Vol. 40, No. 1 “Put on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13) Spring 2019 by George Ramocan t is widely known within God’s God’” (John 20:17). But then, interestingly, later that same day, Jesus met Church that the waving of the His disciples saying, “‘Rejoice!’ And they came and held Him by the feet and Isheaf of first-fruits before the worshiped Him” (Matthew 28:9; John 20:19). Lord on “the morrow after the Sab- Obviously, something happened between these two episodes, because bath” (Leviticus 23:9–11), was a portray- it was now okay for Jesus, late on the same day, to allow His disciples to al of Christ presenting Himself to His hold onto him (Matthew 28:9). Clearly, Christ being the fulfillment of the Father following His resurrection (John Wave Sheaf, obviously in the interval, ascended to His Father as He said. 20:17). It appears from the Scriptures this Jesus’ ascension to His Father on that day fulfilled a unique ceremony in “morrow after the Sabbath” in the Old the Old Testament known as the Wave-Sheaf Offering. In commanding the Testament became “the first day of the observance of this ceremony, God said to Israel: “When you enter the land week,” or Wave Sheaf Day in the New I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a George Ramocan Testament. This view is corroborated by sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the incidence of both “the morrow after the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the Sabbath” and “the first day of the week” in both Testaments during the day after the Sabbath” (Leviticus 23:10–11) . When we come to the the annual Festival of Unleavened Bread. New Testament, we find the term “first-fruits” is used to describe the The Fulfillment of the Wave Sheaf in the New Testament resurrected Christ! 1 Corinthians 15:20 says: “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen Following the resurrection of Jesus, early in the morning on the first day asleep.” of the week (John 20:1), an unusual and significant event occurred; Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. She supposes Him to be the gardener, but after These texts illustrate the ascension of Christ to His Father on the morning addressing her by name in that familiar voice she recognized, she attempts to following His resurrection from the day before, and refers to Christ present- embrace him. However, Jesus resists and says, “Do not cling to Me, for I ing Himself to His Father as the first-fruits from the dead on the first day of have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, the week (John 20:17). ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your Wave Sheaf, continued on page 4 In the life of a Christian, many experiences can be quite challenging from time to time; but talking to someone, or comforting those while they’re dying right in front of you has to be one of the most emotional circumstances a human being can ever expe- rience. Most combat veterans, first responders, and hospice workers will attest to this. by Bill Watson ver the years, I have person- But, whether on the battlefield, or in the midst of a catastrophe, or just ally had many opportunities simply in the quietness of home or at a healthcare facility, when “death where I’ve stared at death in comes knocking,” it’s just as final––there’s no difference comparatively Bill Watson O the eyes of others. Whether visiting speaking. As a matter of fact, death has no limitations as to where and them in their homes or at a healthcare facility, it’s always an emotion- when it will strike––and we are all under bondage to it. It stings every al and moving experience to talk with someone who knows they are time it occurs (1 Corinthians 15:55–56)! facing death in their immediate future. Passover continued on page 3 And it’s not always an easy conversation to have surrounded by that set of circumstances. And so often those conditions can have a major effect on how the experience may affect our emotions and mental disposition. Clearly, it isn’t the kind of experience all of us are equipped to handle. As you can imagine, the tension, stress, and mental anxiety is a very different situation when facing this experience in the back- drop of a war-torn battlefield, or severe accident, or other disaster. First responders who are dispatched to an accident, or the calami- ties of natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, or tornados, see many things they wish they didn’t have to see. These people, as those who experience combat, are special people, and all of us should be very thankful there are those who can handle the pres- sures and rigors these horrible sights and conditions present when having to deal with the dangerous hazards, or catastrophic injuries, and death these conditions cause. 2 THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS Vol. 40, No. 1 Open Church Policy The Church of God International is an open church. e have many people attending who are new in the faith. Some will not always keep each of God's laws as Wthey should, and some will not believe everything we teach. We pray that they may be strengthened through the servic- es we render and the examples we set as they come to a closer walk with their God. We request that you be neither judgmen- tal nor base your standard for obedience on what you see your brother do. Christ is our standard, not weak and sinful men. Always remember that you will be judged for what you do, not what others do. Your job is to pray for them, set the right example, and please the Father in all that you do. Ω — 2019 Holy Day Calendar — New Testament Passover April 18, 2019 (Observed at sundown) Feast of Unleavened Bread April 20–26, 2019 Pentecost Our Great Commission June 9, 2019 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Feast of Trumpets Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have com- September 30, 2019 manded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19–20). Day of Atonement October 9, 2019 Feast of Tabernacles October 14–20, 2019 Last Great Day October 21, 2019 THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS Holy days are observed beginning sundown the previous 3900 TIMMS ST., TYLER, TX 75701 evening and end at sundown on the days listed. Passover is observed at sundown on the day listed. THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS is the official newspaper of The Church of God International, Tyler, Texas, USA. Copyright © 2019 The Church of God International . All rights reserved. Editor-In-Chief: Vance A. Stinson Editor: Lloyd W. Cary • It is the desire of the staff to publish The International Contributing Writers: Michelle Algarra, Lloyd Cary, Jimmy Meek, News quarterly. We can do this only if you, the reader, Murray Palmatier, George Ramocan, George Roper, Horane help by submitting timely articles, reports, and pictures. Smith, Bill Watson , and to the many contributors who made this publication possible, thank you. • With few exceptions, submissions should be from 800– • Production: Lloyd W. Cary 1000 words in ether .doc, docx, rtf, or .txt format. • Business Manager: Benny Sharp • Submissions may be sent either to [email protected] NOTICE: The International News welcomes submissions of or [email protected] or, preferably, to both. articles, features, church news, pictures, or manuscripts. However, it cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited materials. Materials submitted can sent through the postal DEADLINE for the next issue is service, but electronic submissions are preferred. May 15th 2019. OVERSEAS OFFICES: We look forward to seeing you soon… in print! • Australia: Minister, The Church of God International, PO Box 171, Boonah, Queensland 4310, Australia • The Church of God International Canada, PO Box 32009–RPO, Northland, London ON N5V 5K4 • Jamaica: The Church of God International, 60 Cairncurran Ave., Western Dist. PO, St Andrew, Kingston, Jamaica Download past issues of the • Philippines: The Church of God International, 7 Opal St., International News at: Severina Subdiv, KM 18 South Superhighway, http://cgi.org/international-news/ •Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. Email: [email protected] Help spread the Gospel: CGI Website: www.cgi.org Send a link to a friend. CGI E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 903-939-2929 Vol. 40, No. 1 THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS 3 Passover, continued from page 1 event, Paul ex- So, What Is Death? plains, is made The short and simple possible by the answer to this question is, “second man,” it’s simply the absence of which is the life, a state of being dead. Lord from heav- In the realm of our exis- en––that is, Je- tence as human beings, sus Christ (1 it’s the condition of being Corinthians unconscious, immobile, 15:42–49). and unable to move, or do This change anything consciously–– from flesh and and consciously is the blood to something called “spirit” was foreknown in the Old Testa- operative––you are no ment. The ancient patriarch Job knew there was something greater longer conscious, or self– than just this physical life, and opined about this change he was aware! aware God had promised.