Search Results

7 Proofs of God's True Church by Herbert W. Armstrong, The Plain Truth, 1979 WHERE is the one and only true Church today — the Church founded by Jesus Christ in A.D. 31? Seven major eye-opening proofs identify it unmistakably. YOU LIVE in a world of religious confusion. WHY so many different religions? Taoism, Shintoism, Hinduism, the Moslem religion and Christianity with its many denominations and sects. Religion is generally regarded as the worship of the Creator or the supernatural, although some Oriental religions are primarily philosophies. The largest religion in the world, in claimed number of adherents, is Roman Catholicism. It has won near universal acceptance in the Western world as being the original Church of Christianity. But where is the absolute AUTHORITY to identify the true religion and the one original Church of the Christian religion? Or is any authentic? Communism rejects religion, labeling it "the opium of the people." I seriously doubt if any has been put though the experience that came to me to settle this question with PROOF POSITIVE. WHY do most people believe the things they believe? The philosopher C. E. Ayers said truthfully that few, indeed, have ever stopped to ask themselves in retrospect why they believe the things they believe or HOW they came to believe them. I have answered many times that most people believe that which they have repeatedly heard, read or been taught, and have carelessly assumed those things to be true without question and without proof. Introduction: The duel challenge and research. Reading time: 9 min 35 sec The disturbing dual challenge I was born of stable and upright parents, with an ancestry in the Quaker faith that had emigrated from England to Pennsylvania with William Penn, a hundred years before the United States became a nation. At age 18 I dropped all but the most passive interest in religion. I had put myself through an intensive self-examination, coupled with a survey of the various occupations and professions to determine where I belonged — to avoid fitting the proverbial square peg in the round hole. This led into the advertising profession and a business life. I was unusually successful. I had continued through the years diligent study and application. I had planned that my business contacts were largely with the great and the near-great. Then, at age 34, I was assailed by very disturbing dual challenges. The first challenge - Sabbath My wife, after nine years of happy marriage, had begun keeping the seventh-day Sabbath. I was aghast! That, to me, was religious fanaticism! She claimed to have found this teaching in the Bible. My first upsetting thought was, What will my business contacts and friends say? It was a devastating thought, humiliating! All the arguments came quickly to my mind. They were of no avail. She said she found this teaching in the Bible. "But the Bible says," I protested, "'Thou shalt observe Sunday.'" "Can you show that to me in the Bible?" she asked. "No." I replied. "I don't know much about the Bible. My interest and studies have been in the area of business. But I know the Bible teaches Sunday observance because all these churches can't be wrong, and they receive their beliefs from the Bible." "If," she smiled sincerely — but to me exasperatingly — "you can show me where the Bible commands Sunday observance, I'll go back to it." There was no dodging the challenge. My marriage depended on it! The second challenge - Evolution Coincidentally a sister-in-law, newly married and fresh out of college, hurled at me a second humiliating challenge. "Herbert Armstrong," she accused contemptuously, "you are just plain ignorant! Everybody who has any education knows human life has come by evolution." I was proud. I had not neglected study and education. I thought I knew the facts about evolution, and I didn't believe in it. But now I had to admit I had never pursued a thorough, in-depth research of the question. The dual challenge drove me into a determined almost night and day research. That intensive study continued for six months before I found the proved answer. Yet the study to this day has never ceased. I was not only humiliated and angered by these challenges — I was determined to prove both my wife and sister-in-law wrong. Both challenges focused on a common starting point — the book of Genesis in the Bible — although that was only the beginning. These challenges came at a period in life when I had ample time on my hands. I plunged with intense concentration into the study. Evolution researched But I did not begin the research in Genesis. First I delved thoroughly into the works of Darwin, Lyell, Haeckel, Huxley, Spencer, Vogt, Chamberlin and Moore, and even into the earlier works of Lamarck and his theory of "Use and Disuse," which preceded Darwin's survival-of-the-fittest hypothesis. Immediately those writings appeared convincing. They necessarily are, to have won virtual universal acceptance in the world of higher education. I readily understood how the field of education had been gripped in the clutch of the evolutionary concept. Evolution, as I finally learned, is the atheists' attempted explanation of the presence of a creation without the pre-existence of a Creator. This initial stage of my research rudely shook my faith in the existence of God. It brought me to the realization that I had assumed the reality of God, because from childhood I had heard — and therefore assumed — it. For a while my head was literally swimming. Was all I had ever believed mere myth and error, after all? I was awakened to the realization that I had never seen PROVED the reality of God! Now I was determined to know the TRUTH! My mind was being cleaned out from ideas and beliefs previously taken for granted. Of all the writings on evolution, Moore alone had culled out many discrepancies in the theory. Yet he too went along with the doctrine overall. But now I had, first of all, to prove or disprove the existence of God. It was not casual or superficial study. I continued in this research as if my life depended upon it — as, in actual fact it did, as well as my marriage. I studied books also on the other side of the coin. Irrefutable proof of God. Suffice it to say here that I did find irrefutable PROOF of the existence of God the Creator — and I found proof positive of the fallacy of the evolutionary theory. I had the satisfaction of winning the admission of one thoroughly steeped in evolutionary thought — having spent years in graduate work at the University of Chicago and at Columbia — that I had definitely chopped down the trunk of the evolutionary tree, though like Dr. Moore, she had been so thoroughly brainwashed in it she had to continue in what she had seen and acknowledged was PROOF of its falsity. Also I had the enjoyment of being able to cause my sister-in-law to eat those words branding me as ignorant. All of which was mere vanity on my part, which I had not yet eradicated. I had proved the reality of THE GREAT MAJESTIC GOD! But my wife's challenge was still tormenting my mind. Already, in the evolutionary research, I had studied Genesis. I knew each of the world's religions had their own sacred writings. Once God's reality was proved, I had expected to continue in the pursuit of comparative religions — to see if any such sacred writings proved authoritative. Through which of these did GOD speak to mankind — if any? Research continues. Since I had to research the Sabbath question anyway and already I had delved into Genesis, I decided to continue my study in the Bible — intending to examine in-depth the writings of other religions afterward. In my biblical study I came across, early, the passage in Romans 6:23: "... The wages of sin is death..." I stopped, amazed. "Wages" is what one is paid for what one has done. Here I was staring at a statement diametrically opposite to my Sunday school teaching prior to age 18. "Why," I exclaimed, "how can that be? I was taught in church that the wages of sin is EVERLASTING LIFE — in an eternally burning hell." Another shock came on reading the last part of the same verse: "... but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. " "But," I questioned in disillusionment, "I thought I already had eternal life — I am, or I have, an immortal soul. Why should I need it as a gift?" I researched the word soul by means of a Bible concordance. Twice I found the words, "... The soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4 and Ezekiel 18:20). Then I remembered I had read in Genesis 2 how God said to the first human, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." In Genesis 2:7 I read how God "... formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man (dust, matter) became a living soul." This stated plainly that a soul is physical — formed from matter. I found that the English word soul is translated from the Hebrew nephesh and that in Genesis 1 fowl, fish and animals, all three, were nephesh as Moses was inspired to write. Next, I happened to read where Jesus said, "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man..." (John 3:13). I researched the heaven and hell teaching further. I saw where the inspired Peter, on the day he received the Holy Spirit said, "For David is not ascended into the heavens..." (Acts 2:34). Teachings opposite of the Bible I was, in utter astonishment, coming to realize that what I had been taught growing up in church was the precise opposite of what the Bible says in clear language. This is not the place for a lengthy, detailed account of my intensive search in the Bible — bent on proving to my satisfaction that "all these churches can't be wrong, for their teachings came from the Bible." The essential point here is the simple fact that I did find irrefutable PROOF of the divine inspiration and SUPREME AUTHORITY of the Holy Bible as the revealed Word of God as originally written. Even all the so-called contradictions evaporated upon unbiased study. Yet, to my utter dismay and chagrin, I was forced to "eat crow" in regard to my wife's supposed "fanaticism." It was not what I wanted to believe, THEN! But by now I had taken a real beating. I had proved truth contrary to what I wanted to believe. Let me pause here to add a point to what I wrote above, saying most people believe what they have repeatedly heard or read or been taught. There are two other psychological truisms in regard to WHY people believe what they do. One is, people carelessly accept what those around them believe. Most Thais are Buddhists because those around them in Thailand are Buddhists. There is the psychological tendency to go along with one's peers. One other reason for people's beliefs is that human nature tends to cause one to believe what he wants to believe, and refuse, regardless of proof, what he does not want to believe. There is the old saying, "One convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." God's Word is truth That is why I have said the experience I was painfully subjected to in this six-months' intensive study was UNIQUE in human life and conduct. I know of no world religious leader who arrived at his teachings in such manner. Perhaps that is why GOD'S INSPIRED WORD alone — as I proved — is TRUTH. Only GOD is infallibly correct! I was brought, by the spring of 1927, to a complete MIND-SWEEPING — my mind swept clean of previous assumptions and beliefs — surrendered to the WORD OF GOD, which by then I had proved TRUE, and the SUPREME AUTHORITY. More, I had been brought to realize my own inadequacy and nothingness. I had been brought to a real repentance — CONQUERED by the GREAT MAJESTIC GOD — and with a solid rock-based FAITH in Jesus Christ. I was baptized, and the infilling of God's Spirit opened my mind to the JOY UNSPEAKABLE of knowing God and Jesus Christ — of knowing TRUTH — and the warmth of God's divine LOVE! What I once hated I now LOVED. I found the greatest and most absorbing joy of my life in continuing to dig out those gold nuggets of TRUTH from God's Word. Now came a new enthusiasm in biblical study and receiving the REVEALED knowledge of God. Where is God's Church? Now came the urgent desire to find the ONE and ONLY true Church of God as founded A.D. 31 by Jesus Christ. He had said (Matthew 16:18 ) that His Church would not die but continue through the generations. My intensive biblical studies had shown me the basic evidences that would identify that continuing original Church. 1) It would have rightly discerned the revealed TRUTH of God as contained in His Word, the Holy Bible. I had learned that GOD is the Source of knowledge, and He REVEALS that knowledge through His written Word. This Word, remember, I had PROVED by irrefutable PROOF the divine inspiration and SUPREME AUTHORITY of the Holy Bible as the revealed Word of God. God is the supreme Educator — Revealer of TRUTH. 2) It would be, not a human secular organization, but a SPIRITUAL ORGANISM, yet WELL ORGANIZED on God's revealed pattern. It would be composed of begotten children of God — the "... household of God ... built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets," with Jesus Christ its guiding HEAD (Ephesians 2:19-20 ), as a "... building fitly framed together groweth unto an HOLY TEMPLE in the Lord" (verse 21) "... from whom the whole body [is] fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth ..." (Ephesians 4:16 ). It would have UNDERSTANDING of GOD'S TRUTH. And it would be PRODUCING ABUNDANT FRUIT. I did not find such a church immediately. But in His due time, God led me to find that ONE AND ONLY original Church of God. I now reveal SEVEN MAJOR PROOFS that identify it. Proof One: Who and what is God? Reading time: 9 min 34 sec It seems utterly unbelievable! The religions of this world do not know WHO or WHAT God really is! Yet religion is the worship of God. HOW can one worship what is UNKNOWN? The only answer is that the Bible reveals that ALL NATIONS have been deceived (Rev. 12:9). The true understanding of the very identity of God is one proof that the one and only Church founded A.D. 31 by Jesus Christ is, today, the Worldwide Church of God. It seems inconceivable—but you live today in a world of religious CONFUSION! Among the largest of the world's religions are Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, with its hundreds of denominations and sects. The latter is the largest in number of adherents. And yet only one religion, neither Roman Catholic nor Protestant, knows WHO and WHAT God is! Modern science does not know. Higher education does not know or teach it. The intellectuals of the world in the first century were the Athenians. Certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics encountered the apostle Paul. "What will this babbler say?" queried some in ridicule (Acts 17:18). Others sneered sarcastically, "He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods." They took Paul and brought him to Areopagus, the supreme tribunal, on Mars Hill. "May we know," they asked cynically, "what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears." Here were the world's most "scholarly." Paul was preaching the truth of GOD. "Ye men of Athens," said the apostle forthrightly and boldly, "I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions [idolatrous objects of worship], I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. GOD that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth." WHO is GOD? CREATION is the basic proof of God. These Athenian Epicureans and Stoics did not even know that. Perhaps the adherents of many religions do not. But what of the real NATURE of God? Just WHO and WHAT is God? We need a more concrete understanding than to say, merely, that God is the Being who created all. That is the starting point. Only the one original Church Jesus founded in A.D. 31 has the full answer. It seems inconceivable that, of all the religions and churches in the world today, only ONE is unique in UNDERSTANDING the nature of the CREATOR of all that is! Mankind could know! God reveals Himself in plain language in His Word, the Holy Bible. But no book has been so distorted, twisted, and misrepresented as this ONE SUPREME AUTHORITY OF TRUTH! The generally accepted teaching of traditional Christianity is that God is a "Trinity"—God in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which is designated as a "Ghost." By about A.D. 59 the gospel Jesus Christ proclaimed had been suppressed (Gal. 1:6-7). A counterfeit "gospel" had replaced it. From about A.D. 70 there ensued "the lost century" of Church history. All historic record of the true Church of God had been systematically destroyed during that hundred years. The curtain had been rung down on Church activities, and when the curtain of recorded history lifted, an entirely different church appeared, calling itself "Christian." Extreme persecution by powerful forces had driven the true Church of God underground. The church by the fourth century was more like the Babylonian mystery religion, having appropriated the name "Christianity" (Rev. 17:5). There had been two heated doctrinal controversies—one called the Quartodeciman controversy between Polycrates and the bishops of Rome on the observance of the spring festival (should Passover or Easter be celebrated?). The other, between Arius, a priest of Alexandria, and the Roman bishops on the Trinity doctrine. Emperor Constantine, the supreme head of the Roman Empire, called the Nicene Council in A.D. 325 and made both the pagan Easter (named from the goddess Astarte) and the Trinity doctrine LAW! The Trinity doctrine limited God to three Persons. More of that later. The King James biblical scholars translated the Greek words for Holy Spirit as "Holy Ghost," under the delusion that the Spirit of God was a third Person. Also the translators of the 1611 version usually used the pronouns "he," "him," etc., in relation to the Holy Spirit, but not always: The pronoun "it" also is used. But how does God reveal Himself authoritatively? If one should ask, "Where, in order of time sequence, do we find the real beginning in the Bible?" the reply probably would be Genesis 1:1, beginning with the words, "In the beginning God... ." RIGHT? WRONG! In order of time sequence the earliest prehistoric revelation is in the New Testament, in John 1:1-3: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." The Word was one Personage. God was another Personage. Yet the Word was a Personage separate from God—as shown in verse 14: "And the Word was [much later] made flesh, and dwelt among us... . " The Word became Jesus Christ. The English "Word" is translated from the original Greek Logos, meaning "Word" or "Spokesman." That all things were made by Him is confirmed in Ephesians 3:9, where it speaks of God "who created all things by Jesus Christ." "He spake, and it was done" (Ps. 33:9). Here are TWO Personages, yet both are GOD. How is that? A man named David Smith may have a son named Paul. But Paul, though a separate individual, is also a Smith. However, Jesus Christ did not become the Son of God until about 4 B.C., when born in human flesh of the virgin Mary. Prior to that, He had ALWAYS existed, even as had God. Christ was originally "without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life" (Heb. 7:3). Now come to Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God... ." This was written originally by Moses in the Hebrew language. The English "God" is translated from the Hebrew Elohim—a uniplural noun. It is uniplural in the same sense as the words "family" and "church"—denoting more than one component forming the whole. Not two Gods—but ONE God consisting of more than one Person. When, only nineteen hundred-plus years ago, Jesus was begotten of God in the womb of His human mother Mary, He was the only human ever so begotten prior to human birth! Yet, as we shall see later, humans may become begotten children of God—after human birth, but preceding a spiritual birth. Throughout the first chapter of Genesis, the Hebrew name of God is always the Hebrew Elohim, which denotes both the Word and God. But in chapter 2, Moses began adding another name for God—Yahweh in the Hebrew, usually combined with Elohim: Yahweh-Elohim. In the King James English translation, it is rendered "LORD God," which is somewhat misleading. It is interesting, at this point, to explain this name Yahweh. There is no one word in the English language which adequately translates it. It means "the self-existent, eternal-living, creative one." The Moffatt translation renders it "the Eternal." The Fenton translation uses "the Ever-Living." Personally, I prefer to use only the one word "Eternal," instead of "Lord." In any event, the English "LORD" in the King James translation refers to that Person in the Godhead who in John 1:1 is called "the Word"—the very one who later became Jesus Christ. Who Was the God of the Old Testament? That leads to an important point in the UNDERSTANDING of WHO and WHAT GOD is. Many if not most seem to believe the God of the Old Testament was the one Jesus prayed to as His FATHER. But many New Testament passages quoting from the Old Testament prove that the one of the Godhead who was born in human flesh as Jesus Christ was the Yahweh of the Old Testament and the Word of John 1:1. That knowledge is a portion of PROOF #1 identifying the true original Church today. Jesus came, among other purposes, to REVEAL the Father. Ancient Old Testament Israel knew of only ONE PERSONAGE in the Godhead—although their Scriptures contained the Hebrew Elohim. But to them, primarily, God was conceived of as not only ONE God, but only ONE Person! The truth is, Israelites generally knew nothing of God—the Person to whom Jesus prayed and the Father Jesus came to REVEAL. However, another technical point is: God only became the FATHER of the GOD FAMILY when Jesus Christ was begotten and born as a human. Yet He may become our Father in heaven when we are begotten by His Holy Spirit. More of that later. Now notice that God (Elohim) is more than one Person, even though only ONE GOD. In Genesis 1:26, Elohim said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness... ." Notice! Not "Let me," but "Let US"—plural, or uniplural. Then, in Genesis 2:2-3, "On the seventh day God [Elohim] ended his work which he had made... . And God [Elohim] blessed the seventh day... ." Then, verse 4: "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God [Yahweh Elohim] made the earth and the heavens." Again it was through the Word, in the Hebrew named Yahweh, that the earth and heavens were made—as GOD created all things by Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:9). Does God Have Form and Shape? God reveals that He is spirit-composed (John 4:24). Unless supernaturally manifested, spirit is invisible to human eyes. Jesus said to His disciples, "Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape" (John 5:37). Later "Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us." Jesus answered, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:8-9). WHY? Because God the Father—if human eyes could see—looks like Jesus. And what did Jesus look like? Certainly NOT like artists' renderings you have seen which are supposed to picture Him. For one thing, HE DID NOT HAVE LONG HAIR (I Cor. 11:14). He looked like other Jews then in Judea, else the chief priests would not have paid Judas Iscariot 40 [sic] pieces of silver to identify Him. Now notice once again Genesis 1:26: "God [Elohim] said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness [form and shape]... . " God is described in the Bible as having eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hair, arms, legs, fingers, toes. Jesus was "the express image of his [the Father's] person" (Heb. 1:3). What Is the Holy Spirit? If the Holy Spirit is not a Person—a "Ghost"—then what does the Bible reveal about the Holy Spirit? The natural carnal mind of man simply cannot grasp an understanding of spirit. It is not matter. The Hebrew word for spirit, ruach, and the Greek pneuma both are often translated into the English "wind," "air," or "breath"—because these physical words perhaps most closely explain spirit to the human mind—yet spirit is not physical or material. The Holy Spirit is the spirit (not Ghost) that emanates out from both God and Christ everywhere in the universe. Through His Holy Spirit, God projects Himself, in spirit, everywhere in the universe—yet both God and Christ have form and shape, even as man. The Holy Spirit is many things. It is the very LIFE of the immortal God, which, entering into a human, begets him with God-life. It is the POWER of God by which, when Christ "spake," it was done. It is the POWER by which God stretched out the heavens—created the vast endless universe. The Holy Spirit, entering into man as God's gift, opens the mind to UNDERSTANDING of spiritual knowledge, unknown to the human mind otherwise. It is the LOVE of God "shed abroad in our hearts." It is the FAITH of Christ which may be given to God's begotten children. It is the POWER of God, begotten within humans, enabling us to overcome Satan and sin. "How Great Thou Art" We have covered the nature of God. Now consider HOW GREAT He is. King David was meditating on this, and man's insignificance by comparison. He wrote: "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him?" (Ps. 8:3-4.) Isaiah was inspired to write: "Who hath measured the waters [oceans] in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? ... Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance... . All nations before him are as nothing ..." (Isa. 40:12-17). Then God is quoted: "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? ... Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power ..." (verses 25-26). Yet, there is much more to come, in relation to David's comparison of God to man, and why God should be concerned about us, in a later installment—and fantastically thrilling it is! NONE but the Worldwide Church of God today possesses the REVEALED TRUTH and knowledge of WHO and WHAT God is! Proof Two: The government of God and creation of holy righteous character Reading time: 4 min 14 sec The most important feat of creation is holy, righteous CHARACTER. That is so stupendous an accomplishment that even the GREAT MAJESTIC GOD, in all His matchless supernatural power, cannot create such character instantaneously or automatically by fiat. That ought to take the reader's breath! Is there actually something that even GOD cannot do—by Himself alone? Such character is the ability of a separate conscious, thinking entity with free moral agency—capacity for free choice—to come to KNOW the right from wrong, good from evil, to make the decision, and then with God's help exercise the WILL to DO the right or good, even contrary to self-desire. Angels Created First Now for the moment go back to John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." That is the very earliest prehistoric record. It could have been millions or thousands of millions of years ago. The two eternally living Spirit Personages, who together constituted the ONE God, were ALONE in empty space. There was no physical universe—YET! But, even as man thinks, and designs and plans before making—so did God, who much later made MAN in His own image. God—with the Word—first conceived the plan and design to create angels, also immortal spirit beings, composed wholly of spirit. So God created angels before creating the material universe, as revealed elsewhere in the Bible. The Duality in Creation There is the DUALITY principle in God's creative process. Angels were the first thinking, reasoning, separate entities created by God. Angels were created with minds—ability to know, reason, make choices. But their creation could not be a finished creation until CHARACTER—either good or evil—was developed in them. And this is a PROCESS, to be EXPERIENCED. That character development was the second part of the DUAL stage of their creation. God initially INSTRUCTED them in His WAY—that of righteous character. It was THE WAY of God's spiritual law—the basis of God's GOVERNMENT. Then came the time of the creation of the PHYSICAL UNIVERSE. There was a vital connection between the creation of angels and the creation of the material universe. For that, too, was created on the DUALITY principle. To illustrate, I compare this physical creation to the manufacture of unfinished furniture—sold in stores of most cities. Such furniture may be of fine quality, but lacks the finishing polish, paint or whatever. So God created the heavens and the earth—the universe with its countless planets in innumerable solar systems and galaxies, including planets such as our Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, etc. Genesis 1:1, where "heavens" is in the plural in original Hebrew and modern translations, together with Genesis 2:4, which speaks of "... the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Eternal God made the earth and the heavens," indicates the earth was created as part of the material universe—all simultaneously created. Other scriptures imply this. But, like the unfinished furniture, the universe, including the earth, was not at that time completed. Angels had been created prior to the universe, because they sang together and shouted for joy at earth's creation (Job 38:4-7). A Double Duality Now we come to the fact of a double DUALITY in the creation of angels and of the earth. For the earth was inhabited by angels prior to the creation of man. Apparently God placed a third of the created angels on earth. They were given opportunity to share in God's creating activities by FINISHING the earth—working in and with its many elements, improving, beautifying, completing it. This required harmonious teamwork—all working together toward the common God-ordained goal. The earth was the proving ground to QUALIFY them, by righteous CHARACTER development and finishing earth's creation, to share with God the same creative participation in completion of the myriads of planets of the vast universe. To regulate this effort of the angels, God placed on earth's THRONE the archangel, the cherub Lucifer, to administer the GOVERNMENT OF GOD over the angels. I repeat: That GOVERNMENT is based on God's spiritual laws—as all governments are based on a constitution of foundational law. God's spiritual law is the way of God's holy, righteous CHARACTER. Angels Led into Rebellion The third of the angels (Revelation 12:4) on earth completed their creation by developing evil character—sinning (II Peter 2:4). The super-archangel Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-14) had been perfect in all his ways from the day of his initial creation, till iniquity—lawlessness—was found in him. "Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering ... in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee" (Ezekiel 28:12-15). Lucifer was not satisfied with rule over only the one planet—as the testing ground to prepare him for all planets. He wanted to rule all at once. He said, "... I will exalt my throne above the stars of God ..." (Isaiah 14:13). He had been created with exceeding beauty, which "lifted up his heart" in vanity (Ezekiel 28:17). He became lustful, jealous and envious of God, decided on a WAR of invasion, attempting to overthrow God on the heavenly throne of the universe. He led his angels into rebellion. These angels "kept not their first estate, but left their own habitations"—meaning this earth! (Jude 6.) But Lucifer and his angels were cast back down to earth (Revelation 12:4). The creation of this third of all angels was finished—creation of evil character within them completed. Once their creation was completed, being spirit, they could never change! And they are immortal! The GOVERNMENT OF GOD no longer was operative on earth! Lucifer's name was changed to Satan the devil. His angels became demons. Their minds had become perverted for eternity. Proof Three: What and Why is man? Reading time: 11 min 31 sec It must be as shocking to the reader as it was to me to learn that NONE of the religions or churches but the Worldwide Church of God understands both WHAT man is and WHY humanity was put on the earth! Science cannot give you the answer. Modern higher education does not know or teach the answer. And, along with these basic and important questions, WHY all the evils in this chaotic and sick world, now facing the number-one problem of whether human life can survive through the remainder of this 20th century? I ask, HOW can even the most highly educated be so IGNORANT of SO IMPORTANT a TRUTH? Earth's Face in Devastation Instead of improving, beautifying, completing earth's creation, the sinning angels brought it to desolation and ruin. Come now again to Genesis 1:1-2: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep... ." The original Hebrew for "without form and void" is tohu and bohu—meaning "waste, desolate, deteriorated." The word "was" may also be translated "became." All was oceanic surface —and light had been by angel lawlessness turned into darkness. Let me here interject a biblical principle. The entirety of a subject is often not stated within the context of one place. There is this instruction in Isaiah: "Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? ... For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isaiah 28:9-10). But most who try to apply this principle in biblical understanding take each "little" out of context, in order to interpret their own idea into it. Much directly concerned with what is revealed in Genesis 1 is filled in by other passages of Scripture in various parts of the Bible. So now, let's UNDERSTAND the background. Earth's angels had not completed the creation of this planet by improvement, development and beautification. Rather, they had brought it to desolation and ruin. The GOVERNMENT OF GOD had been nullified on earth. And now only God could be certainly relied upon never to depart from the way of His law and His government. No higher, more perfect kind of being could be created than Lucifer—and he had rebelled. Since GOD ALONE would never deviate or turn from GOD'S WAY, God now determined (or probably had already predetermined) to accomplish the SUPREME creative feat—to REPRODUCE HIMSELF! In God's supreme wisdom He knew this must be brought about through matter! Man in God's Image To prepare the earth for the creation of MAN, God first renewed the face of the earth. This is explained in Psalm 104:30: "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth." Now back to Genesis 1:2. The earth was in a state of ruin. "... And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." The first thing God did was turn darkness back into LIGHT as originally made. God said, "... Let there be light: and there was light" (Genesis 1:3). So in six days God RENEWED THE FACE OF THE EARTH (the six days in Genesis 1 is not the time of earth's original creation), preparing it for the creation of MAN! Once again the earth was a perfect creation—but lacking the finishing touches. The Purpose of Man on Earth WHY did the Creator God put man on the earth? To improve the physical earth as God gave it to man, finishing its creation, which sinning angels had deliberately refused to do; and in so doing to restore the government of God, with God's way of life, and, further, in this very process, TO FINISH THE CREATION OF man by the development of God's holy, righteous CHARACTER, with man's own assent. Once this perfect and righteous character is instilled in man and man converted from mortal to immortal spirit, then is to come the INCREDIBLE HUMAN POTENTIAL—man being BORN INTO the divine FAMILY of God and then participating in the completion of the CREATION of the entire endless expanse of the UNIVERSE! So, on the sixth day of that (re)creation week, God (Elohim) said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:26). Man was made to have (with his assent) a special relationship with his Maker! He was made in the form and shape of God. He was given a spirit (essence) to make the relationship possible. Much more of that a little later. The Soul Is Mortal But God made MAN wholly of MATTER! This was necessary for the supreme accomplishment God willed. "And the Eternal God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath [air] of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). Man, formed from material dust of the ground, upon breathing air BECAME a living soul. It does not say man is or has an immortal soul. What was formed from material ground BECAME a soul. Therefore the SOUL is physical, composed of matter, and can die. This is a TRUTH believed by very few denominations and probably by no religions other than Christianity—another PROOF that identifies the one true Church of God! How Human Mind Functions Now we come to another truth, so far as I know exclusive in the one true Church. Did you ever wonder about the vast difference between human mind and animal brain? This incidentally is another PROOF of the falsity of the theory of evolution! The physical brain of vertebrates in the animal kingdom is almost precisely the same in physical form, design, and constituents as human brain—and the brains of whales, elephants, dolphins are larger, and of chimps almost as large. Yet the output of human brain is indescribably greater. Few indeed know WHY! Many passages of scripture show that there is a spirit in man. Spirit is not matter, and man is wholly matter. But, as there could be a small metal object swallowed by mistake in man, yet no part of the man himself, so with the spirit within each human. It is in the form of essence—not a ghost or being of itself, and to distinguish it from God's Holy Spirit, I designate it as the "human spirit." Nevertheless, it is spirit and not matter. This "human spirit" imparts the power of intellect to the human physical brain. The spirit cannot see, hear, taste, smell or feel. The brain sees through the eye, hears through the ear, etc. The "human spirit" cannot of itself think. The physical brain thinks. What, then, is the function of the "human spirit"? It is NOT a "soul." But it 1) imparts the power of intellect, of thinking and of MIND power to the human brain; and 2) it is the very means God has instilled to make possible a personal relationship between human MAN and divine GOD. Two Stages of Man God creates, as previously mentioned, by the principle of DUALITY. So it is with the creation of MAN. It is accomplished in TWO STAGES: 1) the physical phase, which began with the first man, Adam; and 2) the spiritual stage, which begins with the "second Adam," Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:45-46). So also, man was made from creation (and birth) with the one "human spirit"—but he is INCOMPLETE. He was made to need another Spirit—the HOLY SPIRIT of God, and when that gift of God is received, His "Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16)—in the begotten or first stage of the spiritual creation. This is most clearly explained in I Corinthians 2. "... Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart [mind] of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (verse 9)—spiritual knowledge. The natural mind can know only what the brain can physically see, hear, taste, smell or feel. The natural mind is confined to physical, material knowledge! "But God hath revealed them [spiritual things] unto us by his Spirit..." (verse 10). "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? ..." (verse 11). A cow, sheep or dog cannot know the things a MAN knows—and neither could a man, except by the spirit of man which is in him. Likewise, the natural man with this one spirit is limited to material knowledge: "... even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God" (verse 11). ONLY when the Holy Spirit enters, combining with the "human spirit," can a man come to know that which is spiritual. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (verse 14). That is WHY the most highly educated are overall the most ignorant. They are confined to knowledge of the material. Knowledge of God and the things of God are foolishness to them. But, of course, God says, "... the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God" (I Corinthians 3:19). World Cut Off from God Now back to the first human, Adam. Remember God's PURPOSE in creating man on the earth: 1) to restore the GOVERNMENT OF GOD on earth, and by regulating human life through that GOVERNMENT, to complete the physical creation of earth where angels turned it to ruin, and in the process to complete the creation of MAN by developing righteous spiritual CHARACTER; and 2) to establish the KINGDOM OF GOD and eventually the incredible human potential of finishing the creation of the vast UNIVERSE. This supreme PURPOSE required: 1) that MAN reject Satan's WAY, embracing GOD'S WAY of LOVE, based on God's spiritual law; and 2) that man be made first of matter so that if he were led into Satan's way of GET, he could be CHANGED, converted to GOD'S WAY of LOVE. Spirit, once a finished creation, cannot be changed! That is why the one-third of the angels who followed Satan are forever demons. Spirit is constant and eternal—not subject to change. But physical matter is constantly changing. Through God's master plan for His spiritual creation, to be covered later, it had been determined by God and the Word that the Word would divest Himself of His supreme glory, and in due time take on Him the likeness of human flesh as Jesus Christ, making possible the spiritual phase of the creation of MAN—God REPRODUCING HIMSELF! What a MASTER PLAN for the extreme ULTIMATE in creative accomplishment! How GREAT is our God—in mind, purpose, planning, designing, as well as CREATING—from the tiniest germ or insect to the most huge sun, dwarfing our own great sun to insignificance! And the incredible human potential is that the GREAT MAJESTIC GOD is, in MAN, reproducing Himself—man can be born into the GOD FAMILY! The first human, Adam, was created with the potential of qualifying to replace Satan, the former Lucifer, on earth's throne, restoring the GOVERNMENT OF GOD. But it was necessary that he resist and reject Satan's GET way and choose GOD'S WAY of His law—the way of LOVE (GIVE)! His Maker talked first to Adam and Eve—instructed them thoroughly in the GOVERNMENT and spiritual LAW of God—even though in Genesis 2 only the most condensed summary of God's instruction to them is revealed. Satan was restrained from any contact with them until God first had completely taught them. Two Symbolic Trees In the gloriously beautiful Garden of Eden, in which God placed them, were two symbolic trees. One was the "tree of life." Taking its fruit, freely offered, symbolized obedience and faithfulness to God's law of outgoing LOVE and receiving the gift of God's Holy Spirit. The other was the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Taking of its fruit was taking to themselves the knowledge of what is good and what is evil—deciding for themselves what is right and what is sin. This, of course, meant rejection of GOD'S LAW, which defined for them the right and the wrong. The glorious archangel Lucifer, as God originally created him, was the pinnacle of God's creative power in a single being. Few today remotely realize the great power, now turned to cunning deception, possessed by Satan. Apparently Adam completely underestimated him. The wily Satan got to Adam through his wife Eve. He did not say, "CHOOSE MY WAY." He appeared as a subtle serpent. He cleverly deceived her. He put DOUBTS in her mind about God's veracity. He deceived her into believing God had been unfair—selfish. He subtly injected vanity of mind. He misled her into thinking it was right to take of the forbidden fruit. Adam, not deceived, nevertheless went along with his wife. With her, he took to himself the determination of what is right and what is wrong—thus DISBELIEVING what his Maker had said, REJECTING God as Savior and Ruler—rejecting God as the Source of revealed BASIC KNOWLEDGE. He believed and followed Satan's WAY! Man's Sentence Pronounced When the Eternal God "drove out the man" from the Garden of Eden and barred reentrance—lest he go back and receive eternal life in sin (Genesis 3:22-24)—God PRONOUNCED SENTENCE! God said, in effect, "You have made the decision for yourself and the world that shall spring from you. You have rejected me as the basic Source of knowledge—you have rebelled against my command and my government—you have chosen the GETTING, TAKING way of Satan. Therefore I sentence you and the world you shall beget to 6,000 years of being CUT OFF from access to me, my revealed knowledge, my WAY of life—EXCEPT for the comparative exceedingly few I shall specially call for special service preparatory to my Kingdom. Go, and produce your own fund of knowledge with your carnal, hostile minds. Produce your own carnal scholarship and system of disseminating it. Go, and create your own gods and religions. Go, FORM YOUR OWN HUMAN-DEVISED GOVERNMENTS. Satan, in all this, will deceive your world into receiving his ATTITUDE of vanity, lust and greed, envy and jealousy, suspicion and disbelief, competition and strife and violence—into unrealized REBELLION against me and my WAY of outflowing LOVE! After your world has written the lesson of your WAY in 6,000 years of evils, troubles, frustrations, sickness, sorrow, suffering and DEATH, I will INTERVENE! I will by supernatural divine POWER take over the government and education of the whole world, calling all to me—to repentance from your false way, and to eternal salvation." Except for those specially called for special duty preparing for God's KINGDOM, ALL HUMANITY HAS BEEN CUT OFF FROM GOD THESE 6,000 years! I know and privately discuss world conditions with many heads of state—kings, emperors, presidents, prime ministers, ambassadors, men high in governments. They all have to deal with problems and evils with which they are utterly unable to cope. WHY? Few indeed know. But I have just told you the cause. This knowledge makes the one true Church of God unique in the world! The TRUTH that all are CUT OFF from God except those specially called by God was emphasized by Jesus. He said, plainly, "No MAN CAN come to me, except the Father which ... sent me draw him ..." (John 6:44). No scripture contradicts that. The Only Day of Salvation? The most universal false teaching, believed by virtually all churches called Christian, except the one and only true and original Church of God, is that ALL are automatically lost unless they profess Jesus Christ as Savior and that now is the only day of salvation. Those cut off from God are NOT lost—unless called and then lost. They are simply NOT YET JUDGED! All so far called since Adam have been called, not for salvation alone, but primarily for a special mission—and salvation goes along automatically if they do repent, believe, receive and are led by the Holy Spirit. All still living will be called during the millennium, with Christ ruling all nations—and all others previously uncalled will be resurrected and called in the "great white throne judgment" following the millennium. There will be no Satan to overcome then. Just as Adam was required to reject and overcome the pull of Satan to qualify to succeed to the throne of the earth, so was Jesus Christ, the second Adam. Jesus Christ did qualify. Those converted prior to His return must also qualify, in order to sit with Him on His throne (Revelation 2:26-27 and 3:21). Proof Four: The truth about Israel Reading time: 9 min 26 sec The Holy Bible is essentially the book of and concerning the nation Israel. It is concerned with other nations only as they come into contact with Israel. But the answer to WHY God called that nation and the fact of their division into the TWO nations — the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah — and the present-day identity of the house of Israel forms another vital PROOF that identifies the one and only original, true Church of God. God's true Church knows that ONLY those specially called by God for a special purpose have had access to Him from Adam until now. Certainly it is almost without exception that those called did not first seek God — He sought out and called them. Noah was not seeking God, but God called Noah to build a great ship on dry land away from any ocean. Noah carried out the assignment amid persecution and jeers. Abraham was not seeking God, but God called him — and without protest or question he obeyed and went on to become the "father of the faithful," to whom the promises of both the national birthright of Israel and eternal salvation through Christ were given. Moses was not seeking God, but God called Moses at the burning bush. He made excuse, protesting the assignment — saying he could not do it because he had an impediment of speech. But God called his brother Aaron to speak for him. The children of Israel, 430 years after Abraham, were groaning and crying out because of their slavery in Egypt — but there is no statement recorded that they were seeking a relationship with God. However, God heard their groanings and delivered them by supernatural miracles out of Egypt under Moses. There must have been two to four million of them — for there were 600,000 men, not counting women and children. At Mt. Sinai God proposed to them His covenant that they become His nation and His congregation ("... the church in the wilderness ..." [Acts 7:38]). God offered them, for obedience to His government, material and national rewards — but no spiritual salvation. The Holy Spirit was given only to the prophets whom God called and chose. Wonderful Abilities of Natural Mind Now WHY did God call a carnal, unspiritual people into a husband-and-wife relationship, designating them as His nation and giving them His government? Natural carnal MAN, with only the "human spirit" to impart materialistic intellect, has been — even without contact with and help from GOD — able to accomplish wonders in the physical realm. This is not testimony to the goodness of MAN, but to the wonderful creative ability of man's Maker! At the tower of Babel God said: "... this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do" (Genesis 11:6). Invention and production of the modern computer and sending men to the moon and safely back are two modern examples. Cut off from GOD — having only the one "human spirit" that empowers intellect — MAN has developed a scholarship that says, "Given sufficient KNOWLEDGE, we can solve every problem." The modern university is a KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION factory. Yet, I have said the most highly educated are the most ignorant — because their development of knowledge has been LIMITED — confined to the physical and material. Without the Holy Spirit of God, they are, in the vernacular, "not all there"! God says of this "intellectual" human mind, that it is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9); and, "... the carnal mind is enmity [hostile] against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:7). God had shut man off from God's revealed knowledge. Why Carnal Israel One reason God raised up ancient Israel was to eventually prove to all humanity, the vast majority of whom do not yet realize it, that the carnal mind with all its intellectual accomplishments simply will not accept and live by the revealed knowledge of GOD — even though God should reveal it to them (Romans 1:20-21). Other nations were cut off completely from God's revealed knowledge. But, as stated previously, God retained the prerogative of calling out of man's world a certain few in preparation for His Kingdom. So God deliberately called a NATION, and through Moses revealed to them the knowledge of HIS LAW, His WILL, His WAY OF LIFE, which is outflowing LOVE! God DID NOT give them His Holy Spirit. He gave that only to Moses and the prophets — all specially called. But God did give them His spiritual LAW. As a substitute for the shed blood of Christ, He gave them animal sacrifices, which could not remit sins — they were only a reminder of sin. He gave them also, as a temporary substitute for the Holy Spirit, a law of physical rituals, meat and drink offerings and carnal ordinances. These instilled the habit of obedience. Then, of course, He gave them, as a civil nation. His GOVERNMENT, with its basic spiritual law and its statutes and judgments. He gave them His SYSTEM of government — authority from the TOP DOWN. God Himself was their congress, parliament, knesset and diet. He, through Moses, was their Lawgiver. Under God was "the Word" — Yahweh — who was to become Christ. Under Him was Moses. Under Moses were captains over thousands, captains over hundreds, over fifties. When Moses' brother Aaron and their sister Miriam wanted equal authority in the government with Moses, God punished! When Korah and his group wanted equal say-so and authority, God destroyed them. It was GOD — not the people — who chose and put Moses in authority. There was no democracy. How Did Carnal Israel Respond? But how did carnal-minded Israel respond to God's great generosity, love and blessings? Let God answer! He says: "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Eternal hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Eternal, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward" (Isaiah 1:2-4). After Moses After Moses, the Israelites were led into the promised land by Joshua. Israel served God — to a degree — until Joshua died at age 110. Then, true to human experience, when that generation died, "... there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Eternal... . And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Eternal, and served Baalim [a pagan god of the Canaanites]" (Judges 2:10-11). Repeatedly they would forsake God, turn to idolatry of neighbor nations, go into captivity, and cry out to God for deliverance. Then God would raise up judges (heroes, leaders) by whom He freed them, but then, after a degree of peace, idol worship was resumed, and when the judge died, God allowed them to be taken into captivity again. This continued for some few generations. Then Israel was ruled by the priest Eli. Eli had two sons, also in the priestly service. These sons were taking unlawful gain from the people, misleading the people, having immoral relations with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle. Now Eli was very old — near 90 — and said to his sons, "... Why do ye such things? ... Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father ..." (I Samuel 2:22-25). The sons continued the evils, and the priest Eli did not put them out of the priesthood. When Sons Go Wrong God said to Eli, "Wherefore ... honourest thy sons above me?" (I Samuel 2:29) and decreed they should die. When news came to Eli that his sons had been killed and the ark of God taken in battle, Eli fell backward, broke his neck and died! Perhaps another evidence of the Worldwide Church of God being the one original Church of God is that its apostle did remove his son, who was secularizing God's Church and college, besides other sins. It is a difficult and heartbreaking thing for a father to have to do. Eli honored his sinning sons, holding priestly office, above God. God's apostle of our day, crushing and heartbreaking though it was, was given the courage by the Living Christ to do the very difficult task of removing his son. Samuel had been trained as a prophet from a child under Eli. He was Israel's next leader. But the people rejected God as King over them and demanded a human king "that also we may be like all the nations" of Satan's world (I Samuel 8:4-7, 20). God gave them Saul, tallest man in Israel. But in due time Saul disobeyed God and sinned. God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse where God had chosen Jesse's youngest son David to be the next king over Israel. Samuel's sons had not continued in Samuel's ways. And now King David had sons who conspired to take their father's throne. First, Absalom, having been exiled for committing murder, on being received back by kind-hearted David, conspired to steal his father's throne. Later another son, Adonijah, conspired to seize it and overthrow his father. But God had chosen David's son Solomon to succeed to the throne over Israel. After Solomon's death his son Rehoboam became king. Solomon had reigned in splendor. Not only had he built the world's finest edifice, the Temple (as God had willed and approved), but he spent lavishly on great public works, buildings and other projects. He lived in gorgeous splendor, exceeding every king before him. For this he grievously overtaxed the people. He plunged, in old age, into idolatry and turned to women. After Solomon's death the people sent a delegation to King Rehoboam. "Reduce the excessive taxes," the people's delegation said, "and we will serve you" (I Kings 12:4). Rehoboam consulted the older, wiser men, who advised him to heed the complaint of the people. Then he sought advice from the younger men, whose advice he followed, saying to the people, "... My father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions" (I Kings 12:11, 14). Again, a younger son departed from the wisdom of older men and willfully sought to lead God's people on his own rebellious way. But the nation thereupon rejected King Rehoboam and made Jeroboam king. However, the tribe of Judah, with Benjamin, seceded in order to maintain David's dynasty and formed the new kingdom of JUDAH. Jeroboam established the capital over the kingdom of Israel at Samaria, north of Jerusalem. And so the Israelitish nation was now divided into TWO NATIONS — the kingdom of Israel with its capital at Samaria and the kingdom of Judah with Jerusalem its capital. Often, in biblical history, they were called, respectively, the "house of Israel" and the "house of Judah." Jeroboam immediately led Israel into idolatry. After a succession of 19 kings and seven dynasties of continuous idolatry and other sins, God drove the house of Israel into captivity. King Shalmaneser of Assyria conquered them in a siege from 721 to 718 B.C., removing them from their land, carrying them as slaves to Assyria on the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. Shalmaneser thereupon "brought men from Babylon" — and other cities following the Babylonian mystery religion — "and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof (II Kings 17:23-24). Kingdom of Israel Not Jews! So here is another TRUTH unknown in the teachings of most churches called Christian: Israel was divided into two nations — and the people of the kingdom of Israel were NOT Jews, nor are they ever called Jews in the Bible! The first place where the word "Jew" or "Jews" occurs in the Bible is in II Kings 16:5-6, where Israel and ally Syria were at war against the Jews! But those of the house of Israel did not remain more than a generation or so in Assyria. They migrated northwest. They became known as "the LOST Ten Tribes." And indeed they were doubly lost — lost in identity until they themselves, after a generation or more, did not know who they were — and also lost spiritually from God. The knowledge of this, from the Bible, is ANOTHER PROOF of the one original true Church today! This mystery is cleared up in a substantial booklet, The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy — sent free upon request. It is one of the most amazing, exciting, eye-opening accounts ever written. Shocking — but TRUE! Meanwhile, the house or kingdom of JUDAH (the Jews) continued to an extent in God's ways, but within a hundred years were sinning more flagrantly than Israel had. Judah Driven Out By about 604 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar had become king over the world's FIRST EMPIRE — the Chaldean Empire, often called Babylon. From 604 to 585 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar's armies captured the kingdom of Judah and moved the Jews into Babylonian territory as slaves. Seventy years later, the Persian Empire had succeeded the Chaldean. God caused King Cyrus, by "stirring up the spirit of Cyrus" (Ezra 1:1) — his "human spirit" — to issue a decree sending a contingent of Jews back to Jerusalem to build the second temple. Zerubbabel was the governor of the contingent and builder of the temple to which Christ came at His first appearing on earth as the human Jesus. Also, prophetically, this Zerubbabel was the type of one to come in the LAST DAYS of this world whom Christ would use in building the temple to which the glorified all-powerful Christ shall come at His second appearing. Apparently none but God's Church understands the truth of the building of this temple. Some of Judah remained in and near Jerusalem — others were scattered into Russia, Poland, Yemen. Most of the Israelis in today's Israel have migrated into the original "promised land" from these countries. Proof Five: The True Gospel Reading time: 18 min 14 sec Could anything sound more unbelievable? To say the true gospel of Jesus Christ was not proclaimed to the world during 19 whole centuries—from the middle of the first century until the middle of the twentieth—may sound preposterous! Incredible! But TRUE! The world has heard much preaching about Jesus Christ as a person. That is good—but the gospel of Christ is the MESSAGE Christ proclaimed and taught. Jesus Himself said that many would come in His name—claiming to represent Him—saying that He, Jesus, is the Christ—and deceiving the MANY (Matt. 24:4-5). Good News Proclaimed But the gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news—the message—He proclaimed and taught. The word gospel means "GOOD NEWS." Jesus brought the GOOD NEWS of the world's ONLY and SURE HOPE! And I do not mean an ethereal, spiritualized unreal hope. He brought the good news of a coming entirely new and real world. A time when the earth will be filled with PEACE, HAPPINESS, JOY and ETERNAL SALVATION! God's one original true Church is virtually alone in proclaiming that GOOD NEWS today! What was that gospel message? One of the proofs that identifies God's one true Church in our time is the fact that, as Jesus foretold, His Church would at this crisis end time be proclaiming that same gospel at last! But first, notice what was written in the book of Galatians around A.D. 53 to 58 to the churches in Galatia: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ" (Gal. 1:6-7). Again, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness SUPPRESS THE TRUTH" (Rom. 1:18, RSV). No wonder we read of "the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Rev. 12:9). Gospel Prophesied The prophet Malachi foretold the proclamation of the gospel, saying, "... the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant ..." (Mal. 3:1). Jesus Christ was that Messenger of the New Covenant. Actually Malachi here is referring to the TWO appearings of Christ on earth—but verses 2 to 6 definitely refer to His yet-future SECOND coming. Yet, he did refer also (in verse 1) to Christ's first coming, because this prophecy is quoted in Mark 1:1-2: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; as it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." Actually, this latter statement applies to both Jesus' appearing more than 1,900 years ago and to preparing the way before His second coming in power and glory as WORLD RULER. The latter is now being prepared from within the one true Church of God! That is another evidence of its identity! However, in Mark 1, verses 14-15, the account continues describing John the Baptist preparing the way before His first appearing then: "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the KINGDOM OF GOD is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Gospel of the Coming Kingdom The gospel Jesus brought from God, which Christ proclaimed and taught His apostles, was the prophetic message of the coming KINGDOM OF GOD. Jesus went all over the Holy Land teaching this same gospel. "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom ..." (Matt. 4:23). He taught in parables about the KINGDOM OF GOD. Jesus said, "... Unto what is the KINGDOM OF GOD like? ... It is like a grain of mustard seed ..." (Luke 13:18-19). Again, the KINGDOM OF GOD "... is like leaven ..." (Luke 13:21). Again: "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the KINGDOM OF GOD, and you yourselves thrust out" (Luke 13:28). Jesus sent His twelve disciples out to proclaim the KINGDOM: "And he sent them to preach the KINGDOM OF GOD, and to heal the sick" (Luke 9:2). He sent another seventy disciples out on a special mission: "... the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two ... into every city and place, whither he himself would come... ." And He said to them, "... heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you" (Luke 10:1, 9). After His resurrection: "... unto the apostles whom he had chosen ... being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to [concerning] the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:2-3). The apostles proclaimed the gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD. Philip, who became an evangelist, proclaimed it: "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God ..." (Acts 8:12). Gospel Proclaimed to Gentiles The apostle Paul proclaimed the Kingdom of God to the Gentiles: "And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the KINGDOM OF GOD, shall see my face no more" (Acts 20:25). Again, Paul "expounded and testified the KINGDOM OF GOD" (Acts 28:23) and "preach[ed] the KINGDOM OF GOD ..." (verse 31). To the Corinthian church Paul, wrote: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD ..." (I Cor. 15:50). To the Galatians Paul wrote: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:8). And in verse 9 it was made a DOUBLE curse to preach any other gospel! Yet THAT GOSPEL was SUPPRESSED about or just past the middle of the first century and was not again proclaimed to the world until 1953—19 centuries later—and THEN by the present living generation of that same ONE and ONLY true original Church of God, established by Jesus Christ in A.D. 31! The proclaiming of that only true gospel message taught by Jesus identifies the one and only true Church of God TODAY! What Is the Kingdom of God? IF "traditional Christianity" has NOT proclaimed that gospel—when the Bible is replete with passages showing that was the gospel Jesus preached—HOW DO THEY EXPLAIN IGNORING IT? The Roman Catholic Church simply claims that their church is the Kingdom of God. It is not generally realized, but the pope's title, "Vicar of Christ," means, literally, "in place of Christ." Not one merely serving Christ, but one who has REPLACED Christ! The Kingdom of God was already here! The papacy had come IN PLACE OF Christ, to rule the nations for 1,000 years. And the papacy did rule the "Holy Roman Empire" of Europe 1,260 years—A.D. 554 to 1814! But the popes and all Catholics are flesh and blood, and flesh and blood cannot inherit or enter into the Kingdom of God! Many Protestant churches have simply designated the Kingdom of God as "the church" in general, not necessarily their particular denomination. Others have spoken of the Kingdom of God as an ethereal something (or nothing) "set up in men's hearts." But none of those ideas square with the teaching of Christ and of Paul about what the Kingdom of God is. The Prophet Daniel Knew The prophet Daniel, who lived 600 years before Christ, knew that the Kingdom of God was a real kingdom—a government ruling over literal PEOPLE on the earth. Jesus Christ brought additional knowledge about it, which the prophet Daniel might not have known. Still, Daniel knew there was going to be a real, literal Kingdom of God on the earth. Daniel was one of four extraordinary and brilliant Jewish lads in the Judean captivity. These four men were stationed in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar of the Chaldean Empire, in training for special responsibilities in the Babylonian government. Daniel was a prophet who had been given special understanding in visions and dreams (Dan. 1:17). Nebuchadnezzar was the first real world ruler. He had conquered a vast empire, including the nation Judah. This king had a dream so impressive it troubled him—moved him to tremendous concern. He demanded that his magicians, astrologers and sorcerers tell him both what he had dreamed and what it meant. They could not. They were baffled. Then Daniel was brought before the king. Daniel disclaimed any more human ability to interpret dreams than the Chaldean magicians. "BUT," he said, "there is a GOD in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days ..." (Dan. 2:28). First, God's purpose was to reveal to this world-ruling human king that there is a GOD in heaven; that GOD IS SUPREME RULER over all nations, governments and kings; that God RULES THE UNIVERSE—even though, during the past 6,000 years, God has allowed nations generally to be left altogether to their own devices. But God was giving Nebuchadnezzar a special opportunity to accept His rule. This Chaldean king knew only about the many pagan demon gods. He knew nothing of the true living ALMIGHTY God. Like people and rulers, even today, he did not know that GOD is the living, REAL, active, RULING and GOVERNING PERSONAGE who actually and literally governs not only what is on earth, but the entire UNIVERSE! The whole purpose of this DREAM was to reveal GOD'S GOVERNMENT: the fact that God RULES, the truth of THE KINGDOM OF GOD—the very thing that is the one and only true GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST! And, secondly, to reveal—preserved in writing for us TODAY—what is to happen "in the latter days"—probably within the next two decades—this last half of the twentieth century! For Us Today This is no dry, dull, dead writing for a people of 2,500 years ago. This is living, tremendous, big news for our day! It is advance news for us, now. News before it happens—of the most colossal event of all earth's history. Read, in your own Bible, Daniel 2, verses 28 through 35. In his dream, this king had seen a stupendous statue—larger than any image or statue ever built by man—so tremendous it was terrifying, even in a dream. Its head was of fine gold, its breast and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of brass, legs of solid iron, feet and toes a mixture of iron and clay. There was a time element. Nebuchadnezzar had viewed it until a supernatural STONE came from heaven, smashing the statue on its feet. Then the whole of the statue broke into small fragments and was actually blown away by the wind—it disappeared! Then this STONE expanded miraculously and quickly became a great MOUNTAIN—so great it filled the whole earth! What did it mean? Did it have meaning? Yes, because this was God's doing. Unlike ordinary dreams, this one was caused by God to convey the message of God's sovereignty to Nebuchadnezzar—and, because it is part of the written Word of God to us today—to reveal important facts of the TRUE GOSPEL! "This is the dream," said Daniel (verse 36), "and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king." This, then, is GOD'S interpretation. Men ought never to interpret the Bible. The Bible gives us GOD'S OWN INTERPRETATION! Here it is (verse 37): "Thou, O king, art a king of kings [he was the first real WORLD RULER over a world empire]: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory." God was revealing Himself to this human world dictator as the MOST HIGH Ruler over all. today, like this Chaldean king, seem not to think of God as a RULER—as the Supreme One who GOVERNS—as the Head of GOVERNMENT. The Eternal was revealing Himself through Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar—and through the Bible to you and to me TODAY—as a sovereign, all-powerful, governing God who is to be obeyed! This knowledge is another PROOF of the modern identity of God's one true Church! "Thou," continued Daniel to this human emperor, "art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another KINGDOM inferior to thee, and another third KINGDOM of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth" (verses 38-39). What Is a Kingdom? Notice! This is speaking of KINGDOMS. It is referring to kingdoms that bear rule over the people on earth. It is speaking of GOVERNMENTS! It is not speaking of ethereal sentiments "set up in the hearts of men." It is not speaking of churches. It is speaking of the kind of GOVERNMENTS that bear RULE and AUTHORITY over nations of PEOPLE here on earth. It is literal. It is specific. There is no misunderstanding here as to what is meant by the word "KINGDOM." There is no misunderstanding the interpretation. GOD gives His own interpretation through the prophet Daniel. The great metallic image represented national and international GOVERNMENTS—real, literal KINGDOMS. It represented a succession of world-ruling governments. First was the head of gold. That represented Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom—the Chaldean Empire. After him—later in time sequence—was to come a second, then a third, KINGDOM, "which shall bear RULE over all the earth"—world empire! Then, verse 40, the legs of iron represent a fourth world empire. It was to be strong, even as iron is strong—stronger militarily than its predecessors. Yet, as silver is less valuable than gold, brass than silver, iron than brass, though each metal was harder and stronger, the succession would deteriorate morally and spiritually. The two legs meant the fourth empire would be divided. After the Chaldean Empire came the still larger Persian Empire, then the Greco-Macedonian and fourth, the Roman Empire. It was divided, with capitals at Rome and Constantinople. Now—verse 44! Read it! Get your Bible. See it with your own eyes in your own Bible. Here, in PLAIN LANGUAGE, is God's explanation of what the KINGDOM OF GOD IS: "And in the days of these kings... ." It is here speaking of the ten toes, part of iron and part of brittle clay. This, by connecting the prophecy with Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 and 17, is referring to the new UNITED STATES OF EUROPE, which is now forming out of the European Common Market before your very eyes! Revelation 17:12 makes plain the detail that it shall be a union of ten KINGS OR KINGDOMS that (Rev. 17:8) shall resurrect the medieval "HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE." So, mark carefully the time element! "In the days of these kings"—in the days of these ten nations or groups of nations that shall, in our time, resurrect briefly the Roman Empire—notice what shall happen: "... shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed ... but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever"! Yes, in Our Time Now here we have described FOUR universal world empires—the only four that ever existed! Revelation 17 shows that after the fall of the original Roman Empire there would be SEVEN revivals that would be ruled over by a Gentile CHURCH—the "daughter" of ancient BABYLON—a church claiming to be Christian, but actually named by God "MYSTERY BABYLON the Great"—or, more plainly, BABYLONIAN MYSTERIES! Six of those have come and gone. The seventh is now forming—the last, final, brief resurrection of the "Holy Roman Empire" by ten European groups or nations. These are the ten toes of iron and clay mixed. In their days—and they shall last but a very short space, possibly no more than two to three and a half years—shall the GOD OF HEAVEN SET UP A KINGDOM. This, then, shall be THE KINGDOM OF GOD! Compare with Revelation 17. Here is pictured a church. Not a small church—a GREAT church. She rules over "many waters" (verse 1), which are described in verse 15 as different nations speaking different languages. She posed as the Church of GOD—which Scripture says (Eph. 5:23; Rev. 19:7; Matthew 25:1-10) is the affianced bride of CHRIST, to be spiritually MARRIED to Him at His second COMING. But she has committed fornication. How? By having direct political union with HUMAN GOVERNMENTS of THIS WORLD! She "sat on" (Rev. 17:3) all seven of these resurrections of the Roman Empire—called the "Holy Roman Empire." She RULED OVER the human kingdoms—as a common-law and unmarried "wife" ruling her paramour "husband"—a totally unnatural and ungodly relationship. She is, therefore, to "sit on" this last "head of the beast"—this final resurrection of the Roman Empire. It will be a union of church and state. It is to endure but a very short time. It is to FIGHT AGAINST CHRIST at HIS SECOND COMING! That will be its END. We see it in process of rising now. Therefore we are CLOSE to the coming of Christ! We are now very near the END of this world! When Christ comes, He is coming as KING of kings, ruling the whole earth (Rev. 19:11-16); and HIS KINGDOM—the Kingdom of God—said Daniel, is to CONSUME all these worldly kingdoms. Revelation 11:15 states it in these words: "... The kingdoms of this world are become THE KINGDOMS OF OUR LORD, AND OF HIS CHRIST; and he shall reign for ever and ever"! This is THE KINGDOM OF GOD. It is the END of present governments—the governments that rule Russia, China, Japan, Italy, Germany—yes, and even the United States and the British nations. They then shall become the kingdoms—the GOVERNMENTS—of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, then KING of kings over the entire earth. This makes completely PLAIN the fact that the KINGDOM OF GOD is a literal GOVERNMENT. Even as the Chaldean Empire was a KINGDOM, even as the Roman Empire was a KINGDOM—so the KINGDOM OF GOD is a government. It is to take over the GOVERNMENT of the NATIONS of the world. Jesus Christ was BORN to be a KING—A RULER! When He stood, on trial for His life, before Pilate, "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world... ." But Jesus also said to Pilate: "... My kingdom is not of this world ..." (John 18:37, 36). His Kingdom is of THE WORLD TOMORROW! Have you not read what the angel proclaimed to Mary, the mother of Jesus, prior to His birth? Jesus told Pilate He was born to become a KING. The angel of God said to Mary: "... thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the THRONE of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be NO END" (Luke 1:31-33). These scriptures tell you PLAINLY that GOD is supreme RULER. They tell you in plainest language that Jesus was born to be a KING—that He is going to RULE ALL NATIONS OF THE EARTH—that His Kingdom shall rule eternally. But all this is only part of the fantastic, amazing, actually SHOCKING TRUTH about the KINGDOM OF GOD. The KINGDOM OF GOD will rule over the peoples and nations of the earth. Yet these mortal peoples and nations will NOT be the Kingdom, not even in the Kingdom of God. They shall merely be RULED BY IT! We still have to learn OF WHAT or OF WHOM it is composed. Can YOU, as an individual, ever become a part of this Kingdom? Can Be Entered In Jesus' day, the religious leaders knew He was a teacher sent from God with GOD'S TRUTH. They branded Him a false prophet, heretic and seditionist. Yet they knew His was the voice of GOD! One of them, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, occupying an office of authority over the Jews, came secretly by night to see Jesus. "Rabbi," said this Pharisee, "we know that thou art a teacher come from God" (John 3:2). Yes, we Pharisees, he said, know that! He did not say, "I know it." He said, "We know"—we Pharisees! They knew He spoke the TRUTH—yet they not only rejected it, they crucified Him! But Jesus hewed straight to the line! He told Nicodemus about THE KINGDOM OF GOD. He told him some things you need to UNDERSTAND! Notice! "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Yes, notice! The Kingdom of God is something that CAN be seen, but only by those who have been "born again." It is something others cannot see! Request our free booklet Just What Do You Mean—Born Again? But what about the CHURCH? Can carnal people SEE A CHURCH? Of course! But they cannot see the Kingdom of God! So SAID JESUS! Then, if you believe Jesus, the CHURCH cannot be the Kingdom of God! Notice further: "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (verse 5). The Kingdom of God is something that can be entered into—BUT, only those "born of water and of the Spirit" can enter into it! He said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh IS FLESH; and that which is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT" (John 3:5-6). Notice further! In the resurrection chapter of the Bible, we read: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption" (I Cor. 15:50). The Kingdom of God is something no human, of flesh and blood, can enter or inherit! In Hearts of Pharisees? Let's take a good look at this. First realize, if the Bible does say the Kingdom of God is found in men's minds or hearts, it is contradicted by all the other scriptures I am giving you in this article. If the Bible does contradict itself, you can't believe it anyway—so then it still would prove nothing. First, to whom is Jesus speaking? Read it! "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21). He was speaking to the unconverted, carnal, hypocritical, lying Pharisees. Notice, "He answered them and said... ." It was the Pharisees who asked Him the question. Were they in the CHURCH? No, never! If one thinks the Kingdom was "within" the Pharisees—was THE CHURCH within the Pharisees? Such an assumption is rather ridiculous, now, isn't it? Notice again precisely WHAT JESUS SAID. Remember the CHURCH had not yet been set up. Jesus did not say, "The Kingdom of God shall be set up in your hearts." He said none of the things people interpret into this verse. He said to the Pharisees that "the Kingdom of God IS"—present tense, NOW! Whatever He was saying the Kingdom of God is, He made it present tense, not future. Luke wrote these words, originally, in the Greek language. The Greek words he wrote were translated into the English words "within you." But, if you have a Bible with the marginal references, you will notice that this is alternately rendered "in the midst of you" or "among you." The context indicates that this indeed is the better translation. If your Bible is a Moffatt translation, you will notice that the translation recognized that Jesus was talking of His reign or rule, at the head of government. This is the Moffatt translation of the same verse: "He answered them, 'The Reign of God is not coming as you hope to catch sight of it; no one will say, "Here it is" or "There it is," for the Reign of GOD IS NOW IN YOUR MIDST.' " The Revised Standard translation renders it: "... the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." All these translations render it present tense. Jesus was not talking about a church soon to be organized. He was not talking about sentiments in the mind or heart. He was talking about His REIGN as the Messiah! The Pharisees were not asking Him about a church. They knew nothing of any New Testament Church soon to be started. They were not asking about a pretty sentiment. They knew, from the prophecies of Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah and others, that their Messiah was to come. The Two Fateful Alternatives This world trouble began in 1914, with World War I. There was a recess from 1918 until 1939. We are in a second recess now—although we have been in what we call "the COLD WAR." But now at last we have nuclear energy. We have hydrogen bombs stockpiled in such power and volume that they could blast all human life off this planet several times over. There are two other destructive weapons today in existence, either of which could erase humanity from the earth. Today world-famous scientists say only a super world government can prevent world cosmocide. Yet MEN cannot and will not get together to form such a world-ruling government. It's time we face the hard, cold, realistic FACT. Humanity has two alternatives: Either there is an almighty, all-powerful GOD who is about to step in and set up THE KINGDOM OF GOD to rule all nations with supernatural and supranational FORCE to bring us PEACE—or else all human life would be obliterated (Matt. 24:22). If the deceived religionists who think the CHURCH is the Kingdom of God were right, and there is not going to be any supernatural and all-powerful WORLD GOVERNMENT, which is the Kingdom of God, then humanity is utterly without HOPE. All human life is in danger of extinction. But notice what Jesus Christ said! Can you BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST? Where is your trust—in the Word of God or in paganized, empty, deceiving teachings falsely labeled "Christianity"—inherited as "Christian tradition"—which say the CHURCH is the Kingdom of God, or that the Kingdom is merely a meaningless, frothy and ethereal sentiment "set up in our hearts"? It's about time you come to know who are the false prophets, and WHO is speaking the true Word of God faithfully! Proof Six: What and Why the Church? Part 1 When we come to the question, WHAT and WHY the Church, it is indeed astonishing that the one original true Church of God, still extant after 1,900 years of persecution, opposition, martyrdom, remains UNIQUE in having the answer. The real PURPOSE and function of the Church is as little understood as the knowledge of who and what God is, what and why MAN is, what was the gospel of Jesus Christ, the government of God and His supreme creative achievement—holy righteous CHARACTER. Isn't it incongruous? Man invents numerous religions for the worship of God—yet doesn't know WHO or WHAT God is. Man does not know what HE is! Or WHY! Seven hundred million who do not know the purpose or function of the church join "Christian" churches! True, indeed it is, that the whole world has been DECEIVED! Church Error Number One The first and most widespread false belief in this world's churches is the assumption that this is God's world—that God is desperately trying to get everybody "saved," while Satan is trying to keep everybody "lost." If that is true, Satan is surely winning that battle! But 1) God is NOT trying to "get everybody saved" spiritually, now! And 2) those uncalled are NOT "lost"—just not judged—YET! We need first to understand the world out from which God's Church has been called to be a separate, holy people. Let me restate it briefly. The first man Adam was given two MUSTS: 1) to reject Satan's way of "GET" and 2) to give himself to God's way of "GIVE"—the way of God's law—outflowing LOVE, thus developing the holy, righteous CHARACTER to qualify to restore the government of God on earth. But Adam rejected God's way. He rejected God as the Source of basic knowledge and as the God to be worshiped and obeyed. But let it now be emphasized that when God sentenced man, on Adam's choice, to 6,000 years of being cut off from God, the Eternal retained the prerogative of specially calling to Himself those He chose for special service. And, ALWAYS—in every case—those specially called were called for a mission PREPARATORY TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD! Understand this! Everyone God called was chosen for a special mission PREPARING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD! God is no respecter of persons. He called no "favorites" merely to bestow upon them His gift of eternal salvation. Each has been called for service to prepare for the KINGDOM OF GOD. BUT, understand this also: That special mission or service to which each called-out one has been chosen was GOD'S MEANS of developing in him the holy, righteous CHARACTER to QUALIFY him to reign and rule with and under Christ in God's KINGDOM—in THE WORLD TOMORROW! In ancient Old Testament Israel only the prophets were called in this sense. The Holy Spirit was never made available to others in Old Testament Israel. The purpose for the special calling of that nation has been covered in proof number four. Remember, God creates in DUAL stages. The first stage of man's creation was the physical stage. It began with Adam. The second phase of man's creation is the spiritual phase and begins with Christ. As a group or nation, Israel was called under the physical stage of man's creation. The SPIRITUAL stage began through Christ with righteous Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the prophets in Israel. But as a group-calling, the Church of God begins the spiritual phase. The Church was called for a very special PURPOSE in preparation for the KINGDOM—a purpose not fully realized from the first century until the present generation. Adam's Creation Not Complete The first Adam, formed altogether from the dust of the ground, was given a spirit to empower the human brain with intellect. This was explained fully in proof number three. But he was incomplete—he was created to need also a second Spirit—the Holy Spirit of God. Old Testament Israel was not given God's Holy Spirit. Man, possessing only the one "human spirit," is, truly, "not all there"—yet he is unaware of the fact. He is a natural-born carnal person. He has only the physical, carnal mind. And what says God of the carnal mind? It is hostile against God and not subject to the law of God, "... neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:7). Also, as Jeremiah explained, this natural carnal mind is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Hundreds of years of Old Testament Israelitish experience proved this! They were given God's revealed knowledge which was hidden from other nations, yet they rebelled and sinned even above other nations! The World into Which Jesus Came It was into such a world—and to such a people (Judah)—that Jesus came. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not" (John 1:11). First, before teaching or preaching His gospel of the Kingdom, Jesus had to QUALIFY to restore the GOVERNMENT OF GOD and establish the KINGDOM OF GOD. In the most titanic battle ever fought for the greatest stakes in the universe, Jesus overcame Satan, rejected Satan's "GET" way, proved 100 percent obedient and loyal to God (Matthew 4:1-11). He called and chose the disciples He trained to be His apostles. Then He said, "... Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell [the grave] shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee [His chief apostle] the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19). Plainly Jesus was speaking to one man, His chief apostle, when He spoke of binding and loosing—not to the Church. For 3 1/2 years Jesus taught His apostles-to-be about the Kingdom of God. Church Members Must Qualify The first Adam, in order to qualify to restore the GOVERNMENT OF GOD on earth, had to overcome Satan—Satan's way ("GET")—and prove obedient to God. Adam failed. Christ, the second Adam, had to qualify by overcoming Satan and proving loyalty to God and God's way. He QUALIFIED! Each one in the Church must also qualify in order to sit on Christ's throne with Him! "And he that overcometh [Satan], and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron ..." (Revelation 2:26-27). Again, "To him that overcometh [Satan] will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame [Satan], and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Revelation 3:21). I have shown that the whole world, except those specially called by God, is CUT OFF from God—cut off from access to Him who has eternal life to give. Jesus CONFIRMED THAT plainly and definitely. He said, "No MAN CAN come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him ..." (John 6:44). No scripture can or does nullify that! All others are CUT OFF from God. No one of them CAN COME to Christ! The Church of God Founded Jesus was crucified, resurrected after three days and three nights in the tomb (another incidental proof of the one true Church), and after 40 days ascended to the right hand of God in heaven. Then, on the day of the Feast of Firstfruits (Pentecost), A.D. 31, God sent the Holy Spirit in an amazing display, founding His Church! The number of disciples who still believed after Jesus' 3 1/2 years of preaching was a mere 120 (Acts 1:15). "... They were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-3). I have purposely emphasized certain words in this scripture, because it was a ONE-TIME-ONLY incident. It never occurred before. It never has since. Modern "Pentecostal" meetings and "tongues speaking" are emphatically not the same thing at all. Notice carefully! First, they were all of one accord—something often not true today. Second, the Holy Spirit came suddenly—they did not "work it up" by emotionally shouting, as is usual in such meetings today. Third, the Holy Spirit came with a sound—they heard it—like a blast of a rushing mighty wind. No such thing occurs today. Fourth, the Holy Spirit is here twice called "it," not "he"—not a ghost or personage. Fifth, they saw the Holy Spirit. It appeared as divided tongues like fire. This was actually seen, sitting on each of the 120. No such thing is ever repeated in so-called "Pentecostal" meetings today! Now, further, do they today speak with the same kind of tongues? Here again the REAL Pentecost experience is not. in any sense duplicated today. Read on: "... There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad [word spread rapidly of this once-only amazing experience—hearing and seeing the Holy Spirit], the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them [the 120] speak in his own language" (Acts 2:5-6). Study this again carefully. The Mede among these devout Jews who came running in heard them—the 120—speaking the language of the Medes. And he understood what they were saying! The one Mede heard and understood 120 Galileans speaking the language of the Medes! But the Parthian heard them—the same 120—speaking his Parthian language! And so on! It was not a gibberish—unintelligible—as "tongues people" speak in their meetings today! And it needed no interpreter. I well remember experiences in such meetings, where in service after service the same man rose to interpret—and although the gibberish of different ones was entirely different, the "interpretation" had been memorized, and in every case was the same! I saw that kind of experience drive sincere people hungry for God's truth away in disgust! Let me add here that God's Holy Spirit is the Spirit of a SOUND MIND (II Timothy 1:7). The one and only original Church of God was founded that day of Pentecost, A.D. 31. They were all of SOUND mind—like-minded—of ONE accord. God Adds to His Church The multitude who came running in were all amazed—in wonderment doubting and asking, "What does this mean?" Then God's chief apostle, Peter, stood up to explain—to deliver to these thousands the first inspired sermon by an apostle. These devout Jews were "pricked in their heart" by Peter's sermon and asked, "What shall we do?" Peter gave no twentieth-century "altar call"—pleaded with none to talk them into conversion—but answered their question, saying, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). It was the power of the Holy Spirit that had struck straight in their hearts. GOD HAD CALLED THEM! "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41). "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine ..." (verse 42). Note here this important point! They did not appoint among themselves a "doctrinal committee" to decide intellectually in which doctrines they could believe God's apostle. God gave them the true doctrine through His apostle, and they continued together with one accord in "the apostles' doctrine and fellowship." Now WHO added members to the Church? Not apostolic or evangelical salesmanship—but "the LORD added to the church daily such as should be saved [were to be saved]" (Acts 2:47). Apostles Preached; Church Backed Them But what was the FOUNDATION of the Church? It is referred to as a "building," and a solid building must be built on a solid foundation. Of course Jesus Christ is the foundational Rock. But the Church is built on the FOUNDATION of the apostles (New Testament) and prophets (Old Testament), Jesus Christ Himself being the chief CORNERSTONE (Ephesians 2:20). Jesus taught the apostles. The CHURCH followed the apostles' doctrine. Lay members were not free to set, change or decide doctrinal TRUTH—but only to receive and believe it. A day or two after the Church was founded, Peter and John went up to the Temple. At the Beautiful Gate entrance was a crippled beggar, lame from birth. Peter, being asked for alms, took the cripple by the right hand, lifted him up, saying, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:1-6). "And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple ..." (verse 8). The beggar was known to all. This miracle drew a huge crowd. Peter, explaining, preached to them about the resurrection of Jesus. He proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom, saying the heaven had received Jesus until the time of restoration of the GOVERNMENT OF GOD by the KINGDOM OF GOD (Acts 3:20-21). As Peter spoke, the priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them and threw them into prison for the night. Next morning, Peter and John were brought before the rulers, elders, scribes, the high priest and his family. Peter spoke briefly but boldly to them. They then threatened the apostles, forbidding them to preach any further about Christ and His Kingdom. Peter and John, though now inspired by the Holy Spirit, were human, and naturally were somewhat shaken up and frightened. Being released, they went immediately for moral support and encouragement to "their own company" (Acts 4:23), the Church. The Church "lifted up their voice to God with one accord" (verse 24). And when they (the Church) had prayed, God answered by shaking the place where they were assembled, filling them with His Spirit, courage and power. Another incident: The apostles had continued preaching, healing the sick and performing miracles. God added to the Church, but also the persecution grew. Peter again had been imprisoned. Steven had been stoned to death. In Acts 8:1 "... there was a great persecution against the church ... and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles." By the following Passover, persecution had mounted. "About that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison ... intending after [Passover] to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison ..." (Acts 12:1-5). Why Members Called Now came another example of how the Church stood back of the apostles. Remember, the word apostle means "one sent forth." Jesus had given the great commission to Peter and the apostles. The other members of the Church were not sent forth with the gospel. They were called to support and encourage the apostles in getting out the gospel message, as GOD'S MEANS of developing in them God's holy, righteous CHARACTER, qualifying them for places as kings and priests in the KINGDOM! So here came another incident showing how the Church supported the apostles. Continue, verse 5 of Acts 12: "... but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him"—Peter. The brethren stood loyally 100 percent back of God's apostles. What happened when the Church so unceasingly prayed? "... The same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands" (verses 6-7), and Peter followed the angel on out of the prison. Peter fled on to Caesarea. Jesus gave His GREAT COMMISSION to the apostles—those sent forth with the message. The lay brethren were added to the Church to support the apostles. The Great Commission Notice the GREAT COMMISSION as recorded by Matthew: "Now the eleven disciples [Judas had left them] went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them... . And Jesus came and said to them [not the whole Church], All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. GO, THEREFORE, and make disciples of all nations ... . " Notice, "make disciples OF," or within all nations. A disciple is a student—one learning, being taught. "... baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit... ." Notice here, this does not and cannot refute Jesus' own statement that "NO MAN CAN come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." The GREAT COMMISSION was not a commission to try to persuade ALL in those nations to come to Christ. Jesus said plainly, "... make disciples OF [within] all nations." He referred to those whom God had called—and they were, comparatively, exceedingly FEW by proportion to the whole population. Then Jesus continued, "... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matthew 28:16-20, Revised Standard Version). The apostles were NOT sent forth on a soul-saving crusade, but to TEACH those whom God had called and made willing to listen. That is what God's apostle does to this day. Today we are able to utilize modern methods of MASS COMMUNICATION—radio, television, the printing press. We TEACH the good news of the coming KINGDOM to those whom God calls and makes willing to listen. In this way we TEACH and PROCLAIM the true GOSPEL MESSAGE to many MILLIONS worldwide. Our magazine, The Plain Truth, has more than TWO MILLION subscribers, and estimates are that each copy is read by at least three people—actually reaching six or seven MILLION people! And we teach all who willingly listen to observe all that God commanded His apostles! Now notice Mark's account of the GREAT COMMISSION: "Afterward he appeared unto the eleven... . And he said unto them, GO YE into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:14, 15). Naturally Jesus did not mean every human being on earth—but all they might reach who would hear. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved... ." Yet only those God called would be able to believe—for Jesus meant they should believe what was SAID—believe the GOOD NEWS! However, this is quoted from the 1611 King James Version, but nearly all other translations omit it, saying Mark did not write the words beginning in verse 9 through the end of the chapter, but that they were added by some later editor trying to make it harmonize with Matthew 28:18-19. But the great commission was given to the apostles—not the Church as a whole—although as cited above, the Church completely, prayerfully, wholeheartedly backed up and supported the apostles. That was their part in the great commission. Reading time: 13 min 13 sec Part 2 Now let's get our bearings and understand the PURPOSE of the Church—its function. Remember, the Church was called out of a world CUT OFF from God—a world, as Jesus said, in which "NO MAN CAN come to me, except the Father draw him." The Church was the "called-out ones"—called out from the world. "Wherefore come out from among them [of the world], and be ye separate, saith the Lord..." (II Corinthians 6:17). REMEMBER, too, that from Adam God had called out of this world only those He chose to USE in a mission PREPARING FOR THE KINGDOM! The archangel Lucifer and his angels had been disqualified—changed into Satan and demons. Adam had chosen Satan's WAY of "GET" and rejected God as Source of basic knowledge, as Ruler and as Savior. According to Adam's decision, God cut THE WORLD off from access to Him. BUT, since God cut them off before they were born, God does not hold them responsible—they have not been judged; the responsibility is GOD'S—not theirs—for that which has been hidden from their minds. But now the time had come when the "second Adam"—Jesus Christ—had overcome Satan and QUALIFIED to restore the GOVERNMENT OF GOD to earth and establish the KINGDOM OF GOD—which is the divine FAMILY OF GOD, ruling the world—and ultimately the UNIVERSE! Jesus DID NOT come on a soul-saving crusade. Those uncalled and unsaved were NOT "lost." Just NOT JUDGED—yet! They shall be in the millennium and great white throne resurrection and judgment. Jesus came 1) to overcome Satan and QUALIFY to establish the KINGDOM OF GOD; 2) to call and teach His future apostles; 3) to proclaim the GOOD NEWS of the coming Kingdom of God; 4) to pay the penalty of the sins of the world by His death on the cross with His shed blood, thus reconciling those called to God the Father; 5) to be resurrected from the dead after three days and three nights in the tomb, making the resurrection to IMMORTAL LIFE possible for those who are God's; 6) to ascend to the throne of God in heaven, and there, as the HIGH PRIEST of the Church and ITS LIVING HEAD, to direct the Church and intercede for it with God; and 7) having received the Kingdom from God, to COME AGAIN as the KING of kings and LORD of lords, in supreme almighty POWER and GLORY, to set up and rule THE KINGDOM OF GOD! Jesus ANNOUNCED the fact of the coming Kingdom, which, by His overcoming Satan, was ASSURED! He specially called and trained His apostles, started the Church with them and the 120, and then ADDED to the Church such as He needed to back up the apostles' ministry to THE WHOLE WORLD. To those He called, upon complete repentance and faith, He gave the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thus they became partakers of the divine nature (II Peter 1:4). The PURPOSE and FUNCTION of the Church is: 1) to back up with loyal support the apostles, as their part in the GREAT COMMISSION—and as GOD'S MEANS of, allowing them 2) to overcome Satan, developing God's holy, righteous CHARACTER within them through the Holy Spirit, thus qualifying them also to sit with Christ in His throne in Jerusalem, with power for ruling the whole earth (Revelation 3:21; 2:26-27). This latter promise applies to those CALLED OUT OF THE PRESENT WORLD—not to those who shall be called (as ALL will) during the millennium! Church a Spiritual Organism—Yet Well Organized At this point a bit of personal experience will help the reader to UNDERSTAND. Jesus had called His apostles and taught them IN PERSON. Jesus Christ is the WORD OF GOD in person. The Bible is the Word of God IN WRITING! As the personal Word of God taught the original apostles, so He called and taught His modern-day apostle by the WRITTEN WORD OF GOD—the same TEACHING—the SAME TRUTH! After calling, giving His apostle the initial teaching, having him ordained, God added the 19 members that started His Church of this Philadelphia era. Then Christ had opened before His apostle, as one "SENT FORTH" with the gospel message, the means of MASS COMMUNICATION of the printed word, radio and later television. With such vast mass communication facilities, one apostle could reach many times more people with the gospel message than the original twelve, plus the apostle Paul and others sent to Gentile nations. I soon saw the need, as God's Word sets forth for the CHURCH, of evangelists, pastors, other elders and teachers—as well as people trained in ADMINISTRATIVE responsibilities. So God raised up Ambassador College to provide training for the supportive functions behind the apostle in the GREAT COMMISSION. Remember, the Church is still in the six-millennia era of this PRESENT EVIL WORLD. We are "called-out ones"—called to be SEPARATE! Just as the angels on earth (pre-Adamic) needed the GOVERNMENT OF GOD to synchronize the various functions into a team unit, so was this necessary in God's Church. The operation of the GREAT COMMISSION, especially in this twentieth century, requires, as the New Testament clearly states, organization. So God set His GOVERNMENT in His Church. And God's government is authority from the TOP down. God the Father is in supreme authority over all. Next in authority under Him is Jesus Christ, living Head of the Church. On the human and earthly level, next in authority under Christ is His chosen apostle. God organized ancient Israel, under Moses, with captains over thousands next under Moses, then under them captains over hundreds, over fifties, etc., as God led Moses to choose. I will here inject an incident in point. Christ had led His apostle to appoint the apostle's son next under him, because he was the best qualified, in the office of executive vice president. Perhaps it was a mistake to use such a modern business title. Nevertheless the son, like David's sons, Absalom and Adonijah, began to simply take over. He initiated policies he was not authorized to set. He wanted to secularize the college, the magazine (The Plain Truth), and even the Church. He wanted this world's accreditation for the college. He demoted or shanghaied the top-ranking ministers who had been trained under and were loyal to Christ's apostle. Meanwhile, the apostle, as "one sent forth" with Christ's gospel message, was going into all the world—and was away from headquarters up to 300 out of the 365 days in the year. As the son departed from the ways of his father and of God (as did the sons of Eli and of King David), he SHUT OFF ALL AUTHORITY ABOVE HIM. He threatened with loss of their positions in the Work any under him who in any manner contacted or revealed to his father how he was departing from God's ways, watering down doctrines and teachings—first in the college, then starting also in the Church. Cowed with fear, those who knew how the son was destroying the Work of the living GOD kept silent. Finally, four leaders under him took courage and came to God's apostle, saying, "God forgive us for keeping silent so long, but we were afraid for our jobs. But now we have to report to you that your son is systematically destroying all that Christ has built through His apostle and is building something for himself. Like a spoiled child, he wants his own way." God's apostle, to be not guilty of Eli's sin, removed his son from all authority and disfellowshipped him from the Church. The son had represented that no one dare "take it over his head" by going to Christ's apostle—that ALL authority in a then great worldwide Work of God stopped with him!—that he had SHUT OFF all authority above himself. But even Christ's apostle has no authority to SHUT OFF the authority above him. In God's government, the one in lesser authority is still UNDER the authority of those over him. Authority does not END at any point under God the Father. The end of this incident in point is that all in God's Church now know that the door to Christ's apostle is always open to ALL under him! God's Church is NOT a worldly ORGANIZATION—it is a SPIRITUAL ORGANIZATION, called out of this world and its ways by Christ. Yet it is WELL ORGANIZED—it must be to function. The Church consists of the begotten children of God—the DIVINE FAMILY-TO-BE! The Household of God Actually the Church is, on the human level, the BEGOTTEN FAMILY OF GOD. To the Gentile converts at Ephesus, God inspired Paul to write: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God"(Ephesians 2:19). In other words, of the begotten FAMILY of God. Continue: "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles [New Testament] and prophets [Old Testament], Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy TEMPLE in the Lord" (verses 20-21). So God reveals here that the Church is: 1) the HOUSEHOLD or begotten FAMILY of God; 2) a building—a HOLY TEMPLE—fitly joined together—that is, well organized (and, of course, on GOD'S pattern). As a building—the HOLY TEMPLE to which Christ will come—it is built on a FIRM FOUNDATION: the apostles, chosen by Christ, and the prophets. MUCH of the New Testament is simply quotations, or citations, from the writings of the prophets of the Old Testament. The things written in the Old Testament were "written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (I Corinthians 10:11). Again the apostle Paul reminded Timothy: "... from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures [the only Scriptures Timothy could have known from a child were those written by Old Testament prophets], which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (II Timothy 3:15). The writings of the Old Testament prophets are part of the FOUNDATION of the Church of God! And, of course, Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone—the very HEAD of the Church. The Temple to Which Christ Will Come There has been much perplexity and discussion as to when the temple will be built to which Christ shall come. Malachi's prophecy speaks of Christ's second coming to His temple (Malachi 3:1-6). In Haggai's prophecy it is referred to prophetically. Zerubbabel had been sent as governor of a colony to build the second temple 70 years after the destruction of Solomon's temple. He built the temple to which Jesus came, though it had been enlarged and embellished by the Roman Herod. But speaking of this temple, as a type and forerunner of the temple to which Christ shall come at His second coming, it is written, "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts" (Haggai 2:9). It is inconceivable that the Israelis, in the present international turmoil over their possession of old Jerusalem, could ever demolish the Arab Moslem Dome of the Rock—now standing on the site of Solomon's temple—and build a new one there of greater splendor and glory than Solomon's! However, as the second temple Zerubbabel was building was a typical forerunner of the temple to which Christ shall come, even so Zerubbabel was the typical forerunner of one Christ would use in building the far more glorious temple to which Christ shall come in His GLORY! Zechariah 4:9: "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it...." And as Zerubbabel's hands did finish that second temple, so shall the one Christ uses in building the temple to which He shall come in His GLORY! And the Church of God of the present day shall be a "building fitly framed together [and growing] unto an holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:21). Church the Bride of Christ The one and only true Church, a spiritual organism well organized by Christ, is the affianced Bride of Christ—to MARRY Christ, after His coming and after the resurrection and change of the Church into immortality. In Ephesians 5 this is shown by analogy. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.... For we are members of HIS BODY, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church" (Ephesians 5:25-32). The Church is made up of the BODY of Christ. More on that a little later. But the BODY presented to Christ will not be a dismembered body, with an arm, a leg or other parts being separated! It is ONE Church—fitly framed together—not dismembered into many parts following many different men seeking to draw away disciples after them. This coming marriage is again referred to in II Corinthians 11:2: "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." The New-Covenant MARRIAGE will take place at Christ's coming in GLORY: "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, ALLELUIA: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb [Christ] is come, and his wife hath made herself ready" (Revelation 19:6-7). It is enlightening at this point to remember Jesus came as "the messenger of the covenant" (Malachi 3:1). He came as the Messenger of the NEW Covenant. The Old Covenant was a CONTRACT entered into between the children of Israel and the Word (who was to become Christ)—the God of the Old Testament. It was a MARRIAGE covenant. God "proposed" and Israel "accepted" (Exodus 19:6, 8). That "marriage covenant" also set up the kingdom of Israel as one of earth's nations. The New Covenant also will be a MARRIAGE covenant marrying the Church, then changed to spirit immortality, to Christ. But that covenant also will set up the KINGDOM OF GOD, ruling all nations with the GOVERNMENT OF GOD. The Old Covenant was made with a carnal-minded people on their PROMISE to obey. The New Covenant will be made with a Spirit-begotten and Spirit-born people who have ALREADY PROVED THEIR OBEDIENCE! Modern Facilities for Mass Communication Today The Church members, as a whole, are not called to "GO FORTH" with the gospel message, but to back up, help, support the apostle in carrying the message into all the world. I mentioned that one apostle today, with modern facilities for mass communication—the printing press, radio, television, even the telephone by which one may reach another in any part of the world in a matter of minutes or less—can reach more people by far than all of the first century apostles combined. But this use of modern facilities in our day necessitates a considerable organization of people in various administrative capacities, besides evangelists, pastors and assistants, elders, deacons and deaconesses in local churches worldwide. In Jesus' parable of the talents (Matthew 25), He pictured Himself as giving talents to various ones left here on earth while He was in heaven. "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability..." (verse 15). These "talents"—pieces of money—symbolized spiritual gifts and a measure of the Holy Spirit given each. He gave according to the natural ability of each. The twelfth chapter of I Corinthians reveals that there are various offices of administration in the Church—and that God gives various spiritual gifts for those various functions. The SAME PRINCIPLE holds, since God is consistent and never changes. He gives, through the Holy Spirit, special abilities, according to one's own natural abilities. I have often talked about "fitting the square peg into the round hole" to illustrate human failure because so many are NOT doing what by natural ability they are fitted to do. "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit" (I Corinthians 12:4). All these various special talents, abilities or aptitudes, though several, are all given by the same Holy Spirit. "And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all" (verses 5-6). It is GOD working in us. "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is ONE, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are ONE BODY: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into ONE BODY..." (verses 11-13). "And now are they many members, yet BUT ONE BODY" (verse 20). What about those who follow a MAN, outside that ONE BODY? God says we are not to follow a MAN. Paul said that "of your own selves shall men arise... to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:30). The apostle Paul had to correct the Corinthian church because they were following individual MEN: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing..."—and where did the Church receive that one same thing they were all to believe? From THE APOSTLES! And the apostles received it from CHRIST. And Jesus Christ received it from GOD the Father! Continue: "... that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Corinthians 1:10). The apostle reproved them, saying, "... there are contentions among you" (verse 11). "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ" (verse 12). CHRIST is NOT divided (verse 13). Reading time: 12 min 33 sec Part 3 What about the "loner" Christian who says, "I will serve Christ in my own way"? What about the one who leaves God's Church to have his own private relation with Christ—to get his own salvation—without giving his part of the Church's effort to send the true gospel into ALL THE WORLD? Or, what about the one who follows a MAN because of that man's personality, charisma or attractiveness, or some other group? Stop and THINK! Is Christ going to marry a number of differing groups, not in complete harmony with each other—yet all "professing CHRIST"? Jesus said, "He that is not with me [and since He is the Head of God's one and only Church, He plainly meant with Him where HE is working—in God's one Church] is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad" (Matthew 12:30). Jesus Christ is going to marry THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE CHURCH—not a number of scattered groups or scattered individuals. God's law and way of life may be summed up in the one word "LOVE"—which is outflowing—the way of "GIVE"—while Satan's way is that of "GET." The one who tries to GET his salvation apart from the one Church Christ is going to marry is on the "GET" way. Those loyally in the Church are GIVING of their prayers, loyalty, encouragement and support to Christ's chosen apostle in GIVING the GOOD NEWS to the world—its ONLY HOPE! In other words, he that seeks to GET his own salvation without GIVING his part in the team effort of the Church—or who follows a man or some other group—is surely NOT BUILDING ON THE ONE SURE FOUNDATION of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. Again, "Except God build the house, they labour in vain that build it …" (Psalm 127:1). The Church is the HOUSEHOLD OF GOD and a BUILDING—the glorious TEMPLE to which Christ shall come! How Well Organized? Notice again how well organized is the one true Church for getting the GREAT COMMISSION to the whole world: "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:21). Again: "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted [pressed together, knit or drawn together, consolidated] by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part …" (Ephesians 4:16). "And he [Christ] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, TILL we all come in the UNITY of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13). The true Church of God has these offices, as the living Christ put them in His Church. A Tithe-Paying Church God's continuing original Church is also a tithe-paying Church. The Church receives that ONE SAME THING they all are commanded to believe—even as the Church beginning in A.D. 31 did—from the APOSTLES who received the doctrines and teachings FROM CHRIST! The Church of God under Peter, Paul and the first-century apostles was a Church which gave not only tithes but offerings! Tithing started BEFORE Moses and the Old Testament Israel. It started with Abraham, who, after the slaughter of the kings, gave the tithe of all to Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God (actually the one who became Christ). Write for the free reprint article "The Mystery of Melchizedek Solved." Tithing to God—PAYING a tenth of one's "increase"—became a law in Old Testament Israel. After both Israel and Judah had gone into captivity and slavery, the prophet Malachi, writing about 450 B.C., as one of the prophets who with the apostles and Christ form the FOUNDATION of the Church, wrote PROPHETICALLY concerning our time today: "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation" (Malachi 3:8-9). Both the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah had long before been taken out of their land as slaves. A comparatively small contingent was sent back to Jerusalem 70 years after Judah's captivity by King Cyrus of Persia under governorship of Zerubbabel to build the second temple. Some of these Jews were still in Judea when Malachi wrote, but the two nations, as a whole composing ancient Israel, were not there. THIS WAS NOT MOSAIC LAW—this was PROPHECY for OUR DAY! Malachi continued, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and PROVE ME NOW HEREWITH, saith the Eternal, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (verse 10). That is not "Old Testament stuff," as God's true Church KNOWS—and because it has TITHED, it has had God's blessing and prosperity. Speaking of tithes, Jesus said, "… these ought ye to have done …" (Matthew 23:23); Hebrews 7:4-12 binds tithing in the New Testament. I Corinthians 9:1-14 definitely upholds the principle of tithing and GIVING. Knowledge of God's Master Plan Of all the religions—and of all the denominations and sects in "Christianity"—God's true Church alone has understanding of the master plan of God for His spiritual creation of man. This is forcibly reminded every year in the Church by the seven annual holy days and festivals Christ instituted in the Church. Small as the Church is in numbers—Jesus spoke of it as the "little flock" and said that as they had persecuted Him so would they His Church—nevertheless the Church's great annual autumnal Feast of Tabernacles is the LARGEST church conclave, convention or festival held on earth! As God made the weekly Sabbath FOR MAN (Mark 2:27) when man was made, so He gave His Church seven annual Sabbaths and seven annual festivals when He first established the Church. In Acts 7:38, you will find the Old Testament congregation of Israel called "the church in the wilderness." It was composed of the human-born children of Israel; the Church of the New Testament is composed of the begotten children of GOD. As the Old Testament church was called the congregation of Israel, so the New Testament Church is called the Church of GOD. To the Church—both Old Testament under Moses and New Testament under Christ—God gave these annual occasions to emphatically remind His people, annually, of His master plan. No other church or religion, to our knowledge, observes these festivals or knows their tremendous MEANING! It has been stated before that as the physical creation of man began with the physical Adam, so the SPIRITUAL creation of man begins with the spiritual Christ. The first of these annual festivals is the Passover, observed on the eve of the fourteenth day of the first month of the sacred year. This is the year's most solemn service, on the anniversary—as a memorial—of the death of Christ to reconcile those called to God. This is immediately followed by the next seven days—the Festival of Unleavened Bread. All leaven must be put out of members' houses, and nothing leavened may be eaten. Leaven is a symbol of sin. It emphatically reminds God's called-out ones daily for seven days through their stomachs that we must put sin out of our lives. Also it is a memorial, on the anniversary of Israel's exodus out of Egypt. Egypt also is symbolic of sin—and Israel was taken out by God with miracles, as He delivers His people today from the bondage of sin. There are two annual holy days in this festival—the first and the last of the seven. The third annual festival is the Feast of FIRSTFRUITS, called in the New Testament of the Bible "Pentecost," because this is the one set-apart time of year when the Church COUNTS to calculate the proper day. It is 50 days, counted beginning on the "morrow after the weekly Sabbath" which occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. "Pentecost" is simply the Greek for "fifty-count." This pictures the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, begetting the "firstfruits"—those relative first few called to spiritual salvation. The Holy Spirit came on the very fiftieth day—the first time the Holy Spirit was given to a group, which formed the Church of God. This annual festive occasion reminds God's people yearly that they are merely the first to be called to spiritual salvation; that the world, except the few called, is CUT OFF from God—neither "saved" nor "lost"—just not yet called! Therefore not yet judged. Another incidental proof of the identity of the one true Church is the knowledge, that with the foundation of the Church of God, "the time is come that JUDGMENT must begin at the house of God." Those called into God's Church are now being judged. Others are not—YET! These annual festivals are built around the annual harvest seasons in Jerusalem. The first three portray the early grain harvest, typical of the first early spiritual harvest in the conversion of man. The last four correspond to the final great autumnal harvest. They all come in the seventh sacred month. Festival number four is the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah in Judaism), on the first day of the seventh month of the sacred calendar. The Feast of Trumpets pictures and reminds the Church yearly of the SECOND COMING of CHRIST to reign over all the earth. Largest Convention on Earth The fifth festival is the Day of Atonement, called in Judaism Yom Kippur—a solemn fast day. No food may be eaten from sunset to sunset. It pictures to God's people restoring man to AT-ONE-MENT with God. The world, cut off from God these 6,000 years, has been deceived and led by the god of this world, Satan. Jesus Christ QUALIFIED to replace the former Lucifer on the THRONE of the earth. When He comes as KING of kings, Satan shall be deposed, bound, shut up (Revelation 20:3) for 1,000 years. Without Satan, who has "worked IN the people of the world" (Ephesians 2:2), humanity at last may be made AT ONE with the true Creator GOD! The sixth festival is the Feast of Tabernacles—a seven-day festival, with the first day the sixth annual Holy Day. The Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) is followed by an eighth day, a one-day holy day—making in all an eight-day festival. This pictures the millennial reign of the KINGDOM OF GOD, ruling all nations for 1,000 years. During this millennium, ALL living will be called to repentance and faith and eternal salvation through the reigning CHRIST—with no Satan to overcome. More of the details of this time will be given under PROOF number seven, to follow. This seventh and final holy day begins at sunset just as the Feast of Tabernacles is ending. As stated earlier, small though the Worldwide Church of God may be in numbers, this is the largest church convention or conclave held annually on earth—with festival sites all over the world. When the Billions Shall Be Called The final eighth day (the seventh festival) brings to mind again every year what is in God's master plan for the BILLIONS of people who have lived and died since Adam—cut off from God—UNjudged—neither "lost" nor yet "saved." They will be resurrected after the millennium in a special resurrection (Revelation 20:11-13). This is also described in Ezekiel's prophecy of the "valley of dry bones" (Ezekiel 37). All previously uncalled will be resurrected MORTAL, and with the 7,000 years of humanity now history, will face up to what their experience in sin really proved. All then will be called to repentance and ETERNAL LIFE. Final Fate of the Incorrigible There shall then be one more resurrection—of those who were called to salvation, but rejected it—the incorrigible wicked. They will be resurrected MORTAL to realize their fatal decision. They will be "cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death" (Revelation 20:14-15). This "lake of fire" is pictured by Peter in his second letter. "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets [Old Testament] , and of the commandment of us the apostles [New Testament] of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. "For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (II Peter 3:1-10). Malachi adds, of that final destruction of the willful rebellious into unconscious (Ecclesiastes 9:5) annihilation: "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch… . for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 4:1-3). The Name of the True Church The NAME of God's true Church is important—but not alone the exclusive proof of identification, because a small number of professing Christian sects use the name. Yet the one and only original Church founded A.D. 31 by Jesus Christ most certainly will have the true NAME! God names things and people what they are. The "church in the wilderness"—the Old Testament church (or congregation) was named the "congregation of Israel" because it was composed of the physically born children of Israel. The two-letter word of denotes ownership or origin. The New Testament Church organized by Christ is called, twelve TIMES in the New Testament, "the CHURCH OF GOD," sometimes with a modifying word or phrase such as "the Church of God, which is at Corinth," or the "Churches of God in Judea." Today it is known as the Worldwide Church of God. The English word "church" is translated from the Greek ekklesia, and the Greek word used in the original writing of the New Testament means, simply, a group, an assembly, etc., without specific reference to a church. At Ephesus, for example, the city council—political—was called an ekklesia, with no religious connotation at all. The ONLY FACTOR that makes the word "church" sacred is when it refers to the Church of GOD—in other words, the group, congregation, assembly or church that BELONGS TO GOD. It is GOD'S name connected with it that lends sanctity to the name. For example, the name "Roman Catholic Church" means a universal (catholic) church of Rome. The "Lutheran Church" is that group or body of people following or established by Luther. The "Methodist Church" means (in its name) a group or body of people following a certain method. The "Baptist Church" by name means a group or combination of groups who believe in baptizing and who follow John the Baptist. The name "Congregational Church" simply implies a group of people who believe the lay people ought to have the authority. The name "Presbyterian Church" means an associated group who believe the "presbytery" of officiating clergy have the authority. The name "Church of God" means that group of "called-out ones," called out from this world, who look to GOD as the authority—and who submit to government from God through Christ, through (on the human level) apostles chosen by Christ—NOT elected by the people! So there is vital MEANING to the name of the true Church. And the name is IMPORTANT! In Jesus' last prayer to God before being crucified, He prayed, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world… . And now … I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be ONE, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name … " (John 17:6, 11-12). Reading time: 11 min 50 sec Proof Seven: The reign of the Kingdom of God Reading time: 9 min 28 sec How incongruous! The churches calling themselves "Christian" do not know that the true gospel is the GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. They know nothing of what the earth will be like under the rule of the KINGDOM OF GOD! They know nothing of the only GOOD NEWS in today's world—of the world's only and sure HOPE! Don't laugh at the word "utopia"! It is regarded in today's troubled world as an impractical, impossible JOKE! Webster's dictionary defines it: "an imaginary and indefinitely remote place; a place of ideal perfection, especially in laws, government and social conditions; an impractical scheme for social improvement." Jesus Christ was no impractical dreamer. His gospel was the GOOD NEWS that a coming UTOPIA is REAL—it is SURE! Stop and THINK! WHY should it be impossible to have ideal perfection—in laws, government and social conditions? WHY? "Human nature," you answer? Yes, but as shown in a previous installment, human nature was NOT created in us by GOD—was NOT born in us. It has been injected into humans by the "prince of the POWER OF THE AIR," Satan, who is so powerful that he surcharges the air with his morbid attitude of gloom, resentment, rebellion, selfishness, vanity, strife. Satan broadcasts in self-centered attitudes, and the "human" spirit in every human is tuned in on his wavelength! Thus Satan is now actually WORKING IN the people of this disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). But when the glorified CHRIST comes in supreme POWER and GLORY to rule all nations, Satan will be totally restrained from humanity. ALL will be called to salvation and eternal life—and, as God's people now are, will become partakers of the divine nature! (II Peter 1:4). "Human nature" will be GONE! The earth will be as full of the knowledge of the Eternal as the ocean beds are full of water (Isaiah 11:9). Science's Postulate of the Future World-famous scientists foresee three possibilities for the future. 1) Some optimists think we shall soon have the magic push-button century 21—with such an array of gadgetry produced by technology that human labor will be all but eliminated, and the world shall be entranced and bedazzled by material technology. But, of course, this would not rid us of human nature. Crime would escalate, family life would break down completely, morals would sink even lower—if possible! 2) We shall have more and more evils, and, with nuclear power and other means of mass destruction, humanity will soon be erased from the earth. 3) Some say the world's only hope, now, to escape cosmocide is to form one gigantic world government, controlling the only military power and weaponry—yet in the same breath they admit the impossibility of it. WHO would sit on the throne RULING the world? The United States and Europe would never accept a Communist in supreme command. The Communists would never accept an American or Western European. WHY?—yes, WHY should we have a world where more than half of all its people live in illiteracy, abject poverty, filth and squalor, racked with diseases and pains and without hope? WHY?—when the human mind can produce the marvels of technology, the computer, send men to the moon and back, transmit photographs from the surface of Mars and Jupiter to the earth? Can't we realize there has to be a CAUSE for all these evils—and that the GREAT MAJESTIC GOD has power to eradicate the causes and usher in a REAL Utopia? Don't sell God short! The Two Alternatives Let's face it! Right now there are two alternatives. Either there does exist the living almighty GOD of supreme mind and power, who will very soon intervene and SAVE HUMANITY FROM ITSELF, or else HUMAN EXTINCTION is now imminent! There is no other alternative! But thank God, there is the GOOD NEWS of the soon-coming PEACEFUL, HAPPY WORLD TOMORROW! When the supreme Creator-RULER comes again to earth, already crowned as KING of kings, in supreme POWER and GLORY and all the holy angels with Him, the Gentile nations actually will FIGHT to resist Him! But "... their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth" (Zechariah 14:12). The living CHRIST is coming to RULE WITH DIVINE FORCE! And one of His first acts will be to depose Satan! The CAUSE of the world's evils will be removed! Jesus, after His resurrection, ascended to heaven, in clouds taking Him up out of sight. He shall return in clouds. The mighty Lord shall descend with a SHOUT!—with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ shall rise in a glorious resurrection to SPIRIT IMMORTALITY! The living in Christ shall then be caught up in the air with them, changed to spirit immortality—to MEET the descending Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:16-17). Christ's feet shall stand that same day on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4). The immortal saints shall be continually with the Lord—reigning with and under Him from Jerusalem over all nations! With Satan gone, the KINGDOM OF GOD shall be set up in power. Everyone whom God has called out of this world of Satan's has been called to a special mission preparing for this Kingdom! The GOVERNMENT OF GOD will be restored, worldwide! The humans left on earth will be ruled over. No mortal humans will rule—only those who PREPARED and QUALIFIED to rule during their earthly life after receiving God's Spirit. The Government Organization God has not revealed in specific detail how His government will be organized. He does reveal that it shall be government from the TOP down. Christ will be KING of kings over all nations. It is specifically revealed that King David of ancient Judah, resurrected, shall be king over the nations descended from the 12 tribes of ancient Israel (Ezekiel 34:23; 37:24-25; Jeremiah 30:9). Jesus Himself revealed that the 12 original apostles shall sit on 12 thrones, each ruling one of these nations (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30). As a theocracy, with government from the top down, it also is revealed that God the Father is the supreme LAWGIVER, and head over Christ and therefore ABOVE ALL. The Kingdom of God is the FAMILY OF GOD—and the Father is supreme head over His family! Jesus Christ is coming as KING of kings and LORD of lords, so the Kingdom of God shall combine church and state, as did ancient Israel—with Christ earthly King and LORD. NOTE WELL THIS PRINCIPLE: In a world cut off from God, God has called out of the world those predestinated. And in every instance the call has been to a definite DUTY, and also in every case that duty has been one PREPARING FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. God called Abraham. All the PROMISES of our eternal salvation were given to Abraham, and we inherit them from the fact Abraham is the "father of the faithful." This reveals that Abraham will have higher position in the Kingdom than David. He will be NEXT UNDER CHRIST. Then again, the Scriptures use the phrase "Abraham, Isaac and Jacob," grouping them together as a team. All the PROMISES were repromised also to Isaac and to Jacob. This indicates they shall be a headquarters TEAM—next under Christ—over both church and state, with Abraham chairman of the team. In Luke 13:28, Jesus said definitely that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob shall be in that glorified Kingdom. One Government Over All When the KINGDOM—the divine FAMILY of God—reigns on earth, it shall be the ONE GOVERNMENT over ALL nations. There shall be ONE God, ONE government, ONE religion. In the transfiguration vision, Peter, James and John saw Christ transformed into the GLORIFIED Christ, His face shining as the sun (Matthew 17:1-7), and with Him in the Kingdom Moses and Elijah. These two, in the vision, represented the offices of church and state. Both Moses and Elijah, in their human lifetime, qualified for chief positions in church and state, respectively, next under Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—Moses over all national GOVERNMENTS—Elijah over church. It was Elijah who restored KNOWLEDGE of the worship of the true God. All these men, who were CALLED to special missions by God during their physical human life, were prepared and qualified for these positions in the KINGDOM. Actually, the preaching of the gospel and spread of religion IN THE KINGDOM will be primarily RELIGIOUS EDUCATION—since ALL shall be called, and the decision will be made individually by each person. It is significant that Elijah had founded THREE COLLEGES (II Kings 2:3, 5; 4:38) at Bethel, Jericho and Gilgal, teaching God's TRUTH in a world corrupted by false paganized education. The one original true Church of God is UNIQUE in the knowledge that THIS WORLD HAS BEEN CUT OFF FROM GOD—its inhabitants who were uncalled are therefore NOT BEING JUDGED—yet! They have been neither "saved" nor "lost." But THEY HAVE BEEN DECEIVED! As Jesus said, many would go out claiming to represent Him, proclaiming that Jesus was the CHRIST (Messiah)—yet DECEIVING THE MANY! (Matthew 24:4-5, II Corinthians 11:13-15). Millions have been deceived into a FALSE SALVATION. What about all these sincere people—are they "LOST"? Of course not. But neither did they receive the "salvation" they were deceived into expecting. They simply were not—YET—judged. THEY SHALL BE—all who have died—in the resurrection of the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-13). Salvation shall surely come to all who—once the TRUTH is revealed, and they are undeceived—are as willing as they thought they were in the false salvation they were deceived into accepting! This will include many whom our readers may have supposed were "lost." It is a GLORIOUS HOPE! Now notice Matthew 25:31 on. "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory." Combine that with other scriptures already covered. When Jesus comes in His glory, He will come as He went to heaven—in clouds. The dead shall rise first—in a resurrection—then the living in Christ shall be instantly changed to spirit immortality and be caught up in the air with them to meet the descending Lord. His feet shall stand that same day on the Mount of Olives. The resurrected and changed saints shall be continually from then with Him. Then He shall sit on the throne of His glory—in the City of David, Jerusalem. All the holy angels will be with Him. In Revelation 12 we find that a third of the angels followed Lucifer into rebellion. But what about all these HOLY angels—the other two-thirds? I have said angel creation was not COMPLETE until by their own decision CHARACTER—either righteous or evil—had been formed in them. What about this two-thirds of angels, here called HOLY! God does not reveal HOW their character, and therefore their creation, was completed. But, in some manner not revealed, it is apparent the two-thirds had formed holy and righteous character, for here they are called HOLY angels, and in many parts of both Old and New Testaments they are described as definitely holy and in God's service. All Nations Gathered Now continue, Matthew 25:32, "And before him [Christ] shall be gathered all nations ... ." This can refer only to the people in all nations still remaining alive at that time—all MORTAL, human, flesh-and-blood people. Remember, many who had been called and truly converted will then be sitting with Christ in His throne at Jerusalem. Continue: "... and he shall separate them one from another ... ." Remember the dead and living IN Christ had already been separated and risen to meet Christ in the air. This separation refers to the still-living MORTALS—who had not previously been called—who had, up to now, been cut off from God and from salvation. But now, with Christ on the throne and Satan gone, ALL are spiritually called! Now continue, still verse 32: "... as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then [verse 34] shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." All then still living will be called. Those who decide for God's Kingdom—with Satan then out of the way—will INHERIT the Kingdom of God—be BORN INTO IT! "Then [verse 41] shall he say also unto them on his left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels [demons]." That fire is described in 2 Peter 3:10-12—the face of the earth becoming a molten inferno—burning up the mortal incorrigible. However, this fire will not take place until the end of the millennium. Verse 46, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." That "everlasting punishment" has been construed by the deceived to mean "everlasting punishING—but it is punishMENT—and the wages of sin is DEATH (Romans 6:23). True, some few scriptures speak of the fire NOT BEING QUENCHED—and the deceived misconstrue this to mean an eternally burning hell. Often I have illustrated this before audiences by placing a small piece of paper in a metal pan and lighting it. I say to the audience, "Now watch! This fire shall not be quenched!" Then I put the remaining ash on the floor, step on it and quote Malachi 4:3, "... they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet ... ." WHAT A FABULOUS POTENTIAL lies ahead of all humans willing to BELIEVE when called! WHAT WONDERFUL TRUTH God has revealed to His one and only true original Church, small and persecuted, yet vigorously ALIVE with God's WONDERFUL TRUTH! The Plain Truth - 1979 The Seven Proofs written by Herbert W Armstrong as seen in the following issues: Plain Truth - Feb 1979 Proof One Plain Truth - March 1979 Proof Two and Three Plain Truth - April 1979 Proof Four Plain Truth - May1979 Proof Five Plain Truth - Jun/Jul 1979 Proof Six - Part 1 Plain Truth - Aug 1979 Proof Six - Part 2 Plain Truth - Sept 1979 Proof Six - Part 3 Plain Truth - Oct/Nov 1979 Proof Seven

Prospective Members Page ...not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others (Phil. 2:4). Prospective Member’s Guide Vigilant Church of God herewith welcomes you as a prospective member. Please study this guide thoroughly and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Contact details are at the end of this guide. Laodicean Era vs. Philadelphia Era While it is vital to understand the difference between the two Church Eras, if you do not understand Church Eras as it appears in the Book of Revelation, do not be overly concerned, as you will learn what they are by the end of this study (1 Tim 2:15). The first and arguably the most important to understand is that the Philadelphia Era ENDED in 1986 with the death of Mr. Armstrong, the last Apostle and also the type of Elijah (Mal 4:5). The commission of the Philadelphia Era was to take the Gospel to the whole world (Matt 24:14). Mr. Armstrong accomplished this and with his death that phase of the Work was finished. Many C.O.G leaders teach that this is still the Philadelphia Era OR at least that their organisation is a “remnant of Philadelphia”. THIS IS FALSE! The Bible does not teach this, but false leaders use this statement to continue taking tithes and drawing a salary, making merchandise of the brethren (2Pet 2:3) with feigned (fictitious) words. The very truth is that we are now, since the death of Mr. Armstrong, deeply into the Laodicean Era where both leaders and brethren are lukewarm and indifferent (Rev 3:16-17), not believing the Gospel has been preached and that Matthew 24:14 has been fulfilled. So, if this is true, what is the Work of God now, and what are the brethren of God supposed to do, since the Work of preaching the Gospel is complete? Well, here starts your exciting journey with Vigilant Church of God! The Work of the Church of The Laodiceans Notice precisely how your Bible address the final Era of God’s Church in Rev 3:14: “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;” (plural) Yes, instead of Christ, the Leader of this Work, addressing the Laodicean Era as a whole, He address each believer individually, knocking on each one’s door (Rev 3:20), asking them to invite Him into their lives once again by “buying gold tried in the fire” (returning to the truth) and anointing their eyes (repenting from a lukewarm attitude) so they may once again believe as before, when Mr. Armstrong restored all things. Read or listen to his own words here . Please take time to study the following material as it will help you to understand the Work in this Era on VCG website: Read “About US” and listen to “The Knock”: https://www.vigilantcog.com/about-us Read or re-read “Mystery of the Ages” or listen to the audio book: https://www.vigilantcog.com/from-mr-armstrong Read the booklet “Tithing”: https://www.vigilantcog.com/_files/ugd/7e4368_d67f1f94721d44e89e6ce34c57e1a4b7.pdf Review VCG video “Save Yourself Brethren”: https://youtu.be/akOi0Vo_zjQ Review VCG video “The Greatest DOCTRINE – restored”: https://youtu.be/gDuXMitpUH0 Review VCG video “The Greatest Doctrine part 2”: https://youtu.be/f0JzgVO8s3M While the above material is given to understand the Work we are doing, there are many more items available on the website, so we urge you to review all you can in the time you have available. While a prospective member, you will be assigned an experienced preaching elder to help guide you through this path to full membership with Vigilant Church of God. Contacts: (Phone or Whatsapp) Mr. Gerhard Coetzer +27 64 248 5710

A Word to the wise from Herbert W. Armstrong "The Work IS Finished"... Herbert W. Armstrong "The Work is finished" refers to Matthew 24:14 and ended the Philadelphia era as described in Revelation 2 and 3. His intention was not to state that there was and is no more work to do. On the contrary, Christ is still working with His Church in what is now the final few years, before His return, known as the Laodicean era. We serve God's people in this capacity, helping God's flock to find their direction and inspiration in these final, challenging years, just prior to the establishment of God's Kingdom on Earth. Few understand that the Work is not FINISHED, but has merely CHANGED and Christ is the One leading the "church of the Laodiceans" today! Congress of leading ministers hears defined and reemphasized spiritual organization of Church. Worldwide News March 6, 1981 Did the leaders of the Scattered Churches of God BELIEVE what Mr. Armstrong told them?... Read his own words in a March 6, 1981 Worldwide News to all these "leaders"! "... there is no one in the Church that has the qualifications, the experience that could carry on the work that God has given me to do. Who is there among you who can do it? If you will tell me I would like to know. It would be so nice if I could retire. Because it's a pretty heavy load I have to carry. But I'm not thinking of myself, I'm thinking of what I've been called to do. And it must be done. And God's Will will be done". Read more .. . SERMON: Mission of the Philadelphia Church of God Philadelphia Church Herbert W. Armstrong 00:00 / 1:25:49 Listen to Mystery of the Ages - Audio Book MOA tape 1 side A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 1 side B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 2 side A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 2 side B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 3 side A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 3 side B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 4 side A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 4 side B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 5 side A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 5 side B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 6 side A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 6 side B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 7 side A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 7 side B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 8 side A - HWA 00:00 / 00:00 MOA tape 8 side B - HWA 00:00 / 00:00

Who Are We? The Church of God was prophesied to scatter - Daniel 12:7 The Vigilant Church of God is a group of people who believe Jesus Christ raised up an apostle in the 20th century to lead the Philadelphia era of God's Church. That man was Herbert W. Armstrong. In Matt. 28:19-20, Christ gave the commission to preach the gospel to all nations, to His original apostles, not to the Church. When He gave that commission to the apostles, the Church had not yet been born. Christ gave this great commission to the apostles 10 days before the spirit begotten Church of God even existed. Jesus Christ gave that same commission to His end-time, last apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong. Christ spelled it out in clear words in Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come” (emphasis ours). Christ also laid the original foundation of the Church by the original apostles, along with the prophets of the old testament, as the apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2:20. Down through the centuries and through great persecution, much, even most, of that foundation became lost. As Christ always places truth in the Church through apostles, so in this end-time, He raised up an apostle to restore that same, original foundation of truth. The commission that Christ gave to his end-time and last apostle, Mr. Armstrong was, two-fold: To preach the gospel of the kingdom to all nations as a witness and to restore the complete, original foundation (the truth) to the Church. Mr. Armstrong faithfully completed the job he was given to do. Matthew 24:14 is a prophecy that has now been fulfilled. Christ said that it would be done, Mr. Armstrong said that he had done it, and many of us saw it being done. Please view the video "The Gospel Has Been Preached" Accomplishing that two-fold commission was the work (of an apostle) in the Philadelphia era of God's Church. It was the work of God and Jesus Christ did that work. Mr. Armstrong often said this is not the private work of Herbert W. Armstrong, this is God's work and Christ is doing it. He said he was the only man that Christ was using. Mr. Armstrong always gave all the credit to Jesus Christ. That was the assigned work of the Philadelphia era and once the job was accomplished, God allowed the apostle, Mr. Armstrong, to die after faithfully serving the Church of God for more than 5 decades. That ended the Philadelphia era, and thus Jesus Christ closed the door to that work. It is Jesus Christ who actually does the work of God and we saw that the work that He did in the 6th era was taking the gospel to all nations as a witness. When that job was done He closed that door and that era ended. So the next era began, which is the 7th and final era and Christ called it Laodicea. What is the work that we find Christ doing in this era ? Rev.3:20 says “Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Read verses 19-21. The work that Jesus Christ is now doing, in this Laodicean era, is knocking on the hearts of each person who has the Spirit of God dwelling in him/her to open and allow them in to feed them. Though this era thinks it still has the OPEN DOOR OF PHILADELPHIA, it has in actual fact closed the door to Christ! Rev. 3:20 shows that Christ is outside of His Church, not inside. He is calling on them to repent and return to the full truth that He, Christ, had placed in the Church during the previous era, the Philadelphia era. Christ is now measuring His Church, as described in Rev. 11:1-2. The Vigilant Church of God promotes the work Jesus Christ did and is doing through Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. We believe he was used in the spirit and power of Elijah, to restore the TRUTH and raised up the Philadelphia Work (Revelation 3:7-13). We understand completely that Mr. Armstrong was merely a man whom Christ used as His tool to do that work and we, like Mr. Armstrong give all the credit to Jesus Christ and God the Father. Isaiah 2:22 says “Cease ye from man, whos breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” We are also totally aware of Jeremiah 17:5 “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Therefore we trust Jesus Christ and His judgment, by respecting the leader that He chose to use. The work of KNOCKING AND MEASURING is the work that Jesus Christ is doing in this final era and the Vigilant Church of God is committed to being a tool as a Messenger in the Hand of Christ, as He does this Work. Therefore, we as a small group are committed to the message of the knock of Christ and holding fast to the faith once delivered. First to the original apostles and finally, to this end-time apostle (Herbert W. Armstrong). We are holding fast to all of the truth of Revelation 3:11, set in the Church by Jesus Christ through His final apostle, Herbert W. Armstrong. The work of preaching the gospel to the world and the Ezekiel work to Israel has been completed. Mr. Armstrong fulfilled those commissions. Listen to Mr. Armstrong saying, "The Work will be finished when I die." For more information, contact Vigilant Church of God at our CONTACT PAGE. "The Knock" sermon by Mr. Ellery Burgess The Knock of Christ - Mr. Ellery Burgess 00:00 / 00:00

From Mr. Armstrong About Us Prospective Members Contact Us Admin Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Welcome to the Vigilant CHURCH of GOD The Vigilant Church of God presents the Truth directly from the scriptures to help and guide the scattered Churches of God. The work of KNOCKING AND MEASURING is the work that Jesus Christ is doing in this final era and the Vigilant Church of God is committed to being a tool as a Messenger in the Hand of Christ. Sabbath services are held in an on-line meeting room. To join this service, Contact Us. Latest Sermon on Spotify Visit Vigilant Radio podcast at: Spotify Featured video for former Worldwide Church of God members See all videos HERE View all YouTube videos Popular Videos Must Listen Jesus sends His leader Mr. Michael Venish 00:00 / 1:04:36 As a member of a Church of God which splintered off of the Worldwide Church of God - Please listen to this message Latest Sermons Our Modern Spiritual Warfare Mr. Gerhard Coetzer 00:00 / 56:47 The Bride has made herself ready Dr. Burrus Smith 00:00 / 39:53 Put on clean garments Mr. Mike Downing 00:00 / 30:44 The LOVE of God and YOU Mr. Michael Venish 00:00 / 52:44 Handwriting-is-on-the-Wall Mr Michael Venish 00:00 / 1:19:50 Important Message In John 5:17 Jesus says ".... My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. " To find out what He meant, listen to the audio below... The Knock of Jesus Christ - Rev. 3:20 Mr. Ellery Burgess 00:00 / 29:06 Follow this link Listen to all Audio here Vital Study Aid SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES FOR THE FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH OF GOD This listing was composed by ministers of the Worldwide Church of God approximately 1984 or before and was used in the Graduate Spokesman's Club in the Chicago area and is presented here unchanged. While this listing is very detailed, it is not an exhaustive listing of the doctrines of The Church of God. View Doctrines Follow this link

Prophetic Q & A 2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. Greetings friends and brethren... the Vigilant Church of God is not a prophecy website. Our duty is to feed the flock of Jesus Christ, "occupying" until His return. However, the Bible instructs us not to be negligent regarding prophecy, at least from an observer's point of view. There are no true prophets alive today, although many would like to present themselves as such. This page is intended to educate visitors regarding the most pertinent view presented on platforms such as Youtube, where a host of true and false information is available. We present Truth straight from the Bible and therefore do not endorse OR reject any of the views presented by outside "experts". We hope you will enjoy this page as we explore prophetic questions and answers, occasionally giving our opinion, based on the only source of Truth - The Holy Bible. Who is currently seen as the Antichrist? Some of the current candidates are: Klaus Schwab Founder of the World Economic Forum Continent: Leader: Role: Influence: Europe Civil Founder of the World Economic Forum, 2025 non-executive role at the World Economic Forum Global agendas, address social issues alongside corporate and political leaders. View Video "In the new world, it is not the big fish which eats the small fish, it's the fast fish which eats the slow fish" ~ Klaus Schwab King Charl es III Monarch of United Kingdom Continent: Leader: Role: Influence: View Video "On an increasingly crowded planet, humanity faces many threats – but none is greater than climate change. It magnifies every hazard and tension of our existence"~ King Charles III Europe Royal Monarch of UK, Prince of Wales, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, “Defender of the Faith”(s). Global agendas. Symbolic head of Commonwealth Vladimir Putin President of Russia Continent: Leader: Role: Influence: Europe and Asia Political President of Russia, Global Diplomat Energy leverage. Large Military and Nuclear power. In War with Ukraine. View Video "A great leader is that which defends his people" ~ Vladimir Putin Donald Trump President of the United States Continent: Leader: Role: Influence: North America Political President of United States, Global Diplomat Leading Economy and Military power. Global peace talks. Foreign policies have global impact. View Video "As president, my highest aspiration is to bring peace and stability to the world." ~ Donald Trump Pope Leo XIV Leader of Roman Catholic Church Continent: Leader: Role: Influence: View Video Europe (born in USA) Religious Leader of Roman Catholic Church, Sovereign of Vatican City Global religious influence over a billion Catholics, prioritized global peace and unity, also the "Jubilee of the Poor". "I would like that our first great desire be for a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world" ~ Pope Leo XIV Elon Musk CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, xAi, "X" Continent: Leader: Role: Influence: North America (born in RSA) Tech/Business CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and xAI. Owner of X (* twitter) Global tech influence, including AI, global communications platforms, space exploration View Video “The least scary future I can think of is one where we have at least democratized AI…[also] when there’s an evil dictator, that human is going to die. But for an AI, there would be no death. It would live forever. And then you’d have an immortal dictator from which we can never escape.”~ Elon Musk

Bible Correspondence Course Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course - Lesson 1 Lesson 1 - Why Study The Bible In The Space Age? Start Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course - Lesson 2 Lesson 2 - What Is The Message Jesus Brought From Heaven? Start Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course - Lesson 3 Lesson 3 - Where Is The Arms Race Leading? Start Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course - Lesson 4 Lesson 4 - Why Do So Few Understand The Bible? Start Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course - Test 1 Test 1 - Lessons 1 to 4 Start Test Please reload

Annual Holy Day Calendar Click on the image to read the booklet

From the BOOK Your word is a LAMP that gives light to wherever I walk (Ps 119:105). CONTENTS (click on a title to go there) Beware of false Prophets What is the Savior's Name? TRIALS What is the WORK of the Church of God TODAY? Please reload False Profits Beware of FALSE prophets! In this age of the Laodicean Church of God, many lay-members have taken it upon themselves to enter the Temple of God to perform the work of a priest. Why this lack of understanding of who works at the Altar, who lights the Lamps and who makes the Shew bread? How serious does Jesus Christ, the Head of His Church take these infringements in His Temple? Including lay-members who despise the Government of God, these lay people are teaching without Christ's authority. "Wolves in sheep's clothing," Christ called them. Will you be misled by a soft and fleecy exterior? Here is help from God's Word to see through the disguise. God reserves His strongest condemnation for those who claim to be speaking for Him, but are actually leading people away from the true God. "Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams... and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all... for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts, our God. "Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence; And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten" (Jer. 23:25-40). Christ's warning Throughout His ministry, Jesus Christ gave repeated warnings to avoid false teachers. In the Sermon on the Mount He cautioned: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:15-20). Christ said we should look at the fruits. What fruits should we examine? Obviously not those in which a wool-covered wolf could most easily pass himself off as a sheep. We should expect a false prophet to attempt, with all his heart, to look like a real one, or what he thinks is a real one. As Paul wrote: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers [Did you know Satan has ministers?] also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (II Cor. 11:13-15). We should expect a warm and ready smile. We can be confident of an outward expression of accommodation, at least at first. We should also expect humility — lots of [false] humility. So those "fruits" are untrustworthy. What next? Perhaps we should consider "good works" such as missionaries, converts, hospitals, drug clinics or free meals for vagabonds and vagrants? Surely if they preach in the name of Christ, that is good fruit, isn't it? No, not necessarily, according to Jesus Christ. Right after telling us to beware of false prophets and to look at their fruits, He continued the Sermon on the Mount by saying, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). Referring to Christ as the Lord is not conclusive proof of good fruit. Doing what God says, is. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? [preaching, hospitals, missionaries] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you." Startling as it may seem, many people who have used Christ's name, who have accomplished many beneficial works, often at great sacrifice to themselves, were never recognized by Him as His servants. They used that name falsely! He continued, "depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (verses 22-23). Instead of doing the will of the Father, they did iniquity. What is iniquity? The word iniquity in Matthew 7:23 was translated from the Greek word "anomia" — literally against law or lawlessness. Christ said that He never knew, and would send away those that work lawlessness. False prophets find it troublesome to define sin. If forced to do so, they usually try to express sin as vaguely and unspecifically as possible. They reason that there is no point in losing followers by condemning what their congregations enjoy doing or bluntly refuse to change. Most will even refuse to consider the Bible definition in I John 3:4, "Sin is the transgression of the law." Leader and layman alike want nothing to do with God's law. Under any circumstances. Period. "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets," the founder of Christianity said. Yet most people that come in His name, claiming He is Christ, think exactly that. He continues, "I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not one iota, not a dot [not one little bit], will pass from the law until all is accomplished [everyone is keeping it]. "Whoever then relaxes [let alone breaks] one of the least of these commandments and teaches men [to do] so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:17-19, Revised Standard Version). God's law expresses God's will. It shows the way He wants us to go. He does not want His law relaxed, diluted or slackened. He wants it kept fully, from the heart (Rom. 6:17-18). In spite of Christ's words, many will claim that they are "free from the law" or "the law is done away." The Ten Commandments, to some, need not be kept. If that be true, it would mean the "faithful" are free to have another god before God the Father. They may take His name in vain, crush His holy Sabbath underfoot, steal, lie, commit adultery and covet until they turn bright green — all without guilt or sin. No wonder Christ will tell them "depart"! Yet that is the ungodly doctrine many have been taught. Laymen are not without some blame. "This is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits" (Isa. 30:9-10). For pastors of godless flocks, it is easier to change the message than the members. Many non-biblical observances are now called "Christian" for that precise reason. Yet, the main responsibility God lays at the door of the false prophets. "There is a conspiracy of her [the nation's] prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and the profane [God has set some days as Holy Days (also, the first tenth of all income is holy to Him (Lev. 27:30)], neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean (God did not intend all animals for food) and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths (God says the seventh day - why does anyone attempt to keep the first?) and I am profaned among them" (Ezek. 22:25-26). Legalistic? Occasionally, a minister who upholds the law is accused of being legalistic. Every minister should be known for godly mercy. But mercy does not mean relaxing the law of God. It means God granting forgiveness for the repentant, those who acknowledge their sins and strive to turn from them. On the other hand, God denounces the false prophets for not showing the right, but unpopular way. "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil ways and from the evil of their doings" (Jer. 23:21-22). When God created mankind, He knew we would need a lot of forgiving. That is why Christ was "slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). Christ's blood covers our sins, not when we wallow in sin (knowingly continue to break God's law), but when we forsake sin, ask His free gift of forgiveness and begin to obey Him. False prophets don't give the straight story about sin. They give their own ideas about what sin is. A true minister knows that God defines sin, not man. And the law of God is that definition (Rom. 3:20). Inside the Church Not all false prophets come from outside the Church. Some were formerly faithful servants of God, but swerved from the "straight and narrow" path. The apostle Paul called the ministers of Ephesus together during his last visit to that ancient city. He knew that false prophets would soon descend upon the flock of God. So he alerted the leaders to the dangers that both pastors and flock would face. "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you [overseers], to care for [feed] the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock." These wolves would mostly come from outside the Church. But worse, "and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things [distorted doctrine] to draw away the disciples after them" (Acts 20:28-30, RSV). Faithful pastors protect the flock from those who would spoil them. But some of those called and ordained in God's true Church would covet Christ's sheep. So they would turn from the teachings and the teachers they had originally acknowledged. Then set up their own government, with themselves at the top. That is treason, one of the most vicious attacks the flock of God must endure. A faithful minister would always submit to those leaders whom Christ chose, trained and put in authority over His Church. Christ's words are especially clear. "A person who speaks on his authority is trying to gain glory for himself. But he who wants glory for the one who sent [commissioned] him is honest, and there is nothing false in him" (John 7:18, Good News Bible). Christ faithfully honored, obeyed and glorified the Father who sent Him. The apostles of Jesus Christ, whom He sent into all parts of the world, responded to Him in the same spirit of honor and respect. They in turn were to ordain other men to various Church offices under themselves to see to the spiritual needs of the people as God added to the Church. Except for Judas, all the apostles remained faithful to the One who sent them. But that was not true of some of the, individuals whom the apostles ordained and sent. Paul said some would turn from serving the needs of Christ's flock under the government of God to serving their own interests instead. Peter's warning Peter alerted the Church of the same danger. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in [to the Church] damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them [they were converted], and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways: by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words [in sheep's clothing] make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not" (II Pet. 2:1-3). Everyone can make a mistake. But usually, true prophets become false prophet; to receive for themselves the respect and contributions due to God's true representative. Wolves wear sheepskins to eat mutton. The prophet motive becomes the profit motive. Why a following? Peter said many would follow the wrong way. Why do false prophets have a following? First, God says that the entire world is deceived (Rev. 12:9). The inhabitants of the earth are separated from God and don't know it. They are cut off from His law, from His mercy and from His Spirit. God will make all of those freely available to every human who ever lived. But not at this time. Only a few are called now. The rest are blinded to God's ways. Many simply inherit their religion from their parents. They never question it deeply, just accept it as they do their name and nationality. But a more basic reason is that most people prefer looking good to doing good. After telling Isaiah to "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins," God complains of their love of religiosity. "Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinance of justice; they take delight in approaching to God" (Isa. 58:1-2). Many people want a religion that has all the trappings of godliness but few of the constraints. Choirs and candles are pleasant. Sabbaths and tithes are not. Preachers that are innocuous are tolerated. Those who expect their congregations to conform to the Word of God will be told to go. False prophets have followers because many people want a religion more than they want God. You can choose from hundreds of different types of "Christianity." Some are very sober. Others are actually wild. Some are strict, others lenient. You can be soothed or shouted at, but you won't be "lost" if you attend regularly. Or pick from the hundreds that never mention the name Jesus Christ. False prophets don't need to use His name. Marx and Mao didn't. Converted members of the true Church can fall into the same trap. Paul wrote Timothy: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (II Tim. 4:2-4). False prophets respond to the itching ears of wayward sheep. The wolves entice them away from life toward death. Constantly, in Paul's writings, he records how often he had to contend with false prophets and false brethren. He wrote Timothy how to recognize them quickly. "Anyone who teaches novelties and refuses to fall in with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the doctrine that tallies with godliness, is a conceited, ignorant creature with a morbid passion for controversy and argument which leads only to envy, dissension, insults, insinuations and constant friction between people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the Truth. They imagine religion is a paying concern" (I Tim. 6:3-5, James Moffatt translation). Why does God permit false prophets? Why does God allow wolves to have access to His flock? Why doesn't He expose them before they do any harm? He has His reasons! The first and most basic scripture about false prophets explains why. "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deut. 13:1-3). God wants his flock to stay with Him and the truth no matter what. Those with "itching ears" desiring to turn away from or relax His law or overthrow the stewards He chose will have the opportunity to do so. Maybe, upon seeing the fruit of their own heart, some will acknowledge their wrong way and return to the flock. He is confident the true sheep will not be led astray by false prophets. Referring to Himself as the shepherd of the sheep, He said: "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers" (John 10:4-5). His sheep acknowledge Him. They acknowledge His doctrine. "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his way, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John 7:16-17). They would respect those whom Christ placed as leaders. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me" (John 13:20). Jesus warned, "For false Christs and false prophets shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect" (Mark 13:22). The flock of God is certain to encounter many trials and tests — false prophets and treasonous pastors among them. But the true sheep of His pasture, who seek His leadership and His will, won't be led astray and devoured. Thankfully, it is just not possible. Christ's sheep will see the fake fleece and run! Savior's Name What is the Savior's NAME ? Good News February 1980 Are Hebrew terms for the Creator God - rather than English or Greek titles - the only ones accepted or recognized by God? Is some one name absolutely essential for salvation? Here's evidence from the original texts of the Bible. Must we use only Hebrew terms when speaking of the Creator? Should we say Yahweh rather than God? Is it a sin to use the name Jesus Christ and to call His true people the Church of God? Is God's name Jehovah? Despite the fact that the Hebrew text of the Old Testament contains many divine names and titles, the major argument propagated by certain religionists centers around the word many English translations have rendered Lord. Let's examine this word - the tetragrammaton YHWH. The Old Testament text as it was preserved for many centuries consisted only of consonants, though semi consonants were used to indicate certain long vowels. The exact pronunciation, with the correct vowel sounds , was preserved only by oral usage. The vowel sounds were not written down until about the sixth or seventh century, A.D. At that time, Jewish textual scholars known as Masoretes (hence Masoretic text) devised symbols to represent the vowels. They added these symbols (vowel points) to the consonantal text of the Old Testament. It was only at this time – centuries after both the Old and New Testaments had been completed – that the then-current pronunciation as orally preserved was written down. But the tetragrammaton, the Hebrew name YHWH, had long before ceased to be pronounced by the Jews as too sacred to be uttered. Whenever reciting orally, they always substituted the word Adonai (Lord) or occasionally Elohim wherever YHWH appears in the text. This practice began long before the time of Herod. Later, in the sixth or seventh century, wherever the Masoretes found the word YHWH, they inserted the vowel points of Adonai or Elohim (not the original vowels of YHWH) to give the synagogue reader the clue to use the acceptable word. It was from the consonants YHWH plus the vowel points of Adonai that the impossible form Jehovah was later created by Catholics only partially knowledgeable of the Hebrew language and text. Hebrew scholars are quick to admit that the exact vowel sounds and pronunciation of YHWH are not absolutely certain. Most feel that Yahweh (pronounced Ya-hweh, with the second syllable sounding like the whe in where) is a close approximation . But this reconstruction is partly based on transliterations into Greek by some of the so-called church fathers several centuries after the writ ing of the New Testament. This Jewish custom of substituting one word for the other was already practiced, for example, by the Essene sect at Qumran, who left us the Dead Sea Scrolls. For several technical reasons we need not list, it is certain the Qumran sect had stopped pronouncing YHWH as early as the beginning of the second century B.C. If the correct pronunciation were known at all in New Testament times , it has not survived in writing. Some scholars disagree with the pronunciation Yahweh. Some believe the name was Yaho or Yahwo or Yahu. There is simply no way to be absolutely sure how it was pronounced when YHWH introduced this name to Moses. And, of course, vowel pronunciation is always subject to great change through the centuries and from region to region. Even if Ezra and later generations pronounced this name Yahweh, how had Moses pronounced it? After all, that would have been the only correct way - if exact pronunciation is what matters. Consider also this factor. Today's Jews have traditional pronunciations for Hebrew vowels and even consonants - and hence words – different from one another in various parts of the world, even in the same generation, just as English speakers from various parts of the world pronounce English words differently. Were there no differences in Hebrew dialects in Bible times between the Nile and the Euphrates? Linguistic records such as Judges 12:6 indicate there were . .[f the exact pronunciation were all important, what about those today whose native tongue or dialect is different? They' can't form the sounds of Yahweh correctly. Are they all without hope? What about the man today who says Yahvah instead of Yahweh? Any who continue to support a. requirement to designate the Creator as YHWH - regardless of how he might think it should be pronounced - must explain the statement in Exodus 6:2-3: "And Elohim spoke unto Moses and said unto him , I am YHWH. And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as EI Shadday [God Almighty]. But by my name YHWH I was not known to them" (all Bible quotes used in this article are translated directly from the Hebrew or Greek). No YHWH before Moses Did Elohim mean what He said? - that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not even know the name YHWH? Or must we try to explain away this passage by saying (as some do) that Abraham actually used the . name YHWH but just didn't understand it? On the contrary, these two verses strongly indicate the name YHWH was simply not revealed as the name before Moses. Supporting evidence for the statement of these verses is found in an examination of the theophoric names of people who lived before Moses - names, that is, bearing some form of divine name within them. Our modern society seldom uses such names except for names actually taken from the Bible. But Hebrew society was different. So we find many names in the Bible with an E[, or Yah or Yahu (short for YHWH) in them. For example, early in the Bible we run across names with E[ in them. Genesis 5:12 mentions Mahalaleel whose name means praise of El. Genesis 10:28 lists Abimael - a father is El. Jacob changed the name of Luz to ' Bethel (house of El Gen. 28: 19) and later had his own name changed to Israel , he perseveres with El. Similarly, we find the divine name Shadday, which first appears in Genesis 17:1, in the name Zurishaddai, meaning my rock is Shadday, (N um. 1:6). Zurishaddai lived before the exodus. Yet we find no human names with YHWH (including Yah or Yahu or any shortened form of the name) until after the time of Moses. A careful examination of all the biblical names before the time of Moses reveals no trace of the ' name YHWH. Some are bound to ask why the name YHWH is used in the text all through Genesis if it were not known before Moses. It's simple. By the time the book of Genesis was composed, the name YHWH was known and was simply inserted into the text. This means that such men as Abel and the other preachers of righteousness before the flood, as well as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph - righteous men for more than 2 millennia - never so much as heard this name that some today emphatically assure us is absolutely necessary for salvation! The many names of God A careful study of the Bible reveals the Creative Family has a multitude of meaningful names and titles, but yields absolutely no prohibition against translating them into another language. Nowhere in the Bible are we told that only the Hebrew form is permissible. On the contrary, we are given positive examples of these names being translated into other languages. Many do not realize that several sections of the Old Testament (Dan. 2:4 through 7:28; Ezra 4:8 through 6:18; and 7:[2-26) are written in Aramaic rather than Hebrew. Aramaic was not the language Moses spoke. Nowhere in these Aramaic sections do we find YHWH, or any Hebrew names for the deity. Instead we find the Aramaic form Elah. Similarly, we find no Hebrew names in the New Testament. Instead we find the Greek terms theos (God) and kurios (Lord). Furthermore, the New Testament uses kurios in quotations from the Old Testament where YHWH is used in the Hebrew, such as Matthew 3:3, quoting from Isaiah 40:3. New Testament: inspired or corrupted? Of course, some would rather throw out God than their false theory about sacred names. So they theorize that the New Testament has been corrupted. But what they claim would have required no less than one of the most thorough editing jobs in all history! For not a single Greek New Testament manuscript shows any evidence for the use of original Hebrew YHWH supposedly put there by the authors for their Greek readers! Someone would have had to have superhuman powers to gather every single Greek manuscript scattered around the entire Mediterranean basin and carefully expunge YHWH from all New Testament manuscripts and substitute the Greek kurios. The apostle Paul certainly spoke Hebrew (Acts 21:40), but he was under no illusions that only Hebrew names for God were acceptable. Not only did he use Greek terms in his letters, but even a common greeting in Aramaic, which was widespread in the early Church. When Jesus spoke Greek to someone He used the Greek form of His name. He inspired His servants to use that same form in the New Testament. He didn't say that YHWH is the only name by which we must be saved - nor Hebrew Yehoshua, or Yahshua. Instead, the apostle Peter uses the Greek form lesous in Acts 4: 10-12 and goes on to state that whoever calls on the name of kurios (Lord without the in front of it) will be saved! Why shouldn't we then use the English forms Jesus and Lord? Meaning of YHWH Each of the many divine names and titles describes some aspect of the Creative Family's character. The Bible does not emphasize a pronunciation - a particular combination of laryngeal vibrations modulated by the mouth. It emphasizes that we understand the meaning of the divine names and titles in order for us to be more like our Savior Jesus Christ. As we cannot be absolutely sure of the vowels in YHWH, we cannot be positive about its exact grammatical form . But scholars generally feel it is some form of the verb to be. Some suggest He causes to be, others He exists . But perhaps no better interpretation can be found than the Greek statement of Revelation I :8, referring to Jesus Christ: "I am the Alpha and the Omega [in English we would say the A and the Z, the first and the last], says the Lord God, the One who is being, who was being, and who is coming, the Almighty." What's in a name? God names things what they are. YHWH means the self-existent one ---,--- the "Ever Living " as the Fenton translation uses - the "Eternal" as in the Moffatt translation. There is much in a name. Jesus has been given a name above all, in heaven or earth. There is power and authority in His name - the only name by which we may be saved. To act in His name is to act by His authority, as "power of attorney." The New Testament, written entirely in the Greek, as inspired by God's Holy Spirit, in quoting from the Old Testament, did not quote the Hebrew names, but translated them into the Greek, as we also translate them into English. Christ said He came to reveal the name of the Father (John I: 18;17:6,26). Yet we would search in vain for any discussion of its pronunciation or requirement to use only Hebrew. What then is meant by these verses? What Christ revealed is the way. . He revealed the way to life, which is the way of the character of God. . That character is the origin of His names - expressed by whatever different language. The same character in us will lead us to have eternal life like God and to bear His names that summarize His character. "But this is eternal life, that they might know thee the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ (John 17:3). We don't get to know God by concentrating on a few Hebrew characters or their English transliterations. So the use of only one name for Jesus Christ or a certain unmistakable pronunciation of that name is not a prerequisite for entering God's Kingdom. Don't be misled by any such false teachings . Trials TRIALS By Mr. Ellery Burgess The subject of trials has been on my mind recently. Some trials are what I call, “run of the mill” issues, but some are severe, or as the Apostle Peter said, “fiery”. In 1 Peter 4:2 Peter said, “Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you”. Yes, some trials are fiery, but they are to try us. There is a purpose for them. In the next verse Peter tells us, “But rejoice inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings: that when His glory is revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy”. He is not saying to rejoice because we are in fiery trials, but rather, to rejoice because we are being allowed to partake of Christ's suffering. Because that will build godly character in us. The King James Version of the Bible, in the model prayer that Jesus gave to His disciples, records Jesus as saying, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”. The Good News translation says, “Do not bring us to hard testing but keep us safe from the evil one”. That is the correct translation of what Christ actually said and is in perfect agreement with what James said in James 1:13, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man”. When we look at what Christ said about the hard testing and Keep us safe from the devil, the connection seems to be that Satan is bringing about the trials. Brethren, trials and especially hard ones will have one of two effects on us. They will either draw us closer to God, or they will drive us farther away from Him. They can cause us to become resentful and bitter, that God would allow us, to be in this predicament and reason, 'why does God not deliver me out of it?' but what would be the correct approach? Although trials must come and sometimes they are even fiery, there is a way to deal with them, that will give us God's help to endure them and overcome. Once we find ourselves in trials, any and all trials, and especially the fiery ones, the very first thing we need to do, is to find a private place and go to God in prayer. I mean fervent, heartfelt, supplication. We can cry aloud, even with tears, to our God and ask Him to help us and allow us, to see what we need to learn and give us a heart to submit to Him and His will. Also, remember what Paul said, “There has no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able: but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that you be able to bear it” 1 Cr. 10:13. Remember God is ALWAYS in control! There is another point I want to make, that is very important. Anything that happens to us, God allows it for our good. In Romans 8:28 Paul writes, “And we know that all things work together for our good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose”, and in verses 38-39, he said, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor heights, nor depths, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Work What is the WORK of the Church of God today? by Burrus Smith We find the answer in John 6:28-29. “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." In the 20th century, God sent one man… Herbert W Armstrong, and he came preaching the same message. How many today believe what was said by this man? Mr. Armstrong died Jan 16, 1986. I have seen his grave. He awaits the resurrection. The work God gave him to do is finished… or is it? Let’s turn to Revelation chapter 10:10-11 “And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” In a message, given by Mr. Gerald Waterhouse in 1980, titled “ Measuring the Temple ”, he states: “Mr. Armstrong is the man that is used, right up to Christ’s coming. Is Mr. Armstrong being used by God today? From the perspective of 1980, Mr. Armstrong had died in 1977 to be revived from cardiac arrest and beginning in 1978, with vigor took the gospel before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. Mr. Armstrong with power, finished the work God gave him to do, as stated in Matthew 24:14, and died in 1986. Let’s notice a key point that Mr. Waterhouse brought up: “Mr. Armstrong will reach the world twice. Not once but twice. It says, you must prophesy again. You can’t do anything again … unless you have done it at least once .” Another key point is: “Mr. Armstrong’s death (in 1986) brought the work to an end… if the work had kept going, there would be no way to do it again" ( Measuring the Temple ). What about the Great Commission of Matthew 24:14? Are we to reach the world again, to preach the gospel of the kingdom unto all the world for a witness? It is not referring to the Great Commission, as Mr. Armstrong had not reached all the world at the time of this message. It is not to be done again for it is a sign and marks the end of the Philadelphia era work, and has been accomplished. That prophesy has been fulfilled. It was a sign, a great miracle. It cannot be done again, otherwise it would be two signs. H e states: “Mr. Armstrong is the man that is used, right up to Christ’s coming. Is Mr. Armstrong being used by God today? Mr. Armstrong did prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. The doors that were opened to Mr. Armstrong in the Philadelphia era, to carry this message with power to the world have been closed by Christ. Today, the internet allows Mr. Armstrong’s trumpet to penetrate all the world on a scale he could hardly have imagined. The internet is a tool that Mr. Armstrong did not have available while he was alive. Yet his voice, his message can be found any time of the day by anyone in the world who has a computer and internet connection. The "gates of hell" cannot prevail against his message. Through the internet, Mr. Armstrong continues with the message Jesus Christ gave him to deliver. We understand Revelation 11:1 from a different perspective in history than Mr. Waterhouse in his message in 1980. However, it is important for us to understand the teaching of the Church during this time period, for it has significance to us today. Mr. Waterhouse goes on to say, quoting Mr. Armstrong: “God raised me for a purpose… to get the Church back on track… to prepare the bride and lead you people into the Kingdom of God without spot, blemish, or wrinkle. Mr. Armstrong came to see during this time that the Temple Christ would return to is a spiritual Temple, and that Temple is his people bearing his Holy Spirit and being led by his Spirit to do his work. Mr. Armstrong’s hands laid the foundation for the spiritual temple during this time, and his hands finished it by the Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6-10). Is that temple complete today or is it still in preparation? Mr. Armstrong recognized the need for the Bride to make herself ready. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). Do the work of God, support his messenger and believe what he said with one mind. Prepare yourself for the Kingdom of God. Prepare the bride. Remove every spot, blemish and wrinkle .

Just Biblical TRUTH! True Christian Fellowship Good News June-July 1980 I was sitting at the main hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, with three of our African ministers. And I looked over and saw a group of Nigerian men dressed in their extremely colorful native garb. Each wore a long robe with baggy trousers embroidered in fancy colors and gold, shining in the sunlight, and a little pillbox hat. There were five of them sitting in a circle in the late afternoon after working hours, just talking and gesturing. They appeared to have known each other for years. They displayed a very pleasant, beautiful kind of relationship. Their companionship was striking. No one was left out. Everybody was a part of the group, everybody was accepted, everybody shared — and everybody was enjoying it. I saw the courtesy they extended to each other. I saw the joy they shared at each other's comments, the laughter they had at various remarks. They really enjoyed each other. I saw a real brotherhood in those men. I said to myself: "That's it! That is what is pleasing to God — this fellowship. That's what His plan is all about." "The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (verses 2-3). In God was life. There was total cooperation. They had the same mind (such that later One was able to say, in effect, "If you've seen Me, you've seen the Father, because We look at the basic issues exactly alike" — see John 14:9). They were generous and all-wise. But They were alone. So They wanted to add other beings, with whom to share the eternal life They had. Beings who would be like Them, with all the same characteristics. Perhaps — and here, admittedly, we may be extrapolating from the plan They put together — perhaps They were lonesome. So They wanted a community of people. They wanted diversity. They wanted different personalities and outlooks so They could have a fellowship like that of those five men I saw in Nigeria. They did not want other beings just there to take up space, or selfish beings who would foul the nest and fight and scream and say, "That's mine!" They wanted beings who would shun sin and exercise wisdom, beings equally as immortal as Themselves, who would always display respect for God as leader and for their fellow beings. They wanted to enjoy the other beings viewpoints and feelings. Look at how God pictures the world tomorrow — what He's looking forward to. I like the idea of the lion dwelling with the lamb and snakes that won't harm. In the world tomorrow the plowman will overtake the reaper. Families will be happy. People will grow up in an environment with no war. But look at Zechariah 8:1-3: "Again the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem." God is going to dwell right smack in the middle of it. Why? "And Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age" (verses 3-4). God is looking forward to a time when He will dwell in the middle of Jerusalem with people. People will be living, working and playing safely. You won't have to worry about somebody assaulting your children. "And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof" (verse 5). God likes the idea of a community of people, together and sharing. The God Family When you realize what plan the Father and the Son were working out, you may find it interesting and instructive to think about what Christ's last Passover supper meant to Him. "And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him" (Luke 21:14). Look at how God pictures the world tomorrow... the plowman will overtake the reaper. Families will be happy. People will grow up. in an environment with no war. Here was a beginning of His expanding Family-a beginning of the government for the time when all mankind would be members of the God Family. Christ was sitting at a dinner with men whose company He enjoyed, who had been with Him as disciples three years. There had been only two Beings. Now there were to be more. "And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer" (verse 15). Can we understand that more deeply than before? Christ was eager. This was His final dinner as a human being before the plan went into effect. He was to be scourged, crucified and raised back to the God level. Then He would work with these men to bring other people into a "Church" through them. Then He would guide the Church as it announced that all the earth was eventually going to be encompassed in His fellowship. "For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof [of the Passover — the communion or fellowship supper], until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (verse 16). Christ would again have fellowship with them then. He desired those men. He appreciated and loved everyone. He said so later on, and He told them, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). Christ told them their love for each other would show the world they were His disciples. Beings in that kind of relationship were the beings he wanted to dwell with Him forever. Take a look at Revelation 19:5-7: "And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." The wife represents the people who are going to be a part of His Family in that enjoyable fellowship forever. How does Christ celebrate this marriage? First He dresses His people royally: "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb" (verses 8-9). He's also going to celebrate His reign with a banquet. It's a community rejoicing — as much as the fellowship of those five men in Nigeria, but much more. Christ is eager for it. He says: "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God" (verse 9). Brotherly Love vs. Loneliness The whole law God has given to mankind is based on love. Love is outgoing concern for other people, for their welfare, for their feelings. Love is the basis of true fellowship. Love is social. If you are stuck on a desert island alone, you may have difficulty expressing love and outgoing concern. You will still be able to have love toward God, of course, but love is also between persons, between minds. It involves a joy of association and sharing. The opposite of love is expressed in the life of a hermit who is fed up with everybody and wants nothing to do with people. Some people get so hurt and upset for various reasons — some their own fault and some not — that they get to the point where they just don't want communication. They say, in effect, "I only trust me." That's the opposite of what God wanted. Loneliness is epidemic in our society. The further we go from God's law, from love and companionship (God's law is called the law of love), the more lonesome people feel, regardless of the size of the crowd they're in. We've got wall-to-wall cities, and people are more lonely than ever. When the real problem is, "I am lonely," people say instead, " Life is boring." Or: " I just feel unhappy. I don't know why, but I'm unhappy all the time." Or, "I've got a drinking problem," or, "I'm overweight," "I can't sleep," "I'm irritable." Unfulfilled would be the bottom line under all that. Authorities have identified other signs in lonely people. They brag a lot, talk about themselves or talk too much or too loud. They develop other outlets to try to satisfy their need for fellowship. Others become overly quiet, timid, seemingly fearful. But all these different cues signal one underlying problem — loneliness and discouragement. It's one of the most effective tools against God's people that Satan has. Because people do not generally recognize what the real problem is, it's impossible for them to find the solution. They may have a lot of talk and pizzazz on the outside, but nevertheless they begin to draw inward. Their thoughts become self-centered. Then, worse, they become addicted to props — chemicals sometimes, in the form of alcohol or drugs. Doctors now know that some chemically-addicted people are really lonely. Some people become addicted to their work, their house, a hobby or a dog or cat. They get all wrapped up in non-human company because human company has become so distressing. The real problems come after that. A constant anger can build up underneath — a constant frustration that keeps boiling, and the blood pressure begins to rise. Or anger disguises itself as depression and causes mental breakdowns, irrational behavior, physical illness, divorce, alcoholism, drug abuse or suicide. Emotional psychologists say that loneliness is probably the number one problem of our age. It's interesting when you consider that God's plan offers the exact opposite. God's law and God's way lead totally away from that. A Treatment for Loneliness Overcoming loneliness involves being able to look around and see those with whom you come in contact perceiving their loneliness and fastening your mind there. We all have deep problems, apprehensions, hopes and dreams. But it helps to have another human being you love... to talk to you or listen. A lonely person needs to focus on others — to express outgoing concern — instead of drawing inward and concentrating on himself. Most people will respond with friendship — the commodity they are dying for — if they are approached in the right way. Doctors have found in group sessions that the loneliest people never nurture others. They never consider the other person's feelings. When others are speaking, they don't listen. They're self-obsessed. They insist on their share of time. The fact that the speaker might be at a great point of interest or covering some point that would be beneficial makes no difference to them. To solve this problem, these people need to learn to share. The doctors suggest that these people develop a skill and share it with somebody — tennis, racquetball, swimming, sewing, playing cards, walking or some other hobby. The thing not to do is just sit down and say, "Help me, I'm lonely." If you do that, you're asking for a babysitter. You should go out and do something — share, participate. A friend of mine has known a certain elderly gentleman for a long time, and he regards this old man as very wise. Once he asked the old fellow, "Tell me, in my lifetime, how many really close friends can I expect to have?" The man told him, "Well, if you're lucky, as many as you have fingers on one hand." It's a rare thing to have a really close friend. But if you're able to be one, then you're going to have far more than usual. I Corinthians 13 describes love, an outgoing concern for others. Learn to nurture others. That's biblical love, serving others. It is exactly what God wants. It is the essence of keeping His commandments — showing love toward God and also toward every fellow human. Close families talk and share outings and sports. There's never a lonesome person in the middle of a close family. Everybody feels accepted. As Malachi says, we should turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers (Mal. 4:6). In principle, that includes aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers and cousins — and even neighbors, in the broadest sense of the term. When is the last time your family had a reunion? Help for problems In my Ambassador College days all the guys in the dormitory and all the friends I knew had problems. They would share them with me a little bit, and I'd start praying about everyone of those problems. That can take an awful long time, just one after the other. I wouldn't bring up one of mine. But before I knew it, my problems seemed somehow more manageable. God made us so that one of our greatest needs is to be understood and be able to share in an open way. We all have deep problems, apprehensions, hopes and dreams. But it helps to have another human being you love, have affection for and admire to talk to you or listen. Job's three friends came to him and sat there seven days. They were grief-stricken by what had happened to the man- his family and possessions were wiped out and he was covered with boils from head to foot. For seven days they never said a word. That was good. But then they made one mistake. They began to talk to him, tell him his problems and preach at him. And that was the last thing the man needed. Then he thought, my friends are against me as well. His wife had given him' the discouraging advice, "curse God and die." All together it put poor Job right at the bottom. Be careful how you share. In this world, when you're lonely, the solution isn't to go hunting for some human friends who will solve your problem. But there is one Being who is always available who's always a friend you can go to. That's God the Father. Take a look at Psalm 73:23-25: "Nevertheless I [David, or anyone of us] am continually with thee [God]: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory [God will welcome you into His Family]. Whom have I in heaven but thee?" There was nobody else David could share with, deal with, trust. "And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever [God is the One who strengthens you]. For, 10, they that are far from thee shall perish [God's purpose was to bring them close to Him and give them life. As Christ said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). And those who remain far from Him are going to perish.]: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works" (verses 25-28). If that's your outlook, as it was David's, other children of the Father who share that relationship with God are going to be very close to you. You're going to appreciate them more and more. Paul wrote of "preferring" the brethren, just because they're brethren (Rom. 12:10). People not acquainted with God's true Church don't have this fellowship, and may run into enormous problems. They're just totally alone in a society where nobody is their friend. We need fellowship. In the Church of God, we have the Father first, the Son and then all the sons and daughters. We have fellowship among us. Don't be separate, off by yourself. Be part of the Body that's growing and readying itself to be brought into the Kingdom of God, to share eternity with God and live with Him forever. If you're part of that Body, let everybody know by your presence. Returned to BABYLON! The scattered churches of God have become worldly. Why does God say to His people, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues (Re, 18:4)." Why are His people in Babylon and why did Jude write "you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints?" Do the churches of God still believe in devine revelation do they still believe in duality? This present twenty first century world, has amazing technology. This technology has advanced so far that we have hand held computers which are in the form of a phone. Notice this early type of computer and how technology in the field of computers has advanced in the last 72 years.... The ENIAC-Computer-Its construction began in 1943 and it occupied about 1,800 square feet, used 17,468 vacuum tubes, 15,000 relays, weighed almost 50 tons, uses 200 Kilowatts of electricity, and cost about $500,000. Today the same or similar technology, has given the church of God an incredible tool, which enables it, the church, to reach people with its message, this is the World Wide Web or as commonly known as ..."the Internet". The internet is the most advanced form of communication-other than human speech-which man has developed so far, it is almost instant communication, almost anywhere on this planet. Herbert Armstrong, the late Pastor General of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), said in the introduction to the book Mystery of the Ages,... "I learned that the Bible is like a jigsaw puzzle-thousands of pieces, that need putting together-and the pieces will only fit together one way. Then the picture becomes crystal clear, to the one willing to believe what God the Creator says. This present book, Mystery of the Ages -merely puts the many pieces of the great puzzle together, so that they can be clearly understood. As you read and reread the book, compare with your own Bible. See the truths with your own eyes, in your own Bible. And open your mind to God's leading you into his TRUTH as you do. It will make a lot of sense as nothing ever did before. Mystery of the Ages became the most important piece of literature in the WCG, it was presented "to the fundamentals of theology class at Pasadena Ambassador College Sept. 9, 1985. During an hour lecture, Mr. Armstrong then explained why he had written the book as the textbook for the class " (WWN 1985). This book was so important, that it was required reading for all baptismal candidates of the Worldwide Church of God. However, just six months after Mr. Armstrong's death, that requirement was removed. Eighteen months later, Mystery of the Ages was removed from circulation and multiple thousands of copies of that book were sold for pulping! In 1994, at a storage facility used by the South African Worldwide Church of God in Cape Town, I personally witnessed pallet loads of Mystery of the Ages, when I requested a few of those copies, I was told they were "sold and were waiting to be removed for pulping." The ministry of the churches of God have lost all understanding of revelation from God and by their rejection of this important book and its author, they have given themselves over to a spirit of error (1 John 4:6; Jude 11). Does that Book make "sense" Today? The Ministry of the Church of God are responsible for upholding the truth, as it was restored to the Church of God by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:1-4). It has become obvious, that these ministers were infected by an anti-Armstrong, anti truth virus, injected into their minds through their association with the apostates. These vile men, destroyed all the fundamental doctrines of the church of God (WCG) and replaced them with Protestant doctrines. During the formation of the United Church of God an International Association, at Indianapolis Indiana in 1995, the unanimous cry from the over 600 ministers present was, "we are free from that evil one man rule", of course they meant free from Mr. Herbert Armstrong, being responsible for presiding over the government of God, in the church (WCG) under Christ the Head. The one church who fought a court case to buy the copyrights to Mr. Armstrong's literature, the Philadelphia Church of God (PCG), changed or edited out an important paragraph in Mystery of the Ages, from the original 1985 edition, that paragraph on pages 244-245 is "No prophets are mentioned as having either administrative, executive or preaching functions in the New Testament Church." This was removed because Mr.Gerald Flurry claims to be a New Testament prophet, and has appropriated various other biblical names. The Measuring We have produced videos, Measuring the Churches of God, involving the ministers of the scattered churches of God and their responsibility to uphold the TRUTH, that was restored through Jesus Christ to His Church, by His twentieth century servant Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. These videos involved: 1. Rejection of Mr. Armstrong as the one who came in the spirit and power of Elijah and the rejection of the literature, that help build the Church of God. And 2. these ministers reject what Mr. Armstrong said how important Mystery of the Ages is. This book is the “Banner”. We have been preaching about the Church of God, unknowingly, having returned to Babylon. These leaders of the churches of God, have introduced different doctrines contrary to what Christ restored in the twentieth century. And furthermore, almost all of the membership of these churches of God have become worldly in the way they dress, the use of make-up, their conduct, conversation, their belief of the TRUTH and their REJECTION OF GOD'S GOVERNMENT ! Their leaders have not used the biblical pattern (Eph 4:6-12; 1 Cor 12:28) and have structured these churches of God differently, as to the tradition that was established in the Worldwide Church of God. With regards to them returning to Babylon, the prophet Isaiah writes, “The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see” (Isaiah 13:1). God has given us (VCG) the ability to SEE the burden, that has come upon these scattered churches of God. The word burden in verse 1, has seen considerable differences of opinion, in regard to the meaning of the word. So, before we get to the meaning of that word, we must first understand, that the Great God is not only Creator, He is also the Revealer of basic knowledge, knowledge which is incomprehensible to man and because of this, mankind has rejected revelation, as a source of basic knowledge, unfortunately so have many of the ministers in the scattered churches of God...rejecting of revelation! If they didn't, they would still follow Christ's teachings and instructions, through His late apostle. However, the rot in these men's minds began around 1969, Mr. Armstrong gave a sermon on June 24 1978, to a combined Pasadena congregation and said... "We were one. Nobody was in doubt about who was in charge. But then many, near the top, began-every man to try to do his "own thing." Instead of trying to do God's thing, they began to do their own thing and a spirit of competition began to come in. At the same time, what I call the "leaven of intellectualism coming in....". Brethren, that same spirit of competition and intellectualism was entering into this work of the Vigilant Church of God. A few months ago our Festival Coordinator, had his performance, as such, evaluated, to the point of causing him some despair. Programs were introduced on our website, which unfortunately some of us subscribed to, they were introduced by an intellectual, who wanted all of us to think like he does. When I had it taken down, there was some resentment, which eventually spread becoming, "a root of bitterness". Too many have forgotten revelation comes through the Holy Spirit, which we have, notice 1 Corinthians 2:10, "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." And of course to have the Spirit of God, necessitates obedience (Acts 5:32). The leaders in these scattered churches have also rejected the principle of "duality"! The Burden So with this in mind... the word ‘burden,’means... utterance, a doom, to raise up, a mental desire, carry away and to bear. God's heritage has been carried away, by a weak and cowardly ministry, under the sway of the spirit of error, to return to Babylon to a love of the world. Isaiah continues in verse 2, "Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles". This is an incredibly revealing verse, about a short work that has to take place before God reveals His final two witnesses. In this verse we are told to support the "Banner," or cause one to bear the banner, notice the wording and structure of this verse. After we see the church being taken back to Babylon, we are told to, support the "banner", you have seen this photo below... It takes a dedicated converted team, to raise the banner and that banner is Mystery of the Ages , because it is the book that honors and restores God to His place as head of His government and it describes the plan of God. This banner has to be the rallying point for God's people, it has to be lifted high, so they can see it and understand its importance, because it and its author have been shamefully demeaned. This is what the "Presiding" Evangelist, of the Living Church of God said of that book in a sermon..."he was like a god-the Elijah to come. His writings are to be enshrined-Mystery of the Ages is like a New Testament inspired by God, so you don't mess with it". The sarcasm of this individual is shocking and made more so, by the fact, that this same leaders' church, has a large framed photo of Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong hanging on the wall of their Board room, I've seen it! All of these leaders in some way are causing God's heritage, to depart from the revealed and inspired truth restored by Mr. Armstrong. The Mountain Let us continue with verse 2, it says upon the high mountain, but which mountain? Mt Zion? Psalm 50:2, "Out of Zion, the perfection [completeness] of beauty, God hath shined. 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. 4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice".There is only one book, one publication, other than the Bible that explains the plan of God, in the most simple way and only one small group of people, who are doing a work of gathering [or recovering] God's people back to Zion and to the understanding of God's plan of salvation. The Voice The verse continues... "exalt the voice unto them" the word voice is "kole", in this verse it means the loud sound of a trumpet, such as Isa 58:1, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." So, this is an alarm, the sound of the Shofar which we must raise up, notice Jeremiah... "My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war" (Jer 4:19). Can we hold our peace when we KNOW what is going to happen in the inner court and the sanctuary of God? Who is the "them?" in that statement? It is those who have been taken back to Babylon in Isaiah 1:1. Then we have "shake the hand," this is describing, calling a people who will not hear the voice -the trumpet- however, they see the physical action of calling through the waving of the hand, they see the physical display that is used, they see Mystery of the Ages and are reminded of the HOPE of their calling. What is Our Heritage? Then we have, "that they may go into the gates of the nobles." So we cry out aloud, we indicate through using our throat-voice-aloud and through using physical means (the internet), to show these people of God the desperate need for them, to come back to the understanding of becoming the "noble" the royal family of God. And the Banner, Mystery of the Ages, is the book that will reveal God's total plan of salvation to them, in the simplest and easiest way. The church is to become the Bride of Jesus Christ, the Church is to inherit all things, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?..." (1Cor 6:9). We will sit on a throne in the kingdom of God... "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne" (Rev 3:21). Dear brethren, we have to come out of Babylon, to inherit all things and to sit on the throne with Christ. We have to return to the faith that was established by Christ, through His servant Herbert W, Armstrong. Verse 3, I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. Only God's first fruits are sanctified, and only those first fruits who champion for God and rejoice in His highness - His Majesty, will be willing to do the final work of measuring His church. So my brethren, we have an awesome opportunity laid before us, as those who will do a short but mighty work. Satan has his eyes on us and he will do his utmost to destroy or discredit the Vigilant Church of God. But, be assured, Christ knows who are His and all you have to do is make sure, YOU ARE one of His.

Questions and Answers 1Pe_3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Is sprinkling an appropriate method of baptism? Sprinkling has been practiced as an acceptable method of baptism by most Christian Churches, but is not suitable according to Scripture. The Bible word for “baptize” comes from the Greek word, which means “to immerse”. In order to be properly baptized, one must be fully immersed in water, which symbolizes a type of death. To learn more about this crucial subject, read the booklet entitled: All About Water Baptism available on this website at no cost. Should children be baptized? Of the many religions that practice baptism, many believe children should be baptized as young as possible. The Bible points out that Christ laid His hands on children, which lead many to believe that it proves baptism should be performed on children. While Christ did lay His hands on children, it was not for the purpose of baptizing them. To learn more about this crucial subject, read the booklet entitled: All About Water Baptism available on this website at no cost. What is the correct biblical name for God's Church? The correct biblical name for God’s Church, according to Scripture is mentioned twelve times in the New Testament. Every time it is referred to as the “Church of God”. This is the same Church that was founded in A.D.31 by Christ Himself who said that God’s true Church would never be destroyed (Matt 16:18). To learn more about this fascinating subject, read the booklet: Where Is The True Church? available free on this website. Where is the original true Church that Jesus Christ founded? Consider the fact that Christ said in Matt 16:18 that He would build His Church and that it would never be destroyed by His enemies. This Church must then be in existence today, somewhere on earth, teaching the truth. Also consider that He said “Church”, not Churches (plural). This means that there are many “Churches” that say they are for and from God and Christ, but they do not preach the full truth, necessary for salvation. To learn more about this fascinating subject, read the booklet: Where Is The True Church? available free on this website. How can you scientifically prove that God exists? It is easy to believe in things that we can see. On the other hand, it is not so easy to believe that something is real if we cannot see it with our own eyes. We hear so many conflicting theories about our origin and the origin of the universe and everything that exists in it. But did it all come out of an explosion—the Big Bang—or was it created by a God, the God of the Bible. Science has given us conflicting answers to this crucial question. To learn more, read our free booklet: Does God Exist? available at no cost on this website, and decide for yourself! Where did life come from? Anthropologists have unearthed ancient skeletal remains of men whom they attributed as having lived over 10,000 years ago. The methods for establishing such dates have been very dubious. Such methods as radio carbon-14 dating been shown to lead to false interpretation, but still, science and evolution contain theories that man came into being almost by chance. The truth is that Scripture say—and prove that God created everything, including man. To learn more, read our free booklet: Does God Exist? available at no cost on this website, and decide for yourself! Does the Bible support the theory of the existence of extraterrestrial life forms and the validity of UFOs? The many UFO sightings reported over the past decades are, most likely, manifestations by spirit beings or fallen angels, rather than the presence of physical aliens from outer space. While it is true that there are mysteries that are not fully understood and explained; many of these mysteries can be accounted for by the existence of fallen angels who have possessed and influenced people with super-human power. The Bible discloses that the Earth has been chosen as the single setting for God’s working with human life and how this very planet will become the eventual headquarters of God’s government throughout the universe. No other planets are implied or mentioned in that context. To learn more, read our free booklet: Does God Exist? available at no cost on this website, and decide for yourself! What is the purpose of human life? God formed man of matter, but after His own image and likeness. But the animals and man have the same breath, the same source of life. They die the same death. Human life is animal existence, but in the form and shape of God, and with the human spirit added to the brain. Man was created to have a relationship with his God. Therefore he was made in God's form and shape, with contact and relationship with Him, made possible by the presence within him of the human spirit. But man's creation was not completed. He was made mentally and spiritually only "half there." He needed the addition of God's Spirit to unite with his spirit, begetting him as a child of God -- uniting him with God. The purpose of life is clearly explained in our free online booklet: Why Were You Born? How does one determine the beginning and ending of the Sabbath in the Arctic? In the Ten Commandments it is required of Christians to observe and keep the Sabbath holy. This is the seventh day of the week, in other words, Saturday. Biblically speaking, a day begins and ends at sunset, and lasts for a twenty four hour period. This can be a problem for Sabbath keepers in Arctic/Antarctic regions where the days are not clearly demarcated by sunsets. In such cases, it is acceptable for the person to observe the Sabbath as they would have, were they back in their home country. Where Sabbath keepers live in such areas permanently, they generally work according to the closest country to the south where sunsets are clearly visible. For more help to fully understand the true Sabbath God created, read the free booklet: Which Day Is The Christian Sabbath? Why do some Christians keep the “Jewish” Sabbath? If, like most Christians, you believe that the Sabbath is only “for the Jews”, you may be surprised to learn that it is not. At the end of the 6 day creation, God rested and called the seventh day—Saturday—holy. In other words this day was created long before there were any races or nations on earth. This then means God created the Sabbath for all people, not only for “the Jews”. Man-made religions, other than the true one kept by the Church started by Christ, has perverted the truth, including the right understanding that all true Christians should be observing the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week. For more help to fully understand the true Sabbath God created, read the free booklet: Which Day Is The Christian Sabbath? What is the meaning of the word “Easter”? Traditionally, “Easter” is observed as one of the most important Christian events. Sadly, the truth about this day is unknown to most who celebrate it. You may be astonished to learn that the word “easter” does not appear in the Bible. That’s correct! Try to look it up. “Easter” actually originated many thousands of years ago and is really an ancient pagan tradition, not to be observed by those who follow the true God, who calls this type of thing an “abomination”. God expects all His true followers to prove all things from the Bible. For more help on this important subject, please read our free booklet: The Plain Truth About EASTER. Why do some Christians celebrate Lent? Lent is a 40 day period of the Christian Year, preceding Easter Sunday, where Christians focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God. Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. But many do not recognize this practice today. Should you? For more help on this important subject, please read our free booklet: The Plain Truth About EASTER. Which nations are the modern descendants of the tribes of Israel? The Bible points to the fact that some is the tribes of the original nation of Israel somehow got “lost”. Even so, many believe that the nation of Israel is made up only of Jews. The truth is that those nations are not literally lost, but merely lost their identity due to the fact that they ceased to observe the Sabbath as the Jews still do today. By never moving away from the Sabbath, the Jews kept their identity and as such are very much “visible”. To learn where the lost ten tribes are today, refer to the free online booklet: The United States And Britain In Prophecy. Was there more than one gospel Christ preached? Many different gospels are being preached in today’s Churches, most false. Some preach a gospel of love, while others focus on prosperity and yet others preach about being “born again”. The Bible, however is very specific about the gospel being the “good news” that Christ preached during His ministry on earth. He went about performing miracles, while telling people the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, to be set up when Christ returned the second time, overthrowing Satan and implementing the world-ruling Government of God: You can gain full understanding about this question by reading our free booklet: What Is The True Gospel? Please explain 1 Cor. 15:24? This verse reads as follows: “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.” In just a few short years, the reign of Satan will be cut short. He was given the power to rule earth when mankind rejected God’s wishes in the Garden of Eden. However, the Word of God explains the good news that Satan will be “cast down” and bound at the return of Christ, “putting down” the authority and power of Satan and ending mankind’s failed self-rulership. To find out more, read the free online book: The Incredible Human Potential. Why so many evils and troubles in this world, has God forsaken us? Seemingly, with all the world’s unsolvable problems, God has abandoned His creation. The truth is that through sin, in the garden of Eden, mankind cut itself off from God. Currently, mankind is trying to rule itself, with disastrous consequences. Also it seems as though God is losing the battle with Satan for the souls of men. In reality, Satan has been given free reign for a time, until the return of Christ. At that time, the book of Revelation explains, that those who have overcome Satan in this life will be rewarded with rulership in the Kingdom of God. To find out more, read the free online book: The Incredible Human Potential.

Prospective Member’s Guide Vigilant Church of God herewith welcomes you as a prospective member. Whether you are new to the Church of God or whether you have been attending for many decades, please study this guide thoroughly and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Contact details are at the end of this guide. Laodicean Era vs. Philadelphian Era While it is vital to understand the difference between the two Church Eras, if you do not understand Church Eras as it appears in the Book of Revelation, do not be overly concerned, as you will learn what they are by the end of this study (1 Tim 2:15). The first and arguably the most important to understand is that the Philadelphia Era ENDED in 1986 with the death of Mr. Armstrong, the last Apostle and also the type of Elijah (Mal 4:5). The commission of the Philadelphia Era was to take the Gospel to the whole world (Matt 24:14). Mr. Armstrong accomplished this and with his death that phase of the Work was finished. Many C.O.G leaders teach that this is still the Philadelphia Era OR at least that their organization is a “remnant of Philadelphia”. THIS IS FALSE! The Bible does not teach this, but false leaders use this statement to continue taking tithes and drawing a salary, making merchandise of the brethren (2Pet 2:3) with feigned (fictitious) words. The very truth is that we are now, since the death of Mr. Armstrong, deeply into the Laodicean Era where both leaders and brethren are lukewarm and indifferent (Rev 3:16-17), not believing the Gospel has been preached and that Matthew 24:14 has been fulfilled. So, if this is true, what is the Work of God now, and what are the brethren of God supposed to do, since the Work of preaching the Gospel is complete? Well, here starts you exciting journey with Vigilant Church of God! The Work of the Church of The Laodiceans Notice precisely how your Bible address the final Era of God’s Church in Rev 3:14: “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;” (plural) Yes, instead of Christ, the Leader of this Work, addressing the Laodicean Era as a whole, He address each believer individually, knocking on each one’s door (Rev 3:20), asking them to invite Him into their lives once again by “buying gold tried in the fire” (returning to the truth) and anointing their eyes (repenting from a lukewarm attitude) so they may once again believe as before, when Mr. Armstrong restored all things. Read or listen to his own words here . Please take time to study the following required materials on VCG website: Read “About US” and listen to “The Knock”: https://www.vigilantcog.com/about-us Read or re-read “Mystery of the Ages” or listen to the audio book: https://www.vigilantcog.com/from-mr-armstrong Read the booklet “Tithing”: https://www.vigilantcog.com/_files/ugd/7e4368_d67f1f94721d44e89e6ce34c57e1a4b7.pdf Review VCG video “Save Yourself Brethren”: https://youtu.be/akOi0Vo_zjQ Review VCG video “The Greatest DOCTRINE – restored”: https://youtu.be/gDuXMitpUH0 Review VCG video “The Greatest Doctrine part 2”: https://youtu.be/f0JzgVO8s3M While the above material is required to understand the Work we are doing, there are many more items available on the website, so we urge you to review all you can in the time you have available. While a prospective member, you will be assigned an experienced preaching elder to help guide you through this path to full membership with Vigilant Church of God. Contacts: (Phone or Whatsapp) Gerhard Coetzer +27 64 248 5710