Letter to the Brethren – December 3, 2008

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

In the closing days of 2008, life has again changed dramatically! This time, the world economy has been shaken to its very core. The once dominant role of the United States has collapsed under the weight of its own mismanagement, and the rest of the world is looking for new leadership.

Following the terrorists’ attacks of September 11, 2001, many recognized that things would never be quite the same, and they haven’t! Now we are hostages of fear, and that is reflected in the mobilization to perpetual war status as the United States, Britain and their few allies seek to conquer a small but elusive group of terrorists. Traveling on airlines or across national borders serves as a constant reminder that danger may be in the shadows.

Why is all of this turmoil happening, and why is the United States, along with Great Britain and its Commonwealth nations, so directly affected by these catastrophic events?

It is because our nations are among the modern descendants of the ancient house of Israel. While we received the unparalleled blessings God had promised unconditionally to Abraham’s “seed” or offspring for his faithful obedience, we are now facing the frightening penalties or “curses” that will occur for our disobedience.

God promised that “‘If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them…’” (Leviticus 26:3), then He would send blessings:

“‘I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you’” (Leviticus 26:6-8).

In the history of the rise of the British and American peoples to their prominence as world powers, these kinds of blessings were given. However, these blessings of protection from God would be removed if the laws of God were rejected and disobeyed. Leviticus 26, verses 14 through 39, very precisely detail the consequences of refusal to obey God.

Deuteronomy 28 also chronicles the promises and warnings of God. In verse 25, we find this dire and fateful prediction: “‘The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth.’”

In the song of Moses, as recorded in Deuteronomy 32, God foretells the circumstances that will come upon His people Israel when they reject Him—a warning for all generations but especially applicable for us in our time. Just as God has so greatly blessed our people above all other nations, now we are beginning to enter into a time of bitter correction. In verse 23, God says “‘“I will heap disasters on them…”’” Continuing in verse 30: “‘How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had surrendered them?’”

What our nations do not understand—nor do they believe—is that God is beginning to punish us for our rebellion: “‘“Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them”’” (Deuteronomy 32:35).

In another prophecy found in Ezekiel, chapter 7, modern Israel is warned: “‘“…The time has come, A day of trouble is near… Now upon you I will soon pour out My fury, And spend My anger upon you…”’” (Verses 7 and 8); “‘“Disaster will come upon disaster, And rumor will be upon rumor”’” (Verse 26).

God has left further record of what would come upon His people when they rebelled against Him:

“‘Now go, write it before them on a tablet, And note it on a scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the Lord; Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease from before us”’” (Isaiah 30:8-11).

Again, God speaks of the terror that will come upon the modern houses of Israel and Judah: “‘One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a pole [Better: “A tree stripped of branches”] on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill’” (Isaiah 30:17).

In addition to these times of trouble when fears have become our stark reality, even more devastating punishment awaits if our people do not repent of their sins. As is so poignantly outlined in Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28 and other prophecies in the Word of God, our nations will be completely devastated through famines, diseases and wars and the survivors will become captive slaves of other nations. Our booklets, The Fall and Rise of Britain and America, The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, and Europe in Prophecy, go into the details of these events.

What about true Christians? What will happen to the people of God who have faithfully continued in obedience to God? Will they also suffer along with the rest?

Psalm 91 speaks reassuring words for us in this regard:

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling…” (Verses 1-10).

As the elect of God, we have been informed of the prophetic events that will lead to the return of Jesus Christ and the end of the age. In Matthew 24, along with revealing what would be taking place just prior to His return, Jesus makes a point in reminding His servants to watch and be ready. He also states, “‘See, I have told you beforehand’” (verse 25).

Knowing what we know comes with added responsibility:

“‘But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man’” (Luke 21:34-36).

There is something else we must be urgently doing at this time—we must be engaged in the Work of God, and that includes preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God! This preaching also involves our duty to warn the nations of God’s impending judgment (compare Ezekiel 33:1-11).

Far too many have come to understand prophecy about the end time only to use that knowledge to try and save themselves (compare Matthew 16:25). They don’t realize that only God can preserve us in the times ahead.

In a very specific promise to the Church of God “in Philadelphia,” God gives the following guarantee: “‘Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth’” (Revelation 3:10). This message is given to those who live at the end of the age—to those who faithfully obey God!

This promise is not restricted to a particular humanly-devised Church organization or corporate entity—to the exclusion of all those who are not part of that special group. Such an arrogant and self-righteous Pharisaical approach is clearly condemned by God—and those who communicate such an attitude of spiritual blindness, self-aggrandizement and pride might very well be among those who will NOT be protected during the hour of trial—the Great Tribulation. God’s promise of preservation applies to all of His people who are zealous in their obedience to God and their efforts to contribute to the preaching of the true gospel of the Kingdom of God in all the world as a witness (Matthew 24:14) and who are reflecting the love of Christ by feeding and tending gently the flock of God (John 21:15-17).

We find a key teaching of Jesus Christ that adds to how we should view the promise given to the church in Philadelphia:

“‘Therefore whoever HEARS these sayings of Mine, and DOES them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall’” (Matthew 7:24-27).

As we live in these increasingly troublesome times, we must hear and seek to understand God’s warnings. We can’t merely hide our eyes from the truth of these prophecies. Rather, now is the time for us to overcome—to put our own lives in order!

God has called each of us out of this world to do His Will, and that means involvement in the Church of God and the Work of the Church. Our roles differ widely, but we share the common goal of supporting the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Events of our time will challenge us in ways that will require that we place our faith in God in ultimate ways. Even so, we must continue to grow in love for one another and for those who do not now understand the things we do.

Finally, let’s never lose sight of the promise given to us by Jesus Christ, who is our example and Savior: “‘But he who ENDURES to the end SHALL BE SAVED’” (Matthew 24:13).

In Christ’s Service,

Dave Harris

Letter to the Brethren – November 7, 2008

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Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends:

What a joyous and spiritually uplifting Feast of Tabernacles 2008 it has been! Feast attendees in Derbyshire, England, and Tucson, Arizona, USA, overwhelmingly expressed their appreciation and thankfulness for the beautiful locations, the warmth of the membership, and the outstanding Feast messages and other activities

Just read the following Feast reports from Brian Gale (England) and Dave Harris (Arizona):

Feast Report from England:

Against the backdrop of Chatsworth House in rural Derbyshire, the magnificent stately home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and with sheep and deer grazing safely in the surrounding estate, the Global Church of God in the UK held God’s Feast of Tabernacles for the ninth time at Chatsworth. Many of those who were there had attended many times over the years and yet never tire of the beauty and tranquility that is a feature of this Feast site. The house and gardens have attracted visitors from all over the world for many generations. It is worth mentioning that Derbyshire’s Peak District, where Chatsworth House is a main attraction, is now the second most visited National Park in the world after Mt. Fuji in Japan.

Some of our visitors from the USA and Africa, who had not visited the area before, were suitably impressed. Messages were given by Evangelist Norbert Link, Brian Gale, Andrew Burns, John Dunn, Bill Koeneke, Douglas Mitchell and Terry McQuire, with a DVD of Pastor Dave Harris in the USA. The messages were of a high quality and positive comments were made by both new attendees and those who have become accustomed to attending at this wonderful site.

One of the highlights was an excellent evening when a first class Feast meal was much appreciated by everyone. In addition, a “fun evening” and a coach tour of the beautiful area added to an excellent 8 days. There was a Sabbath buffet held at the Gale’s lodge where everyone was invited and the fellowship went on long after the food had finished!

During the Feast, Norbert Link, presenter of the StandingWatch programs, filmed two programs on location, interviewing several members, with Chatsworth House as the background to these presentations.

Feast Report from Arizona:

Brethren gathered to observe the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day in Tucson, Arizona. Members of the Church of the Eternal God in the United States along with Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada, conducted meetings at the facilities of the Sheraton Hotel. Most were also able to stay in this hotel and enjoy the intimate fellowship provided in being housed closely to one another.

Many activities available in the Tucson area added greatly: visits to a special tea room; touring a botanical garden; sightseeing in the famed Saguaro desert area; eating at many of the fine restaurants; also, attending a group BBQ and participating in a talent/game evening were just some of the shared experiences of this occasion. While Tucson is widely known as a very warm area, our time was blessed with ideal temperatures enabling unlimited access to the surrounding attractions.

We also welcomed several guests who attended at various times. Of particular note was the tremendous impact everyone felt in the spiritual food of the daily services. Speakers included Dave Harris, Rene Messier, Bill Grams, Terry Grade, Michael Link, Robb Harris, Eric Rank, Bob Bourque, Gilbert DeVaux, and Kalon Mitchell. All of them and those who contributed special music rose to the challenge and helped make this an especially memorable observance. Many subsequent comments have reflected the marked inspirational quality that was taken away from this Feast period. Although attending in Derbyshire, England, with his wife, Johanna, Norbert Link had prepared a very moving video sermon that was played on the first day of the Feast in Tucson.

This year, three youngsters took part in the blessing of little children that is conducted by the ministry annually during the Feast of Tabernacles.

This remarkable period of fellowshipping and of learning more of God’s purpose for all of mankind was truly uplifting. Many have already begun to look forward to next year—anticipating yet another joyous Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day!

In addition, we received the following comments from visitors:

—How good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133). Yes, very pleasant, a wonderful Feast. A truly remarkable “Feast of Tabernacles.” It must be one of the best I’ve known in 30 years. A beautiful setting at Chatsworth, truly a touch of the Millennium and so well organised in every detail. The messages and quality of the speakers, also the research needed for such delivery… I could go on but I think you must realise I enjoyed the Feast and the social side very much. I look forward to next year’s Feast, which I hope to attend.

—Thank you for a very enjoyable Feast [at Chatsworth]. It was good to see everyone again and spend time together. We appreciate all the hard work involved in ensuring the smooth running of the Festival.

—I just wanted to say once again how much I enjoyed meeting the people in your group [in CEG]. They all seemed really down to earth. I only wish I would have found out about it sooner so I could have spent more time there. Do you think there is any chance of you guys coming back next year [to Tucson]? If so, let me know so I can at least offer to help out in the preparations.

—I wanted to thank you for allowing us to attend the Feast this year with your group. We really enjoyed being with the brethren of CEG. God’s people are just a real pleasure to be around. Please relay our love to the brethren with you.

We could add more comments—especially from our membership—but these should be sufficient to show the blessings, which God bestowed on His sites in England and Arizona, and on all those who attended there.

But now, the Feast of Tabernacles 2008 is over, and we are entering the dark winter months, before God’s Spring Festival season will be upon us—beginning with the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. And how DARK these months will be! The world is facing an uncertain and grim future, while celebrating pagan days which are of no consequence for the plan of God—and which have been derived from demonically inspired observances. The day of Halloween, which much of the world celebrated on October 31, is perhaps the most obvious example of a festival, which honors Satan and his powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). But there are other days, which follow Halloween—including the Christmas season—which had been celebrated by pagans centuries before the birth of Christ (which did not occur anywhere near December 25) in honor of cruel “gods” such as Nimrod, Baal, Attis and Mythra. If you are in any doubt about the real origins of Christmas (or the origins of Halloween or New Year’s, for example), please read our free booklets, “Don’t Keep Christmas” and “Is That in the Bible—Man’s Holidays and God’s Holy Days.”

How did these heathen days enter orthodox Christianity? Why do so many well-meaning professing Christians participate, in one way or another, in their celebrations? And perhaps more critically, how did our present civilization begin observing those days in the first place? Why does God’s Word tell us to “come out of her, my people” (Revelation 18:4)? These and literally hundreds of additional questions are addressed in our brand-new 155 page book, “Is That in the Bible—The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation!” A copy of this book was distributed to all of our Feast attendees, and it was also sent to our readers in Great Britain. As a special service to our additional readers, we are pleased to enclose a copy to all of you who have not received it so far. Please take the time to study this book carefully. We are convinced that you have NEVER read anything quite like it before.

As this world grows darker, God’s people must continue to grow brighter as lights “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (Philippians 2:15). Christ’s return is NEAR—and we must be constantly on guard—watching and praying always to be counted worthy to be protected from and to escape the terrible times just ahead of us (Revelation 3:10), and to STAND before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).

All of us are called to get involved in the most-important WORK (compare James 1:25) of preaching the gospel of the KINGDOM of God to this dying and decaying world (Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10, 16:15). We are to make every effort to GROW in the knowledge of our SAVIOR Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Christ commands us to overcome (Revelation 3:5; 12:11). This includes overcoming our sins against God and our trespasses against our fellow man (Ephesians 2:1-3).

We should never feel too proud or too indifferent to seek the help of God’s ministry in this regard. Christ gives His ordained ministry to His Church for the edification and unification of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-16). Let us take advantage of God’s gift, and counsel with the ministry if there is a need.

May God lead and guide you and keep you safe in the days, months and years ahead of us.

In Christ’s service

Norbert Link

Dave Harris

Rene Messier

Brian Gale

Letter to the Brethren – September 19, 2008

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Dear Brethren, Co-workers and Friends,

It is hard to believe that in less than two weeks we are going to celebrate the beginning of the Fall Holy Day season, commencing with the Feast of Trumpets on September 30.

When we look at world conditions, it becomes more and more evident that man does not know how to rule himself, and things are worsening in every aspect of our society. The financial markets are close to a melt down with more large financial institutions—including some which have been around for over a century—seeking bailouts by the Federal government. Some are going under financially or are seeking bankruptcy protection. Drug use in the western world is increasing, and the U.S., which should be setting a positive example for the rest of the world, is the biggest drug user, or more appropriately, drug abuser.

We live under the threat of another major terrorist attack against the western and democratic nations. Teen pregnancy in the U.S. is at an all-time high, with some 740,000 teen pregnancies in the last year alone. Half of all marriages end in divorce, with the emotional consequences being felt by the innocent children for decades, well into their adulthood. There are wars going on with no sign of peace on the horizon. We experience ethnic cleansing and starvation in third world countries. The problems of mankind are becoming insurmountable. While Russia is flexing its muscles and threatening its neighboring countries, there is also unrest in the Middle East, with no man-made solution in sight.

The Fall Holy Days are a reminder, stop signs, as it were, for God to let us know that there is a solution to man’s worldwide problems; yet it will not be achieved by man but only by a merciful God: HE will send His Son Jesus Christ back to this earth to end the madness, confusion and deception of the god of this world—Satan the devil who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12: 9). At this time of turmoil and uncertainty in so many aspects of our society, we can be assured there is a solution coming. However, there will never be world peace and individual tranquility through the crucible of human war.

Let us therefore briefly review the Fall Holy Days and their meaning for us and mankind:

As mentioned, on September 30, we celebrate the Feast of Trumpets. As is the case with all of God’s weekly and annual Holy Days, they begin at sunset of the previous day. The Feast of Trumpets is therefore celebrated from sunset of September 29 to sunset of September 30. It pictures the glorious return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to this earth in power and majesty. He will crush the armies of this world—many of which will assemble in the land of Israel to oppose Him. He will set up the Kingdom of God and rule at Jerusalem with the resurrected and immortal saints who have been changed from physical to spiritual at His triumphant return. You can read about that in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. We will be resurrected or changed to spirit because flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50-55).

Revelation 5:10 reveals that we, as God’s true and faithful servants, shall be kings; that is, we will have rulership and responsibilities under Christ. And we will be priests; that is, we will have the responsibility to teach people on the earth about God’s laws, and we will have the power to enforce those laws for the benefit of mankind.

The next festival which follows shortly after the Feast of Trumpets is the Day of Atonement, to be celebrated on October 9, 2008. It pictures the removal of Satan the devil for 1000 years (Revelation 20:2). Satan will deceive the nations no more. As the current god and ruler of this earth, he is largely responsible for the world’s problems. His influence is incredibly strong since he is the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). He works in the sons of disobedience. He negatively influences mankind with the spirit of pride (the cause of his fall), rebellion and hostility to God’s laws, since his twisted mind is filled with hatred against God’s Way. But the good news is that Satan will be bound for 1000 years during the Millennium, unable to negatively influence mankind during that period of time.

Following the Day of Atonement is the Feast of Tabernacles, which is a seven day festival to be celebrated this year from October 14 to October 20. The seven day period denotes completion. It is a time of rejoicing before God and of praise for His great plan.

It pictures the Millennium when we will truly live in peace and harmony with one another and when man will not LEARN war anymore (Isaiah 2:4). Today, man learns to hate and to fight in war which is an extension of hate and greed. But in the Millennium, man will learn peace and as a consequence, he will turn his “swords into plowshares” or instruments of good, and not of destruction. Isaiah 2:2-3 shows how mankind will be taught the ways of God’s laws—the way of love which is outgoing concern for our neighbor.

But man will also learn to love God. While love toward neighbor is summarized in the last six of God’s Ten Commandments, the way of love towards God is outlined in the first four of the Ten Commandments. True love for God includes keeping the true weekly Sabbath. Love is manifested, proved, demonstrated and shown by keeping the commandments. Love towards God is also manifested by keeping all of God’s annual Holy Days. On the other hand, the pagan Satan-based practices of this current world, such as the observance of Sunday, Christmas, Easter and Halloween, will be a thing of the past and soon forgotten by those who will be willing to obey and serve God in the manner He demands.

The Millennium will be a time of peace, when God’s Spirit will be available to mankind and given to man upon repentance and acceptance of Christ as their Savior.

The final Holy Day is the Last Great Day, which immediately follows the Feast of Tabernacles. It will be celebrated this year on October 21.

That day pictures the final phase—the culmination of the plan of our great God. It foreshadows a time when ALL of mankind, who had died without ever having been given the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, will have an opportunity to enter the God Family. Since flesh and blood cannot enter the Kingdom or Family of God, they will be resurrected physically and are seemingly given one hundred years either to accept or reject God’s ways and laws (Isaiah 65:20). God is a God of great mercy who doesn’t want anyone to perish, but He still follows a plan and timetable. The opportunity to become a child of God is not open-ended, and for those in that Second Resurrection (Revelation 20:11-12), it will apparently last for one hundred years. If people don’t “get it” in one hundred years, they just will not “get it” in one thousand years, either. The Second Resurrection or Great White Throne Judgment is a time of judgment when all will be judged according to their works. After the 100 years of judgment, some will receive everlasting life, but others will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:13-15), together with those who had, before and during the Millennium, committed the unpardonable sin against the power of the Holy Spirit. The lake of fire is not an ever-burning fire but a fire that burns up the incorrigible wicked who refused to submit to God and totally rejected Him and His Government.

The Last Great Day also points at the time when the Family of God will greatly expand and when the New Jerusalem—our future home—descends to this earth (Revelation 21:1-3). It will be a time when man has either ceased to exist or when he has been changed to born again immortal children of God in the Kingdom or Family of God. What a great time that will be!

Knowing what will happen to us and the world within a few years from now, when first the meaning of the Feast of Trumpets will find its fulfillment, we realize that now is not the time to let down, but to push on in accomplishing the task we have been commissioned to do—that of preaching the gospel to the world as a witness and feeding the flock. That is our collective responsibility as a church. In addition, our individual responsibility is to respond to this teaching and to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to support the efforts of the church in order to be faithful servants whom the Lord finds so doing when He returns (Matthew 24:46).

So, brethren, co-workers and friends, let us all be about our Father’s business and let us look forward to the Fall Holy Days. These times of trouble will soon be ended. Joy, peace and happiness for all is not that far away. In the meantime, we have been given a tremendously important role and responsibility towards the world. We should be thankful to our God for our calling at this time. We can take hope and courage in the words of God in Revelation 21:3, describing our ultimate potential and future: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Let us all look forward to a tremendously joyous Fall festival season.

In Christ service

Rene Messier

Letter to the Brethren – July 1, 2008

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

Recently we kept the Feast of Pentecost, which is the Holy Day that celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the birth of the New Testament Church in 31 AD (compare Acts 2). The next Feast day in God’s calendar is the Feast of Trumpets, which pictures the return of Jesus Christ. As will be more fully explained in this letter, there is a distinct connection for God’s people between the two. With the spirit of discernment that God’s Spirit gives to baptized members of His true Church, we can see the sign of the times (compare Matthew 24:32-33). We can surely see that the reality of Christ’s return is becoming more necessary by the day.

How we need that reality! Even the truly wealthy nations in the world are starting to feel the pinch with big increases in oil prices affecting motoring costs and food prices through increased transportation costs. In the UK recently, it was announced that gas and electricity bills will probably increase by about 40% this winter, and the price of petrol continues to soar. The banking industry is in turmoil with shares in some of the leading banks and financial institutions in the UK falling heavily and the housing market suffering its greatest crisis since the 1970’s. I mention the UK because I can see, close at hand, how the fragmentation of society continues through these and other problems and concerns that the ordinary man in the street continues to wrestle with. But this same pattern is replicated and perhaps even magnified in the USA and in so many other nations around the world. The constant threat of terrorism is costing nations enormous amounts of money to counteract the activities of those committed to kill and destroy. Crime continues to exact misery on millions of people who are the victims of such activity, and the complexity and number of problems are a constant source of worry for those sincere and dedicated leaders who consider the interests and welfare of their subjects of paramount importance. Unfortunately, there are many other leaders who seem to care little for their subjects, for whom they have grave responsibility. Listing all of the problems that cause worry and concern for the ordinary man and woman—so many seemingly intractable—could take many pages, and it surely becomes ever more apparent as each day passes that only the “strong hand from somewhere” will be good enough to bring about a worldwide society that at last will experience true peace, abundance, safety and good health for all concerned. It is so urgently needed. While there have always been problems since God created man approximately 6,000 years ago, surely we are now facing an unprecedented set of problems as the end of this age approaches. Albert Einstein wisely said that “The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them.” These problems in the world will only be solved by the return of Jesus Christ, which the next Holy Day in God’s marvelous calendar—the Feast of Trumpet—pictures. But we need the Holy Spirit that God gives only to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32), to be able to understand this plan for all of mankind. And God’s Spirit will even work more powerfully within us to the extent that we are diligent in faithfully keeping His Commandments (1 John 2:3-4; 3:22-24). The Feast of Trumpets portrays the end of the time of such great trouble “such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). Jesus Christ did not mince His words about the scale of the problems that will engulf the world before He sets up the Kingdom of God here on earth at His return.

In the meantime, before that wonderful event, the world will continue to lurch from crisis to crisis. We are in the death throes of the last 6,000 years of civilization, and now is the time for us to ensure that we are preparing for the wonderful future that God has in store for His faithful people. With all the tests and trials that come our way and which we are promised (compare 1 Peter 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12), each one of us must show ourselves to be “approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). We must be approved workers in the all-important Work of God that our calling demands. We were never promised an easy life as Jesus revealed in Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

And so, while the world continues to ignore the one source, the Holy Bible, from which it could find answers, we must continue to use that source to help us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). And it clearly teaches us the importance of the Holy Days which members of the Church of God can comprehend with the help of the Holy Spirit which they received at baptism. And that same Spirit can also help us to understand that the actual fulfillment of the next Holy Day, the Feast of Trumpets, cannot be too far away, with prophecy being fulfilled before our eyes. But prophecy must not become an end in itself. It is merely a tool to see where we are in the plan of God, in order to encourage and motivate us to increase in our efforts to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God in all the world as a witness, and to become more and more dedicated in overcoming our personal shortcomings on our way towards perfection.

Making ourselves ready by the correct application of Scripture which teaches us how to live our Christian life pleasing to our Creator, is what is most important. Prophecy will become history (1 Corinthians 13:8), but love will never fail (same verse). When Jesus returns, if we endure to the end in our individual and collective commission to do the Work and to live a Christian life style as we must (Matthew 24:13), the Son of Man will say at His return: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Those will surely be the most wonderful words that we will ever hear, but it is up to us to make sure that we don’t disqualify ourselves between now and that wonderful event that is ahead of us. The connection between the last Holy Day (Pentecost) and the next one (the Feast of Trumpets) will mean nothing to those in the world who have no knowledge, at this time, of what God has in store for mankind. But for those of us who have been given this wonderful calling, the Holy Spirit of God gives us a clear vision of what it will be like when the Feast of Trumpets becomes reality and we meet Christ in the air at His return (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). With knowledge comes responsibility, and God has commissioned His Church in these end times to share the knowledge of Christ’s return and His rule over this earth with all of mankind (Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15). Those who will accept the message and are willing to change their lives to become worthy to share in Christ’s rulership are to be baptized (Mark 16:16; Matthew 28:19-20), while others will be “condemned” (compare again Mark 16:16) to continue living in anguish, misery and pain, until they, too, may come to the understanding of the truth and begin to believe and obey the gospel.

The meaning of the Holy Days, derided by so many, are integral to our understanding of the plan of God. We are truly blessed to have been called and chosen at this time and to have the most wonderful future to look forward to. It is up to us to stay faithful, watching and praying and becoming ready for the return of Christ: “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10-11).

With Christian Love,

Brian Gale

Letter to the Brethren – June 2, 2008

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Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends:

When you receive this letter, the annual Feast of Pentecost has almost arrived. The Church of God has understood for many years that Pentecost must be kept on a Sunday—counting 50 days from the Sunday, which falls within the annual Holy Days of Unleavened Bread. We explain how to count Pentecost (as well as the reasons why we have to keep it today) in chapter 3 of our free booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Spring Holy Days.”

Not everyone in the Church understands or believes that we must keep Pentecost when most of us do, and some have begun to “observe” Pentecost at a different time.

Some maintain and uphold a mistake, which the Church of God had made many decades ago (but which was corrected in 1974/75), when it erroneously concluded that Pentecost had to be kept on a Monday. Others count the 50 days leading to Pentecost from the Sabbath (not Sunday), which falls within the Days of Unleavened Bread. Still others reject the concept of postponements relative to the Hebrew calendar, and have therefore created alternate dates when to keep Pentecost. (And then, there are some who have changed the dates strictly because of “convenience”). . We should easily see that these different approaches have led to confusion and disunity in the body of Christ, rather than to “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Ephesians 4:13). When we are wrong in our understanding, we must change; but unless we can clearly see from Scripture that we are mistaken on a given point in doctrine, we are to “hold fast what [we] have” (Revelation 3:11) and to even “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

We read that the disciples “were all with one accord in one place,” when the Day of Pentecost arrived (Acts 2:1). With the approach which some are taking today, they would not have been all assembled in one place at the same time, and they would not have received the Holy Spirit on that day (Acts 2:4, 33).

God’s Spirit gives us the right kind of knowledge and understanding of His Truth. It bestows on us the power to overcome our shortcomings, and it replaces in us the pride of the “revelation” of perceived special knowledge with the humility of a willing acceptance of God’s unsearchable riches of divine wisdom. And, it gives us a willing heart to seek peace and to reconcile with our fellow man.

Unity, reconciliation and peace go together. In fact, there cannot be true unity without reconciliation. We understand, of course, that it takes two to tango—lasting and peaceful reconciliation can only be achieved when all parties are willing to bring it about. We read that some are not interested in peaceful relationships, and recognizing this fact, Paul admonishes us in Romans 12:18: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

On the other hand, there should never be an excuse for converted Spirit-begotten members within the body of Christ, not to live in peace with each other. As we are to preach the “gospel of peace” and reconciliation to others (Romans 10:15; Ephesians 6:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20), so we must learn how to reconcile with our brother (Matthew 5:23-24) and to live in peace among ourselves. We are to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9; James 3:18), pursuing “the things which make for peace” (Romans 14:19).

With God’s Holy Spirit dwelling within us and motivating and leading us to live God’s Way of Life, we must not continue to harbor grudges or have resentment against our fellow brethren, who have likewise received God’s Holy Spirit. The Kingdom of God, which we all desire to inherit, is defined as one of “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). In fact, Paul tells us in Hebrews 12:14: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”

God is the author of peace—not of confusion, which is the opposite of unity (1 Corinthians 14:33). God gives us the ability, through the gift of His Holy Spirit, to really want to make peace with others. Paul prayed that the “Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). We are called to peace with our fellow man (1 Corinthians 7:15). Paul admonished the brethren to “let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body” (Colossians 3:15). He also beseeched the church in Ephesus to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called… endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1, 3).

As mentioned before, unity, peace and reconciliation go together. We cannot be unified, as we ought to be, when we neglect to hold fast what we have been taught, thereby creating disunity and confusion within the body of Christ, and when we refuse to reconcile and live in peace—and especially with those in the household of God.

Dear brethren and friends, let us all resolve to celebrate this Pentecost with a Spirit of joy, thankfulness, reconciliation, unity and peace. It is possible to do so, and as true Christians, we must! Paul tells all of us in 1 Thessalonians 5:13-22: “… Be at peace among yourselves… be patient with all… always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit… Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

If we apply and live by these injunctions, then the “God of peace” (Hebrews 13:20) will in fact be with all of us (Romans 15:33)—and that for all eternity.

With brotherly love,

Norbert Link

Letter to the Brethren – May 7, 2008

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

Worry that borders on outright fear has entered into the lives of people who live in even the most prosperous nations of the earth! No longer are the bad things just happening to other people! The reality so little understood is that this world has come to the generation that will mark the end of life, as we know it! Governments are destined to fail; nations will cease to exist, or, at the very least, they will be decimated; and the earth itself is going to suffer such destruction that life of any kind will be tenuous and in mortal danger! How can such ominous things happen? Is this just doomsday thinking—lacking any real proof or certainty? If you have come to believe God, and if you believe the prophecies He has left for His people in His Word, then you KNOW that human governments under the influence of Satan will be brought to an end. Along with this, Jesus Christ warned of awesome events on a scale never before experienced by mankind. One key element beginning to emerge at this time is the rise of a powerful religion with global influence and might. This is something for us to recognize and watch. That emerging super-religion will be empowered by Satan and his demonic forces. Jesus Christ warned that in the end time, “‘…false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to DECEIVE, if possible, even the elect’”(Matthew 24:24). In Revelation 13 and in 2 Thessalonians 2, more details about the leader of that powerful religion reveal that he will use stupendous signs to deceive the whole world—forcing people into false worship and even killing those who refuse! Extraordinary devastation will soon fall upon the modern English-speaking descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh—the British Empire and the United States of America. In a prophecy written long ago in the Book of Jeremiah, God foretold that He would punish His nation for their sins unless they repented. The time setting is the unparalleled period that will usher in the promised Kingdom of God at the return of Jesus Christ. Note the wording: “‘“Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble”’” (Jeremiah 30:7). We know that this is a warning that is especially directed to the United States and Britain—the nations who bear the name of Jacob (Compare Genesis 48:16).

In the midst of the beginning of these sorrows, we in the Church of God have been given the job of WARNING those who will listen—and even those who will come to reject and despise what we have to say. The commission to do this is, on the one hand, seemingly overwhelming. How can we have any impact—how can we do our part?

Our beginning point has been to embrace our calling and to set about to accomplish what God has given to us to do. Our small beginnings are bearing fruit—the Gospel message is going out into the entire world as a witness. The Internet provides the means for our work to reach into virtually any nation. Of course, even in this, we have barely begun, but the door is open to us!

In a recent StandingWatch program titled, “Food Shortage in the USA,” Norbert Link forcefully challenged viewers asking “why” rationing could even be possible in such a richly blessed nation as the United States. This and recent programs are beginning to evoke attention, with hundreds of viewers watching each program and on different providers. Consider that only a short time ago, our program appeared only on our own website, but it is now being featured on Google Video and YouTube—with more outlets being planned.

These recent programs have struck a nerve, because there is a growing concern among people about the frightening problems of our time. Two viewers’ comments were especially interesting, asking about Norbert Link, “Who is this guy???” The message shocked some. Why? Because they haven’t been hearing anyone really explain God’s warning in a way that will challenge them to begin to look soberly at the issues of our time. We need to fully recognize that all of us must give account for how well we have answered God’s calling and the responsibility and unique role given to God’s Church—which must be carried out in these very last days of man’s present civilization.

We must remain mindful of the possibilities before us. What value does God place on those whom He has called to become children of His in His Family and as brethren of Jesus Christ? Will we have a role in helping some escape the terrible horrors about to explode on this world? Will some listen and wake up before it is too late? In addition to zealously involving ourselves in the work of God, we also face the challenge left for us by Jesus Christ—a message especially directed to our time:

“‘But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man’” (Luke 21:24-36).

Our watch begins by knowing what is happening right now! Prophecies are finding fulfillment, and we would be woefully mistaken to not carefully note world events in the light of Bible prophecy. We need God’s sense of compelling urgency in our lives, because He has left us powerful warnings and the gift of His Holy Spirit so that we can understand!

As we move into the future—together, as faithful brethren—the opportunity to do the Work of God is expanding. The growth of our three organizations in the USA, Canada and Great Britain has been small when viewed comparatively, but even in this, God shows us His perspective in Zechariah, saying, “‘For who has despised the day of small things?’” (4:10); and, adding this: “‘“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” Says the LORD of hosts’” (4:6).

Many today do not even know who and what God is; what His Holy Spirit is; and how to worship and serve God. The “Christian” world believes in the false concept of a closed Trinity and celebrates all the wrong days, while neglecting to observe God”s weekly and annual Holy Days. Even some in God’s Church have become confused and deceived in regard to the vital understanding as to who God is, and how to worship Him.

We are pleased to announce a new comprehensive publication, unique in its kind, which fully explains which days to observe, and which days to reject. It is titled, “Is That in the Bible?—Man’s Holidays and God’s Holy Days.” This booklet (the 27th), written by Evangelist Norbert Link, is being mailed to you along with this letter (except in the UK where it is mailed separately).

Take time to carefully read this publication, and open up your Bibles and really prove what you are learning! Also take advantage of the in-depth resources posted on our web pages, and use them to watch and be ready for the momentous closing chapter of this age, looking forward—always—to the glorious Kingdom of God that lies beyond this descending time of darkness and sorrow!

Our opportunity is exceeded only by the responsibility that accompanies it, and to that end, let me close with the words of Jesus Christ—our instructions for bringing hope in our time, the end of the age: “‘Let YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’” (Matthew 5:16).

In Christ’s Service,

David J. Harris

Letter to the Brethren – April 8, 2008

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Dear Members, Co-Workers and Friends:

We have just finished our annual conference for 2008, and we would like to thank all of you who prayed for its success. When reporting about last year’s conference, we wrote the following in our letter, dated February 21, 2007:

“Do we realize how much this world is in utter confusion; how close we are to the return of Christ; and how great our responsibility is to do the Work of God—the most important activity anyone could be involved in? But do we really understand that Christ will only return, when the true gospel of the Kingdom of God has been preached and when His wife—His true Church—has made herself ready (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 19:7-9)?”

As we did last year, so we focused again during this year’s conference on our all-important duty and two-fold commission to preach the gospel and to feed the flock. In reflecting on what has been accomplished during this past year, we were encouraged to continue and excel with even more energy and zeal. Whatever God grants us to do, we must never forget to give Him all the credit and glory. We thought you might be encouraged as well when focusing on what has been accomplished since the 2007 conference, and what we are planning to do in the near future.

We advertised several of our booklets on the Internet, and we will continue to do so. Due to the receipt of over 1,200 requests, we will soon have to reprint one or more of our booklets. We also intend to advertise on the Internet some of our Biblical Q&A’s (close to 300 so far), which we publish in our weekly Updates.

Our weekly StandingWatch Internet video programs are posted on, or linked to our own five Websites, as well as Google Video and YouTube. It is planned to post the programs with several more Internet video sites. We have also begun to post Norbert Link’s one-hour-long video sermons on Google Video, as well as some of Edwin Pope’s video-taped sermons. Several new booklets have been published since the 2007 conference, including, “The Meaning of God’s Fall Holy Days,” and “The Sacrificial System and the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.” Our 27th booklet, “Is That in the Bible—Man’s Holidays and God’s Holy Days,” is being printed and will be distributed shortly. We decided to produce several additional booklets in 2008.

In the international areas, we will begin producing German StandingWatch Internet video programs and French audio Internet programs. Several German translations of our booklets were completed and posted on our different websites. We have posted German translations of seven booklets, with the translation of the 8th booklet nearing completion, and we are presently working on a German translation of another booklet. We also decided to purchase new equipment to facilitate the task of sending out requested audio-recorded sermons.

As you can see, we don’t intend to “retire” in the Work of God, even though immediate tremendous “success” in terms of growing numbers by leaps and bounds may not be that obvious. We must never forget that it is God who plants the seed and gives the increase. We also know that His Word will not return “void” or without results (compare Isaiah 55:10-11). Notice the following statistics:

On average, over 400 people visit our sites each day. We have received about 1.5 million “hits” since our conference in 2007, and about 150,000 “sessions” (Sessions refer to people who are reviewing our posted material in more detail). Within the last six months, people from at least 67 different countries reviewed our material in “sessions.” Actually, the number of countries is much higher, as the origin of about 80% of all sessions cannot be determined. These figures do not include those who view our StandingWatch programs and sermons, which we are posting with other Internet sites. For instance, our StandingWatch programs were viewed on Google Video and YouTube over 64,000 times.

God’s Work—however seemingly small and insignificant—IS going into all the world to proclaim the good news of the soon-coming Kingdom of God, and God’s zealous and dedicated people, wherever they may live, ARE and MUST BE involved in this all-important task, in whatever way they are able. As we approach the Passover season, it might be a good idea to evaluate or examine ourselves by asking the question as to HOW DEEPLY we are involved in God’s Work. Is it ALWAYS in our prayers and thoughts? Do we HUNGER and THIRST for God’s righteousness—in our own lives, as well as in the lives of our brethren, relatives and friends? Do we LONG for the arrival of God’s Kingdom to replace Satan’s evil world of hate and accusations with God’s LOVE, MERCY and UNCOMPROMISING TRUTH?

We have emphasized many times that the degree of overcoming and conquering our own sinful nature is in direct proportion to our involvement in God’s Work. If we are indifferent about God’s all-important mission to His Church, then, chances are, we are not REALLY interested in overcoming sin. The reverse is true as well. If we are not really interested in FIGHTING our sinful nature and the evil influences in this society; if we are not REALLY warring against and rejecting wicked spirits in high places (Ephesians 6:12); if we are not REALLY working on restoring and maintaining good and peaceful relationships with our brethren and fellow man; if we are not REALLY heeding Christ’s COMMAND to reconcile with one another, by dealing with an offended brother or sister in a private and humble manner, rather than telling the whole world EXCEPT the one who has or is offended (Matthew 5:23-24; Matthew 18:15); then we are NOT REALLY focusing on participating in preaching the GOSPEL of God’s Kingdom and uplifting and “feeding” His flock.

THAT would be a terrible indictment. It might very well prevent us from partaking of the Passover in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27; compare 1 Corinthians 11:17), and it might destroy OTHERS and US in the long run (Galatians 5:14-15), blinding us to God’s Way of Life (compare 1 John 2:6-11).

Dear brethren, co-workers and friends, the loving Work of GOD MUST be central to our lives. We might not be able to work DIRECTLY as employees of the Church, but we ALL can and should help in our individual capacities to HASTEN the coming of the LORD (compare 2 Peter 3:12). God did call us in this day and age to HELP in the furtherance of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). He did NOT call us just for our individual salvation. We have a job to do, and the better we do it, the more abundantly our entrance into God’s everlasting Kingdom will be supplied to us (compare 2 Peter 1:11).

And so, let’s all get behind the Work of God of preaching the gospel and feeding and caring for the Church of God. Let us be about our Father’s business (Luke 2:49). Much work is ahead of us, and it isn’t always “easy.” But if we are faithful in “little things,” then our labor will not be in vain—and our REWARD will be “full” and “great” (2 John 8; Luke 6:35).

With brotherly love,

Norbert Link

Dave Harris

Rene Messier

Brian Gale

Letter to the Brethren – March 5, 2008

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Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends:

It is hard to believe that next month baptized members of the Church of God will be keeping the annual Passover. Time seems to pass by so quickly, which is exactly the reason why God tells us in His Word that we should examine ourselves at this time of year, prior to Passover. God knew full well that if we did not have these annual stop signs or periods of time to reflect on His great master plan and our own development in Christian growth, we would soon forget about His whole plan of salvation for mankind—Passover being the very beginning step. If we get caught up in our jobs, work, pleasures and cares of this world, it is easy to forget what God’s plan is all about.

Just as some who have left the faith find that in a very short while, they no longer recall when to keep God’s Holy Days and they no longer understand biblical principals associated with those Days, we too could find ourselves in the same position, if we are not careful. God, knowing human nature, designed in His wisdom a way by which we could bring to remembrance the practices God has instituted, reflecting the Truth of His teachings.

Baptized and converted members of God’s Church are admonished not to take the Passover in an unworthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27). This requires a mental search to see how our standing is with God and also our fellow man. This “soul searching” must be followed by the eradication of those personal sins which are discovered during the search. Such eradication has been made possible through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died for us so that we could live. Upon repentance of our sins and believing that His Sacrifice was necessary, but also sufficient to pay for the penalty for our sins—which is ETERNAL death—we will obtain forgiveness, and God will cast away our sins—never to remember them anymore. Christ, who led a sinless life, died for all of us. The weight of all sins of mankind, including our personal and individual sins, was laid upon His shoulders, to be removed from us and carried away by Him—if we allow Him to do this.

What Christ DID for us, what He IS doing for us today, and what He WILL do for us in the future, has been pictured and portrayed in astonishing ways in the Old Testament sacrifices and the ancient tabernacle under Moses. We are pleased to enclose herewith, for our American and Canadian readers, our newest booklet, titled “The Sacrificial System and the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.” This booklet has already been sent to our readers in the UK. We would encourage all of you to study this booklet prior to Passover, and to reflect on the lessons which are explained therein.

I retired last August, but for many years prior to retirement, I was subjected to a yearly performance review by my company. All of us should give ourselves an annual spiritual performance review at this time of year to determine whether we have gone forward or backward, or whether we have been standing still since the time of the last Passover.

To help us to conduct a successful personal review and self-evaluation, we have set forth below a few areas to consider. Only we can and should answer these vital questions for ourselves. We should not even try to answer them for others:

How is our relationship with God? Do we feel closer to Him or further away, keeping in mind that sin acts as a resistance in our efforts to maintain open communication with God. It sets up a wall or obstacle in the relationship with God. It impedes our ability to have open and clear communication with our Creator. Are we being faithful in prayer, Bible study, fasting and meditation? Are we drawing closer to God, as admonished by James in James 4:8, or are the cares of this world, our jobs and entertainment taking on a wrong priority in our lives?

Are we focused on the fact that we have a collective responsibility to preach and publish the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the world as a witness (Matthew 24:14)? The proclamation of the Gospel message includes the beautiful Truth that God will send Jesus Christ back to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God and to rule with the saints for a thousand years, during the Millennium. Are we following God’s command to faithfully and regularly tithe from ALL of our increase, and to give Holy Day offerings seven times a year on each of the seven annual Holy Days, to help meet the requirements of the task set before us? Are we loyally serving in whatever capacity God has laid before us in that goal—be it speaking, writing, volunteering our time for the many different tasks at hand, without expecting something in return, and praying for the success and economic prosperity of the Work so that we can fulfill our collective commission in a way pleasing to God?

How is our relationship with our fellow man, our spouses, our parents, our family members, our landlords and tenants, our employers and employees, our friends and our neighbors? Are they glad and pleased to have us around? Are we honest in our dealings with others and willing not to always get the best deal? Are we lights in a dark age—examples worth following? Are we working together as husbands and wives, supporting one another, encouraging one another and working as a team towards the goal of entering the Kingdom? Men, are we loving our wives (Ephesians 5:25), and wives, are you respecting your husbands (Ephesians 5:33)? Children and teens, are you obedient to your parents in the Lord (compare Ephesians 6:1)?

These are just some of the areas we should be looking at before Passover. We are sure that there are other areas which we could and should think of, pertaining to our own personal lives. Immediately following the Passover are seven Days of Unleavened Bread, which picture removing sin from our lives. “Seven” denotes perfection in the Bible. We must strive to remove sin perfectly and completely from our lives, replacing it with the righteousness of God. All of this is symbolized by our refraining to eat leaven for seven days—picturing sin in this context—and by eating instead for that time unleavened bread, picturing righteousness (compare 1 Corinthians 5:6-8). To help you prepare for the Festivals of Passover and Unleavened Bread, we recommend that you review (once again) at this time our booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Spring Holy Days.”

Let us make every effort to thoroughly examine and evaluate ourselves. Actually, we should do this constantly, throughout the year (2 Corinthians 13:5), but it is extremely important to do so at this time of year. It should and will help us to facilitate a smooth relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ our Savior, and also with our fellow man.

In Christian Love,

Rene Messier

Letter to the Brethren – January 8, 2008

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Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends,

The year of 2007 has now passed, complete with the usual end-of-year spending and excess, which was just a continuation of what has become the norm in many nations around the world. However, financial clouds on the horizon, emanating primarily from the subprime mortgage crisis in the USA, cast a cloud over the normal festivities. Subprime lending is, put simply, the act of approving mortgages to those with a poor credit history at higher than normal interest rates, and many have found it impossible to meet their commitments, with the result of foreclosures and associated problems. In addition, the housing market has cooled significantly, which also brings along another set of problems. Add into that mix the ever-spiraling personal debt situation, and the prospects are less than encouraging. Because of their position on the world stage, whenever there are problems in the USA, these are reflected in the world economy, and the UK and continental Europe, and even countries in Asia, are feeling the same set of pressures. Recent figures in the UK have shown that personal debt has doubled since the year 2000.

In spite of all this gloomy economic news, the end-of-year’s festivities continued unabated. Little, if anything, stops the world from going about its pursuit of the material. The world’s holidays that it has just “enjoyed” have only served to fuel the economic problems as personal spending, much of it on credit cards at high interest rates, has become par for the course and is expected at this time of year. Traders have become reliant on significant turnover and if this trend was reversed, then another set of problems would arise, with many firms going out of business. What a mess! Wherever way you look, you cannot escape the inevitable conclusion that the world economy is in a dreadful state.

Nevertheless, so many seemed to put these considerations to the back of their minds in their relentless pursuit of the “now,” which is indicative of man’s way. Prophecy clearly shows that before Christ’s return, the problems that we now see in every corner of society will increase to such an extent that if those days were not shortened, no flesh would be saved alive (compare Matthew 24:22). Worse, much worse, is to come, and we have been warned over a number of years.

How blessed are members of the Church of God to have been given the knowledge of the Creator’s true Holy Days—not those that the world keeps and which have no meaning for our eternal destiny. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, said in late December that in the Christmas story there was certainly nothing to prove there were three wise men or that they were kings. He said that the only reference to the wise men from the East was in Matthew’s gospel and the details were very vague. He argued that Christmas cards which showed the “Virgin Mary” cradling the “baby Jesus,” flanked by shepherds and wise men, were misleading. As for the scenes that depicted snow falling in Bethlehem, the Archbishop said the chance of this was “very unlikely.” In a final blow to the traditional nativity story, Dr. Williams concluded that Jesus was probably not born in December at all. He said: “Christmas was when it was because it fitted well with the winter festival.” But having acknowledged all of that, did he state, as the leading minister in the Anglican world, that Christmas should not be kept? No, he still gave his annual Christmas message and does not understand, let alone preach, the plan that God has for all of mankind.

A high-ranking official of the Roman Catholic Church, “Monsignor” Marini, even stated that the cross is a symbol of “Christ’s death,” and is given high prominence during the midnight Christmas Mass, as Christ is “the east, the sun that rises.” Pope Benedict wrote that the cross can serve as an interior “east” of the faith, when a direct turning toward the east is not possible. However, the Bible condemns the worship of the sun—or of Christ as the sun—rising from the east (compare Ezekiel 8:15-17).

Bad news and religious confusion are a theme in this world wherever you look, but God’s Word, when properly understood, clearly reveals a time when all of the bad news that floods the airwaves on radio and television and which is a staple diet of newspapers, will be a thing of the past. After Christ’s return, pictured by the Feast of Trumpets, the Millennium of His rule will not have continuous bad news. The pagan festivals of so-called modern Christianity will be no more. And all of these present woes will be replaced by a time when there will be no subprime mortgages, no reliance on continual house price rises, no spiraling personal debt and no false religion.

The only way out of this is reliance on God and the establishment of His Kingdom here on earth. That is why we ought to pray, “Your kingdom come” (compare Matthew 6:10). Man does not have the answers, irrespective of the brilliance and intellectual ability of so many in high office. And behind the scenes, our arch enemy, Satan the devil, is whipping up problems at what seems to be an ever-increasing rate. But again, one of God’s Holy Days, the Day of Atonement, reveals the time when his malevolent influence will be no more! These wonderful Holy Days are central to our understanding of the plan God has for mankind. In just over four months, we will be keeping the Passover, and we need to diligently prepare for that profoundly meaningful occasion. Then, over the following six months, God’s wonderful plan, revealed in His Holy Days, will unfold with the removing of sin from our personal lives right up to the time of the Great White Throne Judgment, which answers questions that the world’s religions, including mainstream Christianity, simply cannot answer.

At this time, the world goes about its business without any of this wonderful knowledge. By keeping a series of uncoordinated days that do not reveal any meaning for the future of mankind, they are blinded to the reality of the potential total extinction of mankind that is, surely now, not that far away—if it weren’t for Christ’s intervention and the “shortening” of these terrible days soon to come! But we have been blessed with true understanding, and we must make sure that, unlike so many who once understood, we don’t let this knowledge slip or fade away. It is a matter of our death or our life—of death and final destruction for the unrepentant wicked, or of the glorious fulfillment of life for eternity in God’s Kingdom for those who obey God.

We have the best of both worlds. We do not get entangled in the ways of this world—which have recently been exemplified by the Christmas and New Year activities that only generally lead to unhappiness—and we have had revealed to us a future that will be greater than anything our minds can conceive. The book of Revelation reveals in chapter 21 that God will dwell with His people (verse 3); that He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying and no more pain (verse 4); and that those who overcome shall inherit all things (verse 7). A future of joy and untold happiness awaits us—not the transient pleasures that the world enjoys but which often have hidden and tragic consequences. What a future we have in store if we remain steadfast and loyal to God and His Way to the very end!

With Christian love,

Brian Gale

Letter to the Brethren – December 10, 2007

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Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends,

It’s Christmas time again. No matter where you may live in our “civilized” Western world, you can’t help but noticing it. Christmas carols are being played non-stop in supermarkets; friendly-smiling merchants wish you a “happy Christmas,” and televised religious broadcasts and services proclaim and repeat endlessly the Christmas dream of peace and good will for all men.

Yet, before and after Christ’s life and death as a human being, we have had insurmountable problems, violence, hatred, wars, destruction, holocausts and crimes against humanity. Surely, if it had been God’s intention to have His Son replace war with peace about 2,000 years ago—to make this world a better place then—He would have really done a miserable job.

The truth is, this is NOT yet God’s world, and Christ was not born into the world to bring peace to it. In fact, He said that He came at that time to bring the sword. Not a literal sword, of course, to be used by His disciples—but He came to preach the Word of God, which is a divider between truth and error. He came to call just a few during this day and age to show them the right way of life—and to empower them to live that way. But those who did receive Him would find themselves to be “outcasts” in this world—rejected and despised by men, and persecuted even to the point of death.

Christ came to announce peace to the world—but not to enforce it. He proclaimed peace by preaching the gospel, and He has commissioned His Church to continue in this endeavor until He comes back. However, it is not just any gospel of man’s choice. There is only one gospel, but there are many counterfeit “gospels.”

The Christian world especially has been saturated with gospel messages. There seems to exist a “gospel” for just about everybody’s taste and preference. We have heard of the gospel of grace, the gospel of salvation, the gospel of peace, the gospel of repentance, the gospel of faith, the gospel about Christ—and even though all of these aspects, if correctly understood, are part and parcel of the true gospel, they themselves are NOT the gospel that Jesus Christ came to preach.

The Bible tells us what that gospel is—it is the gospel (the word “gospel” means good news or glad tidings) of the KINGDOM OF GOD. Christ preached it; the early apostles preached it; and the Church of God is to preach it until the very end of this age.

Most have no idea what the Kingdom of God is. They don’t know when it will be established. They may think it is already here. And even some—or many—of those who once knew the truth, have allowed that precious knowledge to slip away from them. They have begun instead, to embrace the worldly concepts of peace and good will for all men at this time. They have fallen into the trap of observing Christmas. But even apart from its pagan origins and its lust for monetary gain, merchandise and the uncontrollable desire to spend money and to receive gifts, Christmas contains another wrong Biblical message—the false concept that Christ came 2,000 years ago to set up the Kingdom of God, and that He brought at that time peace and happiness for all men. We know that He did neither, because the world today is surely not a happy and peaceful place.

Man will only begin to experience true and lasting peace when the Kingdom of God has come to this earth. Many parishioners of different churches may pray daily, “Your Kingdom Come,” but they don’t seem to realize what they are actually saying. Instead, they may believe that it already has come. But it is still FUTURE. It has not happened yet.

Do you know what the Kingdom of God really is—and who is and will be in it? Our free booklet, “The Gospel of the Kingdom of God,” explains this topic in much detail. Please request a copy if you don’t have one. And if you have read the booklet in the past, you might want to re-read it.

In short, the Kingdom of God is the Government of God, to be established on this earth. The Government of God will enforce Godly laws—including the spiritual Law of the Ten Commandments. Man will be taught to keep God’s Law, and when he does, he will experience peace and happiness.

All the wars of this world result from man breaking one of the Ten Commandments, which says, “You shall not kill.” When Christ returns, He will teach man the way to peace—and men will exchange their destructive weapons of violence and war for instruments of agriculture and other useful tools, which won’t be used to harm anyone.

 

But the gospel or good news of the KINGDOM OF GOD is more than just the message about the Government of God. It also contains the good news that the Kingdom of God IS the FAMILY OF GOD. But it is not a “closed” Family. The gospel message includes the understanding as to WHO will be in the KINGDOM or FAMILY of God—WHO will RULE the world, by implementing and executing the Government of God.

 

Right now, the KINGDOM or FAMILY of God consists of two Spirit beings—God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son. The Holy Spirit is not a Person or a Spirit BEING—rather, it is the power and the mind of God, emanating from both the Father and the Son. But, the Kingdom or Family of God is GROWING. It already has, at this point, begotten, but yet unborn children. We are already the children of God and the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, IF the Holy Spirit of God dwells in us.

But we are not yet BORN into the God Family, because as long as we are flesh and blood, we cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. However, when Christ returns, we will be resurrected (if we died prior to that event) or changed (if still alive at that time) from mortal to immortal. We will then be Spirit beings—like God the Father and Jesus Christ are Spirit beings. We will then be God beings, as the Father and the Son are God beings. We will have become a PART of the Kingdom of God.

It is THAT message which the Church of God must preach today! It is the gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD—that it is man’s potential to become God; that God’s Spirit-begotten children will become born-again members of the Kingdom or Family of God; that they will become KINGS and priests, ruling over human beings by executing the Government of God. The Kingdom or Family of God will rule over this world, but man, as long as he is in the flesh, will not be IN the Kingdom; only those who will BE God will be in the Kingdom of GOD—who will have been BORN AGAIN into the Family of God. And when the God Family rules over this earth, THEN—and ONLY then—will this world begin to experience true and lasting peace.

Christmas will not be taught or observed anymore. Christ will be recognized and worshipped as the living and most powerful KING over all the earth—not as a helpless little baby in the manger or a dead Savior on the cross. He will RULE over man—and you have been called today to prepare for that time, so that you can rule with and under Him.

We pray that, especially during this time of year, God will give all of us the strength and wisdom to keep ourselves unspotted from the world, knowing that so many of men’s customs and traditions will pass away, while the TRUE light of Godly understanding has already begun to shine into our hearts.

In Christian love,

Norbert Link

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