most often invoked postponements so as to “Hillel II realized that those verses (Lev. 23:26-32) Jews properly transmitted the OT, therefore, by prevent Atonement from falling on the 6th or 1st day require that the day of Atonement should not fall on extension, that the Jews also faithfully transmitted the of the week. Some others think Hillel II was Friday, the preparation day of the Sabbath.” calendar instructions.) I could just as easily state that attempting to cause the calculations to align the start “It is not required that the first faint crescent visi- to be healed, I must exhibit faith, therefore, I must of the month more closely with the observation of ble in Jerusalem always be declared the new moon. also exhibit faith that the ministry would never the first crescent. What is important is that the authority to declare it change HWA’s foundational teachings. There is no The authors of the Good News articles are referring arises from Jerusalem! connection between the two statements to validate to these postponements as the change God caused to “The authority of Jerusalem in the person of Hillel the equality of the premise. Further, we know Mr. prevent the hardship of cooking two days worth of II did speak in AD 358-359 to authorize the present Armstrong’s position and teaching that we MUST food on the 5th day of the week, as opposed to cook- Hebrew calendar throughout the future until such prove God’s existence AND that the Bible is His word ing one extra day of food on the 6th day of the week. time as a new court sitting in Moses’ seat be reestab- AND NOT TAKE THIS ONLY ON BLIND FAITH!To do so Does God have the power to change things He is lished in Jerusalem.” leaves us open for disillusionment later and open to not happy with? Is the Pope Catholic? Of course. “Since the Bible does not declare which months failure based on a perceived failure of God to follow Does God do this (change things)? Sometimes. Most have either 30 or 29 days, it is an arbitrary decision, through on what WE have accepted on blind faith. In times not. Was God happy with the changes made enacted by those who are in authority over God’s cal- other words, if we blindly accept the claim that the from 1985 to 1992 in the WCG? I doubt it. Did He endar.” change it? No, it had to happen for a (All quotations are from the April, test of His people. Was He happy 1981, Good News magazine.) Honestly, do you really believe that God when His first born Son died? Was He All of the above quotes are from the happy when Adam rebelled or when 1981 GN article “The Hebrew Calen- would alter the dates of His plan, just so you He had to order the destruction of all dar—Authoritative for God’s Church don’t have to cook two days of food on one of mankind in the flood? Today.” The article was written to help The point is, God can change the members sort out calendar issues. day of the year, 2 years out of 3? events here, but He usually works with This article, as well as others over the them as they are. For instance, the years, was clearly approved and autho- changes Mr. Tkach brought on the rized by the church leadership. church. God used these as a test. The The rationales as quoted above are the apparent core Bible is God’s word without proving this to ourselves, people who truly wanted to follow God had to leave. of why the church has maintained the use of the Hebrew when tested (and we ALL will be tested), we are open Just as they did in Paul’s day. calendar. Of late there have been several creative lines of to failure without the foundation of that proof clear in For the authors to claim that the calendar the Jews reasoning brought forth to try to support the use of the our minds. use today was directly corrected by God takes more Hebrew calendar, but to anyone with an unbiased view, Fourthly, if God is not satisfied with a situation, He faith to believe than HWA asked us to use to believe the core belief is embodied in the above passages. will change it. This is offered to excuse the clear his- in God. To summarize them: torical evidence that Christ, OUR EXAMPLE, did not Honestly, do you really believe that God would A) Our belief in the Bible is based on faith. follow the same methods the Jews do now to set the alter the dates of His plan, just so you don’t have to B) The Jews were given God’s word to transmit calendar dates. For those who do not know, the his- cook two days of food on one day of the year, 2 years through the ages. torical record clearly shows the Temple priests set the out of 3? C) We must exhibit faith that the Jews correctly timing of the year, month, and dates. They did so THAT takes faith! It takes blind faith to believe that transmitted the means to determine a calendar based on the observation of conditions, several of God would continue to use the people that rejected accurately. which were variable, including the crops, lunar visibil- His word and Son, 320 years before, to continue to set D) And, lastly, that if God wants something ity, and local weather. (Spier, The Comprehensive Hebrew the timing of the memorial dates of His Grand Plan. changed, He will do so. The Jews have not Calendar, Feldheim; 3rd, rev. edition [1982]) It takes faith to believe that He would reject these changed the calendar since Hillel II, so it must In 359 AD, Hillel II set the starting point of the year, leaders of His chosen nation, and then give His spirit be God’s will to use what has come down to us. month, and Holy days based on calculations developed to His church, YET NOT GIVE HIS CHURCH THE SAME I’d like to address these items one by one. over millennia of time, or possibly derived from ancient AND MORE AUTHORITY THAN HE GAVE HIS NATION First, our belief in the Bible is based on faith. This directions of an unknown origin. These calculations are ANCIENTLY! flies in the face of what HWA himself taught us. He quite remarkable, but they do not represent how the We have clearly seen the error in the early church very clearly showed us that blind faith is not from God. start of the year and month were determined during the when they changed the day of worship from the 7th to We w ere constantly admonished to PROVE his teachings Second Temple period. the 1st day of the week. Yet we are blind to the changes the from the Bible, and to PROVE GOD!He, himself, did just The calculations were used to verify IF a new Jews made from Christ’s time concerning the calendar.

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This page is part of CONNECTIONS: MEMBER TO MEMBER, the advertising section of THE JOURNAL Issue No. 134 (Dec. 20, 2011) ★ ★ ★ THIS PAGE CONTAINS PAID ADVERTISING ★ ★ ★ 15 Connections runs classifieds

Resources Prayer requests Obituaries ONNECTIONS (501) 915-8843. Her E-mail ad- runs classifieds: Virtual Church, Ken Westby, every Sabbath, Brenda Ashlock, Claremore, Okla., recover- Franklin O. Speck, 71, of Kilgore, Texas, help wanted, for sale, pen dresses are prayerlines@sdcog. 11 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. central, 2 p.m. east- ing from surgery. died Dec. 10, 2011. He was born Nov. 28, pals, prayer requests and org and [email protected]. ern, (916) 233-0562, www.godward.org. 1940, and was a re- C Ed Mitchell, Tupelo, Miss., cancer, critical more. Send ads (including prayer As space is available, requests to Www.creatorscovenant.org., P.O. Box 1002, tired security guard. condition. Cards of encouragement may be Mr. Speck’s survivors ONNEC Mrs. Halley will also be printed in South Pasadena, CA 91030. requests and obituaries) to C - sent to 125 RD, 541, Guntown, MS 38849. include his wife, Teres- ONNECTIONS TIONS (see the address and more C each month. ICY, P.O. 208, Pocahontas, AR 72455. Vonda Ouellette, East Texas area, high sa; daughters Joyce Gelina, Sandy Dodges, information in the box elsewhere in When submitting prayer requests Jan Aaron Young, [email protected]; blood pressure. June Bates, Frankie CONNECTIONS). You may also send on behalf of others (whether you articles: http://23jan.spaces.live.com. send them directly to CONNECTIONS Obituaries Speck and Marla Aus- prayer requests to Rosy Halley at The Ezekiel Watchman, P.O. Box 8819, Mo- tin; sisters Ruth Speck, 24 Jumilla Ln., Hot Springs Vil- or to Mrs. Halley), please do so desto, CA 95357, ezekielwatchman.org, Stanley James Witz, 88, of Minneapolis, Ruby Diaz and Rachel lage, Ark. 71909, U.S.A., telephone with their permission. (209) 772-0737 or (209) 524-1304. Minn., born April 5, 1923, died Oct. 17, Diedterich; brothers 2011. Mr. Witz was preceded in death by his Frank Speck, Robert Frank Speck Ministry Publications, P.O. Box 715, Cotton- wife, Norma G. He is survived by his chil- (Connie) VanElsen, wood, AZ 86326. dren, Jeffry J. (Lor- James Speck and Albert Enslen; 10 grand- Phrases from Ezekiel 1 Zwbrt89, P.O. Box 80338, No. 6833, Chi- raine), Jodi J. (Sher- children; and five great-grandchildren. cago, IL 60680, [email protected]. non) West, Jerrold J. Ruth M. Griffith, 78, of Windsor, Mo., died (Jane) and Janet J. QR I KSEL I XEEHTGNOMAGO Henk Jens, P.O. Box 121, Belmore, N.S.W. Oct. 5, 2011, at the Country Club Care (Cliff) Christenson; 2192, Australia. www.rightly-dividing.net. Center, Warrensburg, Mo. Mrs. Griffith was SZLOZTZOVSATNIGYVFNE grandchildren, Jeffry born Feb. 26, 1933, in Lincoln, Mo., the NRJ I TGUNEMXOH IWQLAZW Radio4Living.com, whatnextmedia.com, Jr., Douglas, Ramicah, daughter of Wesley Don Rains and Grace [email protected]. Trent, Aaron, Abigail, Mildred (Dalton) Rains. On March 19, 1950, LTERVTJCOOSCNJQAHEDE Rachel, Benjamin, Me- Art Mokarow, P.O. Box 1197, Montgomery, at the home of John and Florence Pattison, leah, Derek and Jaron; TEJTJ I AANRAFFJSNKMRC TX 77356, [email protected], www.Gods in Windsor, she married Donny Paul “D.P.” and great-grandchil- PuzzleSolved.com. Stanley Witz Griffith Sr., who preceded her in death on HCESAFNAH I BEQHB I T I OF dren Brooklyn, Mer- Nov. 13, 2003. Ruth and her late husband, EXEHRWFGOALDEWEUHX ID Brian Convery, www.abibofgod.com riah, Isaiah, Trent Jr., Christopher, Brooke D.P., became members of the Radio Church John Kal, [email protected]. and Cooper. of God shortly after attending the evangelis- BPEUWOGHCLNSELZPWRAT tic campaign of Garner Ted Armstrong in Ray Rousseau, P.O. Box 541, Ceresco, NE Everett Roy Oakley III passed away un- AIOLEAENFRODTHPKTDHO expectedly Oct. 29, Springfield, Mo., in the 1950s. She was a 68017, (402) 665-2037. farmer’s wife, mother and homemaker. She 2011, at his residence BFFCGJNAI FEHSASCVEQF had also worked at the former Windsor Don Roth, P.O. Box 406, Hustisford, WI in Houston, Texas. Mr. Resthaven Nursing Home and also baby-sat YQAAGAC I LHEASOO I KOAW 53034, [email protected]. Oakley was born July in her home for many Windsor children. She LFSNCEEIHPSFTAFENCPT Tulsa Women’s Conference, June 8-10, 2012. 6, 1946, in Newport was a member of the Midwest Church of Tulsa Church of God and the Church of God News, Va. He was a God, Kansas City, Mo. Survivors include a OA I GDEGNRTOULUBAERDV International. Nancy White, (903) 636-4756, 1-W worker on the son, Mark Griffith, Lebanon, Mo.; two NKTONHO I AE ISRAROMSUH [email protected] or Ambassador College daughters, Connie Griffith, Windsor, Mo., Renée Steel (918) 809-5580, www.tulsachur- campus in the 1960s. and Cherie Tibbetts and her husband, Troy, IWWRTI EFNFOWRFFEDAXB chofgod.net. Tulsa Church of God, 14509 He was an amateur Windsor; and two grandchildren, Tiffany East Marshall St., Tulsa, OK 74116. historian, theologian Prater and Isaac Tibbetts. In addition to her ANRNQSWOAFORLAOXSWNQ Everett Oakley and world traveler. parents and husband, she was preceded in NN ILTGRRFL I EMECRAEBE Building Bridges Not Walls, www.Recon- ciliationGroup.org. Diane Louise Smith, 68, a resident of So- death by two sons, Donny Paul Griffith Jr., and Brian Oakes Griffith; a sister, Lois SNI KZHKIUV I ACCEDANTU mersworth, N.H., passed away at her resi- The Church of God is not prepared, www. Cason; and three brothers, Monty Rains, dence Nov. 16, 2011, surrounded by her lov- GCQNTDRGEONOHASHDOXJ ChildrenofGod.net, P.O. Box 30332, Little Ervin Rains and Don Rains. Notes of con- ing family, after a courageous battle with Rock, AR 72260. dolence may be sent to Connie Griffith, 610 AOKRCE I RDMFHNQFDWCRV brain cancer. She was born Feb. 12, 1943, in Church of God Big Sandy, www.churchof- E. Florence St., Windsor, MO 65360, or E- Somersworth, a daugh- mail [email protected]. among the Ezekiel fell face down King the Kebar godbigsandy.com. ter of Daniel J. and exiles the priest flashes of Jehoiachin River Florence (Garrett) Cote. Charles F. Hunting, 92, died Nov. 11, 2011, at 5:15 a.m., in Sara- face of a lion lightning living creatures throne of Personals She graduated from burnished sota, Fla. He was a face of a man four faces sapphire Widower, retired teacher, conservative, fit, Somersworth High roar of squadron commander bronze rushing waters longtime COG member, seeks single COG School in 1961. She face of an eagle four wings wheel within on board an aircraft lady 50-62 for long-term relationship. Friend- was a phlebotomist at coals of fire face of an ox hands of a man the Babylonians a wheel carrier during World ship first. Write Gordon Winkelman, 9571 E. Lab Corp. in Ports- War II. Mr. Hunting is 5th St., Tucson, AZ 85748. Pictures, please. mouth, N.H., for more survived by his daugh- Is there any saint out there, a lady 50-60, who than 20 years, retiring ter, Sidney; two sons, would like to correspond with longtime mem- in 2006. Diane enjoyed Chris and Paul; nine ber Max McFeat (widower six years, violinist, gardening, walking Diane Smith grandchildren; and 10 pianist) with a view to marriage and life on a along Wells and Ogun- great-grandchildren. Charles Hunting Why do you beautiful South Island farmlet, N.Z. Phone quit beaches, spending time with her family, Opal Marie Reece, 85, of Flint, Texas, died 011 64 34651 788 or write 1177 Goodwood friends and especially her six grandchildren. Dec. 14, 2011. Mrs. Reece was born July 1, tithe on money? Rd., Palmerston, Otago, New Zealand. She was predeceased by her parents. Diane is survived by her husband of 31 1926, in Boone, N.C. She was a retired recep- tionist and pianist for the Intercontinental years, Charles W. Smith of Somersworth; Few of us have taken a closer look at the Free/trade Church of God in Tyler. She ran the telephone five sons, Dan Brown and his wife, Lissa, of Free: About 20 copies of the Ambassador switchboard on the Ambassador College cam- Scriptures to see what it really says about Rochester, George Brown and his wife, College yearbook, The Envoy, from the pus in the 1960s and ’70s. She and her hus- Stefanie, of North Hampton, Don Smith and tithing. Honestly, where does the Bible say, or 1970s through the 1990s. I’m giving them band, Cecil, owned and operated the Pizza his wife, Marlean, of Berwick, Maine, Dave away, but you will need to pay postage. Mrs. Corral restaurant in Gladewater, Texas. She is even hint, that we are to tithe on the money we Smith and his wife, Ann, of Rochester and Clyde Mottin, 514 Milan Ave., Ravenna, NE survived by daughter, Cecilia Hall of Tyler; Jim Smith of Somersworth; and six grand- earn? What truly is Biblical “increase”? Few doc- 68869. Phone (308) 452-3340. grandchildren Aimee Jones, Jordan Hall and trines have been as badly misrepresented as the children, Ava and Ella Brown, Cy Lagrassa, Jordana Stellpflug; great-grandchildren Tris- Prayer requests Ryer and Summer Smith and Zachary tian, Joshua, Gessyka, Destynnie, Cameron, doctrine of tithing. If you now tithe on money, on Smith. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Asa, Cecil and Peyton; four great-great-grand- James and Laura Moran request prayer for your paycheck, then you owe it to yourself and Christian Biblical Church of God and, with children; sisters Joan Bingham of North their continued health problems. her husband, hosted a home fellowship. Carolina, Margaret Noland of Idaho and Gail your family to get the facts. Read this detailed Ken Ryland, Mulvane, Kan., recovering from Funeral services were held Nov. 21, 2011, Phillips of Gladewater; a brother, Larry Phillips study of tithing which has been freeing people from the false teach- heart surgery. Walter Warren, officiating. of North Carolina; and nieces and nephews. ings on tithing for over 20 years. (Suggested donation, $3 ppd)

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its soil as Bush Sr. and Jr., Colin Powell and Gen. Tommy Franks. Tony Blair is indicted for war crimes by Greece. Hagger details the main payoffs for the 911 Now and New World Order attacks: oil, a global defense system and world government [opium is another]. The United States of Africa was formed in Part 13 2002 led by Libya’s Gaddafi. In the Congo Great Lakes area 3 million died since the 1994 conflict. The massacres were for arms sales, to One Nation Under Siege Nazis and the Occult (2007) worldwide conspiracy has been steadily grow- cull the population and allow US control of Congo’s oil. VD (2006): CIA and FBI knew hijacked By Paul Roland: “Ritual magicians play act, ing.” The Rothschilds financed Harriman to The Syndicate plans to make the US the airlines plot on Aug. 6, 2001. US Major fulfilling a role as an actor in a mystery play— become tops in finance and railroads, Carnegie D global power, bankrupt it [about done now, General Stubblebine tells that his job was to a sacred act in which they identify with a god in steel and Rockefeller in oil. The Syndicate $14 trillion in debt] and take over the world measure accurately from photos of Russian who personifies a specific attribute they wish got the Federal Reserve Act passed. with its own government. Though there is weaponry and vehicles. He claims the initial to awaken within themselves [like Masons Arnold Toynbee said in 1931 “We are at much competition among members of the hole in the Pentagon was 16 feet, too small for play-acting slayings]. To strengthen their intu- present working with all our might to wrest Syndicate, so plans can change somewhat. all the jet to go in, yet parts were not found itive powers, for example, they assemble arti- this mysterious force called sovereignty out of The Club of Rome led by the Rockefellers outside. He says no law requires the military to facts corresponding to the moon, the planetary the clutches of the local national states of our split the world into 10 areas in 1973. Europe do police work in the US, yet they are doing so body associated with that aspect of their per- world. And all the time we are denying with was the first united with one currency. “It is in areas as if martial law exists. Police are to sonality.” Place in the room associated colors, our lips what we are doing with our hands.” intended that the world currency will be in serve and protect but increasingly learn to kill signs, objects and incense to focus their minds. Most all Declaration of Independence sign- place by . . . 2016, by which time the US is to as the military. “In such an atmosphere the magician’s con- ers were Master Masons. Franklin was a Rosi- be dissolved either by treaty or executive order Many people saw the 2nd jet hit the 2nd sciousness will be raised from the mundane to crucian Mason familiar with English Masons’ with July 4, 2016, being the last Independence tower on 911, noted it was not a commercial a higher state of awareness—a greater reality.” plan to create Francis Bacon’s philosophical Day.”—from the book The Last Independence airliner and had a pod below. National and “With their effective use of music, lights Atlantis (the US). He was shown the Illuminati Day. [Though NWO plans do get delayed.] state leaders about to air travel on 911 were and sexual imagery, rock concerts can be as Seal in 1776 while in Paris for their financial The masses could be controlled by bom- warned by the White House, as San Francisco potent as any pagan rite. Religious organiza- and military aid. It became the US Great Seal, barding microwaves so people lose the power mayor Willie Brown. US Attorney General tions also acknowledge the value of ritualized Illuminati symbols of Eye atop a pyramid with to resist. Using cell phone masts and other John Ashcroft said he avoided flying then worship—the use of candle, incense and sym- date 1776 since the group formed in May of sources of microwaves to beam, which already because of hijack risk. NORAD stood down bols, and the hypnotic quality of prayer to cre- that year (actually a revival). Though this US- cause health problems. Depopulation is in the for the 1st time on 911 so no jet intercepts. ate a sense of unity climaxed with the sharing Illuminati Seal did not become public until 33º works—25 million have died from AIDs (US- [When most needed! Cheney was in charge of of some form of sacrament . . . Even political Mason FDR placed it on $1 bills. [15 Illumi- made) in Africa. China’s one child policy is them then. Why wasn’t he fired?] parties and commercial corporations practice a nati lodges were founded in the US by 1786.] severely enforced by sterilization, contracep- Increased fabricated flu threats mean more crude form of magic when they use a memo- The eagle of the Seal was originally the tion and abortion. Fluoride in Western water vaccinations of unsafe ingredients. People rable symbol or slogan to implant or enforce Masonic phoenix. The 13 stars above the eagle supplies helps reduce male sperm count. objecting to forced ones may be sent to deten- the desire for whatever it is that they are sell- form the 6-point Rothschild star and is used by Genetically modified foods aid depopulation. tion centers. Or those against a national ID card, ing, commercial merchandise or an ideology Cabbalists to ward off evil. Many US presidents are 33º Masons as both to record vaccines for bird or swine flu. [A UN [much of these symbols from Masonry].” Hitler chose Nuremburg as capital since it Bushes, Clinton and Ford. “Besides being report claimed the 2009 swine flu or H1N1 virus Many claim Hitler was possessed by the was of the Roman Empire, and he modeled the taught that Lucifer is the true god, 32º and 33º could cause a pandemic of millions dying if devil at times. He followed some of Friedrich national buildings after ancient Rome (same as Masons have their own Luciferian calendar, vaccines were not taken. Yet the EU parliament Nietzsche’s writings in Man and Superman, US!). based on Anno Lucis (Year of Light/Lucifer).” investigated drug companies profiting from this Beyond Good and Evil and The Antichrist. “In 1984 about the time he became a Grand Dating cornerstones of Masonic-built edifices, hype with risky vaccines. Patents for the vac- Nietzsche called for a “New Order under a Orient Freemason, Gorbachev had met Otto as national buildings. cine were applied for before the virus was dis- Master of the Masses. One who will dominate von Habsburg, Pretender to the thrones of The EU flag’s 12 5-point stars in a circle covered! So it was engineered for profit.] and rule Europe . . . an end to the long spunout Austria, Hungary, and the Holy Roman Em- represent the Virgin Mary’s crown depicted in RFID tags are urged for all pets and live- comedy of little states.” pire and an MEP fluent in some 40 European art over the ages, the Queen of Heaven or stock—fines up to $1000 per day. If an animal “In prophesying the appearance of the languages. Habsburg was supremely well Semiramis. Shown on old coins with spiked dies the owner must notify authorities. An Master of the Masses, he referred to him as the qualified to speak for Europe.” rays on her head, and appears on the Statue of implant locater for the military is in case of last man, because he would be the one to initi- In 1976 urged by the Rockefellers, 124 Liberty built by and for Masons, depicts capture and other uses. ate Armageddon and . . . most despicable.” Congressmen signed the Declaration of Inter- Lucifer’s bride illuminating mankind. Mack- Elected leaders are suppose to be civil ser- dependence for a New World Order to unite all ey’s (Masonic) Encyclopedia claims Nimrod vants, yet they live in mansions as governors The Syndicate (2004) nations. was a Mason and king of Babylon. and get chauffer service. Story of the Coming World Government by At the UN Ambassadors’ dinner 1994 Nicholas Hagger: The US and UK went to war David Rockefeller spoke: “This present win- Albert Pike wrote Mazzini outlining 4 Solomon’s Power Brokers (2007) against Iraq twice though it never threatened dow of opportunity, during which a truly World Wars: 1st to destroy czars in Russia set- By Christopher Knight and Alan Butler: the US or was massing an attack across the peaceful and interdependent world order ting up atheism; 2nd for rise of Fascism and These Freemasons against the Bible trace English Channel. None of the 911 hijackers might be built, will not be open for too long . . . Germany against Britain; 3rd of (Cold War) Masonry back to Solomon who allowed wor- were Iraqis. Sure Saddam was a bad guy, but We are on the verge of a global transforma- Russian Communism and advance of Zion- ship of gods as Astarte. Masons built many other despots were not attacked for that reason tion. All we need is the right major crisis, and ism; and 4th of Zionists fighting Arabs to bring cathedrals, including the idol-filled Roslyn alone. He was supported by the US in the 1980s the nations will accept the New World Order.” world conflict to set up a Masonic dictatorship Chapel in Scotland as a Third Temple founded against Iran. Oil was a main reason for invading Evil men want a major crisis, and he was of the world. on a rock from the seam as Solomon’s Temple. Iraq and the Bushes are oil men. “Nelson apparently speaking of 911 events. Nicholas Rockefeller about 911 [Plaques recently placed at the US Capitol Mandela made a scathing attack on Bush, Osama bin Laden in videos praised the 911 A year before the 911 attacks he told Holly- honored black slaves who built it in 12-hour claiming that all America wanted was Iraqi oil.” attacks but did not claim he did them. Bush wood film maker Aaron Russo of a special days, 6 days a week, in rags and even bare feet. The top 2002 oil producer was US over kept secret facts linking Osama to the 911 event soon that would lead to the nations Their owners got $5 a month for each slave. Saudi Arabia! Though the US guzzles it, and attacks, later found faulty. “US planes bombed attacked. “He just said there’s gonna be an Ironically, one slave (Philip Reid) helped the Saudis export much. Thanks to Lawrence the Red Cross warehouse that stockpiled food event and out of that event we’re gonna invade make a plaster mold for the Statue of Freedom of Arabia, the British were in control of oil for refugees twice in the Kabul region . . . a Afghanistan so we can run pipelines to the atop the dome.] there when it was renamed Saudi Arabia in UN warehouse in Kandahar stockpiling food Caspian sea, we can go into Iraq to take the oil Masons in full regalia founded the US Capi- 1932. Both World Wars [and both Iraq wars] was bombed. These strikes could only worsen and establish bases in the Mid-East and to tol with a Masonic ritual of corn and wine on focused on controlling Mid-East oil. [Wiki- the chances of the Afghan refugees [about] 7.5 make [it] the New World Order.” [So the real Sept. 18, 1793, because astrologically Mer- pedia: “Coleman argues that the Muslim million.” [Same as Iraq, US troops dastardly 911 terrorists got away.] cury and Venus rose just before the sun as Brotherhood is a secret Masonic order created bombed utilities and civilians.] Rockefeller referred to an “Endless war on morning stars, and Venus stood directly over- with support from T.E. Lawrence, Bertrand Pentagon translations of the Osama tapes head when the cornerstone was laid at 11 AM. Russell and St. John Philby to keep the Middle were found doctored and inaccurate by Arabic terror where there’s no real enemy and the District of Columbia’s street layout designed East backward so its natural resources as oil language experts interviewed on the German whole thing is a giant hoax.” He tried to recruit by Masons includes the 5-point star figure of could continue to be looted.”] state TV show Monitor 12-20-2001. The Russo to his side but he declined. The elite cre- Venus, and is known as the Masonic City. [So Ezra Pound claimed the US was sold to the American Free Press 12-31-2001 cited an ated women’s lib and funded it by the the patriotic 5-point star stands for the goddess Rothschilds in 1863. Mayer Amschel took the Islamic affairs specialist who claimed a tape Rockefeller Foundation to destroy the family; Venus! House Resolution 33 of Congress in name Rothschild for red shield, the 6-point star shows Osama congratulated for a 1997 wed- want reduction in world population and people 2007 lauded Masons (as the 33rd degree) for symbol hung over his house’s door where his ding, not the 911 attacks. Al-Qaeda did work microchipped. founding the city and nation.] ancestors once lived. When he died in 1812 he for the CIA against the Russians when they were in Afghanistan, and he was an employee. Texe Marrs’ books and DVD Delegates from the colonies signed the was the richest man ever. The Rothschild mer- New Age Dark Secrets (1999) Constitution at Philadelphia in 1787 on Sept. chant banks became a noiseless international According to Sean Broughton, the director 17, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows for the syndicate controlling nations’ banks. President of a London-based production company Smoke NY Times in 1986 reported that corporations Virgin Mary. “Most Freemasons are unaware Garfield in 1881 said “Whoever controls a and Mirrors, there are 20 people good enough to as IBM, AT&T and GM use metaphysics and that it is also a festival that is enshrined in the nation’s money supply shapes its destiny.” fool everybody. A 2002 British dossier claimed Hindu mysticism to aid executives in the glob- Third Degree ceremony of Freemasonry . . . Rothschilds aided the 1917 Balfour Decla- Iraq had WMD but were never found. Another al market. Stanford University has a business [for the] Virgin.” DC is Virgin Mary land, ration to begin the state of Israel in 1948 (and one came out Feb. 2003, but was found to be seminar using chants, meditation and tarot from Virginia and Maryland. Mary celebrated its flag has their star). The Rockefellers lob- gathered from various sources, one a student’s cards. A survey of 500 corporate presidents by pagans as the Corn god, Isis or Demeter. bied this to gain control of Mid-East oil. PhD thesis plagiarized from the Internet. and company owners found that half spon- President Bush in 2001 signed a bill declar- The Syndicate funded takeover of Russia “Nine members of this semi-secret body sored a New Age consciousness-raising tech- ing Sept. 17-23 each year as “Constitution for their oil beginning in 1905 by Trotsky, and [PNAC authors Cheney, Rumsfeld and Jeb nique for employees. The US military advises Week. This is precisely the time period covered Communism took over in 1917. A 1911 St. Bush] which urged the war on Iraq were linked the New Age Army use meditation, psychic by the ancient mystery rites of Demeter . . . Louis Post-Dispatch cartoon “sums it up. Karl to companies which won defense contracts skills and magic. [Its remote viewers copy associated with justice, equality and freedom.” Marx stands in Wall Street surrounded by an worth more than $50 billion.” PNAC stated that Indian vision quests.] Benjamin Franklin was a “Masonic Grand appreciative audience of financiers: John D. a new Pearl Harbor attack would be needed, The New Age group Hunger Project does Master and a confirmed hedonist” member of Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan” and others. Rocke- issuing in a Pax Americana of global US rule. not spend a cent on the hungry, and admits its a Hell Fire Club, as many British top leaders. feller as the Czar of the New World Order con- The faked terrorist attacks on 911 with money promotes New Age doctrine. New Top Mason Albert Pike wrote in his book trolled Russia behind the scenes [so the Cold 3000-some US people dead resulted in terror- Agers claim many experiences under deep Morals and Dogma given to high Masons that War was a scam]. ist attacks daily in Iraq on millions of Iraqis. meditation or trance talking with a spirit being Freemasonry is a religion to worship Lucifer Winston Churchill’s 1920 quote: “From the And US firms profited in the oil and recon- shrouded in light, but even Satan can appear as as Son of the Morning (like Venus) enlighten- days of Spartacus Weishaupt to those of Karl struction afterward. Belgium claims jurisdic- an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14). ing men with wisdom. Marx, to those of Trotsky [and others], this tion to try for war crimes those setting foot on Continued on next page

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“Churchill was an adept of the occult having been inducted into the Druids in 1908, and pledged the occult oaths required of those who have entered into the world of Freemasonry.” Now and New World Order The London Illustrated Herald wrote that Chur- chill’s V-shape sign came to mean Victory but was originally a symbol for the devil and used behind a head to mean the person is a devil. Masons headed the US in Texas, and even CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE ing before and buying after when cheap.] About Codex Magica (2006) Mexico’s Santa Anna was one. “Today the 5- 1992 Mark Jones, financial advisor to the late pointed Texas star, actually an Illuminati icon, is New Age writer Peter Lemesurier in his Encyclopedia Britannica states “The Talmud book The Armageddon Script tells The Plan John D. Rockefeller Jr., said “Just four [US] displayed across the state. The stars on the U.S. is still the authoritative and practical guide of flag are of Masonic origin. The music later used (actually of Antichrist): Messiah appears on men, through their interlocking directorates on the great mass of the Jews.” Mt. of Olives after a severe crisis (likely nu- boards of large corporations and major banks, for our national anthem the Star-Spangled Ban- Truman told actor Orson Welles: “You’re the ner was composed by a Mason, John Stafford clear war threat) and earthquake (manmade). controlled the movement of capital and the cre- second greatest actor alive today. I’m the first.” Parades with his followers lead to his ancestor ation of debt in America.” Smith . . . Mason Francis Scott Key set the words Presidents merely act like they are in charge. to the music . . . as America’s national anthem King David’s tomb and emerges with royal Globally, 10 men are of the inner circle WWI was set off by the assassination of robes. Goes to Temple Mount and is crowned (Council of Ten Wise Men), about 300 in the (set to the tune of a song about false gods).” Archduke Ferdinand by Freemason Cabrino- The Fraternal Order of Police logo has a 5- King of New Israel. A Cloud of the Divine next outer circle, and several thousand in the vic. In his trial he said: “Yes, I knew we were all Presence descends on him with thunder and next circle. point star with Masonic handshake and All- Freemasons, and this strengthened my resolve Seeing-Eye. “Is this the elite’s way of telling lightning (all faked). Marrs narrows the 10 men down to 13 can- ... Freemasonry strengthened my intention. In US Dept. of Education had hearings to pro- didates. Secrecy abounds and some are the whole world We are the law?” Freemasonry it is permitted to kill.” Amos 5:26: But ye have borne the taberna- tect pupil rights, and the transcripts are cited in replaced: 4 are Rothschilds. In the US David The following are gestures taught in Ma- the book Child Abuse in the Classroom (1985): Rockefeller is tops, then Jay and Laurance. Jay cle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the sonic books, as Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia: star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. In questionnaires the kids filled in the blank as pushed Hillary Clinton’s fascist health care re- Some could be ordinary gestures, but less like- “The trouble with being honest is ___. They are form, but it was stopped. Angered that his So the Bible condemns the star images derived ly if posed for the camera as some for the cover from pagan god use [as the rating system of 5 asked, what would be the hardest thing for you scheme to gather all health care under 5 Rocke- of Time magazine. Mackey wrote that the hand to do: steal, cheat or lie? . . . for group discus- feller insurance companies failed, he vowed it stars of excellence]. is “that symbol of mystical intelligence by United Fascist Union of the US uses sym- sion in 3rd grade: How many of you ever want- “would eventually become law whether the which one Mason knows another in the dark as ed to beat up your parents?” American people want it or not.” Obama con- bols of the fasces or bundled rod with ax, same well as in the light.” as huge symbols in the US Senate and many are A Course of Study taught children genocide, tinues the scam. Photos of Masonic hand shakes are shown: euthanasia and homosexuality by making them The US Supreme Court ruled that “the below the statue atop the Capitol. [Among Donald Rumsfeld with Afghan leader Karzai; many gods displayed there is Bellona goddess debate, to explain why such moral issues as pre- Rockefellers’ Standard Oil Co. must be dis- Paul Bremer with Iraq’s Ahmed Chalabi; Pales- marital sex or homosexuality were good. Those solved—at once! . . . For the safety of the Re- of war overseeing the Military Affairs room.] tinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli “Communism was solely the invention of most obstinate were called upon by the teacher public we now decree that the dangerous con- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, yes both Masons; and peer pressure was great for them to crack. spiracy must be ended by Nov. 15, 1911.” But the Jews.” Led by the Illuminati 66 million cardinals and popes; Fidel Castro; Harry S. Russians died but the Illuminati-controlled The game Dungeons and Dragons played in the breakup led to even more wealth and Truman with Billy Graham; Rev. Robert class is accused for causing some suicides. monopoly for Rockefeller. media kept this secret, yet not Hitler’s 6 million Schuller with Mikhail Gorbachev. So these Jews dead. Teachers tell students to keep secret what is Otto von Habsburg is called Europe’s hidden leaders of separate nations are really members done in class, as séances trying to contact dead king, son of the last Empress of Austria, and an of the same secret club. Mysterious Monuments (2008) spirits. Some school books instruct how to use EU Parliament member. He urges a Holy Ro- Hand in bosom—hand hidden inside cloth- a Ouija board or make a horoscope [even Hitler man Empire with monarch and Roman Catholic New York City has many Stock Market bulls ing as famed Napoleon picture: many photos as and cash cows in statues displayed on streets. claimed so many people born the same day church. He or his grandson Karl would lead. He Colin Powell, Karl Marx, Lenin, Salomon Similar to Greek temples of a bull in front, and would have the same forecast]. Some had to said “The time for the (Habsburg) dynasty lies in Rothschild, presidents Pierce and Hayes. the Wall Street Stock Exchange resembles a role-play being a warlock or exorcist. Mind some happier tomorrow when a new Europe . . . Same right angle arm but with hand outside Greek temple—as old calf worship—a bull control tapes were played. will undergo a time of resurrection.” He claims grabbing cloth: Pat Robertson, John Wilkes market. School libraries add New Age books as: The to be a descendent of the (false) Merovingian Booth, Johannes Kepler, Yeltsin, Sir James de Dragons of North Chittendon about war The goddess of Liberty watching the sun god bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Marrs Rothschild. Mithras slaying a bull appeared in art form between humans and dragons; a peace-loving Sammy Davis Jr. used Illuminati signs in his claims Otto is of the Inner Circle and likely Karl 1800 years before the Statue of Liberty. Both dragon is hero. The Dragon ABC Hunt teaches dances. He was a member of the Church of will take his place. “Like the Hapsburgs, Juan have 7 spikes or rays on the head, as other god- that dragons are fun-loving. Satan. His popular song “The Candy Man” Carlos also lays claim to the title King of dess depictions in history. TV cartoons and toys feature mystical pow- reportedly was secretly in praise of Satan. Candy Jerusalem” and is of the Inner Circle. The former Standard Oil Building in NY ers. She-Ra Princess of Power is Mystery Man brings his disciples gifts such as illegal [Habsburg said of the European 12-star cir- City was built by John D. Rockefeller with a Babylon or Queen of Heaven. He-Man Master cle logo and flag in his book The Social Order drugs like heroin, cocaine and sexual favors. of the Universe uses New Age symbols, witch- Greco-Roman temple on top copying Halicar- of Tomorrow: “Now we do possess a European The double-headed eagle on Pike’s book nassus, temple for Zeus. Monstrous demi-gods es’ spells and charms. Its toys feature Skeletor, symbol which belongs to all nations equally. Morals and Dogma represents the Babylonian Sorceress, Beast Man and Stratos. “[With] of hell are shown most everywhere in the city. This is the crown of the Holy Roman Empire, god of money and forces (Dan 11:38), also on A guided tour shows gargoyles, green men and Skeletor helmet and armored belt you become which embodies the tradition of Charlemagne, the 33º Masonic jewel. transformed into an agent of evil. Use your other beasts. the ruler of the united occident (western The Illuminati symbol in the US Great Seal Lure of Symbols: Freemason Robert Lomas power sword shield to combat good. With your nations).” As if the Roman Empire was a good came from Hayim Salomon secretly assisting mystical ram’s head scepter you will be able to wrote “My experience of the (Masonic) Craft thing! The 12-star circle represents the Virgin Adams, Franklin and Jefferson. The banker was says that these symbols have a deep emotional call forth the denizens of darkness to help con- Mary, a fake of Rev 12:1.] sent by the Rothschilds to spread money to fund quer the forces of good.” appeal, and the more I sit in Lodge and gaze at Other possible Circle members: President of such things as the Continental Congress and bribe them the more attractive they become.” [Same Where Rich & Famous Dwell World Jewish Congress Edgar Bronfman. politicians. In exchange to get favors, including lure for these same idolatrous symbols used by Britain’s Lord Peter Carrington is a banker and the Illuminati pyramid symbol with All-Seeing- 2008 DVD: They claim to be gods (as Masons for US patriotism.] like other Circle members wants another Tem- Eye of their god. They believe in a Utopia on George Washington ascended among pagan Albert Pike wrote “The Blazing Star has ple of Solomon in Jerusalem [One was made in earth run by Jews, the NWO. Pike claimed the gods in the Capitol). Rothschilds set dinner been regarded as the emblem of Omniscience Brazil recently.] South Africa’s Harry Oppen- Eye or Blazing Star [same as Arizona flag] sym- or the All-Seeing Eye, which to the Egyptian table with empty chair for Satan. bolized the sun and Lucifer as god of light. [So The first Apple computer sold at $666.66. heimer is king of diamonds and has intimate ties initiates was the emblem of Osiris, the with Israeli Mossad and secret work with the the star symbol seen everywhere in the US (and Creator.” Pike claimed “Masonry is identical It’s logo is a bitten apple [commonly called the other nations) refers to Lucifer.] forbidden fruit. Apple recently surpassed US Defense Department. “In Johannesburg the to the ancient Mysteries.” largest Jewish temple in the world is under con- The Capitol shows George Washington “Mithra’s devotees were branded with a Microsoft in sales.] ascended among 13 virgins and surrounded by Jacob Rothschild’s Buckinghamshire estate struction, said to be a precursor to the coming mark on their foreheads which some today Great Temple in Jerusalem, funded by him, pagan gods shown aiding famous Americans compare with the prophesied Mark of the in England has sculptures of vicious sea ser- like the god Mercury shown funding US pents attacking people. Rothschilds and Rockefellers.” Genocide and Beast.” [As dot of Hindus?] massacres in Rwanda and Burundi were financiers, and Minerva or Athena instructing In the 1918 issue of The New Age, the pre- Circle of Intrigue (2004) planned from this occult shaped CIA/US Em- US Masonic scientists. [The US Capitol in part mier issue of Scottish Rite Freemasonry: copied the Roman Pantheon to the gods (as did “Masonry is more than a religion: Masonry is The Vanderbilts’ Biltmore Estate in North bassy stronghold in Pretoria to regain colonial the Jefferson Memorial), which had copied the Religion. [Details many named religions] are Carolina has rooms to visit and some can be day glory of white race rule. Babylonian one. The Statue of Liberty and Marrs cites some candidates for the Circle, as embraced in and spring from Masonry. photographed, some not. It has gargoyles on it Statue of Freedom copy the Babylonian god- Masonry is The Mother Church.” and displays a painting called Assemblage of Prince Philip of England heads United Lodge of dess Ishtar, Mother of Harlots (Rev 17-4-5).] Freemasonry and Order of the Garter [many “[The 33º Mason] Leadbetter claimed the the Gods of Pan, Zeus and Poseidon. The Egyptians worshiped Harpocrates god of 33º ritual of drinking wine from a human skull Illuminati want to personify the classic gods think Prince Charles will be the Antichrist for silence pictured as a suckling child on his many reasons, or his son William]. And leads links the Sovereign Grand Inspector General of and their lifestyles, be masters of New Baby- mother’s lap. Oddly, the funny Marx brothers Freemasonry with the Spiritual King of the lon. The founder of the clan Cornelius Vander- World Wildlife Fund for Illuminati propaganda. copied this. Groucho’s brother (renamed) The Pope could be in the Circle, too. World (Lucifer).” bilt said he never invested big without consult- Harpo played a mute boy with curly blond hair Babylon was the seat of Mystery Religion ing the spirit world. His estate has dragons, The Circle wants Jerusalem as its world cap- [also known as Horus the child]. ital, a rebuilt Solomon’s Temple, but does not until it was conquered by the Medes and Per- griffins and other hideous creatures in art. Rabbi Isaac Wise in 1855 wrote “Freema- sians who absorbed Babylon’s gods. The priests Ten horns are ten kings . . . receive power as honor the Bible or Jesus. sonry is a Jewish establishment whose history, Rep. George H.W. Bush tried to pass into moved to Pergamos as headquarters (where kings one hour with the Beast (Rev 17:12-14). grades, official appointments, passwords and ex- Satan dwells Rev 2:13). It was absorbed by the Already these top 10 meet at least twice a year: law a bill to end US sovereignty and give its planations are Jewish from beginning to end. Romans, and Julius Caesar was made Pontifex 2 US members, 3 of France and 1 each of UK, power to the UN. “Bush was a key member in The Jewish Tribune newspaper in 1927 stated Maximus of the Etruscan Order in 74 BC, so Spain, Canada, Austria and South Africa. (3 are Rockefeller’s Zero Population Growth organi- Freemasonry is based on Judaism.” Jewish Ma- Rome’s religion became that of Babylon. Rothschilds, 1-2 Rockefellers.) Though each is zation for mass abortion and depopulation of sons established Masonry in 7 of 13 colonies, The renowned British Freemason John Yar- not for his own nation, only for global rule. the earth. Clinton, of opposite party but [also] and there were 51 Jewish American Grand ker claimed “The triangle, which they called They claim royal bloodline with pre-Adamic funded by the Illuminati, signed into law US Masters. The 22 Tarot cards of witches is from the geometrical God [the G], was the emblem origin, heirs to rule eternally. officers to be subject to UN officials.” the Jewish Cabala, and for the 22 Hebrew letters. of Isis.” [A US veteran’s death is honored with Joseph Kennedy (father of JFK) said “Fifty Helena Blavatsky said the hidden master’s Cabalism teaches that the Holy Serpent is the a US flag, then folded into a triangle (even with men have run America, and that’s a high fig- name is Reason, the Serpent of Wisdom or true God. Jews funded Weishaupt’s Illuminati. wood frame) with the stars showing, for the ure.” [And he was one of them, gained riches Satan. The swastika was a magical talisman Winston Churchill popularized the two-fin- All-Seeing-Eye.] by the planned Great Stock Market Crash, sell- used by Masons before Nazis. gered salute. According to Stanley Montieth Mr. Jan Young

[email protected] Past articles: janaaronyoung.wordpress.com

This page is part of CONNECTIONS: MEMBER TO MEMBER, the advertising section of THE JOURNAL 18 ★ ★ ★ THIS PAGE CONTAINS PAID ADVERTISING ★ ★ ★ Issue No. 134 (Dec. 20, 2011) A Little Lower Than the Angels

By Art Mokarow P.O. Box 1197 • Montgomery, TX 77356 • [email protected] • www.GodsPuzzleSolved.com

ing David always glorified God’s name (Psalm 8:1-6). God is wrapped in at birth. Initially, they’re slightly warmer when born, but when The One who has made all individuals a little lower than the mature 98.6º is about right. angels. What does it mean when Christians are to be crowned “The Creator” is “God,” and therefore the garments vary according to and rule the earth? If individuals are less than angels, how is that the different types of species God is reproducing. The angels are closer to possible? the clothing God is wearing than any covering a human can put on. KGod made you in His image (Genesis The spirit is reality 1:26-28). But how did He make you in this image? “Image” in Hebrew is defined as a When mankind attains the exact image of God, just like God and Christ “ghost, phantom a shadow but not real.” (Hebrews 1:1–3), everyone will be clothed in Their royal likeness, glow- “Salem” in Hebrew is only “a shadow” and ing like a consuming fire. It is “The Spirit—In Man” which is real, just not real to be able to make an image. No one like the angels’ and God’s clothing. Angels are below God and Christ. God knows how God looks. and Christ are alike; They are consuming fires, eternal and unending. “Nakedness” is “the lack of any clothes.” Nakedness needs to be cov- What is a shadow? ered. Adam and Eve were naked just like the Church of God whose mem- Most know a shadow is not a reality but bers thinks they are rich and clothed to the hilt but are really naked like the merely a reflection from a light. In fact, until Laodiceans (Revelation 3). They were naked spiritually. God said, “Let there be light,” one could see the universe was only made from “dust” that God’s clothing was considered not to be real. Space at that The High Priest, as opposed to the other Levites, were dressed differ- time was thought to be a gas. ently. Only the High Priest was clothed in full dress. He had a crown, Art Mokarow “A shadow” is like “a hologram” manipu- breastplate and golden girdle among the clothing. He witnessed “a type of lated through prisms with light refracting from it. You see an image from Christ.” To serve in the Temple, the High Priest had to have every stitch the light but not actually what is true as a reality. The entire universe is a of proper garb to be just like Christ, the Melchizedek High Priest. He was light reflection of God, who is light and has no darkness in Him (I John a shadow of the Divine since he was only “a shadow of Christ”—The 1:5). The invisible God is only a reflection of Himself, as is the universe Anointed One appointed and prepared by God (Hebrews 9:1). (Romans 1:20). Jesus had to be dressed exactly like His Father as the First-Begotten Man was made like the animals on the sixth day. Each animal is naked Son of God. He had to be perfect and Holy like His Father (Ephesians 1). with no clothing. That is why God clothed Adam and Eve when they were Christians must be dressed accordingly. aware they were naked (Genesis 3:21). God clothed them in animal skins to depict they are ■ part of “the animal kingdom.” It could have Yes, please send the free literature checked below been a lamb, ox, bull, lion, bear, leopard or a combination of all of them. Vol. I—Puzzles The Goodness of God’s Law Vol. X—Teaching Bible Study God’s Way God’s Puzzle Solved The True Churches of God The Wisdom of Jesus and Biblical World History God put a “Spirit—In Man” as Elihu states God’s Puzzle Completed Paul’s Religion Solomon Vol. XIV—God’s Image The Mystery of God Vol. VI—Temple God’s School Seeking God in Job 32:8. Prophecy Is Cyclical History of God’s Law God’s Science vs. Human God’s Free Choice God’s Mystery Fulfilled Angels are also spirits but do not appear as The Christian Sabbath Science The Jubilee Vol. II—Image Who Is God? Vol. XI—Works Other Books phantoms (shadows). Man has a spirit and so Sons of God The Temple of God The Magi and Christ’s Birth What Is Man? Christ In You do angels. What makes individuals a little Vol. VII—Deception Jesus the Son of Man Morality—Pathway to Economic The White Throne Judgment lower than the angels? Clothes, of course. Testimony of the Messiah God’s Old and New Covenant Prosperity God’s Sabbath and Holy Days What’s It All About? God’s Will Vol. III—Babylon Don’t Bury Your Talents Angels are clothed in God’s glory, His Morality and Economics Satan’s Image God’s Work vs. Man’s Work What Is Babylon? The Times of the Gentiles God’s Kingdom goodness. We are not. We are naked, un- What Is Slavery? Satan’s Deception Vol. XII—End Time The Wedding Feast The Eighth Head of the Beast clothed. There is only a shadow of God’s light Who Is the Messiah? God’s Two Priesthoods The Ten Lost Tribes Vol. VIII—Worship Solomon’s Temple Pillars Tr uths, Creeds and Doctrines The Mark of the Beast God’s Work reflecting off of God’s human creation. That The End Is the Beginning Competition What Is Idolatry? The Original Bible shadow is only a reflection of God’s light. Discovering God Revelation and the Queen House of God Vol. IV—Complete Story Faith With Works of Heaven Kings and Rulers Individuals are naked, and not as the angels. What Is a Marriage? God’s Plan of Salvation God’s Gift of Inheritance Visions, Dreams and Friends Lake of Fire—The Judgment Spiritual Growth The Silk Road CDs God’s Three Covenants Angelic garments Faith That Saves The Great Falling Away What God Joins Together #1: Vol. I–Vol. X Angels vary in their light and intensity. A God’s Hidden Veil Vol. IX—Prophecy Vol. XIII—Study Tools #2: All Other Books #3: Articles on Biblical subjects Heaven on Earth Revelation Uncovered Who And What Is God’s Word? seraph with six wings is glorified the most, The Little Book The Great Apostasy Chronology of Christ Available almost like God. Cherubim are next, then Vol. V—Testimony God’s Story Origin of Baptism Not available yet, in various History Of Revelation archangels and so on, to angels with no wings Is the Bible Inspired? History of God’s House stages of editing

and with their own glory. Send to: Art Mokarow It is all about heat intensity, which decides P.O. Box 1197 Please place your Journal mailing label here Montgomery, TX 77356 what clothing everyone wears. God is the all- or include your address on the coupon below consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). The English [email protected] word “consuming” signifies intense heat so www.GodsPuzzleSolved.com mighty it can destroy anything. It is Gehenna, the final Lake of Fire. Your name and address: Questions: Humans can stand body temperatures Email: Criticisms (please list scriptures we may have missed): between 50º and 107º Fahrenheit before dying. Address: How did you hear about Art’s books? If too hot, a person dies, or too cold a person still dies. Each cell must create energy with City: State: Zip: What future subjects would you like Art to research?

oxygen to live. A healthy human temperature Country: is 98.6º. That is the temperature individuals are

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This page is part of CONNECTIONS: MEMBER TO MEMBER, the advertising section of THE JOURNAL 20 ★ ★ ★ THIS PAGE CONTAINS PAID ADVERTISING ★ ★ ★ Issue No. 134 (Dec. 20, 2011) Where Is the... True Church today? Jesus Christ said, “I will build My Church.” He did not say “Churches,” denominations, “sects.” He said the gates of hell would not prevail against that Church. Somewhere that original true Church exists today. But WHERE? WHICH? . . .” (WHERE Is the True Church booklet, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong). Do ‘YOU’ Have a Loving, Reverent Fear of God and of Jesus Christ?

Dear Brethren, truth that was taught! They won’t play his ahead to the reality of the Third Resurrec- are in the wrong place—or so self-righteous Personal Heart to Heart Letter: taped sermons in services nor speak of him in tion and the terrible fate that many will have that Christ will spew you out of His mouth As we draw closer to the fulfillment of the offices that Jesus Christ gave him in a pos- to face of being thrown into the Lake of into the Great Tribulation—and conceiv- A the end-time prophecies of Jesus itive manner with no negatives attached. To Fire, as illustrated by this parable that ably into the Lake of Fire? (Revelation Christ, I have great concern for the thousands prove the point—ask them why they won’t! Jesus Christ gave as a warning to all of us: 3:14-21; 20:14-15). of members I have known over the 58 years I They are afraid of losing favor with the The rich man having awakened from the When viewing the state of the hundreds of have been blessed to be a member of God’s members just as King Saul was more fearful sleep of death and finding himself in the corporate churches that have branched off true Church; and a minister for 53 years. of his armies than he was fearful of God to Third Resurrection, and anticipating of the Philadelphia Era of God’s true Over seven years, I have been writing let- not fully obey Him! This cost him his king- being thrown into the Lake of Fire by the Church, the written warning by God’s late ters in this Newspaper trying very hard to ship (I Samuel 15:1-28). He was then angels of God, cried out in his torment to apostle needs to be brought to mind: get the members who read my writings to replaced by a man after God’s own heart, Abraham: “I beg you therefore, father, “Some of You May Not Make It Into reread the original unedited MYSTERY OF King David, who will continue to be the king that you would send (Lazarus) to my God’s Kingdom” (The GOOD NEWS of THE AGES, the last book Mr. Armstrong over all Israel in the millennium because of father’s house for I have five brothers, the Wonderful World Tomorrow, wrote, in the last year of his life, to aid all his continued faithfulness and loyalty to God that he may testify to them, lest they January 1981, Mr. Herbert W. Arm- “to contend earnestly for the FAITH (Ezekiel 37:15-28). also come to this place of torment.” strong). which was ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED to What about YOU? Will you lose your king- Abraham said to him, “They have If Mr. Armstrong were alive today, he the saints” (Jude 3-4; II Peter 2:1-3). ship for rejecting the TRUTH that Jesus Christ Moses and the prophets; let them hear would be yelling at the top of his voice with It is realized few of these thousands of restored within His Church through Mr. Arm- them . . . if they do NOT hear Moses and the warning of what is just before us—the members ever even look at this book, let strong? (Hosea 4:6; Revelation 3:11). the prophets, neither will they be per- soon-coming terrible problems to befall the alone reread it, and then use it to evaluate The ministers have WILLED not to OBEY the suaded though one rise from the House of Joseph and other nations of Israel— where they now are, and what they now government of God as restored within the dead” (Luke 16:19-31). seeing members in grave danger of being believe. Sadly, there is so little regard to the Church of God by Mr. Armstrong! They are Jesus Christ follows through with the fol- ENTRAPPED by this world’s evils and caught explanation of the REAL TRUTH revealed in it refusing to come under the authority of God, lowing grave warning of this coming time up in the plagues to befall them (Revelation any more than it was after 1986 when orders Jesus Christ, and though he is now dead, written by the Apostle Paul: 18:4). A coming time so bad there has been were given to the Transportation Depart- their late apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. “For If we sin willfully (knowing bet- no equal nor will there be afterwards ment to load all of those books up and take There is a terrible fate in store for those ter and doing it anyway) AFTER we have (Matthew 24:21-22; Daniel 12:1). them to the dump. This book presented a who continue refusing to bend their knees in received the knowledge of the TRUTH, It is sad to realize that virtually all mem- real danger then and now to the teaching of humble submissiveness, with godly repen- there NO LONGER remains a sacrifice bers in all Churches of God are unaware of demonic pagan teachings and possible loss tance, before Jesus Christ our Lord and for sins, but a FEARFUL expectation of how close this is to becoming reality; and of membership. Master (Luke 19:14, 26-27). JUDGMENT, AND FIERY INDIGNATION which failure for not seeing a real need of a close Though it seems useless to continue try- Mr. Armstrong was the very one that Jesus will DEVOUR the adversaries. Anyone and abiding relationship with God and ing, I must do all that Christ enables me to Christ raised up and sent to His Church and who has REJECTED Moses’ law dies Jesus Christ (Revelation 3:11-21). There is do out of caring love for all of you! Further, Israel during the close of this age. No one can the warning regarding many who I do not want your blood to be on my head honestly in truth deny this! All of us as mem- are taking their salvation for for not fulfilling this responsibility (Ezekiel bers were taught either directly by him or granted, and possibly waking up 33:1-13). others under his lifetime tenure. too late (I Corinthians 10:14; II Scoff if you will, but I know from the many Unless there is repentance, a change in Corinthians 13:5). blessings given to us by Jesus Christ, and His heart, mind, and action, the loss of kingship A Closing Plea—Brethren, I guidance in using me to write these letters, is very near at hand and beyond that the am pouring my heart out to you— that I could not do otherwise (John 15:4). possibility of being cast into the Lake of trying desperately hard to try and This has been His effort to try and reach into Fire by the angels of God in the Third help you before it comes to be too your minds and hearts to help you before it Resurrection. There is little time left to make late! I love and pray daily for God’s comes to be too late. I know of no others who the right and good changes, time is swiftly mercy for all of you. I implore are also trying that are fully on track. running out for all of us! you—please read the MYSTERY OF I also know I will be held accountable if I THE AGES—with your Bible, and do not try to do all Christ enables me to do to A World Spinning Out of Control take the appropriate action while try and help as many as want to be helped there is yet time (Romans 13:11; (Luke 12:43-48). The day will come when Can we NOT see the continued down- John 9:4). you will know this to be true. This is just ward spiraling of this world out of Also, please realize there is great another small means that Christ is using to control? By watching world and without mercy . . . of how much worse need of having A REAL REVERENT FEAR OF knock at the door of your minds and hearts national news, it is easy to see the punishment . . . will he be thought God knowing well that we are now being (Revelation 3:20). The primary means, how- end-time is now very close! Records worthy who has TRAMPLED UNDERFOOT judged by Him (I Corinthians 13:5; I Peter ever, is the recorded writings and voice of the are continually being broken by the (tramping on God’s laws, and His doctrinal 1:17). very man Jesus Christ sent in this end-time fury of nature (Ezekiel 7:6-7). teachings that Jesus Christ RESTORED within Having this REVERENT FEAR OF GOD to preach the true Gospel and the Ezekiel Soon, very soon, will be the Famine His Church by His late apostle, Mr. Herbert should lead to full obedience to Him—and Warning message on our 14 websites. and Disease Epidemics, then Nuclear W. Armstrong (Malachi 4:4-5; Matthew then escape from the coming horrors, with By writing these many letters, I have not Warfare to destroy the House of 17:10-11), . . . it is a FEARFUL thing to fall the awesome and wonderful blessing of been trying to elevate myself nor trying to Israel. Afterwards, the survivors will into the hands of the Living God being able to stand before the glorified Jesus develop a following for myself for wrong pur- either be brutally killed or enslaved (Hebrews 10:26-31; 6:4-8). Christ at His coming (Luke 21:36). poses, but rather seeking a return by all who by other nations—so says the Almighty Jesus Christ cautioned each of His Elect It is my fervent prayer this will come to are clearly off-track to what we were taught God (Ezekiel 5:12-17). lest anyone should come to that end in the pass with each of us! by Jesus Christ through His late apostle. As bad as all this will be, the Lake of closing part of His enumerated end-time However, the choice is individually ours As possibly the smallest of all groups Fire will be far worse! All those who will be prophecies: Luke 21:34-36 “. . . WATCH to make; no one else can do it for you or me (Luke 12:32), hardly anyone even pays any thrown into it will become ashes under the AND PRAY ALWAYS ...” (Romans 14:10). attention to this Work (Habakkuk 1:5). Nor feet of the righteous—never to live again You say you are doing this! What good Your caring friend and servant in Christ do members want to become part of us (Malachi 4:1, 3; Revelation 20:13-15). will this do IF you are among those in the Jesus our Lord and Savior, because of not having all the benefits the The thought of this possible fate for you Laodicean or Sardis Church Eras—or if you —Don Billingsley larger ones have to offer, nor do they want to or me should put enough REAL REVERENT be without a local church to attend with FEAR in us to reexamine ourselves as to friends and relatives. where we are, what we have come to believe, The quotes above are intended for educational purposes only. Entire contents © 2011 The Church of God. All Rights They won’t admit it, but the ministers are and then make the needed corrections Reserved. The copyright subsisting in material quoted in this publication and trademarks appearing in this publication afraid of Mr. Armstrong for the same reason before it comes to be too late. belong to the respective owners thereof, and no claim of ownership therein is made by The Church of God. the Jews were afraid of Jesus Christ—the Lazarus and the Rich Man—Think

http://bodyofchristonline.us • http://cog-ff.com • http://www.ezekielwatchman.org P. O. Box 130 • Valley Springs, CA 95252 • (209) 772-0737 • (209) 772-2993

This page is part of CONNECTIONS: MEMBER TO MEMBER, the advertising section of THE JOURNAL Issue No. 134 (Dec. 20, 2011) ★ ★ ★ THIS PAGE CONTAINS PAID ADVERTISING ★ ★ ★ 21 The Ezekiel WATCHMAN God’sWarning Message

“. . . The end has come it has DAWNED for you; Behold it has come! . . . a day of trouble is near; . . . Now upon you, I will soon pour out My fury . . . So you, son of man: I have made you A WATCHMAN for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and WARN them for Me” (Ezekiel 7:6-8; 33:7). “Jerusalem the Coveted City”

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet After three and one-half years have passed—News from the objective of reaching Jerusalem November 29. before the coming of the great and dreadful the East and the North shall trouble the Beast; there- “Even more worrisome for the Israeli officials is another mass Day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5). fore he shall go out with GREAT FURY to destroy and march that is scheduled for March 2012. annihilate many (Daniel 11:44). This will result in the all- “A Million Man Caravan is scheduled for March 2012 that is out war of Armageddon. being organized by an Indian activist from India with the effort By Alton B. (Don) Billingsley, Armageddon will take place in a final showdown between of uniting people from over the world from all faiths ‘to partic- Church of God, Faithful Flock the Revived Roman Empire and a tremendous Asian army led ipate in the march toward the Jerusalem to liberate it from the hile witnessing society collapsing in every area in by Russia (Revelation 9:1-12; 13-19). It will be centered in the Zionists’ . . .” (selected quotes from the news article). America and Britain due to God’s curse because of Va l ley of Jehoshaphat—just outside Jerusalem (Joel 3:2-3). The Though Judah will continue to be pressured and battered, their abominable sins, it is also important to focus LORD God says this will be to their detriment: Scripture indicates they will remain intact until after having on the House of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem, as Zechariah 12:2-6: “Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup received help from the Beast; then half of the city will go into small as it is, which remains the coveted city of of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when captivity. By this time the House of Israel will have been con- nationsW to possess. As to why: they lay SIEGE against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall quered by the Beast. As to why: A VERY HEAVY “JERUSALEM has been chosen by God to be the world’s come to pass that I will make Jerusalem “. . . The iniquity of the House of Israel and Judah is capital—to have the greatest influence of any city on the STONE for all peoples; all who would heave it away will exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and SURELY BE CUT TO PIECES destiny of mankind. JERUSALEM is at the CENTER OF THE , though all nations of the earth the city full of perversion . . .” (Ezekiel 9:9). LAND SURFACE OF THE EARTH. IT IS THE IDEAL FOCAL be gathered against it . . .” Bible prophecy speaks of this time—and the consequences POINT FOR WORLD CONTROL. ITS VERY NAME MEANS CITY But the remnant of the people shall not be cut-off the societies of the House of Israel will have to pay—because of OF PEACE”(Bible Study Course Lesson 44, www.cog-ff.com). from the city (Zechariah 14:2). The apparent reason is that their rejection of God and His holy and righteous laws. Through the years of his lifetime ministry, Mr. Herbert W. God intends the Jewish people to seize the opportunity of join- THE WATCHMAN: The prophet Habakkuk, foreseeing the Armstrong, God’s Watchman, exhorted God’s people to keep ing Jesus Christ upon His return in fighting against those armies end-time crisis, cried out to God for mercy upon learning what their eyes on the Middle East, and in particular on Jerusalem. As holding their city captive (Zechariah 14:14; 10:3-6; 10:5-6). the LORD will do to Israel due to their stubborn refusal to to why, end-time prophecy reveals the focal point of the domi- Zechariah 12:2-9: “In that day,” says the LORD,“I will repent during the many years of the lifetime ministry of Mr. nant nations in Europe will be centered on Jerusalem with the strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with Armstrong: effort of seizing this prize jewel to make it their world head- blindness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah . . . “O LORD,I have heard Your speech (foretelling what is com- quarters from which to rule all nations. Seeing this, and other And the clans of Judah will say to themselves, ‘We will ing on Israel) and was afraid; O LORD, ‘REVIVE YOURWORK’in events unfold, will enable God’s people to know how close will save the dwellers of Jerusalem with the help of God, the the midst of the years make it known, in WRATH remem- be the coming of Jesus Christ back to this earth, and the begin- LORD of Hosts’ . . . In that day the LORD will shield the ber MERCY” (Habakkuk 3:2; Isaiah 29:14). ning of the millennium. (remaining) inhabitants of The timing of this prophecy is speaking of the revival of the Sacrificial Offerings: With Amer- Jerusalem. In that day I will all Roman Empire in Europe using the Chaldeans as an antitype of ica and Britain no longer able or willing but annihilate all the nations” the end-time who will conquer Israel (Habakkuk 1:6-10). Further, to help the Jewish leadership against (NJPS Bible with their emendations). Habakkuk reveals the timing is just prior to the coming of Jesus their threatening enemies, and with the Zechariah 12:7-9: The LORD Christ and the plagues that will be poured out at Armageddon world closing in on them, prophecy will save the tents of Judah (Habakkuk 3:3-4). implies they will rebuild a temple; this FIRST, so that the glory of David And God did REVIVE His Work in 2006, and it is still ongo- will make possible the sacrificial offer- and the glory of the inhabitants ing through the Door Christ is using on our websites; He also is ings to once again be offered to God of Jerusalem shall NOT become continuing to knock on the door of those who will hear, fear, (Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15; II Thessa- greater than that of Judah . . . and change (Revelation 3:8, 20-21). lonians 2:1-4). Nuclear Warfare: While realiz- Jesus said Jerusalem would be trodden down by the Gentiles During this same time, the effort ing the awesome destructive power until the Times of the Gentiles are finished (Luke 21:24). So keep will be made to seize Jerusalem by of Nuclear Bombs the forces in your eyes on Jerusalem. Europe and Asia would unleash on the prophesied Revival of the Roman The Mystery of the Ages Empire (Daniel 2:40-45; 7:23-25); first, each other that would destroy all liv- by deceptive peaceful means, and ing on earth, CHRIST MUST COME Jesus Christ led His apostle and the promised Elijah—His later, the full capture of the city. with GREAT POWER AND GLORY.He MUST SUPERNATURALLY teacher—to write the last book of his life, THE MYSTERY OF THE Under the then circumstances, the intervene at this precise moment in time to save mankind! AGES, to be A REMINDER of all of the doctrinal teachings Christ Jewish leadership will feel they have Nothing less than supernatural force will stop this nuclear dis- RESTORED within His Church through him. By the use of this no alternative but accept their occu- aster from these opposing armies! original unedited book with the Holy Bible, His people would pational offer to protect them. This After the battle of Armageddon, Jesus Christ, the be able to recognize the strong deception that is now on His offer will be as deceptive as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), will then make Jerusalem and Church by Satan the devil and keep apart from it. Mount Zion the City of TRUTH, the Mountain of the promise Adolph Hitler gave to Prime The Philadelphia Remnant Minister Chamberlain of England LORD of Hosts (Zechariah 8:3), the holy mountain, the City shortly before entering war with the of Peace for making it the CAPITAL of the earth (Jeremiah To be kept informed from a Biblical perspective the meaning Germans—just another ploy to seize and possess Jerusalem. 3:17). From its Temple on Mount Zion, God’s laws will go of the continued record breaking disasters in the nations of Israel Tr a gically, God will use them to punish the Jewish people for forth bringing peace to the earth (Isaiah 2:2). that are now coming closer together, we offer freely a subscrip- their sins by making possible their capture, murder, and slavery. This Promised Land will again belong to Judah, and the tion to our bi-monthly magazine. It can also be read on our web- But just as Judah was not conquered (Jeremiah 39:1-10, 604-585 House of Israel. Both will then have the resurrected King David site (www.cog-ff.com). B.C.), until after Israel was (II Kings 17:17:5-23, 721-718 B.C.), so it ruling over them as they return to their ancient heritages The Three Elijahs will be again. (Ezekiel 37:15-27). After having taken full control of the city, half of Jerusalem’s In the Interim: America, Britain, and France, brothers of The first 15 chapters of the updated book of The Three population will be carried away, the whole city looted, and the Judah, along with the Palestinians and Arab nations, and the Elijahs are now on our website (www.cog-ff.com). This book women ravished. The Pope will then forcibly stop the sacrificial U.N., continue pressuring the Jewish leadership to knuckle makes known how these three men were used by God to per- offerings (Zechariah 14:2; Daniel 8:11-12; 12:1). under to their demands and give over the key parts of Judea form basically the same responsibilities and for the same reasons. The Beast: The ruling king, unyielding and merciless, referred and Jerusalem to the warring factions of the Palestinians—the God had ample reason for these three men to have the same by Scripture as the Beast (Revelation 13.17.; Daniel 8:23-25), will very city and land that the LORD God gave to Judah for their inher- name as Elijah—though John and Mr. Armstrong had their own then have established his royal palace that will form his base of itance by Joshua. names, they were “. . . to go forth before Him (Jesus Christ) operations near Jerusalem (Daniel 11:45). While making preparation for the Great Tribulation that in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:16-17). The iden- The False Prophet will establish his throne in the newly will lead to Armageddon, Satan the devil is presently using tity of the end-time Elijah is established with Biblical proof and constructed temple in Jerusalem fulfilling the prophecy of the firebrand leadership to lead masses of people to march on by his fruits. abomination that causes desolation by calling himself God; Jerusalem to force the Jewish people to give Jerusalem to the while seated in the very Throne Place of the True God, Palestinians. The quotes and pictures above are intended for educational purposes only. showing himself to be God, while supported by armed Million Man Worldwide ‘Caravan’ Set to ‘Liberate Entire contents © 2011 The Church of God. All Rights Reserved. The copy- troops now in control of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15; II Thes- Jerusalem’ Arutz Sheva 7, David Lew, 3-11-11: right subsisting in material quoted in this publication and trademarks appear- salonians 2:3-4; Daniel 11:31, 36). The Pope will also place the “Israeli officials have made known a mass march on Jerusalem ing in this publication belong to the respective owners thereof and no claim of statue of JUPITER OLYMPUS, now called the Apostle Peter, along- that may attract larger numbers is set to begin from three loca- ownership therein is made by The Church of God. side him in the temple (Matthew 24:15). tions—Jordan, Syria and Lebanon—on November 25 [2011] with

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If you want to view the current “Edifying August 6—The Formula for Overcoming, by November 26, 2011—The Thankful Leper the Body” article, go to the Web site and David Maas November 19—John 10:1-18 click the prominent “Edifying the Body” June 25—God’s Love Is Selfless, by Carl November 12—John 9:1-41 icon on the home page. Akins November 5—John 8:12-59 To view previous articles, go to the “Publi- June 18—45 Seconds: Memoirs of an ER cations” section and click the prominent Doctor From May 22, 2011, by Kevin Kikta October 29—John 8:1-11 “Edifying the Body” icon on that page. June 11—Peter’s Message on Pentecost, by October 22—The Eighth Day of the Feast December 3, 2011—How Can You Get the James Moran October 15—The Feast of Tabernacles Most Out of Bible Study? by Ronald L. Dart ★★★ November 19—Relationships vs. Reward, October 8—The Gift of Showing Mercy by Tony Stith If you want to view the current “Eye on October 1—The Gift of Leading November 12—Tribute to My Favorite WWII the World” compilation, go to the Web site September 24—The Gift of Giving Veteran, by Lenny Cacchio and click the prominent “Eye on the September 17—The Gift of Exhorting November 5—When A Minister Walks Into World” icon on the home page. September 10—The Gift of Teaching the Room, by Charles E. Groce If you want to view previous compilations, September 3—The Gift of Ministering October 29—Heart Appreciation: The Beat go to the “Publications” section and click Goes On, by Dixon Cartwright the prominent “Eye on the World” icon on August 27—The Gift of Prophesying October 1—Netanyahu Spoke at the United that page. August 13—Bad Childhood, Good Life— Nations, quoting Benjamin Netanyahu ★★★ Part 3 September 10—Remembering September If you want to view the current “Among August 6—Bad Childhood, Good Life—Part 2 11, 2001, by Dave Havir Friends” article, go to the Web site and July 30—Bad Childhood, Good Life—Part 1 August 27—The Joy of Overcoming, by Jim click the prominent “Among Friends” icon July 23—The 10th Commandment Patterson on the home page. July 16—The 9th Commandment August 20—Setting Goals, by Judith Biggs To view previous articles, go to the “Pub- August 13—Do Not Worship Me, by Luke lications” section and click the prominent July 9—The 8th Commandment Przeslawski “Among Friends” icon on that page. July 2—The 7th Commandment

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Dear Brethren in Christ, longer following the error of Eve having Satan is working hard to derail the enter in and convince you that they were e hope this letter finds you done so with her husband Adam. next epic event which is to take place in really your betrothed? holding fast to the truth once Coming to this decision and under- the timeline of the plan of salvation. To Not a chance! For you would recognize W delivered while at the same standing does not mean we are free and date we see the functions of the Patri- they were not and flee from them at the time growing in the grace and knowledge clear of further attempts of the devil to archal Father and the Savior-Husband- very least. That is exactly the depth, or for of our Lord Jesus the Christ. Our adver- separate us from Christ. His next bag of Son being filled. that matter the heights, of our relationship sary is doing everything he is allowed to tricks contains one very important and Providing a bride who has made her- needed with Christ, for Satan is on the do to separate us from this growth and deadly method of doing so. He presents a self ready and worthy to be chosen by the move to separate us from our truly beloved maturing in Christ. false Christ to us in an attempt to get us Son as an eternal helpmate and who will Husband-to-be. We need to be so intimate He is using every lying wonder he is to follow it and thus be separated from function in the tasks and duties of a in our relationship that no means or able to conjure up to accomplish this. our truly beloved. mother in the household of God the method of Satan will be able to separate us. Sometimes they are completely overt and Some scoff at this and say no way will Father is where we are right now in the In Matthew 25:1-13 we are given a sometimes they are very veiled and that happen to them. Well, I pray that is timeline. disturbing look into the condition of our seemingly innocent. They at times are the case, but I see it happening all around As we know, the Father calls the indi- Husband’s body just prior to His return. easily recognizable through the spirit and the body of Christ. I have recently written viduals at this time, and the Son works It is not one that ingrains a lot of confi- quite frankly at other times they are very of one such attempt in “The one-god with them to see if they will measure up dence in our behavior and growth in our difficult to detect. being doctrine is a perverted and different to the standards of a bride based on the relationship with Him and our Father. We must never forget the incredible gospel about Christ” study. Today we are résumé we have often gone over in I need to stress at this time we are not ability the devil has to deceive us. And, going to focus on just one of the other Proverbs 31:10-31. Only after that will marrying the Father but the Son. It is our not only us, just think he was able to attempts to confuse us as to who our He choose from this vast invited list of Father’s good pleasure to lead us to His deceive many of the angelic beings who Husband truly is and what He came to do. participants to choose those He will be Son to be chosen as an eternal helpmate knew God and walked in Their presence. for Him in His family. Satan is a master of disguise, even por- Yes, we pray to our Father, but we are traying himself often as an angel of light. to be enraptured with our Savior and He is a master of camouflage, and with- We see brethren and even families separating Betrothed. We need to have completely out the spirit of God assisting us we from fellowshipping together. The common internalized the Son, the Lamb of the would not stand a chance of seeing cause in all of this is usually doctrine. Fathers household to be considered to through his deceits. fill this vital function in the plan of sal- As many of you understand and as we vation for all mankind. This part of the have often talked about in the past, we plan is not about saving the world or any know that Christ will not return until His We can see many organizations of men “one” with for eternity, with Him being other such deception from Satan, but bride has made herself ready, thus we who go by names such as the Church of the second Adam and they being the sec- about choosing a bride! have the understanding that no man God this or that coming apart at the ond Eve, with all their respective func- Let’s listen to some very sobering knows the hour of His return for we have seams. We see small groups of brethren tions in the household of the Father. words on this point. Verses 10-12; “And free moral agency. separating from one another. We even see The plan of salvation will then contin- while they went to buy (that which was That has many different aspects of families separating from fellowshipping ue on to the next phase after this has required to have a more intimate rela- readiness associated with it, but one that together. taken place. If there is any spark of life in tionship) the bridegroom came, and those many folks do not understand or recog- The common cause in all of these is us, we need to understand and work dili- who were ready went in with Him to the nize is the fact that there is a set number usually doctrine. Whether it is pushed by gently towards this truth of God. Satan wedding; and the door was shut (the to that bride. It consists of those who over an individual who wants to have domin- understands it and is working vigorously number had been completed). After- the two marriage covenants will com- ion over others, or someone who is com- against it being completed. wards the other virgins came also saying pletely internalize the Lamb of God the pletely deceived by delusions of gran- Our efforts must be completely hum- Lord, Lord, open to us! But He answered Father, of His household, typified after deur as to their function in the body, is ir- ble, for Satan’s are full of vanity and and said, assuredly I say to you, I DO NOT the lesson taught to us in Exodus 12:3-5. relevant, for the outcome is the same. lying wonders. We are to be completely KNOW YOU.” Satan is not happy with us understand- United we stand and divided we fall. devoted to our betrothed and no other. He Why would He say this? Because they ing such things. He wants desperately to Christ could not have made it any plain- is our focus, and our Father has placed had never known Him as their betrothed, separate us from our betrothed. He unfor- er or simpler for us to understand the His calling in us to begin this journey. We their Husband-to-be, and had never tunately has been too successful at doing destructive nature of this methodology of are to become so intimate with Christ entered into an intimate relationship with so with so many of the called of the Father. men and fallen angels. He even applied it that we know His every way. We must Him. They had known Him as something However, many have begun to recog- to Satan’s realm as well. Satan is very look to Him for our instructions in righ- else but never completely understanding nize that for a long time Satan has been good at this. We can see the results of it teousness and learn from Him how we the relationship and function they had able to convince us to allow another, a all the way back to the Garden of Eden. are to function as His bride. been called to by the Father. benefactor, to come between us and our Differences of doctrine will be with us For those of you who are married and Please keep in mind these are also vir- Husband. He has done this primarily to the end, as scriptures truly tell us. devoted to each other I simply ask: Did gins, but Christ says He never knew through organizations of men who insist However, when a doctrine tries to change you not want to know everything about them. This is something we all need to on us listening to them and their instruc- who and what our Savior is and was, it your spouse, did you not want to spend consider with great concern, not only for tions instead of those we have from our cannot be tolerated in the body. It is an every moment with him or her reason- ourselves but for the other members of Husband in the Word of God. infection and a cancer which needs to be ably possible? You became very inti- the body as well. Once we mature to this fact, we gener- removed, whether by our spiritual im- mate, understanding even the simplest of Just think, we may know Him as many ally act upon it and do not allow another mune system or outright cutting it out for things about each other. Do you think other things which will not qualify us to to come between us any longer, thus no the sake of the body’s health. after this that someone would be able to CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE knowledge and ability and awareness of milk of the word where we are fed by doctrine which the article focuses on. be His bride. “We prophesied in your how to use it will also grow in proportion another, but now are granted to move Yet that different gospel about Christ name, cast out demons in your name, and to it. They go hand in hand and are insepa- beyond that and dine one on one with our has been used to deceive some who are have done many wonders in your name.” rable. One does not grow without the other. Savior) For precept upon precept, pre- called of God to follow a different gospel That is not enough. That is not to be our There is no vanity in it, no dominion in cept upon precept, line upon line, line about Christ. It perverts the lessons taught primary focus! it, no deceit in it, just simple humble ser- upon line, here a little, there a little.” by creation and embedded in the very fab- This is not about doing the seemingly vice to the body of Christ without fear. Now, watch: It is not for everyone, as ric of it, let alone the laws of the Elohim. obvious things just mentioned but about We can only attain this and grow in this we are clearly told here after Christ’s There are, however, other winds of being involved in such a very personal, if we have a one-on-one relationship with explanation as to why He spoke in para- doctrine blowing which are less abrasive tender, devoted, serving relationship our Husband the head of the body. bles. As Hebrews 6:3 states, it is for those but just as destructive when brought to with Him. It is about developing the at- We love the rest of the body, for it is who are granted to go beyond the milk. fruition. They can actually appear tributes of a humble wife who serves her part of us in Him. How do you hate your Isaiah 28:11-13: “For with stammer- smooth to the touch and easy to swallow husband and her family under any and foot or your hand? You don’t! Do you ing lips and another tongue He will speak but are very deadly to our relationship all circumstances. ever look at your foot and say this is not to this people, to whom He said, This is with our Christ and Husband. Our eyes are fixed on Him and no other. part of my body? No chance of that, for the rest to whom you will cause the Before we get to this smooth decep- It is not about the outward adornment with you are intimate with all your body. You weary to rest, and this is the refreshing tion of Satan, we need to once again visit self-serving actions but about the inward care for it all; you love it. they would not hear (remember Hebrews some very basic biblical truths found in activities of the heart. As the second Eve, If we are practicing such things spiri- 5:11, ‘of whom we have much to say, and the patterns of creation. We have often we do not listen to the whispers of one tually, we will grow in this grace and hard to explain, since you have become discussed that the Elohim have left a who would separate us from our knowledge of our Lord Jesus the Christ. dull of hearing’), but the word of the written record of such things throughout Husband’s instructions or the humble walk He will grant us to go beyond the milk of Lord was to them, precept upon precept, creation so that man is without excuse. we have with Him. No interloper allowed, the word and enter into a relationship of precept upon precept, line upon line, line These records clearly point to the very no impostor allowed, and certainly no sustained growth, no longer as an infant upon line, here a little, there a little (so Godhead and the purpose They have set false christ who does not function in the but as mature individuals. they would understand? NO!), that they here before us. They speak to us of way our beloved is supposed to. We will no longer play the childish might go and fall backwards, and be bro- “just” behavior, and tie together many There are many false christs being put games of I’m in charge, what’s my title, ken, and snared and caught.” things seen and unseen as to our hope in forth to this generation. They come in all what I say goes, and so on. We go beyond We are told here in the first covenant the Elohim and Their plan for us. shapes and sizes—and flavors, for that these satanic, worldly, stupid, childish scriptures just as we are in the second Romans 1:20: “For since the creation matter. It is a time that even the elect can games. Christ is the Light, and He allows covenant scriptures that Their understand- of the world His invisible attributes are and will be deceived. clearly seen, being understood by the We cannot veer to the left or the right. things that are made, even His eternal We cannot even pause to listen to the power and Godhead, so that they are lying wonders of the devil. We need to We cannot veer to the left or right or even without excuse.” expose them for what they are, for we are pause to listen to the lying wonders of the Today we are going to show some of a reflection of our Husband’s light (just these hidden things, things not visible to as the moon’s light is a reflection of the devil, for we reflect our Husband’s light. the eye without the assistance of technolo- sun’s light) for He is the Light of the gy, and tie them together with some really world. We are to know who our Husband visible things and then place them into the was, is, and will be. plan of salvation to witness to these great Some who once knew Him in many of us to instead be enlightened and taste the ing is not for everyone at this time. In fact, teachings in creation as to the Elohim and His functions are being blinded to what heavenly gift, and to become partakers of it isn’t for the wise and mighty of this age Their plan for us recorded in creation. He is doing at this time with His bride, for the holy spirit to such a degree that we are but rather for the weak and base of it. It has been many years since I have they are being deceived by Satan and his able to taste the good and true word of No vanity in that, is there? Only God written about the pattern of the first lunar lying wonders. They are convinced that God and the powers of the age to come. can receive the glory for that! We are month and the seventh lunar month and they only have to outwardly do works in We will grow in His grace and knowl- enabled by the King of Creation, the King their appointed times and that of the lunar His name but, as we have read, He will edge and know the mysteries, the hidden of the Universe, to know the patterns of cycle and the cycle of life as embedded in say to them, “I do not know you.” truths, which will enable us to know who doctrine woven through the scriptures. a woman. As I think about it, I have been What a terrifying prospect this is. Even and what we are as well as our Father and If you try to get someone else to under- remiss in doing so, but there have been so the elect can be deceived by the lying Husband-to-be so that we can better stand them, please do not beat your head many other challenges to address. wonders and substitute teachings of Satan serve Their family as They desire to against a wall if you see it going nowhere. All mankind has been given “a spirit and his angels of light. We have been place us in it. It is your task to plant the seed and let the which is in man” which makes it possible given a special gift to assist us through This is not for everyone at this time. Lord do the watering and growing. for man to gain knowledge and under- this to resist them and expose them. The We do not choose who starts this journey, However, if you do see the light enter- standing and then apply it as wisdom. spirit of God resides in us, for the Father but we have a responsibility to ourselves ing into another from your assistance, Through this, man can make moral deci- and the Son dwell with us. We need to use and others once we do. The ability and you do have a responsibility to assist sions as well as recognize some of the our spiritual eyes and ears to discern awareness we receive through the spirit them, as do others in the body, until they things of God. between good and evil, right and wrong. teach us how to use the scriptures to can stand on their own two feet and feed If we were to read on in Romans 1 we Matthew 13:10-13: “And His disci- establish the doctrines of the Father. themselves one on one with their Creator. would see that Satan has been able to ples came and said to Him, why do you We read earlier why Jesus spoke in We must never try to occupy His posi- turn some of these clearly seen under- speak to them in parables? He answered parables. He elaborates on this process in tion as the Head of the body in any way, standings in creation upside down and and said to them, because it has been the first covenant scriptures to help us shape, or form. We are all brethren and inside out. given to you to know the mysteries (hid- gain a more mature understanding of all called to the same purpose in Christ. It Some of the obvious examples men- den truths) of the Kingdom of Heaven, how and why it is done. is in our best interest to assist in the tioned there are men lusting after men but to them it has not been given. For The doctrines of the Father are inter- growth of the body, for when the number and women lusting after women. That is whoever has, to him more will be given, twined throughout the scriptures in such of the bride is reached, our Husband will absolutely shameful behavior in light of and we will have abundance; but whoev- a way that it does take the spirit to help us return for us, as He has promised the clear patterns in creation which de- er does not have, even what he has will put them together. That is why they are throughout the scriptures. At that time the fine proper relationships as defined by be taken away from him. Therefore I called hidden truths. We have often read marriage will take place shortly there- the Elohim, which, by the way, are nec- speak to them in parables, because seeing about this process, and it is important we after, and then the plan of salvation will essary to understanding the simple truth they do not see, and hearing they do not do so again today before we commence move onto the next step or phase. That as to why there even is a creation. hear, nor do they understand.” with some very important instructions phase is depicted in the rehearsals of the The very same thing applies to the un- Yes, it has been given to us to under- from God that we find in scripture and as Feasts of the seventh month. derstanding which is available on the spir- stand what Christ teaches in the parables we find in the creation of the Elohim. I have recently written an article about itual plain. By that I mean the things which and much, much, more. We are to grow Isaiah 28:9-10: “Whom will He teach how Satan is attempting to separate us can only be recognized and understood by in His grace and knowledge. That means knowledge? And whom will He make to from our Husband and His grace and the “spirit of God” dwelling in us. He gives us individual gifts and places us understand the message? Those weaned knowledge by confusing us as to who He 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 gives a thorough in His body as He sees fit. from milk! Those drawn from the breasts! was, is and will be, as I mentioned earli- explanation of the two processes and We grow in that gift or gifts and then our (This is all about growing beyond the er. There is nothing subtle about that false CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE ders to confuse us as to our Husband’s prepared for it. The first 14 days of this see the act of Meiosis taking place. As what they do for us. One allows us to roles and try to lead us away from our 28-day cycle consist of the processes stated earlier, it is the time in which the understand the things of man and the Christ/Savior/Husband. found in the Pre-ovulation Phase. The number of chromosomes is reduced by other the things of God. Just as the We should all be somewhat familiar Endometrium has been prepared for half. It is a day of separation. It is very Elohim have placed a record of knowl- with the life cycle found in a woman, and pregnancy. It is now ready to receive the important and God imprinted it into the edge in creation as to who They are and it is referred to as the Menstrual Cycle. It mature, full, ovum because its water con- very cycle of life in a woman. They also what They are doing and how They are is a process which takes place in a wom- tent (representative of what?) has in- placed it in the Plan of Salvation as well doing it, and how mankind should func- an during her childbearing years. Its nor- creased and its walls have thickened. for our understanding of its importance tion in it, They have also placed greater mal duration to cycle through is 28 days. Let’s remember on the 14th day of the to what is to take place on this day in knowledge of understanding these things There may be some variation to this in Lunar Cycle the moon is also full just as both the first and seventh months. in the Word of God, the holy Scriptures. some women at various stages of their the egg is in that same time found in the We need to remember that the overall The only way we can discern them is lives based on environment, age, health, Menstrual Cycle. plan has two very important segments. by God giving us of Their spirit. The etc. There are critical stages in this cycle On day 15 of the Menstrual Cycle One is inclusive of the Passover, Days of spirit of man cannot see them for what which scream very loud of the creation ovulation takes place and the Corpus UB and Pentecost. The other is inclusive they are; they are mysteries to them. and the plan of salvation which many do Luteum has grown into a golden colored of all the feasts of the seventh month: When we are given God’s spirit, we not know exist. They are a witness to the body, and for 7 or 8 days we find the Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles and begin to grow in these hidden truths. If we Elohim and the statement found in ovum ready to be fertilized and life can Last Great Day. were to liken the Bible to a human body, Roman 1:20. begin with the combining of the female On day 10 of the first month, the Pass- it is then easy to illustrate what we are Most who have taken the time to study and male chromosomes. During this time over Lamb is separated from the flock. 1 talking about. Anyone who has eyesight the Lunar Cycle know it to be a 29 ⁄2-day period it secretes both progesterone and It has been inspected for any outward can easily discern the shape of a body. It cycle, mathematically speaking. What estrogen. This part of the cycle takes blemish and, when deemed blemish-free, has a head, neck, eyes, ears, mouth, nose, most have never taken the time to ponder place on days 15 through 21 and some- then placed with the family that will be legs, arms, torso, fingers, toes, etc. is that it is normally visible for 28 days, times includes day 22 as well. ingesting it on the Passover. Those are the outward visible things mathematically speaking. Now, I know some of you folks who They draw close to it during this time we can all see. However, there are inward This we can refer to as the visible part have never heard me talk about these frame after the 10th and watch it careful- things not visible to the eye without more of the cycle. It is the same duration as the things before have just jumped way ly to see that it is not harmed or blem- effort which are vital for the well-being of life cycle in a woman. But it does not end ahead and should be praising God for ished in any way that would disqualify it the body. They consist primarily of two there, as we are going to see, and the two such linkage of signs to proclaim Their from being a Passover sacrifice. This categories: (1) those which are near of these cycles combined with the festi- glory in creation. You have already rec- lamb of course is symbolic of our Savior, impossible to see and (2) those which can the Lamb of the household of God the be seen once we enter into the body itself. Father. He is being prepared to join with The second category consists of things His eternal companion the Eloah we now such as lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, blood Let’s use this wonderful gift we have been know as the Father. He is returning to His vessels, etc. The first category is those given to lead us to the truth about the day own family and receiving the glory He things not easily seen unless we have once shared with Him. That can only take specialized help and equipment. or appointment time of Atonement. place after the 14th, the Passover. Not These things are vital to all the others before it. This is very significant as to the functioning in a healthy way. They are pattern of the appointed times and things such as chromosomes with their recorded scriptural events it depicts. strands of DNA. Our entire inward and vals of the first and seventh months are onciled the appointed times of the first Now, on the 10th day of the seventh outward appearances are completely going to teach us about the hidden things and seventh months of the Biblical year, month we have another day of separa- dependent upon them. of God in creation which proclaim the but don’t go too far too fast for there is tion. This day has many significant These small hidden strands of DNA glory of the Elohim! even more incredible understanding and events which take place on it, but the determine everything. The Bible is exact- The Menstrual Cycle starts with a visi- knowledge here to come. most significant is the focus on the sep- ly the same way. The spirit in man can ble sign: under intense magnification, that Here we have life possible in a 7-day aration, for without it the great Jubilee understand some of the easily seen things is. This knowledge has only become avail- period in the second half of this 28-day of physical Israel would not take place. of the Word of God. The hidden truths, able to us in this day and age, for we have cycle, the 15th through the 21st. This is This is not about spiritual Israel, for the difficult things to see, need assistance the technology to see and discern it. The what we can be confident of in a normal her Jubilee has taken place on the 50th that man does not possess on his own. Graafian Follicles and their Ova begin to healthy cycle. day, Pentecost, during the first phase of It takes the spirit of God to reveal their grow and develop. Follicular cells prolifer- However, on some cycles an 8th day the Plan of Salvation. Christ’s shed blood presence and, in fact, their function as ate and start to secrete estrogen in increas- can be added to it for fertilization. That had been applied to her and she over- well. They are the DNA strands of under- ing amounts for 2 weeks or 14 days— would be the 22nd day of the cycle. If came the pulls of the flesh and the deceits standing which in fact shape our spiritual exactly half of the total cycle of days. fertilization does not take place in this of the devil. well-being in the body of Christ. They The Lunar Cycle starts with a clearly part of the cycle it will come to an end on Atonement and Tabernacles are about actually govern our growth in grace and visible sign of growth as well. It is the the 28th day and shed its blood. This hap- physical Israel being restored to their knowledge as Christ permits. crescent which grows and gives off an pens with the cessation of progesterone rightful place starting on the 10th day of These are simple illustrations which I increasing amount of light for two weeks secretion, and estrogen reaching a mini- the seventh month. Two lambs are pre- hope we can all understand and grasp. or 14 days until it is full. Astronomically mum level. In most normal Lunar Cycles sented before God the Father. One is They are everything to us in so many speaking, this growing full takes place in the moon will go dark after 28 days. without blemish and qualifies to be the ways, for they are given to us by our this time period. However it is impossi- Please digest all of this for a moment sin offering, and it is to have no blemish Father and Brother. They will assist us to ble to discern it with the naked eye from before we continue. Here we have two externally or internally. grow in grace and knowledge until we all day 13.8 through day 15.2, for it is only a cycles in creation displaying similar The other lamb of the goats is dis- come to the unity of the faith and the 2% variance in size. So for approximate- stages of growth or maturing and then qualified by God Himself, as we will knowledge of the Son of God, to a per- ly 3 days it will appear as full to us little dying or fading away, one visible to the see. It is not left up to Aaron the high fect man, to the measure of the stature of folk here on the earth. eye and one not. priest to make this decision. the fullness of Christ our Husband, for Within the first 14 days of the Now let’s look at the Plan of Salvation This lamb is not sacrificed; it does not we are to be one with Him just as He is Menstrual Cycle we have a truly incredi- and how the moedim or appointed times shed its blood but is exposed for the one with the Father ble event take place. An appointed time, of the Elohim are placed in the first and counterfeit it really is. It is led into the Let’s use this wonderful gift we have one might say. seventh months and their correlation to wilderness. It is azazel, or “completely been given to lead us to the truth about a It happens on the 10th day. The grow- the record recorded in the things which removed.” very important aspect of the 10th day of ing ovum undergoes a special type of are created so that we are without excuse. Yes, the two lambs are separated on the seventh month, which we know as mitosis called meiosis, in which its num- Months start with a visible sign which this day, one for Elohim and the other the day or appointed time of Atonement. ber of chromosomes are reduced by half. scriptures call the New Moon day. That is not. The goat which is “completely re- We must always know who our It is a time of separation in the life cycle when the first visible light from the moon moved” no longer has any influence over Husband is and what His tasks and func- of a woman and has profound knowledge can be seen from earth and in particular physical Israel. It is so filthy the high tions are in the plan of salvation. They attached to it. It has separated in prepara- from God’s focal point on earth, which is priest had to wash himself after exposing are all recorded in scripture. Satan will tion for the creation of new life to begin. Jerusalem. it for what it is. The one who leads it into use his well-honed ability at lying won- However, it is not yet ready but being On day 10 of the Menstrual Cycle we CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE relation of all these events and signs It is very clear that verse 27 states that teachings in the past by using the Bible to the wilderness has to wash himself and recorded by God for our understanding the Day of Atonement is on the tenth of easily show they are errors. If the teachers his clothes before he can enter back into and enlightening? They are an affirma- the month. The Interlinear translates it: and believers of these errors were to the camp (Leviticus 16:21-26). tion of the hope which is in us! There is “On the tenth of this seventh month shall admit that verses 26-32 here were teach- We have a lot to discuss about this day nothing coincidental about them. They be a day (#3117 yowm) of Atonement.” ing that the Day of Atonement started at later from scripture to identify who these are works of the Elohim given to us. Of course we know yowm can be just the end of the ninth day at sunset until the two lambs of the goats were and what When asked by a nonbeliever how do the daylight period of time or a total 24- end of the 10th day at sunset, they would their functions were, and representative I know God exists, I can only feel pain hour period, which is talked about here be contradicting their erroneous doctrines of what and whom. for those who do not understand all these because it’s clarified later on, as we’ll on other subjects. So, in their vanity and The 14th day of the Menstrual Cycle wonderful signs in creation attesting to see. That time period starts at sunset at denial of the incredibly clear scriptures which is the end of the Pre-ovulation Phase the Elohim and Their Plan of Salvation the end of the ninth and ends at sunset at here, they trample down the word of God. ends with the Endometrium being prepared for mankind. These awesome events are the start of the 11th day. Remember what we are taught about for conception or, better stated, the com- both physical and spiritual in their reve- Despite that clarity, there are some this function, this act, in Ezekiel 34:17- bining of two things to create a new life. lations. These simple Biblical truths are who teach and profess and thus deceive 21 and who’s involved. On this day in the Lunar Cycle we can see some of the basic building blocks to our others into keeping the 9th of the month The Interlinear: “And you, my flock, that it has reached its peak of brightness, spiritual growth and maturing in the body as the Day of Atonement. They stumble so says the Lord Jehovah; Behold, I without blemish, just as Christ did. of Christ. They have been given for us to blindly over the word of God and would judge between lamb and lamb (that’s Its brightness makes the darkness fade understand and to use in our relationship have others do likewise, in spite of what those who are young by that standard), away, and we are able to see even though with our Husband and Father, and in our we just read in verse 27 and what is also between the rams and the he-goats (those the sun is not above the horizon. service to the body and also to mankind. repeated in Numbers 29:7 which says: who are of age and grown, some to good, Have you ever looked out on a full- With these simple and basic under- “On the tenth day of this seventh which are rams, and some to evil, which moon night and were amazed at how far standings let’s take a very mature look at month you shall have a holy convoca- are he-goats). Is it a small thing to you to you could see through the darkness? That the Day of Atonement to dispel a serious tion. You shall afflict your souls; you have fed on the good pasture, but you is what our Savior has done for us. He deception overcoming some of the called shall not do any work.” must trample the rest of your pastures has made it possible to receive forgive- of God who have been granted to go In spite of that, they go to Leviticus with your feet? And have you drunk of ness for the darkness in our lives and beyond the milk of the word. It is a doc- 23:32 and claim it says not the 10th but the clear waters, but the rest you must have the ability to see our way through to trine which can separate us from our the ninth day of the seventh month is the foul with your feet? And as for my sheep, the gift of eternal life during this time of understanding of who our Husband is Day of Atonement. what your feet have trampled they must Satan’s darkness encompassing mankind. and what He has, is and will be doing for Let’s look into their error for a mo- feed on; and what your feet fouled they On the 15th day through the 21st day must drink. So the Lord Jehovah says of the Menstrual Cycle, the Ovum is this to them; Behold, I myself, will even ready to receive the male sperm for be- judge between the fat lamb and the lean gettal to begin. This seven-day period is The deceivers teach the error that a day lamb. Because you have thrust with side exactly that of the days of Unleavened is not from sunset to sunset. Some and shoulder, and pushed all the weak Bread of the first month of the Biblical with your horns (those are the actions of Calendar. teach that the day starts at sunrise. a he-goat, not a ram), until you have scat- Here we have firstfruits unto Christ tered them to the outside.” under the terms of the first covenant. God tells us here that there will be This seven-day period of the first month those who have been called at this time has very special significance to the inter- ourselves as well as physical Israel. ment. It’s a very big one when it comes to who will not grow into mature individu- nalizing of the Lamb of God and the mar- The Angel of Light is trying to pass the events of the time line, for Israel and als discerning good food from evil food riage of the Lamb to the bride. Separate himself off as our very husband and sav- the plan of salvation. As we established and who will attempt to foul the good from these seven days but originating in ior. The word of God cannot be any earlier, this very day is established as a food of God so that others in the flock eat it is a seven-week time frame to the feast clearer as to the roles and purposes of the day of separation in the cycle of life, or contaminated food, unclean food. of Pentecost. two lambs of the goats brought before Menstrual Cycle, and in the first and sev- So I say to us all: Be on guard for these This is very significant in the first part God on the Day of Atonement. So let’s enth months of a Biblical year. he-goats who defecate on the clean of the plan. It is assigned to the second move on to this second great event of the From the New King James: “It shall waters and pastures God has given us to covenant church. These two covenant seventh month in the time line of the plan be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and feed upon. Remember, even the elect can groups are inseparable and will be joined of salvation. It is under assault as to the you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth be deceived. together in their Jubilee on the 50th day word of righteousness. day of the month at evening, from eve- So why is this day so special to the as the bride of Christ, the Lamb of God, Leviticus 23:26-32: “And the LORD ning to evening, you shall celebrate your relationship between God and Israel that and receive their inheritance as described spoke to Moses, saying: Also the tenth Sabbath.” the sons of Israel must afflict their souls in Romans 8:15-17. She is released from day of this seventh month shall be the Let’s acknowledge right up front that for the entire day without choice? Why Satan’s bondage. Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy con- this is not a very good translation of the does God call this day a Sabbath, It is important to understand that this vocation (Meqra: time of rehearsal) for Hebrew, but it is good enough to confirm Shabbathon? second group is grafted into the first you; you shall afflict your souls, and that the Day of Atonement is on the 10th There are those who teach one does group to complete its numbers who are to offer an offering made by fire to the of the month if we believe the Bible and not have to fast on this day. They say the internalize the Lamb of the Father’s LORD. And you shall do no work on that its patterns. Hebrew word for afflicting one’s soul or household. It is also important to under- same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, The Interlinear: “It is a Sabbath of body here has nothing to do with fasting. stand that this second group does not to make atonement for you before the rest to you, and you shall humble your- Let’s see how easy it is to prove that have a fixed calendar day for completion. LORD your God. For any person who is selves in the ninth of the month at wrong. The Hebrew word is #6013 in the I have lots to say about all of that, but not afflicted in soul on that same day evening, from evening until evening, you Strong’s. let’s stay focused on the subject at hand. shall be cut off from his people. And any shall keep your Sabbath.” The Brown Driver Briggs says: “When In the seventh month we have the Feast person who does any work on that same Here we are told that at a certain time used as a verb it means be bowed down, of Tabernacles taking place from the 15th day, that person I will destroy from on the 9th of the month the Day of Atone- afflicted.” day until the 21st day. This is also repre- among his people. You shall do no man- ment begins. It says this specific time is at And it gives many applications of its sentative of a time of begettal, but for the ner of work; it shall be a statute forever evening. Then we are told this day, or uses. One is Ezra 8:21. Just one of them, second phase of the Plan of Salvation. throughout your generations in all your yowm, lasts from evening to evening. from the Interlinear: Many similarities but different purposes! dwellings. It shall be to you a Sabbath of Here is where the deceivers’ problem is. “Then I called a fast there, at the river Do you remember earlier on that I solemn rest, and you shall afflict your They teach the error that a day is not from of Ahava, so we might humble (#6013) mentioned that this begettal period can souls; on the ninth day of the month at sunset to sunset. Some teach that the day ourselves before our God, in order to extend to an eighth day? This is very sig- evening, from evening to evening, you starts at sunrise, etc. Some others teach seek from Him a right way for us, and for nificant, for in this seventh month the shall celebrate your Sabbath.” that the Hebrew word used for evening our little ones, and for all our goods.” 22nd day holds a very special signifi- There’s a lot of instruction contained here three times has different starting Not associated with fasting? Isn’t that cance for mankind, especially for all the within these seven verses of the Bible. points. Some say it starts at the noon hour, amazing! So much for that argument! Do Gentile nations. Once again, much to say We’re going to focus on just those rele- some at 3 in the afternoon, some not until not forget as well that on a Shabbathon but let’s stay focused. vant to the study of the significance of three stars are visible in the night’s sky. (#7677) we are not allowed to do cus- Brethren, do we see the incredible cor- the day being a day of separation. We have studied these nonbiblical CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE were finished. But after these things he sell anything to your neighbor or buy in the day of atonement, less a ram’s horn tomary work. However, we are allowed must be released for a little while.” from your neighbor’s hand, you shall not pass throughout all your land; and you to prepare what we are to eat that day. What a time of joy and excitement this oppress one another. According to the shall make the fiftieth year holy, a year. Here in Leviticus 23:32 God says we 10th day will be. Just imagine that the number of years after the Jubilee you shall And you shall proclaim liberty in the are to apply the more stringent rules of a prince of the power of the air will be ban- buy from your neighbor, and according to land to all its inhabitants; it shall be a Sabbath [#7676] with no cooking at all to ished to a place where he can no longer the number of years of crops he shall sell Jubilee to you. And you shall return this Shabbathon, or annual holy day. put horrible thoughts in the minds of to you. According to the multitude of every man to his possession; you shall He makes it very specific. Not only are men, especially his favorite target, Israel. years you shall increase its price, and turn back each to his family.” we to not eat on this day from the end of This 10th day of the seventh month is a according to the fewer number of years This alarm of the ram’s horn of war the 9th to the end of the 10th, we are not day of separation not unlike the 10th day you shall diminish its price; for he sells to passing over the land signifies the defeat allowed to prepare or cook any food for of the first month was. This is why in the you according to the number of the years of Satan, the devil. So he no longer has consumption for after sunset on the 10th. life cycle of a woman on the tenth day of of the crops. Therefore you shall not dominion over the children of Israel. God wants Israel’s undivided attention for that 28-day cycle we see the ovum under- oppress one another, but you shall fear How do we know this is only talking a very important reason. So let’s see why. go a special type of Mitosis called Meiosis your God; for I am the LORD your God.” about Israel here? Leviticus 25:2 starts He will do it all! in which its number of chromosomes are As a footnote, once again we have a with: “Speak unto the children of Israel, This day follows the Passover of the reduced by half. That takes place in prepa- lesson in godly economics and how and say unto them, when you come into Lord, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost and ration for it to receive the chromosome they’re going to be structured. The the land which I give you . . .” Trumpets. We know that on the Passover count of the sperm between the 15th and instruction continues in verses 18-55 and The people in the land are clearly the blood of the lamb was wiped on the 21st days of that cycle, the time when it ties the importance of redemption of defined as Israel. It is at this time, as doorposts and lintel, the entrance of the can be fertilized and create a new life. those who are in bondage to the 50th Revelation 20:1-3 more than adequately homes of the Israelites. Do we all see the simplicity and beau- year. It ends with these words: points out, that a mighty angel will bind We also know that it was intended to ty of God’s creation and plan of salvation Verses 54-55: “And if he is not Satan in a place where he cannot deceive protect the firstborn and only the first- here? This 10th day of the seventh month redeemed in these years, then he shall be anyone for a thousand years. But keep in born from the death angel at that time is truly a Jubilee for physical Israel. released in the Year of Jubilee—he and mind the time line of the plan of salvation when it passed over the land of Egypt at Every 50th year on this day physical his children with him. For the children of doesn’t end at the end of the one thou- midnight. Israel celebrated that Jubilee. They were Israel are servants to Me; they are My sand years, so he will be loosed again for We see during the seven subsequent separated from the results of their bad servants whom I brought out of the land a short while to continue to be used in the days following the Passover that the first- behavior and decisions as well as from of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” time line of the plan God has set in place. born of Israel as well as the rest of Israel the bad results of that of a relative. They Do we remember what took place at For those of you who have read or lis- were to be making every effort to stay tened to our studies of the festivals of the leaven-free. As well, we know that the seventh month, you may remember I put seven-week count comprising a time of together the study of the Feast of testing and qualifying ended with the Feast We are not to prepare or cook any food Tabernacles or Ingatherings first so that of Weeks or Pentecost. That day is the for consumption after sunset on the we could see that it was a time which Jubilee of the bride, when she has the right depicted the restoration of physical Israel to return to her true family and inheritance. 10th. God wants our undivided attention. to her land and family. It is a time in At that time we also see the start of a which Satan the devil is bound and not new journey for the remainder of Israel, able to deceive Israel any longer. physical and spiritual. It too is a time of For this to happen we see God re- testing, but with a different purpose from were allowed to be freed from bondage that time besides the passover of the deeming Israel at the Feast of Atone- that of the seven weeks. Those who qual- and returned to families and possessions. death angel? ment. It is He and He alone who makes ify to be co-heirs with Christ as the out- All of this is depicting what takes Exodus 12:12: “For I will pass that possible. It is at that time that Satan come of their actions with Him will place at the end of the age of man. through the land of Egypt on that night, the devil is exposed to all Israel and his become the bride. After this we are deal- Satan’s dominion is shattered and he is and will strike all the firstborn in the sins are laid on him for all to see. ing with those who will become the chil- exposed for what he truly is. Israel’s eyes land of Egypt, both man and beast; What a tremendous event. But he is dren of that union, or specifically the are opened to the truth of God as to who and against all the gods of Egypt I will not killed here, is he? No, he’s not. He’s firstborn of it, as Christ and His wife they are and what they should be doing. execute judgment: I am the LORD.” put in a place after his sins have been become fruitful and multiply. God will give them His holy spirit en Did we get that? All the firstborn of placed on him so he cannot hurt Israel We see Christ and His wife return on masse, and it will combine with the spir- man, animal, and the gods of Egypt! anymore through his cunning and decep- Trumpets to take up that task, but first it in man and produce a new creation. Satan was what to God? The first of the tive ways and his ability to plant thoughts they need to establish who is in charge They will have the right to return to angelic beings known as cherubim. He in our minds. and by what set of rules all must live by. their family and their land. Let’s read was not covered by the lamb’s blood. He Unfortunately, brethren, he has con- After doing this they need to have a great about this great event as it is depicted in was also what to Egypt? Judgment was vinced many who once understood these work performed on the 10th day of the Israel in the Promised Land. made on him at that time, but the sen- things, or at least said they did, to fall seventh month. It is at that time that God Leviticus 25:8-17: “And you shall tence was not carried out then. He was from the clarity of the word of God and removes the greatest obstacle to Israel’s count seven Sabbaths of years for your- still being used by God in the perfecting Their very clear patterns. Let’s correct success as to fulfilling her rightful place self, seven times seven years; and the time process of men through testing. this error by using the scriptures in an as the chosen people among the nations of the seven Sabbaths of years shall be to In Exodus 12:12 we see God passing effort to help those who are falling for of the world and complete what she had you forty-nine years. Then you shall cause through the land. We see the same thing this new unholy teaching. started and failed at so long ago. the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the in verse 23 and it states: “And Jehovah Leviticus 16 tells us about all the cere- Let’s pick up this incredibly clear time tenth day of the seventh month; on the will pass through to smite Egypt.” The monial functions of this day which the line in the book of Revelation. In chap- Day of Atonement you shall make the word used for pass through is #5674 priests had to carry out on their behalf ters 19 and 20 we see the second cove- trumpet to sound throughout all your land. abar. The BDB. says of it: “pass over, and that of Israel’s. Within this instruc- nant scriptures sequence the chronology And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, through, by, pass on.” tion we will see the patterns confirmed of events found in Leviticus 23:9-44. As and proclaim liberty throughout all the It is a verb and is used in various situ- which we have reviewed today about this to the 10th day of the seventh month, we land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a ations and applications. What is impor- tremendously important day to physical can read about its primary focus in Jubilee for you; and each of you shall tant is the context in which it’s found or Israel. Let’s look at Leviticus 16. Revelation 20. return to his possession, and each of you used. It is used in the teaching of the Leviticus 16:1-2: “Now the LORD spoke Revelation 20:1-3: “Then I saw an shall return to his family. That fiftieth year Passover of the Lord and the events sur- to Moses after the death of the two sons of angel coming down from heaven, having shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall rounding it. We also see that same word Aaron, when they offered profane fire the key to the bottomless pit and a great neither sow nor reap what grows of its used in the context of the Jubilee, or the before the LORD, and died; and the LORD chain in his hand. He laid hold of the own accord, nor gather the grapes of your 10th day of the seventh month. Unfortu- said to Moses: Tell Aaron your brother not dragon, that serpent of old, who is the untended vine. For it is the Jubilee; it shall nately, the New King James does not to come at just any time into the Holy Devil and Satan, and bound him for a be holy to you; you shall eat its produce point that out in its translation. Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat thousand years; and he cast him into the from the field. [Once again, no one is The Interlinear says of Leviticus which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a preparing, but God is doing it for them.] 25:9-10: “And you shall cause an alarm, appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.” seal on him, so that he should deceive the “In this Year of Jubilee, each of you a ram’s horn to pass over (#5674) in the This is very important instruction to nations no more till the thousand years shall return to his possession. And if you seventh month, in the tenth of the month; CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Leviticus 16:3-4: “Thus Aaron shall from #5795 and #235, “goat of depar- Now let’s read what is done with the the bride of Christ. Remember who the come into the Holy Place: with the blood ture.” It says #5795 is ez, she-goat, as blood of both the bull and the goat which two sons of Aaron were? of a young bull as a sin offering, and of a Strong’s puts it, but masculine in plural are holy and without blemish. Leviticus 10:1: “Then Nadab and Abi- ram as a burnt offering. He shall put the which also is used for goat’s hair. Leviticus 16: 11-19: “And Aaron shall hu, the sons of Aaron, each took his cen- holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on Now, that points out its coarseness and bring the bullock of the sin offering, which ser and put fire in it, put incense on it, his body; he shall be girded with a linen the difficulty in bending it to one’s uses. is for himself, and shall make an atone- and offered profane fire before the LORD, sash, and with the linen turban he shall be #235 is azal, a prime root, to go away, ment for himself, and for his house, and which He had not commanded them.” attired. These are holy garments. There- hence to disappear. This is why we see shall kill the bullock of the sin offering So here we see which sons of Aaron fore he shall wash his body in water, and the Interlinear translating it as “complete which is for himself: And he shall take a and what they had done to deserve death put them on.” removal.” censer full of burning coals of fire from off just talked about—instant death by fire, Very easy to follow! What happens to Satan by a mighty the altar before the LORD, and his hands that is. From Leviticus 16:2 we see they Verse 5: “And he shall take from the angel? He is completely removed for a full of sweet incense beaten small, and did this behind the veil in the holy of congregation of the children of Israel two thousand years. bring it within the veil: And he shall put holies where the mercy seat was located. kids of the goats as a sin offering, and Don’t forget the other half of this word, the incense upon the fire before the LORD, Continuing, we read: one ram as a burnt offering.” ez, “strong and coarse as in difficult.” So that the cloud of the incense may cover the Leviticus 10:2-3: “So fire went out Here we are told that two kids of the this strongly difficult goat is completely mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that from the LORD and devoured them, and goats are selected for a sin offering (only removed. The BDB says of #5799, or he die not: And he shall take of the blood they died before the LORD. And Moses one would qualify) and one ram as a burnt azazel, “entire removal.” We are about to of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his fin- said to Aaron, This is what the LORD offering. Look what Aaron is to do first. see that this goat is the source of the ger upon the mercy seat eastward; and spoke, saying: By those who come near Verse 6: “Aaron shall offer the bull as entire amount of sin being removed from before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of Me I must be regarded as holy; And a sin offering, which is for himself, and Israel and being placed on it where it the blood with his finger seven times. before all the people I must be glori- make atonement for himself and for his rightly belongs. Israel will become holy “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin fied. So Aaron held his peace.” house.” and clean. But not by its actions. It is by offering, that is for the people (physical In verses 4-7 we see the bodies of The bull was to be killed and used as a those of the other young goat which has Israel), and bring his blood within the veil, Nadab and Abihu were carried outside sin offering for whom? For Aaron and his qualified to be a sin offering completely and do with that blood as he did with the the camp and that God warned Aaron and household. blemish-free, externally and internally. blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon his two other sons Eleazar and Ithamar It was to make atonement for him and This task of discerning which goat is the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: not to carry on and mourn their deaths. the other members of that household. So worthy of being the sin offering and And he shall make an atonement for the Now, in verses 8-11 we get a clear indi- what does it mean to make atonement? which goat is truly representative of evil holy place, because of the uncleanness of cation as to why Nadab and Abihu did the children of Israel, and because of their what they did to cause their own death. transgressions in all their sins: and so shall Leviticus 10:4-7: “Then the LORD he do for the tabernacle of the congrega- spoke to Aaron, saying: Do not drink How can anyone believe Satan is qualified tion, that remains among them in the wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your to be a sin offering? Yet that is one of midst of their uncleanness (this is very sons with you, when you go into the special and only happens once a year). tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It many false doctrines blowing in the wind. “And there shall be no man in the shall be a statute forever throughout your tabernacle of the congregation when he generations, that you may distinguish goes in to make an atonement in the holy between holy and unholy, and between place, until he come out, and have made unclean and clean, and that you may The word used for it throughout chap- is not left to men to decide. an atonement for himself, and for his teach the children of Israel all the ter 16 is #3722, kaphar. Strong’s says of Verses 9-10 from the Interlinear: household, and for all the congregation statutes which the LORD has spoken to it: “a prime root, to cover specifically with “And Aaron shall bring the goat on of Israel. And he shall go out unto the them by the hand of Moses.” bitumen (and that’s tar, something dark which the lot of Jehovah fell and shall altar that is before the LORD, and make It doesn’t take a genius, brethren, to and sticky. In other words, nobody can see make it a sin offering. And the goat on atonement for it; and shall take of the figure out what had just happened. Na- you in that sense, is what it means) figu- which the lot fell for a complete removal blood of the bullock, and of the blood of dab and Abihu got drunk to some extent ratively to expiate or condone, to placate shall be made to stand living before the goat, and put it upon the horns of the and lost their ability to discern between or cancel.” The BDB says of it: “cover Jehovah to atone by it, to send it away for altar round about. holy and unholy, clean and unclean, and over, pacify, make propitiation.” a complete removal into the wilderness.” “And he shall sprinkle of the blood then entered the holy of holies at a time So we see, here and in all the other One goat is holy and one is not. One is upon it with his finger seven times, and they were forbidden to, thus they were uses of this word, its simple use. It cov- clean and the other is unclean; one a sin cleanse it, and hallow it from the un- terminated. ers over something from the point of hav- offering, the other not. Look at the neces- cleanness of the children of Israel.” This is a very important teaching, but ing pacified someone or something in the sary qualifications to be a sin offering. The shed blood of Christ was now even more so when we understand its sense of having made propitiation. It is Leviticus 4:3: “If the anointed priest applied to all of Israel and not just the implication to the bride of Christ and the an act of mercy extended from one to sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let firstborn as at Passover. Now look what wedding supper. In Exodus 24:9-11 Nadab another in many of its uses. Such things him offer to the LORD for his sin which happens to the goat which is to be com- and Abihu were two of the 74 individuals are usually unmerited by the one being he has sinned a young bull without blem- pletely removed. out of the millions of Israelites who left covered and if not atoned for would be ish as a sin offering.” Verses 20-22: “And when he hath Egypt who were allowed into the wedding subject to a penalty. Very important! Thus we see why Aaron used a young made an end of atoning for the holy supper at the Feast of Weeks on the sea of Now let’s get to the two goats involve- bull as his atonement sin offering. When place, and the tabernacle of the congre- glass. We’ve read that many times. ments. a goat is to be used, verse 23 tells us it is gation, and the altar, he shall bring the Think of the implications. We see that Verses 7-8: “He shall take the two to be without blemish. We can read in live goat (now this is after all that atoning sometime after this the two of them goats and present them before the LORD verses 28 and 32 that the other types of is done. The sin offerings, the blood of sinned before God and were burned up. It at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. sin offerings are also to be without blem- them has already been sprinkled and cov- is very clear God is no respecter of per- Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two ish. Now notice: ering applied by the unblemished goat): sons. If at any time one who is qualified goats: one lot for the LORD and the other Leviticus 6:25: “Speak to Aaron and And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon to be the bride defiles her garments, she lot for the scapegoat.” to his sons, saying, This is the law of the the head of the live goat, and confess will be terminated. We need to stay This is very important. Aaron was not sin offering: In the place where the burnt over him all the iniquities of the children focused on, and distinguish between, allowed to determine which was which. offering is killed, the sin offering shall be of Israel, and all their transgressions in what is holy and unholy, clean and One was to be used as a sin offering to the killed before the LORD. It is most holy.” all their sins, putting them upon the head unclean, both physically and spiritually. Lord and the other had an entirely differ- Are we all seeing the clear point I am of the goat, and shall send him away by This is a very sobering warning to us ent use. Listen how the Interlinear trans- making? The goat which is accepted or the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: all. We must never get careless and soil lates verse 8. “And Aaron shall give lots acceptable to God for a sin offering and to And the goat shall bear upon him all their our garments by unholy things. We must over the two goats, one lot for Jehovah, be determined as so by Him is holy. How iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and drink of the pure and holy water of life and one lot for a complete removal.” can anyone believe that Satan the devil is he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.” which is found in the Word of God and The Hebrew used here for “complete qualified to be a sin offering? But yet it is This goat certainly doesn’t die for us, not the intoxicating drink of deceit of the removal” is #5799, which is translated one of the many versions of a false doc- does he? No! Do we see this incredible devil and his fellow angels of light. Back scapegoat in many of the English trans- trine blowing in the wind, with many instruction here? This goat which is the to Leviticus 16 and the Day of Atonement. lations, or azazel. Strong’s says of it: more similar to it but with different spins. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE They will be implemented during the self ready with the assistance of her be at Christ’s side governing the actions author of all the sins of Israel is removed. millennium, the time of the restoration of devoted Husband, He will present her to which take place during the thousand He is exposed by God for what he really physical Israel so they can learn the Himself a glorious church, not having years that Satan is completely removed. is. All his influence and ingrained deceit lessons of them, which they failed to do spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that We are told death has no power over is taken away. This is why it is a day of the first time around. Without a basic it should be holy and without blemish. them. These are the times of physical separation between Israel and the devil. understanding of their content and pur- Then the plan can and will continue to Israel being gathered in and tabernacling This is why the ovum on the 10th day pose, they can be used to fool us and pos- the next phase, and the family of God will with Christ and the gentile nations loses half its chromosome count. It is not sibly lead us into a different gospel about grow. The festivals of the seventh month receiving blessings through them. a mystery to us who are called of God. It Christ. The angel of light would desper- depict that growth. The book of Revelation Thus we have some of the events of is a magnificent truth which we should ately like us to believe he is actually a contains the sequence of those great events the Feast of Tabernacles represented here proclaim to all. savior, another christ. with a lot of very specific instructions in its sequence of the timeline. How this day fits into the time line of Brethren, the scriptures as well as cre- which clearly identifies each of them. We Verses 7-15 then move us onto the the plan of salvation is being made in- ation proclaim to us the incredible time can only clearly understand all their basics events of the Last Great Day. We see credibly clear. This day is primarily about line of events unto salvation, the appoint- if we understand the roles of all the players Satan released to test the Gentile nations. physical Israel being separated from the ed times of meeting with God we refer to and the reason for each event being depict- We read about some of the resulting devil and all that is his. Israel will be set as annual feasts of the Lord. ed. It is completely about the growing of chaos caused by it and then the carrying free from that bondage and will be able to The first phase is nearing completion. the family of the Elohim. out of Satan’s long overdue sentence. He return to God and the promised land so We have the Passover fulfilled; we have Revelation chapters 19-20 teach us has used up his usefulness in perfecting that she is ready for the next stage in the the first covenant participants who quali- about many of the basic levels of knowl- mankind in the various stages of it and is plan, the ingathering, the restoration and fied to be the bride of the Lamb of God edge associated with these wonderful destroyed in the Lake of Fire. We then the tabernacling with the God family as selected as represented by the seven days annual rehearsals of what is to be. see the great day of judgment of all who begotten children who have the spirit of of UB. We are now in the process of com- I say “what is to be” because in these have ever lived, some unto life and some God dwelling in them. What an awesome pleting the bride under the terms of the chapters you see no mention of Passover unto death, the second death. and merciful God we worship. second covenant as depicted in the seven- or UB. Have you ever asked yourself The chronology of these events is sim- In summing up His instructions of this week count from the wave-sheaf day why, or for that matter given it any ple to see. The significance God wants us day He tells us: which always falls during the days of UB thought at all? to understand in them is written out for Verse 34: “And this shall be an ever- up until the feast of Weeks, or, as we often This revelation was given to John. This us. They are patterns written throughout lasting statute unto you, to make atone- call it, Pentecost. These seven weeks are is many decades after the death and resur- scripture. They are recorded in the things ment for the children of Israel (not all for the seven churches to endure and over- rection of Christ. Passover is simple. It which are created so we will not be with- mankind, for that time comes later in the out excuse. time line) for all their sins once a year.” We partake of the truth which was once The blood of the lamb covered the delivered. We do not come to an under- firstborn on the night of the 14th of Abib Many are waking up to their purpose. standing of it all at once. We need to be on the Passover of the Lord. Here in and The scales are falling from their eyes. diligent before the Lord our Husband to on the 10th day of the seventh month we present ourselves approved of God, work- see blood once again being used of sacri- They are rejecting the devil’s whispers. ers who are not being shamed because we fice, without blemish, to cover the rest of are not rightly dividing the word of truth. Israel. Here we see a promise from when We need to shun profane and vain bab- the Lord passed through the land of blings which separate us from Christ, the Egypt being fulfilled. Here we see judg- come and qualify to finish the number has already been fulfilled. The same per- Word of God. This is not an easy task, but ment being placed on the being it belongs started with physical Israel. On the 50th tains to UB. The participants from the the Father has called us to it and He has with as to all of Israel’s sins. day they will be united together with their first covenant have already been chosen. done so for He has had opportunity to see But he is not killed yet, as Leviticus and Husband and receive their Jubilee and However, those who are tied to it, to in us a glimmer of being able to complete Revelation both tell us. No, not yet, for the receive their rightful eternal inheritance the completion of the number of the bride it. Everything else in our lives is secondary Elohim still have a use for him in the con- with Him and the Father. which was not completed under that to our one-on-one relationship we are to tinuing time line as we have often seen. The vast majority of those of us going covenant, are still undetermined at the share with our Savior/Husband Jesus. There are those who are being led through this qualifying process under the time of John just prior to his death and Our adversary is going to do all he is astray into thinking our Husband/Savior terms of the second covenant are not still are not yet in our time. That is why allowed to do to turn us from that goal. is playing both roles as to the goats on the native Israelites but Gentiles who are we see the sequence of annual holy days Don’t get involved in useless wranglings Day of Atonement. being grafted into the tree or vine. starting with Pentecost in chapter 19. over words and doctrines with those who Satan loves this, and it energizes him That is where we are today, brethren. We pick up the time line in verses 6-9. relish such opportunity. Simply state into thinking he is actually overcoming Satan knows this first phase is quickly Here we see the marriage of the Lamb your case as we are instructed in 1 Peter the elect and is deluding himself to think coming to a close. Many brethren called and the bride taking place in no uncertain 3:15-16: “But sanctify the Lord God in he is getting closer to victory. This doc- of the Father are waking up as to their terms. This is what we and the scriptures your hearts, and always be ready to give trine being ingested by some is only part purpose at this time. They are entering call the Feast of Pentecost, Weeks, a defense to everyone who asks you a of the trials and testings that Satan is into a loving, devoted, one-on-one rela- Harvest and Firstfruits. The order of reason for the hope that is in you, with allowed to do as to our perfecting, our tionship with their Husband, Jesus the events then pick up with those found in meekness and fear; having a good con- qualifying, as the bride of Christ, which Christ. He is their head and no other. the start of the seventh month. science, that when they defame you as is the second Eve. The scales are falling from their eyes. Verses 11-21 tell us about the Bride evildoers, those who revile your good Satan is clever and thinks we are as They are rejecting the whispers of the returning with Christ, the Word of God, conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” dumbed down at times as the first Eve in devil which have separated them from and His waging war on those who are We are given incredible instructions in allowing another to replace her hus- their beloved spouse. Even the subtle lit- unrepentant on the earth and then remov- 2 Timothy 2. band’s teachings. tle lies are being exposed by them. In the ing the Beast and the False Prophet and 2 Timothy 2:22-26: “Flee also youth- We are instructed throughout scripture past, some of these had made “sense” to throwing them into the lake of fire. These ful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, that only unblemished blood can atone her vanity, but no longer. But, in spite of are the activities highlighted here for the love, peace with those who call on the for sin, cover it. There is no other method this, Satan is convinced in his mind that Feast of Trumpets. Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid fool- for doing so. Certainly not by complete- he can separate us from our Husband, In chapter 20 the events continue on ish and ignorant disputes, knowing that ly removing a counterfeit christ into the just as he did the first Eve from Adam. just as they are patterned elsewhere in the they generate strife. And a servant of the wilderness for a thousand years! The epic events of the Father depicting scripture. Verses 1-3 describe the major Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, Let’s use our common sense and the the establishment of His Savior Son are event of separation on the Day of Atone- able to teach, patiently, in humility cor- spirit of God to discern such things. An depicted in the 10th and 14th days of the ment. We are even required to separate recting those who are in opposition, if innocent life had to be sacrificed and first month. They are the day the Lamb is from food and be completely reliant on God perhaps will grant them repentance, applied to our sins, not a life recognized separated from the flock and the day He God. Here we see Satan “completely re- so that they may know the truth, and that by God as being full of sin and then com- shed His holy blood. moved” from influencing mankind, es- they may come to their senses and escape pletely removed. The days depicting the completion of pecially physical Israel, who are being the snare of the devil, having been taken We should all gain a better under- the bride are found in the feasts of restored to their rightful place among the captive by him to do his will.” standing of the offerings to better under- Unleavened Bread and the count to nations as a chosen people. Our peace we give to you! stand those laws associated with them. Pentecost. When the bride has made her- Verses 4-6 tell us about those who will —Brian Convery

This page is part of CONNECTIONS: MEMBER TO MEMBER, the advertising section of THE JOURNAL 30 ★ ★ ★ THIS PAGE CONTAINS PAID ADVERTISING ★ ★ ★ Issue No. 134 (Dec. 20, 2011) What Is Sin?

By Art Mokarow P.O. Box 1197 • Montgomery, TX 77356 • [email protected] • www.GodsPuzzleSolved.com

here are a variety of Sins: wiped out just by believing and SIN IS NOT ONE THING the mark.” What “mark”? There m1) BLIND SINS. Jesus following Christ. No Law keep- Paul, the Apostle, defined are many marks they could miss T was asked by The Phari- ing is involved. This doesn’t “sin” as “greater than breaking a by sinning. sees about their sins, “Jesus said mean we should sin, but by faith Law.” One can sin in different John, the Apostle, gives you to them, If you were blind, you we do not sin or cause any harm ways than just transgressing a the biblical answer: “All unrigh- should have no sin: but now you (I John 5:17). law. Sin, also, can be more than teousness [wrongdoing] is sin: say, We see [understand], there- 6) THE UNPARDONABLE any Law. A Law can be trans- and there is a sin not to death” (I fore your sin remains” (John SIN. What is amazing about the gressed and have curses or John 5:17). 9:41). Of those ignorant to the Unpardonable penalties. According to The Law, Sin can be a transgression, a truth and not know- Sin has nothing no sin is done without a Law debt, an iniquity, or more. Sin is ing the difference to do with Law with its judgments. Sins go far missing the mark of anything between good and or any Command- beyond Laws with penalties with that isn’t perfect and holy as evil, their sin is not ment. “But the decrees. What sin did Adam God. held against them. blasphemy [hos- commit which extended to the God is making man in His This includes the tility] against the whole world? image so an individual can atheists, agnostics and Holy Ghost [Spi- Notice what God had to do for receive the Gift of Eternal Life those ignorant to rit] shall not be the good of humanity including in an Eternal Paradise (Genesis forgiven unto men the truth of believing Adam and Eve. “And the LORD 1:26). Adam and Eve decided on in God. [the world]. God said, Behold, the man is their own to lose The Tree of 2) REPENTANT “And whoso- become as one of [mankind] us Life by choosing death and SINS. Peter brought ever speaks a [including the angels], to know being exiled from God’s house up another way for word against the good and evil: and now, less he and paradise. That was their sin! sinners. “Repent and Son of Man [Christ] put forth his hand, and take also Christ had to come to save the be baptized every it shall be forgiv- of the tree of life, and eat and world (I John 4:14). one of you in the Art Mokarow en him: but who- live forever” (Genesis 3:22). John said there were sins that name of Jesus Christ soever speaks God had to remove His Free didn’t produce death. Wow! for the remission of sins and you [does not heed] against the Holy Gift of Eternal Life for man’s What kind of sin has no death? shall receive the gift of the Ghost [Spirit], it shall not be good. Adam and Eve did not sin The unpardonable sin has Holy Spirit [rather than death]” forgiven him, in this world, nei- after any law but on their own nothing to do with Laws, Cove- (Acts 2:38). ther in the world to come” (Mat- chose to die and to make up their nants or Commands, but God’s 3) FAITH WITH SIN. An thew 12:31-32). Pretty clear! own minds as to what is good or Holy Spirit in this human life impotent, disabled man was Paul gives a new meaning for evil. Their sin was not against under the New Heaven and on healed on the Sabbath at the pool sin. “Wherefore, as by one man any Law, but their offense cut the New Earth. It is still sin, but of Bethesda. This blind, impo- [Adam] sin entered into the themselves off by their decision unpardonable because only by tent man paid no penalty and world, and death by sin; and so to die. God had to exile them the Holy Spirit do we know The was healed. Only his faith for- death passed upon all men [hu- from God’s House and the Truth to receive salvation. gave his sin and he was healed. manity], for that all have sinned: Garden so they wouldn’t sin and Sin is Missing the mark, but Christ told him, “Behold, you (For until the law [Moses] sin be miserable forever by eating what kind of mark? It all has to are made whole: sin no more, was in the world: but sin is not the Tree of Life. come down to one point. Either less a worse thing come to imputed when there is no law” Sin is far greater than the by God’s Holy Spirit seeking God [upon] thee” (John 5:14). (Romans 5:12-13). Transgression of The Law by and being in His image or not. Moses (I John 3:4). A “trans- 4) ALL SINS FORGIVEN. “Nevertheless death reigned You either grow—spiritually gression” means “to go against Christ defined the forgiveness of from Adam to Moses, even over —by God’s Holy Spirit or not something which causes a penal- sin because of His sacrifice and them that had not sinned after grow spiritually (Matthew 12:33). was ready to forgive any man for ty.” That is why Paul said The the similitude [likeness] of If you do, all your fruit will be committing any type of sin. Law was only given to a certain good. That’s it. All other sins Adam’s transgression, who is the 5) ALL MANNER OF SIN. type of person or people for their will not only be forgiven but for- figure [Christ] of him that was to own good (I Timothy 1:7-11). gotten. This sin is all encompassing, if come” (Romans 5:14). “But not you believe you are in Jesus. The Law is given for the good Sin is not only keeping a Law, as the offence [against life], so “He that is not with me is of people who are criminals and but growing from “faith to faith” against me; and he that gathers also is the free gift. For if carnal. The Law is therefore and “being justified by your not with me scatters abroad. through the offence of one [Tree good and just to keep a society faith” (Romans 1:17). God’s Holy Wherefore I say to you, All man- of Life] many be dead, much civilized and not end up killing Spirit leads you to “the truth,” ner of sin and blasphemy shall more the grace of God, and the each other. God gave Moses The and your obedience is determined be forgiven to men” (Matthew gift of God [life] and the gift by Law because the people were by your faith. Whatsoever is not 12:30-31). If you follow Christ, grace, which is by one man, transgressors (Galatians 3:19). of faith is a sin, and that is ujn- all your sins and any blasphemy Jesus Christ, has abounded to There are many types of sin. pardaonble because you are you may have caused are forgiv- many” (Romans 5:12). Sounds That is why the definition for sin rejecting God’s Holy Spirit (Ro- en. Your sins are automatically confusing, or is it? in Hebrew and Greek is to “miss mans 14:23).

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Torah, Covenants and Law

By Art Mokarow P.O. Box 1197 • Montgomery, TX 77356 • [email protected] • www.GodsPuzzleSolved.com

f you had to go to Court, would you go the law?” (Galatians 3:19). His reply was, “It matter of faith and trusting God to make every- without a lawyer? Some do. So it is with was added because of transgressions [sin], till one in His Image (Genesis 1:26). IGod’s Law and Covenants. It is helpful to the seed [Christ] should come to whom the What does God—through Christ—give know the basic words and what is the proper promise (Covenant) was made; and it was everyone? “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of protocol when in God’s court. ordained by angels in the hands of a mediator truth, is come, he will guide [lead] you into all Paul warned that too many teachers of The [Judge].” Why do we even have to go further? truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but Law did not know what they were talking Paul said once Christ came a transfer from The whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: about. Old Covenant to The New Covenant transpired. and he will show you things to come” (John How do Christians know what sin is without 16:13). TEACHERS OF THE LAW The Law? Simple: “And this I say, that the Christians need no law to define sin. God’s “Desiring to be teachers of the law; under- covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Holy Spirit leads Christians into all truth, even standing neither what they say, nor whereof Christ, the law [The Torah didn’t have The prophecy. Don’t you think Paul knew The Law they affirm [to be true]. But we know that the Law of Moses until The Promise was given to and what it could or not do? law is good, if a man use it lawfully” (I Abraham] which was SIN DIFFERS Timothy 1:7-8). What a simple statement. four hundred and thirty There is a right way as well and a wrong way years after, cannot dis- Sin can be a transgression in to administer The Law. annul, that is should relationship to a property and These proud teachers are very dogmatic and make the promise of the owner’s rights. Adam and certain they have the right definitions and none effect” (Galatians Eve sinned with no Law by eat- know how to apply The Law. These teachers 3:17). Wow! How much ing from the wrong tree. “Sin” are not able to be taught themselves. Rather basic understanding do in Hebrew and Greek is defined than seeking the truth, they think they have the you scripturally need? as “missing a mark.” What right information. To them, “being right” is of What existed at the kind of mark? “All unright- greater importance than finding out “what is time of Abraham was eousness is sin: and there is a right.” They have the same problem Job had. the Melchizedek Priest- sin not to death” (I John 5:17). hood (a different spiri- Anything which is not “the WHO NEEDS THE LAW? tual priesthood). This right thing” to do is a sin. The Law clearly tells you what sin is (I John changed The Law from Some sins do not lead to death. 3:4). The question Paul asks is “What is The the letter to the Spirit You, now, have covered Law, and who is it given to?” What is the pur- (II Corinthians 3:1-4). some good basics about Laws and sin. It is pose in having The Law? There was no Law of Moses as the Old obvious, scripturally, that the Old Covenant He gives everyone the answer to this simple Covenant from Genesis 1 till Moses came Law of Moses is only for carnal criminals and question: “Knowing this, that the laws is not upon the scene. It gets even worse: “The LORD not for repentant Christians. Future articles made [created] for a righteous man, but for [God] made not this covenant with our fathers will deal with Covenant Law, different types of the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly [Adam, Abraham, Noah, Isaac, and Jacob], but sin and even what The Torah really means and for sinners [willful], for unholy and pro- with us [Israel], even us, who are all of us here without “The Added Law” in Deuteronomy. fane, for murders of mothers and manslayers, alive this day” (Deuteronomy 5:3). Are you No one can understand algebra without real- for whoremongers, for them that defile them- reading and understanding each word you read ly knowing arithmetic or geometry. Each disci- selves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, from The Bible? pline from arithmetic to algebra to geometry to for perjured persons and if there be any other Only The Israelites “who were there that calculus is useless without knowing the basics thing that is contrary to sound [wise] doc- day” were those who sinned and transgressed of all mathematics. trine” (I Timothy 1:9-10). The Law is for crim- the commandment against Idolatry. Those You will be confused and will fail unless inals not followers of God. Israelites sinned by building the golden calf and you know all the steps to lead you to higher Those who must adhere to The Law are cer- worshipping it. There was no Law of Moses mathematics. So it is with the Scriptures—you tainly not Christians but unrepentant, carnal with blessings and curses before Deuteronomy must read each word and understand it before people. That’s simple. The Law is needed only was added to The Torah as A Law. That is why you can grow in knowledge and truth. You for criminals, not those who obey God’s voice Deuteronomy defines as a rewriting of The Law must see the whole. as Abraham always did (Genesis 26:5). from “spirit” to “the letter.” Understanding the entire universe God cre- Abraham did whatever God said, by faith. If he ated can be comprehended only with God’s CHRISTIAN TRUTH sinned he was immediately repentant, like Holy Spirit. God’s “Holy Spirit” is not “a sep- King David, and forgiven. Can Christians know what sin is without arate being.” Paul said, “For God has not That is why The Law has blessings and curs- knowing The Law? Yes, Paul said, “For not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of ings as shown in Deuteronomy 27-28. Abra- the hearers of the law are just before God, but love [agápe] and of a sound mind [wisdom]” ham lived by faith with no other Law. the doers of the law shall be justified . . . do by (II Timothy 1:7). That is what leads a Christian Once you repent as a Christian through nature [no law needed] the things contained to truth and to be able to understand The Bible. Christ’s blood, there is no curse. Without curs- [written] in the law, these, having not the law God’s Spirit creates all things which are God’s es or penalties you have no Law. Carnal people [demanded], are a law to themselves” power, love and a sound mind. would never obey without a curse or penalty (Romans 2:13-14). The Holy Spirit leads you to “a more sure just like Israel. The Law was given only to There it is. God gives “a special something” word of prophecy” (II Peter 1:19-21). Israel because they had a wrong heart and were in every person’s human nature to know what It is the Holy Spirit which gives you a clear carnal transgressors. sin is. Christians need no commanded Law understanding of prophecy because Christians Paul asks a very basic question about The from God. He, through His “spirit,” allowed are, themselves, “The Holy Days in Christ’s Law of Moses: “Wherefore then serve [keep] you to know what is good and evil. It is all a Rest” (see Matthew 11:28).

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OUR ERA COMMITTED POSSIBLY THE WORST APOSTASY EVER FOR THE HARDNESS OF OUR HEART.

Many who saw the demise of the former Worldwide Church of God (WCG) withdrew to daughter churches of their choice but is that enough? Should we look into the cause of the demise of the former WCG? It is easy to blame the late Mr Joseph W Tkach (JWT) but when we see how few ministers trained by the late Mr Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA) can work together, shouldn’t we wonder what overtook this church? It is clear that the former blessings have been withdrawn.

1. It was for the hardness of our heart not to do this and God had agreed (Exod consummated—become one flesh—it can unilateral D & R precept spreading to the Some of the daughter churches are doing a 32:14). Still, Jesus next points out that no longer be put asunder. Under God’s No- priests by stipulating that priests may not similar albeit much smaller work than Moses had acted contrary to God’s will. D & No-R law divorce from a consummated marry divorced women (Lev 21:7, 14). HWA’s original WCG work but they are MARK 10:6 But from the beginning of the lawful marriage is not permitted and neither LEV 21:7 They shall not take a wife that is continuing in the very same sin that caused creation God made them male and is remarriage as long as one’s spouse lives. a whore, or profane; neither shall they the demise of the WCG. Seeing God al- female. 6. When does Matthew 19:9 apply? take a woman put away from her hus- lowed the destruction of HWA’s work, Mark 10:7 For this cause shall a man band: for he is holy unto his God. should mere man be trying to resurrect this? The exception of Matthew 19:9 applies leave his father and mother, and cleave to By extension this applies to ministers of the If God’s church can not be divided, then when a marriage is not yet consummated his wife; and therefore the marriage covenant has not NT Church of God. why are there so many daughter churches It also applies to the members of the NT and why are there so many different doc- MARK 10:8 And they twain shall be one yet been established. This applies when the groom discovers on Church of God because they received God’s trines? Could it be that none of the daughter flesh: so then they are no more twain, but enabling holy spirit, which with few excep- churches are now the Church of God? For one flesh. the wedding night that his bride had de- ceived him by pretending she is a virgin tions the children of Israel did not receive. every effect there must be a cause but have Mark 10:9 What therefore God hath Therefore OT Israel would have found it dif- you searched for the cause? through failing to disclose her pre-marital joined together, let not man put asunder. fornication. This is described in Deuter- ficult to live by God’s No-D & No-R law. No What change introduced by the late HWA onomy 22:13-21 and for which deception such difficulty can be claimed by members Let us note that Jesus explained to the Phari- of the NT Church of God who received would have been unacceptable in the 1930s sees and His disciples that although Moses the bride is to be stoned to death. when HWAbegan his work but which in the Note that the groom has only the momen- God’s enabling holy spirit. had allowed divorce and remarriage, this As a result any divorced member of the 1970s had become acceptable for the hard- had been contrary to God’s No-D & No-R tary option of not consummating the mar- ness of our heart? There was such a change riage but if he consummates the marriage Church of God should be able to live as law, which God had instituted in Eden (Gen eunuchs for the sake of God’s Kingdom: and it was due to the late HWA and not to 2:24) and therefore millennia before the this will then stand as an unbreakable MATTHEW 19:12 For there are some eu- the late JWT. Although the WCG said founding of the Nation of Israel and the NT covenant for life. Then the exception clause nuchs, which were so born from their Amen to that change, the people did not Church of God. of Matthew 19:9 no longer applies. think it through. Probably few grooms would charge their mother’s womb: and there are some eu- In verse 6 Jesus explains that marriage is nuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: to be between a man and a woman. In vers- bride with deception and an example is HWA would not have been able to launch Joseph deciding to quietly put Mary aside and there be eunuchs, which have made his great work in 1934 had he then replaced es 7 and 8 He explained that the man and themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of the woman shall leave their parents and be- before the Angel Gabriel explained Mary’s God’s Garden of Eden No-Divorce & No- special situation to him (Matt 1:18-25). heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive Remarriage after Divorce law (No-D & No- come one flesh. In verse 9 Jesus empha- it, let him receive it. sized that that union must not be put asun- R) with Moses’ Divorce and Remarriage (D There will be protests from those who want In other words the WCG should have been & R) precept for the hardness of the peo- der by anyone. to have their cake and eat it too. They will In other words once a marriage between a able to live by God’s No-D & No-R law after ple’s heart (Mark 10:4-9). This he did only claim that any extra-marital sex fits the their spouse divorced them. in 1974. man and a woman is consummated (when exception clause of Matthew 19:9 and not The generation of the 1930s would not they become one flesh) it can only be dis- just undisclosed unlawful pre-marital sex. 9. Spewed from the Lord’s mouth in 1979 have accepted that precept but forty years solved by the death of one of the spouses. They choose to ignore our Lord’s key There was absolutely no excuse for HWA later in the 1970s the world had changed so Of course carnal Israel could not live by to the issue; namely, that a consummated marrying in 1977 a divorced woman, whose much and the attitude of the WCG too had that and Moses had seen himself forced to marriage (the twain having become one husband was still alive. With that HWA changed so much that most were prepared to grant Israel divorce and remarriage but that flesh) can not be dissolved (let no man put compounded his 1974 sin of replacing replace God’s No-D & No-R law with was against God’s will as expressed in asunder)! God’s No-D & No-R law with Moses’ Moses’ D & R precept for the hardness of Genesis 2:24 and now explained by Jesus. D & R precept for the hardness of the peo- their heart. Summing up: A consummated marriage This means that the exception clause of ple’s heart. Today few members of the former WCG is an unbreakable covenant for life, and Matthew 19:9 can not apply to consummat- It seems that God gave HWA a few more will accept that the 1974 change was a terri- may the NT Church of God at last take note ed lawful marriages and therefore divorce is years to repent but then spewed out HWA No-D & No-R ble error and that we must repent having of that! never an option under God’s and his ministry for being lukewarm to said Amen to the 1974 rejection of God’s law. As a result there can be no lawful re- God’s pivotal No-D & No-R law. I believe Jesus’ explanation had taken His disci- marriage after a secular divorce from a law- No-D & No-R law. ples by surprise as we can see from the fol- this happened in 1979, after HWA had fled fully consummated marriage. from Pasadena and left it to the unconverted 2. Let us learn from history! lowing. This is the case even when a spouse com- late JWT to save the WCG from the State of Mark 10:1-12 reveals Jesus’ explanation to MARK 10:10 And in the house his disci- mits adultery after consummating a lawful California—a saviour who in the 1990s re- the Pharisees and his astonished disciples ples asked him again of the same matter. marriage. turned the WCG to mainstream theology. how from the beginning (Gen 2:24) God had MARK 10:11 And he saith unto them, 7. HWA’s scholars were wrong! instituted marriage as an unbreakable Whosoever shall put away his wife, and 10. What are we to do? In 1973 HWAset a team of scholars the task covenant for life. In 1934 HWA taught marry another, committeth adultery It is plain that we must repent of having said of finding a way around the Bible’s appar- God’s No-D & No-R law but in 1974 he against her. Amen in 1974 when HWA replaced God’s showed having been lukewarm to this law ent opposition to divorce and remarriage. No-D & No-R law with Moses’ D & R pre- MARK 10:12 And if a woman shall put by replacing it with Moses’ D & R precept. Of course they found a way because man cept for the hardness of our heart. And also away her husband, and be married to In previous church eras the Church of will always find a way but forgetting that for having accepted that in 1977 HWA mar- another, she committeth adultery. God had been prepared to abide by God’s the end of that way will be death (Prov ried another man’s wife. The ministry must 14:12, 16:25). Sabbath law even when the price was being After the surprised disciples pressed Jesus return the Church of God to God’s No-D & burnt at the stake. Yet in 1974 our era was further, He explained in verses 11 and 12 In May 1974 HWA declared that new truth No-R law but I expect most readers will find too lukewarm to live as eunuchs under that when one puts away one’s spouse and had been found permitting remarriage after their minister will refuse to do this. God’s No-D & No-R law despite no one remarries this leads to adultery. divorce under certain circumstances. Name- Still they must recognize the need for this being burnt at the stake for obeying this law. ly when divorce ends a marriage entered because we can not expect to be made royal 3. Which words don’t we understand? priests in God’s Kingdom and there teach History is repeated when we fail to learn into outside the true Church of God—the In Mark 10:1-12 Jesus speaks very plainly God’s No-D & No-R law when in this age from it. Let us study a history lesson that our then WCG. In other words that there were and so one would like to ask which words we rejected this law. Surely God will not Lord Jesus gave the Pharisees and his aston- two types of marriages, those entered into the post-1974 WCG failed to understand in permit hypocrites in His Kingdom. ished disciples in Mark 10:2-12. before God in the WCG and those entered this passage when they accepted HWA into outside the WCG. ARK And the Pharisees came to 11. Our vain feasting and glorying! M 10:2 replacing God’s No-D & No-R law with Biblically it is easy to show the falsity of him, and him, Is it lawful for a man How can the Church of God be today a bea- asked Moses’ D & R precept for the hardness of HWA’s assumption that only marriages to put away his wife? tempting him. con of light to Israel and the Gentiles when their hearts? made in the WCG were before God and so The Pharisees sought to test Jesus but He we refuse to live by God’s pivotal No-D & 4. Perhaps the Exception of Matthew 19:9? only these were valid but that all other mar- No-R law? Surely, there is more to being in soon put them in their place. riages were different and when these ended Perhaps it is the so-called Matthew 19:9 ex- the Church of God than vainly observing MARK 10:3 And he answered and said in a secular divorce that the believing unto them, What did Moses command ception, “except it be for fornication”? sabbaths, the holy days and feasts (Mal 2:3) spouse could remarry within the WCG. and glorying in Israel Identity! you? Should we assume that a consummated mar- God’s No-D & No-R marriage law dates riage can be put asunder after all? Of course MARK 10:4 And they said, Moses suffered back to the Garden of Eden and applied 12. What is behind it all? not, as is plain from the following teaching from the very first marriage between Adam to write a bill of divorcement, and to put by our Lord Jesus and Paul: My paper P1, Laodicea’s Lamp! explains her away. and Eve. This is plain from Jesus’ teaching that by 1974 HWA was in error on three LUKE 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his It is true that Moses allowed the people to in Mark 10:6-9 (see the quote above) where doctrines related by the theme of marriage wife, and marrieth another, committeth He referred to Genesis 2:24. God’s No-D & and that this was no accident because HWA divorce their spouse but there was more to it adultery: and whosoever marrieth her as Jesus now explains. No-R law predates by millennia both the had led from 1934 to 1974 God’s 7th and that is put away from her husband com- nation of Israel and the NT Church of God. MARK 10:5 And Jesus answered and said final church era of Laodicea rather than mitteth adultery. Therefore God’s No-D & No-R law applies unto them, For the hardness of your heart Philadelphia as had been mistakenly as- 1 COR 7:39: The wife is bound by the law to all marriages for all mankind regardless he wrote you this precept. sumed. These three errors are stated in as long as her husband liveth; but if her of race, nationality, culture and religion! paper P1 and are examined in depth in the It seems Moses had felt compelled to give husband be dead, she is at liberty to be 8. Marriages of Priests and Ministers companion papers: P2, P3 and P4. Will the people his D & R precept for the hard- married to whom she will; only in the readers wake up or will they return to their ness of their heart to stop the people Lord. We saw from Mark 10:5 that Moses had slumbers? (Matt 25:5). rebelling. Moses had had to deal with other given Israel his D & R rule for the hardness rebellions by Israel. On one such occasion 5. What had been missed by HWA? of their heart. But as Jesus explained this The papers referred to above are freely avail- God had told Moses He would do away with HWA had missed the key given by Jesus in had been contrary to God’s will from the able by writing to Henk Jens, P.O. Box 121, Israel and raise a people from Moses (Exod Mark 10:8 “the twain shall be one flesh”. In beginning (Mark 10:6-9, Genesis 2:24). Belmore, NSW, 2192, Australia or at my 32:10). Moses had then pleaded with God other words once a lawful marriage has been It appears that God then stopped Moses’ Internet Homepage www.rightly-dividing.net.

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By Raymond A. Rousseau

FOREWORD CONCERN ABOUT “BORN AGAIN,” BE- gether in one place. And suddenly PROCEDURE WAS INSTITUTED BY OUR THIS MOST IMPORTANT TOPIC is also LIEVING THEY ARE ALREADY “SAVED”! there came from heaven noise like LORD, KNOWING HIS SUPREME SACRI- one of the least understood subjects in 3. NOWHERE IN SCRIPTURE CAN a violent rushing wind, and it filled FICE FOR OUR SALVATION WAS AT HAND. Scripture! The matter is strongly urged YOU FIND A REQUIREMENT FOR the whole house where they were NONE OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE OF by our LORD, but not even vaguely CHILD BAPTISM, OR DAMNATION FOR sitting. And there appeared to ISRAEL EVER HAD ACCESS TO THE HOLY comprehended by “knowledgeable” UNBAPTIZED CHILDREN. THIS DE- them tongues as of fire distribut- SPIRIT BEFORE OUR SAVIOR’SULTIMATE members of the Sanhedrin! Even re- CEPTIVE PRACTICE BY THE RCC AND ing themselves, and they rested on SACRIFICE. ITISTRULY THE “BEST OP- spected authors in the present age of OTHER CHURCHES IS NOTHING BUT A each of them. And they were all PORTUNITY EVER”! enlightenment fail to properly and FUND-RAISING HOAX. filled with the Holy Spirit and they TODAY, THERE ARE 7TH DAY SABBATH accurately answer their own question: 4. The only relief for such indi- began speaking in other tongues, KEEPING CHURCHES ALL OVER THIS “How is one born again?” (Solving the viduals is to depart from the RCC, as the Spirit was giving them ut- NATION! NORMALLY, A WILLING “NEW Mystery of Babylon the Great, Edward etc., as many people eventually do, terance. Now there were Jews liv- COVENANT” CHRISTIAN CONVERT IS Hendrie, pg. 309). including this author! ing in Jerusalem, devout men from BAPTIZED BY A LOCAL MINISTER OR PAS- Various passages in Scripture con- every nation under heaven. And TOR—USUALLY IN THE PRESENCE OF ★★★ tribute individual pieces to this puzzle when this sound occurred, the OTHER PREVIOUSLY BAPTIZED MEMBERS, et’s begin this subject by re- about the process of becoming BORN crowd came together, and were WHO THEN “LAY (PLACE) HANDS” ON THE viewing the discussion be- AGAIN! Recalling the words of Jesus bewildered because each one of HEAD OF THE NEWLY BAPTIZED PERSON Christ above, it is apparent that “water them was hearing them speak in UPON EMERGING FROM THE WATERS OF tween our Lord and a Pharisee and the Spirit” are required to be BORN his own language” (Acts 2:1-6). BAPTISM HE PREVIOUSLY BAPTIZED named Nicodemus, a ruler of . T AGAIN! In Matthew, we read: “Now in Scripture records some 16 different MEMBERS JOIN THE PASTOR/MINISTER IN the Jews. This man came to Jesus by L those days John the Baptist came, languages spoken by native Galileans! PRAYING TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER TO night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we preaching in the wilderness of Judea, say- And, continuing: “They all contin- IMPART SOME OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT ON know that You have come from GOD as ing, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven ued in amazement and great per- THE NEWLY BAPTIZED CONVERT. a teacher; for no one can do these signs is at hand.’ For this is the one referred to plexity, saying to one another, In this day and age, we no longer see that You do unless GOD is with Him.” by Isaiah the prophet saying: ‘The voice ‘What does this mean?’ But others the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, of one crying in the wilderness, make were mocking and saying, ‘They new convert, but that person experi- truly, I say to you, unless one is born ready the way of the LORD. Make HIS are full of sweet wine.’ But Peter, ences a clarity of understanding when again he CANNOT see the kingdom of paths straight’ . . . Jerusalem was going taking his stand with the eleven, studying the scriptures, and also a GOD.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How out to him, and all Judea and all the dis- raised his voice and said to them: strengthening of character enabling can a man be born when he is old? He trict around the Jordan; and they were ‘Men of Judea and all who live in him/her to walk in/observe all of the cannot enter a second time into his being baptized by him in the Jordan Jerusalem, let this be known to O.T. non-sacrificial laws written in the mother’s womb and be born, can he?” River, as they confessed their sins” you and listen to my words, for first five books of the Old Testament! Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to (Matt. 3:1-6). these men are not drunk, as you Now, some may complain: “That’s for you, unless one is born of water and From these verses, we can conclude suppose; it is only the third hour of Jews!” Not so! The tribe of Judah (Jews) the Spirit he cannot enter into the that BAPTISM is a process of immersing the day (9 a.m.)’ ” (Acts 2:12-15). was only one out of the 12 tribes of the kingdom of GOD. That which is born (symbolically dying/burying and resur- Peter continued to relate the facts House of Israel that was given the law of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of God at Mt. Sinai! of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed In our Savior’s first public message, in that I said to you: ‘You must be born the “Sermon on the Mount,” Christ again.’ The wind blows where it wishes In this day and age, we no longer see the declared: “Do not think I came to and you hear the sound of it, but do not descent of the Holy Spirit upon the new change the law or the prophets; I know where it comes from or where it did not come to abolish, but to ful- is going; so is everyone who is born of convert, but that person experiences a clarity fill (explain, make understood). For the Spirit” (John 3:1-8). truly I say to you, until heaven and Nicodemus said to Him, “How can of understanding when studying the Scriptures. earth pass away, not the smallest these things be?” Jesus answered, “Are stroke or dot shall pass from the law you the teacher of Israel and do not until all is accomplished!” (Matt. 5:17, understand these thing? Truly, truly, I 18). When He said this, there was no say to you, we speak of what we know recting) a repentant sinner under water about the unjustified crucifixion of Je- New Testament; it wouldn’t be written and testify of what we have seen, and to ABSOLVE the sinner from punish- sus, ending with these words: “‘There- for another ±40 years! The only law He you do not accept our testimony. If I ment (damnation?)! Rephrased, we see fore let all the house of Israel know could have been talking about was the told you earthly things and you do not that WATER is one of the ELEMENTS OF for certain that GOD has made Torah (instruction) found in the first believe, how will you believe if I tell BAPTISM! Him both Lord and Christ—whom five books of the Old Testament. you heavenly things? No one has At Matt. 3:13, we find more of this you crucified.’ Now when they To all readers/hearers of this docu- ascended into heaven, but He who puzzle, reading “. . . Jesus arrived from heard this, they were pierced to ment: Recognize this as one of the has descended from heaven: the Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to the heart and said to Peter and the most important testimonies of our Son of Man” (Jn 3:9-13). DEAD ASLEEP be baptized by him. But John tried to Apostles: ‘Brethren, what shall we Savior in the entire New Testament! IN GRAVES! prevent Him, saying, ‘I have need to be do?’ Peter said to them, ‘REPENT, Anyone who teaches or believes that The lack of understanding still exists baptized by You, and do You come to AND EACH OF YOU BE BAPTIZED IN “the law is done away” is calling our today. The Roman Catholic Church me?’ Jesus answering, said, ‘Permit it at THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR Lord a liar! Think about this soberly! (RCC) has long had a practice of bap- this time; for in this way it is fitting or THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS; There is no wiggle room here! tizing newborn babies within days of us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF However, let’s be clear about which their birth. I speak from personal permitted Him. After being baptized, THE HOLY SPIRIT. FOR THE PROMISE religion our Lord clearly identified as the knowledge here! Although I was too Jesus came up immediately from the IS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND acceptable version of the “Torah” He young to remember the details, I was so water, and behold, the heavens FOR ALL WHO ARE FAR OFF, AS MANY referred to in Matt. 5:17, 18. Note that He baptized shortly after my birth. opened and he saw the SPIRIT OF AS THE LORD OUR GOD WILL CALL specifically stated: “the smallest stroke or Familiarity with the procedure, howev- GOD descending AS A DOVE and TO HIMSELF’” (Acts 2:36-39). dot . . .” which are only elements of er, permits me to proclaim this harsh lighting on Him, and behold, A So now we know ‘more of the story’! the written law! In Matt. 23 and other criticism. The RCC and other church- VOICE OUT OF THE HEAVENS SAID: But there is a FINAL, MOST IMPORTANT places, Christ clearly and severely chas- es’ practice of sprinkling “holy water” ‘THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM PIECE OF THIS STORY WHICH MUST BE tised the synagogue leaders (Pharisees et over the forehead of newborn babies I AM WELL PLEASED’” (Matt. 3:13-17). KNOWN AND OBSERVED! All of the bibli- al.) for imposing a “nonexistent oral allegedly “baptizing” them is a farce While Jesus was SINLESS and did not cal facts revealed above relate to the law, i.e., Judaism” on worshippers, and a fraud for many reasons: need to be baptized for remission of ONLY RELIGIOUS PRACTICE ACCEPTABLE which placed impossible burdens on peo- 1. Anewborn baby hasn’t any sins sin, HEWAS A HUMAN BEING, AND WAS TO GOD THE FATHER AND HIS SON JESUS ple which our Heavenly Father never to repent of, nor do they consent to BAPTIZED TO DEMONSTRATE HIS PARTI- CHRIST—NAMELY—SEVENTH-DAY SAB- required or intended such laws to be this event, AMOST NECESSARY DECI- CIPATION IN ALL ELEMENTS REQUIRED BATH CHURCH OF GOD—WHICH OBSERVES part of the Torah given at Mt. Sinai! SION IN ANYONE’S LIFE!Parents/ FOR ENTRY INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THE “TORAH,” ALSO KNOWN AS THE OLD Modern-day followers of Christ are in- guardians agree to an event which THIS WAS DONE FOR OUR EDIFICATION! TESTAMENT RELIGION ORIGINALLY GIV- structed to follow the “written” law CANNOT FULFILL “BORN AGAIN” re- Now we know more about the RE- EN TO THE ISRAELITES THROUGH MOSES —not any part of the Judaism es- quirements described herein. QUIRED ELEMENTS OF BAPTISM. But AT MT. SINAI, CIRCA 1500 B.C. poused by rabbis! 2. THIS SATANIC DECEPTION LA- how do humans become receivers of HOWEVER, CONVERTS TO THIS RELI- In conclusion, brethren, this docu- TER LEADS THE GROWNUP TO SINFUL the Holy Spirit? In the days of John the GIOUS PRACTICE TODAY HAVE THE ABIL- ment—assembled from Scriptures—pro- RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IN CHURCHES Baptist, the only recorded recipient of ITY TO RECEIVE THE “HOLY SPIRIT,” vides all readers and/or interested ETER- THAT DON’T OBSERVE GOD’SLAWS, the Holy Spirit was our LORD. But, in WHICH ONLY BECAME AVAILABLE AT NAL servants of the MOST HIGH—with E.G., SUNDAY WORSHIP INSTEAD OF Acts 2, we read: “When the day of OUR SAVIOR’S DEATH, WHICH ENDED the complete requirements to fulfill our COMMANDED 7TH DAY SABBATH Pentecost had come, they (prior HIS MARRIAGE TO THE HOUSE OF JU- LORD’s commission for those who WORSHIP (EXODUS 20:8-11), OR baptized brethren) were all to- DAH! THIS IS WHY THIS “BORN AGAIN” desire/intend to become “BORN AGAIN”!

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n the beginning was towards (Greek, pros), which ”And God was the Word” Darlene’s House ‘‘ the Word, and the has been incorrectly replaced instead of “And the Word IWord was with God, by the English word with, was God.” and the Word was God.” If then you will come to a dif- Now, if “God was the of Cards you read it in English, this ferent conclusion. The word Word” and the “Word was Partial selection shown text of John 1:1 suggests the towards largely denotes direc- God,” this logically would existence of Two Beings, tion rather than a mere com- communicate to us that this God and the Word. panionship as the English can have a reference only to However, in Greek this verse word with would suggest. the One God who is able to reads as follows: “In the For example, my word is speak as we do. beginning was the Word, and always towards me no matter Finally, to conclude: A per- the Word was towards God, where I go. It never departs son and their word are one and God was the Word.” In from me. It identifies who I and the same. For example, if its original fashion this verse am and how I converse in I was God, and the Word clearly refers to One God my everyday life. The same was towards me, and I (God) Being and His Word, which concept holds true with was the Word, then God and is His own vocal ability of God. He and His Word are the Word are One Being. It’s His Being, as it is yours and One. God is identified by that simple. mine. Indeed, all of us com- His Word, and His Word Please study this with an municate verbally, or in writ- identifies Him. open mind, for it very impor- ing, with others, and so does Please take a closer look at tant to your salvation. our Heavenly Father. How the latter part of John 1:1 in If you have any comments, can that be, one may ask. its reverse order, as it is origi- please feel free to E-mail me. If you consider the word nally written in Greek— —John Kal

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Conference details or registration: Nancy White at 903-636-4756 or [email protected] Jesus of Nazareth warned the religious leaders of His day that Accommodation suggestions near the Tulsa church: a house divided against itself shall not stand (Mark 3:25). Renée Steel at 918-809-5580 Conference location: Is the house of God divided today, and, if it is, WHY? Tulsa Church of God, 14509 East Marshall St., Tulsa, OK 74116 • www.tulsachurchofgod.net Please visit our website at To get on our e-mail list for future notification: Send a request via e-mail, with your full name and e-mail address, ReconciliationGroup.org to [email protected]

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This page is part of CONNECTIONS: MEMBER TO MEMBER, the advertising section of THE JOURNAL Issue No. 134 (Dec. 20, 2011) ★ ★ ★ THIS PAGE CONTAINS PAID ADVERTISING ★ ★ ★ 35 Response to Brian Convery’s Mystical View of the Nature of God Do We Really Have Two Gods? Or Just One God?

By Ken Westby accompanied by verbal agreement indicating clearly that one (not two or three) person or being is in view. rian Convery’s nine-page attack against the doctrine of One God in the Sept. 17, 2011, issue of The Journal In the OT there are about 10,000 singular pronouns used of began by calling it “a perverted and different gospel God. This host of evidence can’t be dismissed by quirky about Christ!” analogies that “one” doesn’t really mean “one” but could B mean one group of two or more, etc. I must compliment Mr. Convery for his zest to engage in the debate and put up his own money to do so. “Hear, O Israel: Yehovah our God [elohenu, from elohim], Yehovah is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). However, I found his lengthy arguments confusing or weak, wanting of basic scholarship, and his assertions simply add That’s the introduction to the First and Greatest Com- up to an uncritical acceptance of Protestant/Catholic Trini- mandment. I suggest it be taken at face value. Moses and tarian orthodoxy—with a Binitarian twist of HWA theology. Jesus certainly did. Mr. Convery is apparently on a witch- How we think about God is the most important thing about hunt to rid the church of heresy and us. If what we conceive God to be He is not, how then shall heretics, hence his enthusiastic name- we think of Him? calling: How did Jesus and Moses and David think about God? “The one-god doctrine is a filthy rag David said his soul thirsted for knowledge of God, and he of unrighteousness . . . ” “followed hard after thee.” God wants us to know what He We who stand for biblical monothe- is truly like, His character, His love, His mercy and His spec- ism are called “deluded teachers” entic- tacular plan. He invites us to love/seek Him with all our ing people to take that “forbidden body, soul, spirit. This is the First Commandment, and it fruit.” holds the highest claim on our being.

Ken Westby The concept that “God is One” is a We can’t assume that traditional Christianity has the correct “fake doctrine of men inspired by the understanding of God. We must challenge it by the evidence twisted and demented prince of the power of the air.” of Scripture and by the life and words of Jesus, who knew the Father better than any other human. And so on. It is of immense importance that our idea of God corre- Let me state for the record that I do not believe Mr. Convery spond as nearly as possible to the true being of God. to be Satan’s servant, nor do I believe that those who hold the doctrine of two or three Gods in a mystical Godhead are at Our old ideas about God may lie buried under the religious war against God or Christ or the church. I just believe God rubbish of conventional orthodoxy and require of us an (YHVH, Yehovah or Yahweh)—the God and Father Jesus intelligent and vigorous search to unearth the truth. Only prayed to and who resurrected Jesus from the grave—is the after an ordeal of painful self-probing are we likely to dis- one true God and that there is no God besides Him (Isaiah cover what we actually believe about God. 45:5; 44:6; 43:11; John 17:3). The key to right reli- I believe that Jesus was born of Let me state for the record that I do not believe Mr. Convery to be gion and practical Chris- a woman and is the firstborn tian living is a right con- Satan’s servant, nor do I believe that those who hold the doctrine Son of God. I think Scripture ception of God. Jesus’ is rather plain on these facts. of two or three Gods in a mystical Godhead are at war against God prayer was: “Righteous or Christ or the church. I just believe God (YHVH, Yehovah or Those who acknowledge two Father, though the Yahweh)—the God and Father Jesus prayed to and who resurrected or three YHVHs (Gods) must world does not know deal with the fact that Yeho- Jesus from the grave—is the one true God and that there is no God you, I know you, and vah’s unique name is used 6,828 besides Him (Isaiah 45:5; 44:6; 43:11; John 17:3). they [the disciples] times in the Old Testament, know that you have always with singular pronouns sent me. I have made and accompanying singular you known to them, grammatical forms for associated Hebrew nouns and verbs. and will continue to make you known . . .” (John 17:25-26). There is no plurality to Yehovah! It is a libel on God’s character to assume that God is other We are called by Jesus to sanctify his name (Matthew 6:9) as than He is and to substitute mystical man-made images of the Holy One, the Sovereign (can there be two sovereigns?). multiple gods-in-one is to disrespect the Holy One. A prime The same is true of elohim, the more-generic Hebrew term ministry of Jesus today remains to make his Father known to for a god that is often used for Yehovah but almost always his disciples—you and me.

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The writer is a longtime member of needs doing. We must warn like Jonah What do we see in the Church(es) survives, the builder will receive a concerning you, my brethren, by those the church who lives in Sussex. He did, and Nineveh repented and changed of God? Disagreements, accusations, reward. If it is burned up, the builder of Chloe’s household, that there are receives E-mail at [email protected]. and God didn’t bring the evil. slander, smiting of fellow servants will suffer loss but yet will be saved— contentions among you. Now I say “If that nation I warned repents of (Matthew 25:49) and people drunk even though only as one escaping this, that each of you says, ‘I am of By David Jardine its evil, then I will relent and not inflict (spiritually). through the flames. Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of USSEX, England—Of all the on it the disaster I had planned” (Jere- Division is common in the Church “Don’t you know that you your- Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ people on the face of the earth, miah 18:7-9). of God community. We are sick of it, selves are God’s temple and that “Is Christ divided? Was Paul cruci- S there is one group of people who There shouldn’t be a huge gap of and so is Jesus Christ. He may even God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If fied for you? Or were you baptized in should understand the way to rule this disagreement in the church today. We spew us out of His mouth because of anyone destroys God’s temple, God the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians planet in perfect peace. That group is live in serious times, and we have a it—if we are “lukewarm” to His com- will destroy that person; for God’s 1:11-13). the Church of God. message: to work together in peace mand to be at one. temple is sacred, and you together are When the man doesn’t follow I emphasize should because the one and speak the same thing as an exam- The “I and my Father are one” doc- that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:1-17). Christ, then don’t follow him. But, if and only Head of the church, Jesus ple to the world. Paul understood it trine is probably the most important he does, follow him! Christ, made a very clear statement: about unity and taught it. admonition in Scripture because it Unity of the Spirit Division is caused by following the “I am the way, the truth and the “For as the body is one, and hath contains the key to rule. We were also taught that we should founder or leader of some denomina- life!” (John 14:6). many members, and all the members endeavor “to keep the unity of the tion exclusively rather than Christ. He also said, “I and my Father are of that one body, being many, are one Faulty worldly governments Spirit in the bond of peace. There is To follow Christ means to obey one” (John 10:30), meaning in total body: so also is Christ,” and “There Look at the divisions in the world one body, and one Spirit, even as ye Him. To speak the same thing, we agreement, should be no schism in the body; but and particularly the Arab world: are called in one hope of your calling; must speak according to God’s Word: never disagree- that the members should have the Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the ing to the extent same care one for another” (1 Corin- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, etc. God and Father of all, who is above oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11). that there would thians 12:12, 25). The problems are down to faulty gov- all, and through all, and in you all” We must hold onto the one Head of ever be a rift. ernment: people with different opin- (Ephesians 4:3-6). the church “from which all the body He also said: Ministers, take note ions, not speaking the same thing. “And he gave some, apostles; and by joints and bands having nourish- “And now I am There are some great ministers out To remedy that situation is the only some, prophets; and some, evange- ment ministered, and knit together, no more in the there, but notice what God says about way to peace among the nations, and lists; and some, pastors and teachers; increaseth with the increase of God” world, but these the time just before the return of we should have that vital key. for the perfecting of the saints, for the (Colossians 2:19). are in the world, Christ and resurrection of King David: “And if that evil servant shall say in work of the ministry, for the edifying The church must be knit together and I come to “Woe be unto the pastors that de- his heart, My lord delayeth his com- of the body of Christ: till we all come by joints and bands like a human thee. Holy Fa- David Jardine stroy and scatter the sheep of my pas- ing; and shall begin to smite his fellow in the unity of the faith, and of the body. That is the analogy. ther, keep through ture! saith the LORD. servants, and to eat and drink with the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a The human body is skillfully knit thine own name those whom thou hast “Therefore thus saith the LORD God drunken; the lord of that servant shall perfect man, unto the measure of the together by joints and bands. Consult given me, that they”—the church— of Israel against the pastors that feed come in a day when he looketh not for stature of the fullness of Christ: any Chinese-medicine expert or any “may be one, as we are” (John 17:11). my people; ye have scattered my him, and in an hour that he is not “That we henceforth be no more general practitioner. flock, and driven them away, and have aware of” (Matthew 24:48-50). children, tossed to and fro, and carried An oversimplification? not visited them: behold, I will visit This is speaking spiritually. People about with every wind of doctrine, by Why is unity important? I may be accused of oversimplify- upon you the evil of your doings, saith are smiting their fellow servants spiri- the sleight of men, and cunning crafti- There are almost 200 countries in ing it, but this is nevertheless a vital the LORD. tually with unkind words. ness, whereby they lie in wait to de- the world, with different views on key for future rulers in God’s King- “And I will gather the remnant of ceive; but speaking the truth in love, how to organize themselves in terms dom. It is a profound doctrine and the my flock out of all countries whither I Quarreling among you may grow up into him in all things, of government, economy, welfare, only way to peace among individuals have driven them, and will bring them We were also taught the following: which is the head, even Christ: foreign policy, health care, etc. and nations. again to their folds; and they shall be “Brothers and sisters, I could not “From whom the whole body fitly We must understand why Christ We can’t all agree on every minor fruitful and increase. address you as people who live by the joined together and compacted by commands unity of purpose, message point, but we must agree on the trunk- and Spirit. We are to bring them to- of-the-tree doctrines: i.e., the law, the gether, not divide them all again. holy days, the Sabbath, warning the Jesus said, ‘I and my Father are one’ (John 10:30), That’s why we’re being trained world, the gospel, Christ’s return. now. We are called to rule the world— These are the basics. meaning in total agreement, never disagreeing amazing as that may seem to us—and It is tragic that God’s people don’t ruling the world is a deadly serious appear to understand these basic to the extent that there would ever be a rift. business. truths. To be in harmony with one an- The world is groaning for right gov- other will create peace. We live at the ernment. We must put aside petty dif- end of the age. “And I will set up shepherds over Spirit but as people who are still that which every joint supplieth, ferences and get on with the “trunk of Much is at stake. We have been them which shall feed them: and they worldly—mere infants in Christ. I according to the effectual working in the tree” work. given a commission to tell the world shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, gave you milk, not solid food, for you the measure of every part, maketh what is going wrong and why the neither shall they be lacking, saith the were not yet ready for it. increase of the body unto the edifying Shepherds accountable plans of men just don’t work. LORD. “Indeed, you are still not ready. You of itself in love. God says in Ezekiel He will hold We have the key, and it is that we “Behold, the days come, saith the are still worldly. For since there is jeal- “This I say therefore, and testify in the shepherds accountable for division all must speak the same thing. LORD, that I will raise unto David a ousy and quarreling among you, are the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not in the church. When is this? righteous Branch, and a King shall you not worldly? Are you not acting as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of “Son of man, prophesy against the The basic key reign and prosper, and shall execute like mere humans? their mind” (Ephesians 4:11-17). shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say We also have the key of David to judgment and justice in the earth” “For when one says, ‘I follow unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unlock Bible truths. And we have the (Jeremiah 23:1-5). Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ The hindrance of disagreements unto the shepherds; woe be to the books of Daniel and Revelation, “The anger of the LORD shall not are you not mere human beings? Can the Church claim to have reached shepherds of Israel that do feed them- which interpret each other. return, until he have executed, and till “What, after all, is Apollos? And the unity of the faith with huge dis- selves! Should not the shepherds feed This is basic and simple. The he have performed the thoughts of his what is Paul? Only servants, through agreements among ourselves? the flocks? . . . Church(es) of God will be a laughing heart: in the latter days ye shall con- whom you came to believe—as the “Now I plead with you, brethren, “The diseased have ye not strength- stock by claiming we know the way sider it perfectly” (Jeremiah 23:20). Lord has assigned to each his task. I by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ened, neither have ye healed that now because we are so divided now. This applies at any time. planted the seed, Apollos watered it, that you all speak the same thing, and which was sick, neither have ye bound We of all people should understand but God has been making it grow. that there be no divisions among you, up that which was broken, neither the need for speaking the same thing Speak the same thing “So neither the one who plants nor but that you be perfectly joined to- have ye brought again that which was and being unified because the world is Read also Ezekiel 34. It is a funda- the one who waters is anything, but gether in the same mind and in the driven away, neither have ye sought about to blow itself up, as foretold in mental and vital truth that we should only God, who makes things grow. same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). that which was lost; but with force and dozens of prophecies. all speak the same thing—a unified The one who plants and the one who “Be of the same mind toward one with cruelty have ye ruled them . . . message—with no yawning great gap waters have one purpose, and they another” (Romans 12:16). “Thus saith the Lord GOD; behold, I We must warn or division among God’s future trained will each be rewarded according to Many think this level of agreement am against the shepherds; and I will I’ve been in the Church of God for rulers of the world, which is what their own labor. For we are coworkers is impossible. Yet Christians are told require my flock at their hand, and more than 40 years, and over that time we are. in God’s service; you are God’s field, to “be perfectly joined together,” to cause them to cease from feeding the the Church of God has done a work, How can we ever hope to rule un- God’s building. think, speak and act in harmony. This flock; neither shall the shepherds feed probably not perfectly, and more less we get our own house in order? “By the grace God has given me, I is possible, but only with the help themselves any more; for I will deliv- laid a foundation as a of God. er my flock from their mouth, that wise builder, and There are a number of people in the they may not be meat for them. someone else is build- U.K. who, although attending with “For thus saith the Lord GOD; be- ing on it. But each one different groups, have a sense of unity, hold, I, even I, will both search my Free subscriptions to should build with and at least we talk with each other sheep, and seek them out. care. For no one can and have a common purpose. We can “As a shepherd seeketh out his lay any foundation speak the same thing if we follow flock in the day that he is among his The Journal other than the one Christ and forget petty differences. sheep that are scattered; so will I seek Yes, there’s a catch. THE JOURNAL is a private business and already laid, which is out my sheep, and will deliver them must charge for subscriptions and advertising. However, Jesus Christ. 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Just before to THE JOURNAL, you are invited to request a work will be shown in the church, and we should try to King David is resurrected. free subscription. for what it is, because make peace with as many as possible. “And I will set up one shepherd the Day will bring it Following someone else (a man) or over them, and he shall feed them, Just send us your name and address and a statement that you would like to to light. even a group of men can cause divi- even my servant David; he shall feed subscribe but cannot afford the price and we’ll add you to the list for 12 issues. Write “It will be revealed sion. We should follow a man only as them, and he shall be their shepherd. THE JOURNAL, P.O. Box 1020, Big Sandy, Texas 75755, U.S.A., or E-mail us at [email protected], with fire, and the fire he follows Christ. That was the prob- And I the LORD will be their God, and or fax us toll-free at 1-888-488-6603. (For regular paid subscriptions, see information on pages 2 will test the quality of lem at Corinth. my servant King David a prince and 40 of this issue.) each person’s work. If Paul continues in Corinthians: among them; I the LORD have spoken what has been built “For it has been declared to me it” (verses 23-24). Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) THE JOURNAL 37 Pastor cites Jesus’ example of forgiving even the unrepentant Continued from page 1 Mr. Foy clearly remembers the of- was anger, there was hurt, there was tation of Bible texts) and eisegesis the miracle that God can perform giving unrepentant sinners—in this case fending incident. It’s one he will pain that needed to be taken away.” (reading preconceived ideas into Bible when we forgive,” he said. His murderers—in the direst of circum- never forget. But he can remember Because Absalom “couldn’t let the texts) in Christians’ efforts to under- “Are we better than Jesus? That’s stances, as shown in Luke 23:34: and still forgive. He can remember pain go, he couldn’t forgive, so what stand the mind of God. the question. We can say, well, I didn’t “Father, forgive these people, be- without the pain. did he do?” “But the most important gesis is deserve this. So did Jesus deserve it?” As spiritually aware human beings Jesus,” he said. “Jesus Christ’s doc- cause they don’t know what they are Lust can lead to murder Wiping away doing.” grow in maturity, Mr. Foy said, they trines and teachings—if you follow “If we don’t forgive, we’re not go- The sermon included the appropri- “need to realize there is a lot of heal- them you’re going to be okay.” True freedom is “freedom from ing to be in the Kingdom of God,” Mr. ate Old Testament example (in 2 Sam- ing that needs to go on within our fam- A conversation about forgiveness pain and the wiping away of the pain Foy continued, based on his view of uel 13) of King David’s son Amnon ilies, among our children, among our should include a discussion of people and the hurt of sin, of abuse, of mis- Mark 11. use,” Mr. Foy concluded. For that reason, if for no other, it’s “We cannot [afford to] maintain the important to be a forgiving person, he pain. You can remember the incident. said. Forgiving, Albert Foy said, relieves pain. If one lives Freedom—when you know you have (This writer suspects that the verse pain, whether rightfully or wrongfully in Luke 23 reflects the mind of God in a state of unforgiving, one constantly feels pain. inflicted—is letting pain go, washing more accurately than the verse in the pain away. Mark 11. Surely God holds Himself “But we have a part in that. We to the same high standard He expects have to control our own minds, and of us.) and Amnon’s half sister Tamar. Amnon friends: healing, putting away the hurt, who feel they are “victims,” Mr. Foy God will take care of the rest.” lusted after Tamar. He raped her. putting away the pain, putting away believes. Mr. Foy’s parting advice: Another reason Amnon’s brother Absalom could not the shame.” “Give no offense.” forgive him for molesting their sister. Bad things happen “Get no offense.” But there is another good reason to Exegesis, Eisegesis, Jesus forgive, and that was what the sermon So Absalom murdered Amnon. “I’m not special just because I’m “Forgive and be forgiven.” “The brother didn’t forgive,” Mr. Mr. Foy cited Jesus’ example in black,” he said. “Yeah, a lot of bad was about. Contact information Forgiving, Mr. Foy said, relieves Foy said, “so two years later” the rap- Luke 23 of His forgiving even the things happen to black people. But pain. If one lives in a state of unfor- ist Amnon died at the command of his people who were about to execute a lot of bad things happen to white The Huntsville Church of God giving, one constantly feels pain. As a brother Absalom. Amnon was a rapist, Him: “Father, forgive them, for they people, and Jewish people, all people. (www.huntsvillechurchofgod.org) 12-year-old, Mr. Foy could realize this but now Absalom was a murderer. do not know what they do” (verse 34). So what?” meets at 2214 Badger Ln., Huntsville, and forgave his dad on the spot. The “If you hate, you will murder, as Mr. Foy mentioned exegesis (criti- No matter our ethnic roots, “we Texas 77320, U.S.A., each Sabbath. boy’s pain vanished. this tells us,” Mr. Foy said. “There cal and supposedly objective interpre- need to get rid of the pain, and that’s Phone Mr. Foy at (936) 581-0789. 211 former students, employees, guests attend AC reunion Continued from page 1 For the dinner Saturday night John because they had passed on. Charlie Nickodem Le Marr (Class of ’72). getting my part of the reunion done, run for the event. To our surprise, on Dickerson was the emcee, and off we Groce (Class of ’70) had worked for A deejay played dance music from and, to be blunt, I was tired. the big day a whopping 211 former went. We had a great Texas barbecue weeks on a PowerPoint show that cul- the ’60s and ’70s, and a photographer But I was so thankful for the way it Ambassador College Big Sandy alum- turned out. I was smiling as ni and guests were in attendance. Sur- my head hit the pillow. I prisingly, the alumni’s years at Big know Nancy was just as Sandy spanned from 1965 to 1975. tired. I couldn’t have made Many of the former students were it without her help and un- so excited that they got there early, derstanding. arriving on Wednesday the 22nd. Oth- Sunday and Monday, June ers continued to trickle in all week. 26 and 27, many of the par- From poolside to the lobby to the tygoers were still there in restaurant, we were reconnecting. By the lobby or the restaurant, Thursday the 23rd, 40 of us were not wanting to leave. already there. 1 2 3 4 Nancy and I were right We set up a hotel room as a hospital- there with them until 2 p.m. ity suite the afternoon before the official Sunday. reunion. From 3 p.m. until midnight the 6 8 I hated to, but I had to say partygoers checked in, picking up their farewell, and I took Nancy name badges complete with their ’60s to the airport. After she was or ’70s college photos attached. safely on the plane, I drove Then came the serious hugging, the 700 miles back home to crying and visiting. Alabama. More days needed Lengthening bucket list My wife, Nancy, had spent weeks I figured I could use the designing lanyards and ID badges 5 7 time on the road to decom- with photos of each student who press after what had amount- planned to attend. The alums said they ed to four months of 12- appreciated the pictures because, after 10 hour days getting ready to 43 years, some people were less iden- have the time of my life. tifiable than others. Time and Mother By the way, I did, and I Nature have a way of changing us. think we all did. Anyway, the visiting and socializ- I will sum up my reunion ing went on into the night, and as the experience like this: I loved last alums headed to their rooms it was each and every one of the obvious we would need more days to kids I was with at ACBS. I visit the next time we do this. didn’t realize just how much Friday was busy. By then we had set 9 I loved them until I was up three hospitality suites on the eighth 11 heading back to Huntsville floor, and they were going great guns. when the reunion was over. You’d have thought we could have As a result of the reunion, handled the crowd. But, with more 13 14 15 Nancy I have made additions than 100 checking in that day and with to our family’s bucket list. so many bathing in the glow and We now plan to go to Idaho, warmth of old friends, the afternoon Ohio, California and Mary- and evening revelry spilled into the land and back to Costa Rica. halls and stayed that way until way Lifelong friends past midnight. It’s easy to figure out Only six no-shows why. I bet a lot more than Then came Saturday, the official 12 just me will forever remem- day for the reunion dinner. Can you ber the great friends we had in college during some very believe I was still taking phone calls AC BIG SANDY 2011 REUNION—Here are a few of the 211 faces you Deakins. Photo 7: Sam Duncan, Ron Brown, Patt McCarty. Photo 8: Alan as late as 1 p.m. from alumni who would have seen at the reunion of Ambassador College Big Sandy stu- Heath, Carole Ann Bronkar Heath. Photo 9: Judy Jenness, Alice Rothery different and challenging wanted to join us? dents and employees and guests in June 2011 near Dallas, Texas. The Robinson. Photo 10: Linda Moll Smith, Donna Schmidt Dickinson. Photo times in our young lives Attendees continued to check in, people in the photos are identified from left to right unless otherwise noted. 11: Maria Ghearing, Gerry Ghearing. Photo 12: Curtis Ray, Charlie and, even more, the lifelong and they too found themselves bom- Photo 1: Sheila Douglas Anderson, Alan Anderson, Ginger Wiziarde Wilson. Photo 13: Ron Kelly. Photo 14: Russell Bettis, Brent Curtis. relationships we rekindled barded with Big Sandy memories. Christeson. Photo 2: Dennis Roberts, Johnny Gibbs. Photo 3: Carl Judy, Photo 15: Linda Isom Cartwright, Donna Shonyo Odar. For hundreds some 43 years later. Out of all of those who said they Gary Vance. Photo 4: Everett Oakley. (See Mr. Oakley’s obituary on page more photos from the reunion, go to www.ambassadorbigsandyalumni. To quote Dennis Roberts were coming, only six could not make 15.) Photo 5: Clarke Hockwald. Photo 6: Janet Domagala Deakins, Don com. [Photos by Dixon Cartwright and Everett Oakley] (Class of ’70): “We may have it. We had alums from as far away as another one, but there will Maryland, California, Washington and a great song set by Farell Moug- minated in a moving tribute to the 75 provided attendees a 2011 version of never be another reunion like this one.” state and Michigan, and one came all hon (Class of ’70) and Arnold Clauson of us we determined had passed on their class pictures. When’s the next one? Give Nancy the way from Costa Rica. (Class of ’69) singing and guitaring. before us. There was a standing ova- But mostly the reunion was all and me a year or so and ask us then. If I missed someone from farther We toasted each other and remem- tion and not a dry eye in the place. about catching up. I don’t know about [See AC alumnus Gary Vance’s away, I am sorry. I found myself over- bered to toast those not in attendance, Marty Coston (Class of ’70) provid- the others, but by midnight I was take on the reunion beginning on page whelmed with way too many details. including those no longer with us ed a door prize that was won by Katie whipped. It had been a long nine years 3 of this issue of THE JOURNAL.] 38 THE JOURNAL Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) Attending services with GCI means letting our lives preach Continued from page 3 overwhelming sentiment (even from even heard such regrets voiced by min- annual sabbaths that picture God’s plan Okay, no one gave me any flak, so I longer as extremist or fundamentalist the evangelical members of the GCI!) isters, if you can believe that! of salvation for all mankind. Agree, yes don’t think I did anything too egre- about the evangelicalism as it was in is “God will sort it all out.” Full stop, I’ve yet to have someone sling the or no? gious. I sat out some hymns (and the 1990s, just after the changes. end of discussion. L-word directly at me. The Feast of Tabernacles foreshad- changed the words on my own for Those comments always nagged at But a couple of times, when the ows what the Kingdom of God will be others), didn’t applaud for anything the back of my mind, mostly in the Three Feast sites still available word was said in my presence, refer- like after Christ returns to this earth. and, on two occasions, had to leave form of How would that even work? It That was the exact same sentiment I ring to others or to Commandment- Agree, yes or no? the meeting hall for my own con- seemed inconceivable. heard at the Feast this year. And, yes, keepers in general, I cleared my throat Our role and responsibility in the science’ sake—which, yeah, I could the Church still has three Feast sites and teasingly indicated, um, hello, Kingdom of God will be to teach oth- have handled a little better, but that Up-front E-mail that have never stopped holding the that’s not a very Christian attitude, in ers how to live under God’s law. was my lesson for this year anyway. Nevertheless, from the end of Jan- Feast: in England, the U.S.A., Den- my opinion. Agree, yes or no? uary 2011 every Scripture passage I mark. [See Miss Delorey’s Feast report Most of them at least had the good This next bit is the important part. Optional Communion service turned to, every prayer I sent up and on page 8 and an anonymous Feast grace not to make the same mistake Pay attention! I did not attend the “Communion every sign I watched out for urged me report from Phoenix, Ariz., on page 9.] twice in my presence. But they did not How are we to teach others the joy service”–offertory they decided to back to the Church. Finally I E-mailed Individual congregations are now push the issue either. and happiness that come from living hold instead of Sabbath services at the the local pastor in June of 2011. allowed to keep the holy days if they Rather, I adopted a teasing reply: under God’s law? You don’t get a free- Feast. Neither did I attend the sedi- I want to stress very clearly that I want to. That is no longer a problem. “Well, technically, I’m [whatever bie answer on that one. Sorry. tious “countermeeting” that took place was 100 percent up front and open Often the only thing stopping a term they used] too, y’know.” Which Okay, I’ll give you a hint. How did on site. (Even though I was recruited about the fact that I hold to the old congregation from continuing to keep usually prompted hilarious denials. Christ teach His followers and disci- heavily to do so.) teachings of the Church, from that the holy days is physical size or ples? Was I obnoxious about not attend- E-mail to this day. finances (or both); after all, it’s not Called back ing the Communion service? No! Did At no point, from that E-mail for- much of a Feast with only five people. I do feel that this is part of the rea- Is arguing helpful? I prevaricate or just not tell anyone? wards to my regular Church atten- And there is such a disconnect be- son I have been called back to the Still stumped? (I’m hoping not.) Okay, No! When I was asked if I was dance to this day, have I ever been tween the various congregations now Church specifically: to demonstrate okay, here is my reasoning: Christ in- going to the service, I simply said no. deceptive or otherwise unclear about (no longer is everything coordinated that, yes, it is possible for someone to structed His followers and disciples I was firm and clear and positive and the fact that I, personally, have been through the American offices, or “the be all these things that they hate and through parables. What is a parable? upbeat about it. called (back) to keep the Command- denominational headquarters,” as it is criticize and feel is so wrong and to Instruction by example. (So there’s your I had volunteered that day, and I ments of God and the testimony of known in name only) that it would be still be a good, decent, upstanding freebie answer. Though I’m hoping you simply told the volunteer coordinator Jesus Christ—and that I believe faith like herding cats to get even a few of Christian. Regardless of what “ortho- got there on your own.) that I would not be attending services or works, without each other, are them together, I think. doxy” insists to the contrary. Now. What kind of example do you that day, so I couldn’t volunteer. dead, as James’ letter instructed the Some people may claim to have (Just like those 1980s ads for He- think will make a good impression on Did I have issues? Why would I? The 1st-century believers and which day before, when it was announced they holds true for us today. were doing a Communion service and I have at no point compromised or offertory, the point was made, clearly, let things slide, nor have I lived in any My final point is what I feel is the most important example from the pulpit that it was an absolutely other manner than the way that my optional service, and if you did not want family lived from the time I was born that we, who keep the Commandments of God and the testimony to attend you did not have to. up until my 20th year on this earth, I also did not prevaricate in telling when we fell away. of Jesus Christ, can provide to those we fellowship with. the counterrevolutionaries (who are following a man they claim is Moses; No problems I really wish I was making this up) “How does that work with my at- much “strife” in their congregations brew National wieners, I answer to a any evangelicals in or out of the how they had departed from “the truth tendance of services of Grace Inter- due to their “holding fast,” but that Higher Authority than the “orthodox- Church? Arguing Scripture with them? once delivered,” though they claimed national (still known as the World- assertion only prompts me to ask, professing church.”) To be fair, most of them don’t even to be holding fast to it. wide Church of God in the U.K. and “What are you doing wrong?” I have This is the bottom line: try to make the attempt anymore, and Was I rude about it? No! I may have other points overseas)?” you ask. no strife whatsoever, and I am 100 When I first set foot on the Au- the ones who do cannot provide satis- been a little more strident than I should I have experienced absolutely no percent honest about my so-called tumn Festival site that I attended this factory answers as long as you re- have, but throughout the discussion I problems whatsoever. “legalist” beliefs. year, I made it point-blank clear to member the truth and your Bible, even told them I respected their viewpoint, Gone are the days when fellowship the festival coordinator that I was just a little bit. meant no disrespect, but this is what I after services was punctuated by one Overwhelming regret there, personally (supposing I was If a minister argues with you, it has remember the Church teaching, and group standing on one side of the hall No strife, no contention, no argu- the only one), to keep the Feast of nothing to do with the minister per- this is what I, personally, hold fast to. and one group standing on the other. ing, no insistence on getting with the Tabernacles because their Autumn sonally. It will be God testing you to (That would be hard to do these days, evangelical program anymore. Festival fell on the correct Feast dates see that your faith remains steadfast The cornerstone example given that my congregation sees In fact, everything I have heard, from for 2011. and based firmly on a solid founda- My final point is what I feel is the maybe six people on any given June 2011 up to the present, suggests (Which is also what I told anyone tion. (It certainly was for me!) most important example that we, who Sabbath.) that there is an overwhelming regret who asked me why I was there.) Furthermore, what kind of example keep the Commandments of God and Gone is the insistence that one con- among the members for the poor way in Now. Was I rude when I told him do you think going out to a restaurant the testimony of Jesus Christ, can pro- form or be shown the door. In fact, the which the changes were handled. I have that? Did I inform the (very kind) gen- and arguing with the waiter over vide to those we fellowship with, no tleman of this with any self- what’s on the menu is going to make? matter which side of the black-and- righteous attitude or inflated What kind of example do you people white divide those people may fall on. sense of self-importance, or think it made before? This example we have the opportu- did I insist in any way that nity to set is the cornerstone of true LOOKING FOR he bend to my will and No segregation, but no compromise Christian faith. It is the reason I am in specifically hold “the Feast” I always ordered vegetarian when I God’s True Church and not in any of for me and me alone? could, or if I wasn’t sure, and I am the splinter groups. A GIFT FOR A As the apostle Paul wrote, back to doing so again. And it is the reason I can get along “God forbid!” (Besides, that’s the only way you’ll so easily with both evangelicals and FRIEND? In fact, I volunteered first get a decent meal on an airplane or those “holding fast to the truth,” and thing and kept making my- hospital. Plus, you get your food first.) anyone else I cross paths with in the Here’s an idea. How about a subscription to THE JOURNAL: self as useful as I could What kind of example do you think Church, really. NEWS OF THE CHURCHES OF GOD? After all, THE JOURNAL crosses throughout the festival. segregating yourself from the evangel- It is the one thing Christ offered to the boundaries of the fellowships of the Churches of God and includes articles Let me explain why. (Or icals, even though you’re attending the every single human being He encoun- and letters by and about your friends and brethren in all the groups. Your gift throw this newspaper across same festival with them, is going to tered during His ministry on earth: will include a note with your name on it. Simply send $28 for a year, or $49 for the room and ignore the rest make? that we, as followers of Christ and two years, to THE JOURNAL, P.O. Box 1020, Big Sandy, Texas 75755, U.S.A. of this article, if you like.) Don’t get me wrong: I did not by members of the True Church, are ab- any means bend my knee to false idols solutely called to offer. Even to Church Prices for non-U.S. subscriptions are $30 and $51. Please remit in U.S. funds, Agree or disagree? preferably drawn on a U.S. bank, or postal money order payable in U.S. funds. at the Feast. Neither did I act in any leadership. Even after everything that Important: Include your friend’s and your names and mailing addresses. The Feast of Tabernacles way unbecoming or in a way that got has happened. is part of the cycle of seven me any flak from others. Forgiveness. Garner Ted kicked me out, but destiny strangeness kicked in

Continued from page 3 Tulsa experiences beginning in 1967. What could have been? Would I have worked for the unexpected, brief return to those hal- seemed incredible to me. No matter And then, in another strange stroke I often wondered what would have church? cyon days. how we feel about them, the Arm- of destiny, my son enrolled in Big become of me had Ted not capricious- What would I have thought of the strongs were a profound part of our Sandy in 1993 at the behest of Joe ly given me the old heave-ho without alterations and altercations as the As Paul said history. Tkach Sr. any real justification. 1967 organization coughed and sput- As I reared my son over the years, I Yet they were not officially ac- instilled in him a respect for choice knowledged at the reunion as having and choices. Our choices, I believed at been of those among us who had I instilled in my son a respect for choice and choices. Our the time, accounted for everything. passed on. But I gave up that belief in favor choices, I believed, accounted for everything. But I gave up that of a regard for life’s destiny for each Choices vs. destiny of us. I consider my life after the halcyon belief in favor of a regard for life’s destiny for each of us. Before some who read this lose days at AC to be the fulfillment of a faith in me for what I just said, please chain of events leading to a strange note that I’m simply saying the same destiny that took me into and then out My old buddy Dixon was on the What would have happened if I tered and splintered through the years? thing Paul said in his own immortal of Ambassador College. journalism faculty then, and his wife, had graduated and married the girl For me, visiting with those former words: When I was a child, I spoke as My late wife and my son, Gary II, Linda, was an assistant to an adminis- who seemed “most likely to be that students and other friends that I spent a child. came into my life as a result of my trative big shot. girl” in 1967? time with in Dallas was an excellent, Till we meet again . . . Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) THE JOURNAL 39 More letters from our readers

Continued from page 2 and the things that are therein are” missed this. Also, God informed Aa- Three vs. seven does the state marriage certificate bring the direct use of Scripture to discuss (Revelation 10:6). ron in Numbers 18 that he and his sons A comment on Exodus 23:14-16 to the marriage? None. the topic. “You Two are the LORDS; You would “bear the iniquity of your vs. Leviticus 23: Paul, in 1 Corinthians 7:25-28, tells There are three common Hebrew Two have made heaven, the heaven of priesthood.” I would think that would The three named feasts (Hebrew us he has no commandment of the words in the OT that are translated heavens, with all their host” (Nehe- apply to the WCG ministry also. chag) of Exodus 23:14-16: Lord concerning virgins and that it is “God.” In Strong’s they are No. 430, miah 9:6). Myra McQueen Seven days of unleavened bread, not sin should they marry. elohim; No. 433, eloah; and No. 410, el. “Fear Gods, and give glory to Sulphur Springs, Texas Tishri 14-20. Consider: What if what John Sash’s Note the following scriptures in Them, for the hour of Their judgment Glad to be okay Pentecost/Weeks. article portends is correct and true to which the three usages are found. In is come: and worship Them that made We read the current issue of Feast of Tabernacles/ every test? What has changed? these verses we find what God Al- heaven and earth” (Revelation 14:7). Ingathering. Sex before marriage is an oxy- THE JOURNAL [issue No. 145, mighty has to say regarding this doc- “Them only shall ye serve” The seven fixed times moron. Marriage, according to Scrip- dated Sept. 17, 2011]. The moed trinal teaching. (Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8). article by John Robinson was (Hebrew ) of Le- ture’s examples of marriage, is the act Micah 4:5: “For all people will Even the Trinitarians attempt to viticus 23: of two committed unmarried opposite super. I had open heart walk every one in the name of his God preserve the singularity of God. surgery about 20 Weekly Sab- genders uniting by sexual intercourse [Elohim]. And we will walk in the Kim Murphy bath. in a (committed) relationship. years ago. I am name of the Lord our God [Elohim].” Site 12, Comp. 9, okay. Amen. Days of Unleav- This is not about singles’ sex or Though both “Gods” are the same South Slocan, B.C. V0G 2G0 ened Bread God’s correct calendar or even God’s Howard Bruce Hebrew word, the context seems to Canada Glendale, Ariz. Pentecost, fixed as Leavened Spring Holy Days—although show a separation between them. the seventh Sunday from they should be looked into seriously. It The conclusion: There will be The heart of a matter Like Carnal the Days of Unleavened is about taking the time to examine and many elohim (angels) ruling the na- Hi, Dixon. We hope you are feeling Sanders? Bread. listen to the Spirit within us, to discern tions of the earth. Or more than one much better and stronger now. We During Sabbath of the truth of Scripture from error in the God. read your article in the latest JOURNAL the early pe- memorable accla- spiritual issues that separate us. Let’s see another example, but with [“Heart Appreciation: The Beat Goes riod of the Chris- mation, not a feast. Does it matter any more to us what other Hebrew numbers. On,” issue No. 145, dated Sept. 17, tian church the Jews were Day of Atone- Scripture says or doesn’t say? Are we Daniel 11:35-39: “. . . The time of 2011] and agree with your observa- “subverting souls” of the ment, a sabbath, not any longer, in this last era of God’s the end . . . And the [gentile] king . . . tions on COGs. brethren (Acts 15:24), so a feast. church, committed to proving all shall exalt himself . . . above every We believe that all Christians limit much so that the New Testament Feast of Tabernacles. things as commanded? God [el] . . . And do marvelous thing God in some ways, and God is work- Church of God held a meeting in Jeru- Eighth day, a sabbath, not a When we decide to ignore Scripture against the God [el] of Gods [el] . . . ing greatly in people around the world salem. It’s probable that many thou- feast and not the last great day of and keep on treading along, have we Neither shall he regard the God [elo- in their thoughts and hearts. sands attended. John 7:37. just eaten of the wrong tree? Have we him] of his fathers . . . Nor regard any It’s not that anyone intentionally The disputation, caused by the David Rydholm just possibly despised God’s truth and God [eloah].” limits God, but that we are humans and Jews, was that they (the Jews) wanted Via the Internet become the deciders of truth (Deuter- The word any shows there are have difficulty seeing as God sees. This everybody to be circumcised and obey Sex of one, leaven of the other onomy 12:8)? others! is especially true of the COGs, where all of the laws that pertain to Judaism. I am amazed when I read replies to These are questions for all of us to Books could be written, and hun- many (if not most) seem to think all Here is the conclusion of that meet- articles such as the one in the July 31, answer—now. dreds of Scriptures used, saying basi- other Christians are counterfeit, not ing and what God told His people they 2010, issue of THE JOURNAL (No. 140) Bill Neely cally the same as these references. converted Christians. Many years ago must do—four things—in Acts 15:20: on sex and singles by John Sash. Pottstown, Pa. There are plural elohim, plural usages we also believed this was true. “Abstain from pollutions of idols I’m amazed at the scripturally unsup- Leavened foods of eloah and plural el. Now we believe the truth is we and from fornications, and from things ported opposition (for example, in the I submit that Keith Slough got a bit As these words are written in the don’t know who God is working with strangled and from blood.” Only four letters section of the subsequent issue, carried away in his “Handy List of Almighty’s words, so will our teach- in a conversion process because God things. No. 141) to what is obviously supported Leavened Items” [see letters, Sept. 17, ings be judged. looks at the heart of a person, not The Jews wanted the Christians to through the absence of Scripture’s con- 2011, issue of THE JOURNAL]. Ray Daly knowledge and doctrinal understand- be commanded to “keep the law of demnation of John’s article’s thesis. We are speaking of the Days of Un- [email protected] ing. It is not our business or concern to Moses” (Acts 15:5) and to be “cir- John’s article had lain down as scrip- leavened Bread. Bacon, taco meat and Lincoln, N.D. judge others (Matthew 7:1-5). cumcised and keep the law: to whom turally clear as possible what he had so on can contain yeast, but they can- As individual believers, we need to Shuddering demons we [Christians] gave no such com- thoroughly sought out and proved to not be leavened! They are not bread! be concerned with out own personal mandment” (verse 24). the utmost, with unbiased scriptural va- For us to avoid ingesting yeast, Numerous definitional statements relationship and standing with God lidity and integrity, concerning what on God as a single personage are dis- The carnal mind will follow the we’d have to stop breathing, since it’s and Jesus, and not that of other people, ideas of men. Those who are led by most had presumed for a lifetime to be floating in the air. Thus the bread was seminated throughout Scripture. Among but to pray and offer help to those who the opposite approach as a truth of God. the most salient of these are 1 Timothy God’s Spirit will obey God and do the leavened when the dough was allowed have difficulties and trials. four things that God commands. This has not been the first occurrence to sit and collect the yeast. 2:5 and James 2:19: Al and Debra Murrey, of such phenomena. This also rang true “And the truth is this: One is God Are you carnal? Today we add yeast to the dough, Payette, Idaho Paul and Micki Herrmann of many other JOURNAL essays, includ- ensuring a quality bread. If something and one is the mediator between God Discourse will end ing my calendar essay of September- and man, the man Christ Jesus, who Metairie, La. contains bread crumbs—like meat I find THE JOURNAL a continual December 2008, and has as well been gave himself as a ransom for all. This loaf—you should reject it. But you stimulus to discussion on different Traditions have staying power the fate of the recently published leav- cannot leaven meat itself. truth was attested at the fitting time.” opinions. I am sure this is a principle To my knowledge none of the hun- ened-bread essays. [See “We’ve Been (The mediator between God and that God laid down in Isaiah 1:18 dreds of Churches of God takes any Partaking of the Wrong Kind of Bread Joan H. Griffith man cannot himself be God.) Annapolis Md. “Do you believe that God is one? Shared experience You are quite right. The demons be- I was saddened to hear of your lieve that, and they shudder.” ‘I am amazed,’ writes Bill Neely, ‘when I read replies [Dixon Cartwright’s] heart attack and And, shuddering, they deceive oth- to articles such as the one in the July 31, 2010, issue of certainly wish you the best possible ers (like Brian Convery) into suppos- recovery. I am glad you shared your ing otherwise. THE JOURNAL on sex and singles by John Sash.’ experience in THE JOURNAL [on page 3 Antimonotheism reactionaries like of issue No. 145, dated Sept. 17, 2011]. Mr. Convery are effectively beating a It made me sit up and take notice. dead horse in attempting to establish when He said: “Come now, and let us notice of what Herbert Armstrong and at Passover” and “Would You Believe I am living with my wife in Uru- credibility in a plural Godhead. Unitary reason together.” Garner Ted constantly said: “Don’t the Bible Teaches We Should Have a guay and just got back from Southern monotheism is provable biblical fact. Job and his companions were cer- believe me. Believe the Bible.” Leavened Days of Unleavened Bread?” California, where I kept the FOT with Don Sena tainly engaged in this process, with But, then, as Herbert Armstrong by Mr. Neely in issue No. 143, dated an independent group. I was fortunate Phoenix, Ariz. God having the final word, which we also said, “once a tradition is estab- January 2011.] to get the last issue of THE JOURNAL, Irregular plurals hope is the way that all these dis- lished in any church it is almost im- Virtually not a word was heard, pro where I saw you had your health prob- Brian Convery insists on the plural courses will end: finding out what possible to change it, even if it is or con, on the above-mentioned es- lem. Please do take care. “Gods” [in his article in the CONNEC- God thinks. proven to be biblically incorrect.” says, and probably not because every- Dale Stogner TIONS section of issue No. 145 of THE R.W. Lyons Kevin Sasse one concurred but because they were Via the Internet JOURNAL]. To be consistent should he Gulliver, Qld., Australia Goulburn, N.S.W., Australia not willing to go down those roads Herr Strauss died not cite the following? one more time. The Bible says ignorance No wonder In your No. 142 issue [dated Sep- “Have ye not read that They is no excuse Has the time come when the church tember-October 2010] Alan Knight which made them at the beginning May my frank letter be published? has reached the point where we are Regarding the article by John Rob- Update on my status as a suspend- writes “Who Is the Beast?” made them male and female?” (Mat- satisfied with where we stand in what In the 1980s I proclaimed Franz thew 19:4). inson [“The Church From the ’50s to ed member of the UCG: Nothing’s we believe or won’t believe (Proverbs ’90s: In Transition Publisher Writes of changed. Josef Strauss as the Beast, but he died. “Lords, you art Gods, which 2:1-5)? The WCG and her daughters refused His RCG/WCG Recollections,” THE My record: Suspended and kept out have made heaven and earth” (Acts Yes, blind and naked to new truth. [to name Mr. Strauss], fearing error. JOURNAL, issue No. 145, dated Sept. for 12 years. Failed attempt at recon- 4:24). We all need to decide this question for Karl Hapsburg is now the only “Have not Our hands made all 17, 2011]: ciliation four years ago during which I ourselves. We can’t judge others. requested forgiveness. choice I find, with Max or Georg as a these things?” (Acts 7:50). As John says in his article, HWA Going back to John Sash’s essay, new pope. Please put this in your next First charge: guilty of causing divi- “For the invisible things of Them taught that God would justify or cover there seems to be some confusion on paper as a prophecy. from the creation of the world are his unscriptural errors and honor them sion over a marriage doctrine. when God defines a married state and because, as HWA once stated in re- Second charge: guilty of self-righ- Clifford Catton clearly seen, being understood by the when this world defines it. Via the Internet things that are made, even Their eter- gards to D&R [divorce and remar- teousness. Oddly enough, there is some agree- nal power and Godhead . . . [but] they riage], “God has finally revealed the Last contact: refusal to negotiate ment there, but not generally recog- Official incorporation glorified Them not as Gods” (Romans truth about this.” without completion of a questionnaire nized. When the minister comes to the The Radio Church of God, later re- 1:20-21). HWA reasoned that, since God had and another ad-nauseam request to place where he pronounces the couple named Worldwide Church of God, pas- Some “worshiped and served the not yet revealed the truth, the ministry show fruits of repentance even after husband and wife—whether in the tored by Herbert W. Armstrong, was of- creature more than the Creators, who would not be held accountable for 12 years of repeated attempts to open church or in the world—are they then ficially incorporated on Oct. 21, 1933. are blessed forever” (verse 25). teaching error. dialogue. Is that not a sign? married? No, not according to the Also, could you please inform your “But They that built all things are But Leviticus 5:17 clearly says that Since when does the Bible allow an Scriptures or the state. readers that my new article, “How the Gods” (Hebrews 3:4). “if a soul sin, and commit any of these elder to disfellowship someone for The state does not legally recognize Bible Reveals the Modern Identity of “And Gods did rest the seventh things which are forbidden to be done self-righteousness? the “marriage” until it is consummat- The Endtime Elijah” is at www. day from all Their works” (Hebrews by the commandments of the LORD; No wonder Satan took one third of ed in the sexual act. So also say the freewebs.com/usa-in-prophecy/possi- 4:4). though he wist it not, yet he is guilty UCG elders last winter. Scriptures (Genesis 16:2-3; 29:21; bleidof2witnesses.htm. “And swear by Them that liveth and shall bear his iniquity.” Ned Dancuo 30:4; 38:8). Geoff Neilson forever and ever, who created heaven I don’t know how the ministry Stoney Creek, Ont., Canada What legitimacy, in God’s eyes, Cape Town, South Africa 40 THE JOURNAL Issue No. 146 (Dec. 20, 2011) Mokarow conference examines the Bible Notes and quotes By John Dickerson several churches, ministries and fel- This writer unexpectedly became HE WOODLANDS, Texas— lowships in several states. The theme the emcee-moderator when Church of Charles Hunting dies not continue, another publication Art Mokarow, who years ago was “Why Did God Have the Bible God International elder Bronson SARASOTA, Fla.—Charles F. has begun: Shepherd’s Voice. Twas director of the ministry for Written as His Word?” The purpose James could not attend. Hunting, 92, died at 5:15 a.m. on SN readers will automatically the Worldwide Church of God, spon- was to hear points of view as substan- JOURNAL photo receive the new publication. The oral Word Nov. 11, 2011, in To receive the last SN or sub- Dr. Ron Moseley of North Little Sarasota. scribe to Shepherd’s Voice, write 2 3 Rock, Ark., longtime friend of Mr. Mo- Mr. Hun- Mr. Edwards, Port Austin Bible karow, began the session on Friday. He ting was a Campus, P.O. Box 474, Port spoke on how the Word of God passed former evan- Austin, Mich. 48467, U.S.A., or orally from generation to generation gelist-ranked [email protected]. until the prophets wrote it down. minister in CGWA’s new chairman Sheila Bishop of Atlanta, Ga., the World- and HQ plans wide Church founder and president of the Founda- AUSTIN, Texas—The presi- tion for Biblical Archaeology, enlight- of God and presiding dent of the Church of God a 1 ened the audience on constellations Worldwide Association, Jim and earthly events related to the Bible. Charles Hunting deputy chan- cellor over Franks, announced in a “Dear Dr. Pieter Barkhuizen of Apple Brethren” letter Nov. 3, 2011, the Valley, Calif., and the Church of God the Bricket Wood, England, cam- pus of Ambassador College. name of the first permanent (Seventh Day) based in Denver, Colo., He coauthored, with Sir chairman of the church’s board. spoke on “the genesis of Genesis.” Anthony Buzzard, the book The He also released Feast-atten- He was followed by Alex Ciura- Tr inity: Christianity’s Self-Inflicted dance figures for 2011. na, pastor of a CG7 congregation in Wound. Mr. Franks announced that the Conroe. Mr. Ciurana’s message was See more information in Mr. church’s ministerial board on 5 “The Power of Sacred Canon: Exam- Hunting’s obituary on page 15 of Oct. 31 selected Joel Meeker of 4 ining Its Boundaries.” (See Mr. Ciu- this issue of THE JOURNAL. St. Louis, Mo., as its first perma- rana’s message as an essay on page 11 nent chairman. of this issue of THE JOURNAL.) UCM founder recovering And “our highest actual atten- John Dickerson of Lincoln, Ark., ROANOKE, Ind.—Ray dance on a holy day in the U.S. who attends a Church of God Inter- Wooten, founder and president this year was 5,002,” he said. He national (CGI) congregation, present- of United Christian Ministries, is estimated “worldwide” atten- ed “What Is Your Life All About?” recovering after a heart attack dance at “close to 9,500.” he suffered on Nov. 19, 2011. The CGWA president also Assumptive question His treatment included the re- informed church members con- cerning a committee’s quest for 6 7 8 The last speaker of the day was moval of a blood clot and instal- Gary Woodring, who serves the Tyler lation of a stent in a heart artery. a church-headquarters location. (Texas) Sabbath Fellowship. He titled Write Mr. Wooten at UCM, “The task force has put for- his message “Why Did God Write the P. O. Box 608, Roanoke, Ind. ward six cities for us to consider,” Bible? Is There an Assumption in That 46783, U.S.A., or he said. For more information go Question?” [email protected]. to www.cogwa.org. Anthony Buzzard of Fayetteville, Sabbath Sentinel editor CGC’s Winter Family Ga., began Saturday’s presentations recovering Weekend with “Did Calvin Murder Servetus?” CINCINNATI, Ohio—The “We should not persecute and kill MULVANE, Kan.—Ken 9 10 11 12 Ryland, editor of the Bible Church of God Cincinnati (CGC) each other over doctrines or any other and its sister congregation in reason,” Mr. Buzzard said. Sabbath CONFERENCE ABOUT THE BIBLE—These are some of the people who attended Association’s Lexington, Ky., invite everyone to Next up was Lennox Abrigo of the “15th Annual Winter Family and, in many cases, presented at Art Mokarow’s conference in The Woodlands, Texas. Baltimore, Md., who talked about “four Sabbath Photo 1: Claudia Mokarow (Mr. Mokarow’s wife). Photo 2: Art Mokarow and grand- Sentinel Weekend” in Lexington Dec. daughter Rachel Mokarow. Photo 3: Gilford Monrose. Photo 4: Stephen Grisham. Photo guarantees” in Scripture, including that magazine, is 23-27, 2011. 5: Sheila Bishop. Photo 6: Whaid Rose. Photo 7: John Dickerson. Photo 8: Pieter anyone Jesus has “invited to His Father’s recovering For information on discounted Barkhuizen. Photo 9: Charles Groce. Photo 10: Ron Moseley. Photo 11: Anthony house cannot be destroyed in hellfire.” after a heart lodging at the Griffin Gate Buzzard. Photo 12: Alex Ciurana. [Photos by Dixon Cartwright and Everett Oakley] Mr. Mokarow, conference orga- attack Dec. Marriott Resort, contact Jim nizer and sponsor, made a presenta- 1, 2011, and O’Brien at P.O. Box 1811, West sored a Bible-themed conference at tiated by the Bible. tion that included an exposition of subsequent Chester, Ohio 45071, U.S.A. See The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Mr. Mokarow, founder and owner John 17, Jesus’ prayer while He await- quadruple- also www.cogcincinnati.org. Hotel in this suburb of Houston March of Evanow Publishing of Conroe, ed His crucifixion. bypass Another AC reunion 18-20, 2011. Texas, generously provided meals and Alvin Bernard, a Seventh Day Ken Ryland surgery. About 60 people attended from lodging for all participants. See BIBLE INVESTIGATION, page 10 Write Mr. PASADENA, Calif.—Another Ryland at Bible Sabbath Ambassador College reunion is Association, 802 NW 21st Ave., in the offing, this one specifically Battle Ground, Wash. 98604, for AC students from 1964 U.S.A., or biblesabbath through 1972 who were part of @comcast.net. the Ambassador College Band in Pasadena and AC and WCG Central Texas COG’s traveling troupes such as the AC The Journal: new building Fun Show and Garner Ted TEMPLE, Texas—The Central Armstrong’s America Listen! Texas Church of God plans to variety show. Subscribe or renew! have a new building for the con- The plans include a reunion gregation by the end of Decem- with Joseph Bauer, the band ber 2011 and a grand opening, leader in Pasadena in those To subscribe, simply send a check or money order. Or now you can to which everybody will be invit- years. ed, in early 2012. For more information write pay with PayPal (paypal.com), Dwolla (dwolla.com) or a credit card. For more information write the organizer Carol Taylor at church at P.O. Box 3822, Temple, [email protected], or (Fax 1-888-488-6603 or write [email protected].) Texas 76505, U.S.A. See also call (909) 933-0783. www.centexcog.org. Sabbath association’s Be sure to check your mailing label. If you have only one or two or Last Servants’ News Web site is back “zero” issues remaining, we suggest mailing in your renewal now so you PORT AUSTIN, Mich.— LONDON, England—Robert Norman Edwards announced Taylor announces that the Bible don’t miss any issues. Contact THE JOURNAL for subscriptions and that the last issue of Servants’ Sabbath Association UK’s Web News magazine went out recent- site is back up. It’s at biblesab- renewals at Box 1020, ly through postal mail. bath.org.uk. Mr. Taylor founded Mail to: THE JOURNAL, Box 1020, Big Sandy, Texas 75755, U.S.A. Although Servants’ News will the BSA UK in 2005. Subscribe to THE JOURNAL:NEWS OF THE CHURCHES OF GOD and keep up with your Big Sandy, Texas family and friends in all the groups! 75755, U.S.A., or Name at the European Prsrt Std Address TheJournal US Postage distributor’s address News of the Churches of God Paid City/state/zip or postal code/country on page 2. P. O. Box 1020, Big Sandy, Texas 75755 Permit No. 88 New subscription Renewal Start with back issue dated ______/______75602 (specify any month and year from February 1997 to present). Individual back issues are $2 each, with 2-issue minimum order. (No minimum if ordered with new sub.) 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