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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.

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." "The Knock" sermon by Mr. Ellery Burgess The Knock of Christ - Mr. Ellery Burgess 00:00 / 00:00

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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.