Our Statement of Beliefs – Triumph Prophetic
Ministries
What
are the major differences between this Church and many
other
churches of God ? What about our
differences with
the
Messianic Jews, “Messianic Israel” groups, and other end-
time
ministries? Here is a listing of many of
the key doctrines
and
beliefs. Check up and prove whether we
are right by your
own
Bible!
William F. Dankenbring
About
three thousand years ago, the prophet Elijah stood on
Elijah
declared, in dramatic, thundering words: “How long will you waver between two
opinions? If the Lord is God, follow
him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (I Kings
Two
thousand years ago, the apostle Paul was faced with a similar dilemma. It was an age of apostasy from the truth of
God. False doctrines were being taught
right inside the
In
the sixteenth century A.D., the vast professing Christian church had gone
astray from the simple teachings of Christ. A rigid formula of legalism and
Catholic authoritarianism had supplanted the true teachings of Christ. The
selling of “indulgences” was widely practiced throughout
When
Martin Luther, a new Catholic priest, wrestled with his own conscience and
conflicting Christian values, by studying the Scriptures, he found the Catholic
Church had forsaken many of the basic teachings of Christ. After several years, his differences caused
him to be put out of the Church and declared a “heretic.” In 1521 he was
ordered to appear before a meeting of princes, theologians and nobles by
Charles V, emperor of the
Luther’s
response became historic. He replied:
“Unless I am convinced by the clear testimony of Scripture or by
clear reason
(for I do not trust either
in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known
that they have often erred
and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the
Scriptures I have quoted
and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I
cannot and I will not
retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go
against conscience. I cannot do otherwise.”
Luther’s
example, of standing up to wrongly used authority, which tries to suppress
truth, is one of great value and worth in this end time, when Christ said that many
shall be deceived (Matt.24:5). He
warned that false prophets would deceive all but the “very elect” (v.24).
But
who are the “very elect”? They can only
be those who are faithfully looking into the Word of God, and not to supposed
highly esteemed human leaders, for their faith, instruction, and spiritual
understanding! God's Word is the
standard for us to judge everything! To
merely follow men, because they occupy high offices in the church, today, is a
very great mistake, for God, in due time, may very well remove them from their
high office in His righteous anger and furious indignation at their stubborn
intransigence and refusal to grow in grace, truth, and knowledge. He will surely punish all who reject
knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Those who refuse
to admit error, and to repent when proven wrong, will be cast out by Christ
Himself when He returns to establish His Kingdom!
When
the leaders of the Worldwide Church of God persecuted me, twenty years ago, and
cast me out of the Church, because of my writing books on Biblical topics, my
eyes were drawn to Christ's blazing words in Matthew 5, beginning in verse 11:
“Blessed are ye, when men shall REVILE you, and PERSECUTE you, and shall say
all manner of EVIL against you falsely, for my sake. REJOICE, and be exceeding glad: for great is
your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before
you” (Matt.5:11-12).
Jesus
went on to say, “Ye are the light of the world.
A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it
under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in
the house.
“Let
your light so SHINE BEFORE MEN, that they may SEE you good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven” (Matt.5:14-16).
God wants us to let our light SHINE FORTH. If and when He grants us graciously new truth
and understanding, of His Word, or the amazing prophecies for the end time, we
are commanded by Christ to LET IT SHINE FORTH!
It would be a sin to bury it, or suppress it or to hide it under a pot
or bed!
But
when we do so, we must be prepared to pay the price, even if it means being
“cast out” of any modern church congregation which claims to be the true
In
this article I am going to briefly discuss the ways in which we, in this
ministry, are different from other churches in our teachings, doctrines, and
Scriptural understanding.
I
urge you to study this article carefully, and then do further research, and
send for the more in-depth articles which give additional proof, evidence and
insight into our belief structure. In
fact, I CHALLENGE you to do so – for your own salvation could be at stake! Surely you don’t want to be deceived, or to
believe a “lie”, do you? Don’t be like
the person who once said: “My mind’s
made up – don’t confuse me with the facts!”
In
each one of these areas you can study for yourself, and PROVE the truth! It is up to YOU.
#1 -- the Primacy
of Peter—Peter was not the “chief apostle.”
The
Catholic Church, of course, had always claimed this. However, Jesus told His disciple that they
were not to call one another, or select ones among themselves, “Rabbi,” or
“Master,” or “Lord,” “for ONE is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren”
(Matt.23:8). Peter was not over the
other apostles in authority. Rather, he
and Paul were equals (see Galatians 2:7-9).
If Peter had been over Paul in authority, then Paul would have sinned by
his rebuking Peter publicly (Gal.2:11-14). The truth is that Peter was the
apostle to the Jews; Paul was the apostle sent to the Gentiles; and the other
apostles were sent by God to other tribes of
#2 – No one group constitutes the
“
The
claim that any one church is God’s “ONLY” true church is sheer nonsense. God’s Church is a spiritual organism, not a
human corporation. It comprises all
those in all Churches who have truly surrendered their lives to Christ in
baptism, and have repented of their sins, and are serving Christ to the best of
their knowledge and understanding of the Word of God (Acts 2:38). Therefore, although all Churches today have
gone astray in some measure, some much more than others, it is very possible
for many true Christians to be members of several different Churches (all of which,
in spiritual type, are described in Revelation 2-3), including Adventists,
Church of God Seventh Day, other smaller groups, and various Evangelical
churches. Who are we to try to sit in
judgment of others? The Word of God will
judge each and every individual. A
careful study of Revelation 2-3, the letters to the seven churches, shows the
Write
for our article, “The Seven Churches of Revelation,” “The Nicolaitans,” and
“Where Is the
#3 -- Christians definitely
DO need to “qualify” for Salvation!
Of course, the Scriptures show that we
are justified by Faith, not by works; and we are saved by Faith, not by human
effort, rituals, or works (Eph.2:8-9). Nevertheless, good deeds ARE necessary
for salvation (verse 10), because God has ordained that we walk in them. If we don’t, we disobey Him and break His
commandments. Jesus said to enter life
we must “keep the commandments” (Matt.19:17).
Any dictionary shows that “qualify” does
not mean “earn,” as a “reward.” Rather, it is a non-religious term and simply
means “get ready for,” “to prepare for,” “meet the conditions for.” To be
saved, we must meet God's conditions for salvation – which are belief in
Christ, repentance, and surrender to Christ, to serve Him all our lives (Acts
2:38;
#4 – Salvation is dependent on Repentance from
sin, accepting Yeshua (Jesus Christ) as Saviour, and Baptism by immersion, and
receiving the Holy Spirit, and then “enduring to the end,” “overcoming,” and
keeping God’s commandments – obedience.
Peter wrote
to those who sought to be saved, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts
Read more about these requirements in our
articles, “What Is Real Repentance?”, “Truth about Baptism,” and “Is Obedience
Required for Salvation?” and “The Spirit in Man.”
#5 – God’s Sabbath day is still in effect
today. The seventh day Sabbath was NEVER
abolished or done away!
The
Sabbath was created on the seventh day of Creation by God’s resting
(Gen.2:1-3). God commands His people to
“remember” that day and to rest upon it (Exo.20:8-11). It is a special SIGN between Him and His true
people FOREVER (Exo.31:12-17).
For the truth on this subject, write for
our booklet, “A New Look at the Sabbath.”
#6 – the New Covenant ESTABLISHES the laws of God. The Ten Commandments and
whole law of God (except the ritualistic, sacrificial laws) are in force,
TODAY!
The
Law of God was not “nailed to the cross.”
Jesus Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, was – because of our SINS! He paid the penalty for our breaking God’s
laws and sinning, which is transgression of the Law (I John 3:4).
Jesus Christ said He did not come to
abolish or destroy ONE JOT OR TITTLE of the Laws of God (Matt.5:17-19). He told a young rich man who asked Him the
way to eternal life, “If you would enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS”
(Matt.19:17).
The apostle Paul clearly taught that
God’s Law is “holy, just, and good” (Rom.7:12).
He said that God's law is SPIRITUAL (Rom.7:14), and that which is
spiritual is ETERNAL (II Cor.4:17-19).
David also spoke highly of the law of God – read Psalm 119. How could God do away with His Law, which is
the very essence of His own spiritual CHARACTER and likeness?
Write for the articles “Is Obedience
Required for Salvation?” “A New Look at Galatians,” and “Is the Law Nailed to
the Cross?”
#7– True believers should NOT consume
“unclean meats,” such as pork, shellfish, catfish, swordfish, shrimp, oysters,
clams, lobsters, etc. (see Leviticus 11).
The dietary laws of God are still in force. They are actually LAWS OF HEALTH, as well as spiritual laws. God’s people should also not eat the fat or blood of animals. Write for the article, “Should a Christian Eat Unclean Meats?” and the articles “Bible Heal Laws,” and “The Keys to Robust Health.”
#8 –
Christians should observe the Annual Holy Days of God.
The
annual holy days of God, listed in Leviticus 23, show the plan of God and were
commanded to be observed FOREVER (see Exo.12; Lev.23). Write for our articles, “Does It Matter Which
Days We Observe?” and “Annual Holy Days Reveal the Plan of God.”
#9 – Christians should NOT observe PAGAN
religious holidays, such as Christmas and Easter and Halloween.
Christmas derives from the
Roman Saturnalia, or winter festival, and the observance of the “birthday” of
Sol, the sun god, or “Mithra.” It is
pagan to the core. Write for our
article, “The Shocking Origin of Christmas.”
Christ was born NOWHERE NEAR this pagan holiday!
Likewise, Easter is another name for the
spring goddess of fertility – another name for Semiramis, wife of Nimrod, the
arch-rebel against God after the Flood.
Its celebration has nothing to do with the real resurrection of Christ,
and its “Easter eggs” – a symbol of fertility among the pagans – and “bunnies”
– another pagan symbol of reproduction, and “hot cross buns” – a custom going
back to the worship of the pagan “Queen of Heaven” – is also an abomination to
God. So are Easter “sunrise services”
(see Ezek.8:16). Write for our article,
“The Origin of Easter.”
Halloween has its pagan, occult origin
stamped all over its face. Write for our
article “The Ghoulish Horror of Halloween.”
#10 – Cremation is not a godly practice. God’s people should be buried properly when
they die, as Christ was, and David, and the Patriarchs.
The Bible clearly shows from Genesis to
Revelation that Cremation is a pagan practice, stemming from the doctrine of
the immorality of the soul. It is also a
type of the '”ake of fire” which will consume the wicked. The Bible example of all the saints is
burial, in expectation of the resurrection.
Christ Himself was buried, setting us an example (I Pet.2:21, I John
2:6). My article “Is Cremation Pagan?”
proves beyond question that cremation is a practice Christians should avoid.
#11 – God is NOT a “Trinity.” There is but ONE God. God is actually a “Family” as God is in the
process of creating sons in His very own “image and likeness.”
The
Scriptures teach that God is expanding His own Family, by creating beings like
Himself, through our being “born again” of His Spirit.
The teaching of the mainstream churches
that God is a “Trinity” composed of three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit
– is in gross error and is a pagan concept going back to Nimrod, Semiramis, and
Tammuz – the original pagan “trinity” of father, mother and child.
Is God a “Trinity”? Or is God a FAMILY? What is the TRUTH about the Godhead? What is the ORIGIN of the “Trinity”? Write for our articles, “Is God a Trinity?”
and “The Trinity Doctrine – Is It Biblical?”
Also write for “The Only True God,,” “Is God Reproducing Himself?”, “The
Genesis Factor – The Mystery of God.”
#12 – Jesus Christ
(Yeshua) was the “firstborn” of all Creation – that is, He had a beginning,
even though He is now “the Son of God,” and is One of the two Beings who
compose the “Godhead.”
To many folks, this statement may border on
blasphemy – but it is true, and proved by your very own Bible. What is the true ORIGIN of Jesus Christ? Did He pre-exist? Is He “equal” to the Father? This theological question baffles both
Worldwide and all of its offshoots.
What
about Christ Himself? Was He ALWAYS
"co-equal, co-eternal" with the Father? If so, why did He Himself state, "The
Father is greater than I" (John 14:28)?
And why did He say of the Father, that He is "the only true God"
(John 17:3)? Also, why did Paul write,
"But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and
we in him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by
him" (I Cor.8:6)?
The Bible clearly reveals that Christ became
a true Son of the Father, and was the "beginning of the Creation of
God" (Rev.3:14) -- the "firstborn of ALL CREATION"
(Col.1:15).
This is a fascinating subject, too long to
attempt to explain here. If you would
like to know the truth about the "Mystery of God," write for our
articles, "Who Or What Was Jesus Christ Before His Human Birth?",
"Was Christ Created?", "Is God Reproducing Himself?",
"Is Jesus God?", and "The Pre-Existence of Christ."
#13 – The true Biblical Passover is to be observed at the END of Nisan
14 – not at the beginning thereof. It is
a full MEAL which includes a “seder” or “teaching” portion.
This may seem utterly
shocking to many, but the Jews have observed the Passover correctly, at the
right time, and in the right manner, all these centuries. Their only mistake is that they do not see
how Christ fulfilled the Passover, as our Passover Lamb (I Cor.5:7). Nevertheless,
they never lost track of sacred time.
Historically, they always slew the Passover lambs at the END of the 14th
of Nisan, in the LATE AFTERNOON – not just after sunset on the previous
evening! All historical records prove
this to be true. Therefore, the historic
date for eating the Passover meal has always been the evening of Nisan 15,
AFTER the lambs were slain in the end of Nisan 14.
When Jesus Christ met with His disciples,
for His final meal, it was actually two nights before His crucifixion,
and He was actually eating a regular mean – a meal with special significance,
yes, but it was NOT the “Passover”!
Jesus could not eat of the regular, normal Passover that year, for
obvious reasons – He would be dead and in His grave, fulfilling His role as our
Passover Lamb slain for us! To prove
this fact, read our article “A Profound New Look at Jesus’ Last Week.”
I might also mention that the Passover in
ancient times was always a FAMILY affair, celebrated at home, with the father
or a leading man leading the ceremony. A
special “seder plate” was used, in which – as God commanded – there was matzos
(unleavened bread), “bitter herbs,” and the shankbone of a lamb (reminding us
of the lambs which were sacrificed at the place where God put His name, the
Temple of God and holy city of Jerusalem).
Today, however, some claim to observe Passover, but no children
allowed, and they keep it as a solemn, grave, austere ceremony – like a
Catholic mass – with the atmosphere being almost “funereal.” What a travesty and absurdity! Write for our free booklet, “The
Christian-Messianic Passover Hagaddah,” for more information on HOW this
wonderful festival should be observed by each family group, at home!
Write for our free articles, “When Should the Passover Be
Observed?” “The New Testament
Passover,”’ “A New Look at the Passover,” “The Awesome Passover – Its Mystery
and Meaning,” and “Luke on the Passover,” as well as “Do We Neglect the Sacred
Meal?”
#14 – Pentecost should be observed 50 days after Passover – which
generally is on Sivan 6 – and NOT on a Sunday every year as Worldwide, its
remnants, and many Messianic groups, claim.
When should we observe Pentecost? Some churches, however, keep Pentecost by
counting from the day after the weekly Sabbath occurring during the days of
Unleavened Bread. What is the truth?
Jesus
Christ said the Pharisees sat in Moses’ seat (Matt.23:2-3), not the Sadducees,
and that we should “do all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe.” The
Pharisees always counted Pentecost from the day after the first annual Sabbath
which began the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
They were a conservative religious sect, whereas the Sadducees were a
very liberal, politically oriented sect which even denied the resurrection, the
existence of angels, and spirit (Acts 23:8).
The apostle Paul himself had been a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). Strange, isn’t it, that some churches of God
would follow after the liberal and loose Sadducees, instead of the custom of
those whom Jesus said the apostles should look to (Matt.23:2)! Likewise, the pagan Samaritans counted from
the day after the weekly Sabbath.
Who
were these Samaritans? They were pagans
who occupied the territory of northern Israel after the ten tribes were taken
captive by Assyria, developed a strange religion combining elements of the Old
Testament, perverting them, and adding to them pagan doctrines (see II Kings
17:23-41). These Samaritans even built
their own temple on Mount Gerizim. But
Jesus said of them, "Ye worship ye know not what" (John 4:22). Should the Church follow their example?
The
Septuagint plainly says we should count from the first day of Passover – not
from Sunday. Write for our free articles
“The Incredible Truth about Pentecost,” “Pentecost – the Final Answer,” and
“How to Count Pentecost.” Also, “The
Awesome Saga of Pentecost.”
15 – The Feast of Trumpets is the “Feast of Shouting,” or “Crying
Aloud.” It should be celebrated with
self-examination, repentance, and blowing of the shofars – ram’s horns –
calling God’s people to repentance.
God says regarding the
Festival of Trumpets, “On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a
day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts” (Lev.23:23,
NIV). And again, “On the first day of
the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets”
(Num.29:1).
Do you know of ANY Church of God which blows
the trumpet – the Biblical SHOFAR – on the “Festival of Trumpets”? Yet the commandment is very specific. It is the heart and soul of the “Feast of
Trumpets.” Why do we think God named it,
“Feast of Trumpets,” or “Blowing” or “Sounding”? The commandment that we are to literally blow
the trumpets on this day is very plain, and yet totally disregarded!
Furthermore, most of the churches claim
that this festival portrays the great trumpet which will be blown at the second
coming of Jesus Christ. Yet it is not
called the “Feast of the Great Trumpet,” but rather, “The Feast of Trumpets” –
PLURAL! This involves many trumpet
blasts which are blown during this day.
This festival does not portray the second coming of the Messiah at all,
but rather is a day of WARNING, and URGENCY, a day picturing God’s great call
to REPENTANCE going out to the world, as He begins to rain down His “trumpet
plagues” (see Revelation 8-9) upon the nations of the world for their
disobedience to His divine laws. Write
for our free article, “Amazing New Insight on the Feast of Trumpets.”
#16 – The Feast of
Tabernacles, dwelling in “booths,” rejoicing with “lulavs.”
In Leviticus 23 we read that there are two
aspects of the Feast of Tabernacles which are central to its proper
observance. We are commanded to “take to
ourselves” the branches or “fruit” of various trees and plants, and to use them
to “rejoice” before the Lord! The NIV
Bible translation puts it this way: “On
the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, and
leafy branches and poplars, and REJOICE before the Lord your God seven days” (Lev.23:40).
This speaks of the special “bundle” the Jews call the lulav, which is
held in the hands and waved before the Lord in an act of celebration,
rejoicing, and worship!
The second commandment concerning this
Festival which Herbert Armstrong overlooked states: “Live in BOOTHS for seven days” (v.42). These were little “huts” which were
constructed by the people and dwelled in during the Feast (compare Nehemiah 8:14-17). To learn more about HOW we should celebrate
God’s Feast today, write for our two articles, “The Deep Meaning of the Feast
of Tabernacles,” and “Secrets of the Sukkah.”
#17 – The True Bible Calendar.
God’s Calendar was
changed by the Jews in 357-58 A.D. to include “postponements,” which altered
the calendar, and the New Moons (beginning days of the months) were changed
because the New Moon was no longer visually observed and declared the first day
of the month, as it was in Bible times.
In recent years, God has increased our understanding of His Word and His commandments. One of the most important areas of discovery is the correct, inspired CALENDAR of God!
Most people do not realize it, but God gives a very specific calendar in His Word, one which begins with the month of Nisan in the spring. He also tells us that the beginning day of each month is a “New Moon.” History shows us that the New Moon in ancient Israel was the first slender crescent of the moon after it had been occluded during the “dark” of the moon.
However, the record of history shows us that the Jews CHANGED THE CALENDAR in 358 A.D., four centuries after Christ, and substituted in its place a “fixed,” artificial calendar which altered the New Moons, changed the Holy Days, and POSTPONED these days by adding Jewish traditions to the calendar! The Jews themselves make no bones about this change; in fact, they even boast about it! It is clearly documented in the Jewish Encyclopedia, and many Jewish books deal with the subject. But was this fundamental change endorsed by God and His Word? If so, where’s the proof?
And why did the Jews in 358 A.D. add “POSTPONEMENTS” TO THE CALENDAR? The sad truth is, they decided that if the day of Yom Kippur fell on a Friday or a Sunday, that was too close to the weekly Sabbath day, so they altered the calendar, and postponed Tishri 1, the Feast of Trumpets, by delaying it a day – so as not to “interfere” with the weekly Sabbath! And other “postponements” they added!
The amazing fact is, however, during Biblical times and the time of the Second Temple, no such calendar postponements were ever allowed or sanctioned! These changes were in direct violation of the true calendar of God, and were made merely in order to keep various “traditions” which had been added through the years.
The truth is, however, not every Jewish group today goes along with this calendar change made by rabbis in the fourth century. In particular, the Karaite Jews in modern day Israel have denounced the calendar changes made by the rabbinic authorities as heresy and error, and they have re-instituted the true calendar of God, carefully observing the New Moons every month from Israel, and proclaiming them, just as was done in Biblical times !
The secret of the true sacred Calendar of God is vital, strategic spiritual information we all need to KNOW, and KNOW that we know! It is crucial knowledge which helps us in our efforts to keep God’s Holy Days at the appropriate times, and to obey God in ALL things!
Write for our free book, “The Bible Calendar,” proving the TRUTH about God’s own Calendar, the Bible Calendar, and how we should calculate the annual Holy Days in the very same manner in which they were observed during the time of Jesus Christ and the apostles.
#18 – The New Moons.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard
to a religious festival, A NEW MOON CELEBRATION or a Sabbath day” (Col.2:16,
NIV). What’s all this about “New
Moons”? Here Paul lists the New Moons
along with the annual Festivals and the weekly Sabbath day. We know we are to observe the annual Sabbath
Days and the weekly Sabbath. But what
about the New Moon days? Doesn’t this
indicate we should observe the New Moons along with the annual Holy Days and as
well as the Sabbath day?
There is much more to this than most might
think. The day of the New Moon, when the
first faint crescent of the moon was seen in ancient Israel, was observed as a
semi-holy day, as a day when limited work was often done, a day set apart for
the beginning of a new month, when special sacrifices were offered at the
Temple of God (see Numbers 28:11-14).
Notice also what God says about the future,
when the Messiah returns: “From one
New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come
and bow down before me,’ says the LORD” (Isaiah 66:23, NIV). Obviously, the New Moons will be looked upon
as special days, when worship is done, during the Millennial reign of Christ!
Have people been ignoring and neglecting
this day and what it represents? Here
again is an area where people have fallen short of the mark, and neglected
observance of God’s New Moons – the first day of each month of the true
Biblical calendar!
Write for our article, “Should
Christians Observe the New Moons?”
#19 – Shemini Atzeret
– a Day picturing eternity.
Shemini Atzeret is
the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, an entirely different Feast, really
(Lev.23:39). After dwelling in booths
for seven days, during the “Feast of Booths,,” the people then left the booths
and had a special Sabbath day, “The Eighth Day,” when they assembled before
God. This day does not picture, as many
think, the Great White Throne Judgement.
It pictures “a new beginning” – the Day which represents “the New
Heavens and New Earth.” Read our article which explains the true meaning of
this remarkable day, “Shemini Atzeret – the Eighth Day.”
#20 – Hoshana Rabbah – theFinal Day of Salvation
and Judgment.
Hoshana
Rabbah means “the Great Hoshana,” or the
“Great Salvation.” It is the seventh day
of the Feast of Tabernacles, a day picturing when all mankind will have an
opporunitiy to be saved at the end of the thousand year Millennium. It is also called “The Great White Throne
Judgment.” To learn more about this
fantastic day, read our articles “The Mystery of Hoshanah Rabbah,” and “What’s
All This about the Resurrection?” Learn the awesome meaning of this day and HOW
it should be observed!
#21 – The True Names of God.
Many
“holy names” sects make a huge case out of exactly how we are to pronounce the
“name” of God. Some say one thing,
others stoutly maintain their pronunciation.
The arguments do seem to get tedious and ridiculous at times.
On
the other hand, others flee away from the Hebrew names for God and Christ, and
put people out of their church if they attempt to use them! Yet they claim to preach the “whole” gospel!
This
subject has been beaten to death by sectarians, cults, and disingenuous
ministers and religious leaders. Read a
careful, thoughtful analysis of this subject in our booklet, “The Sacred Names
of God.”
#22 – Daniel’s 2300 Day Prophecy.
Many think Daniel’s
2300 days are really 1150 days, were fulfilled as such in the days of
Antiochus Epiphanes, and do not really apply today. They are wrong on both accounts!
The Bible itself clearly shows that an
“evening and a morning” equal one day (Genesis 1), and 2300 evenings and
mornings equal 2300 days (see Adam Clark’s Commentary, Jamieson,
Faucet and Brown’s Commentary). Thus
2300 days equals 2300 years in fulfillment (Num.14:34; Ezek.4:6). During the
time of Antiochus, the abomination of desolation lasted exactly three years –
not 1150 days. History proves it!
Amazing as it sounds, from the date
Alexander the Great first defeated the Persians at the Granicus River in 334
B.C. till the Six Day War in 1967 when Israel recaptured the Temple mount was
exactly 2300 years! Read my article,
“Daniel’s 2300 Day Prophecy Revealed at Last!”
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23 – Daniel's 1260,1290 and 1335 Days.
In
the last chapter of Daniel a mysterious prophecy of 1260, 1290 and 1335 days is
given. Daniel is told, “Blessed is he
that waiteth, and cometh to the 1335 days” (verse 12). This clearly implies the 1335 continues on
beyond the end of the 1260 and 1290.
This suggests that the 1290 continues on past the 1260. In other words, all three periods of time
BEGIN at the same point. They do not end
at the same point.
Daniel
9:27 says the coming prince who destroys Jerusalem shall cause the sacrifice to
cease “in the midst of the week” – the week being the final seven years of this
age. The “midst of the week” would be at
the 3 and one half year point, or 1260 days from the return of Christ (see
Rev.13:5; 12:6,14). This is the same point when the Church flees to safety (Rev.12:14).
The Church flees when it sees the “abomination of desolation set up”
(Matt.24:15-16). This is 1260 days
before the return of Christ (Rev.12:6, 14).
Yet Daniel 12:11 says that from the time the daily sacrifice is taken
away is when the 1290 days also begins!
Thus the 1260 and 1290 days begin at the same time! The 1290 ends 30 days later – probably the
month of the re-gathering of Israel after Christ returns. The 1335 could refer to the “blessed” event
of the marriage feast of the Lamb and His bride, the Church (compare Rev.19:7-9
and Dan.12:12). Write for our articles
“Daniel’s 1260, 1290, and 1335 Days Prophecy,” and “The Year 2006 in Bible
Prophecy!”
#24 -- A Temple WILL be rebuilt in Jerusalem!
The prophecies of the Bible very
plainly teach that a real, literal, physical temple or sanctuary will exist on
the Temple Mount before Christ returns.
For
evidence and proof that a temple or sanctuary must be rebuilt prior to the
return of Christ, compare II Thess.2:4; Rev.11:1-2; Matt.24:15; Dan.9:26-27;
Dan.8:11-13; Dan.11:31; Psalm 79:1, for starters. Also, send for the article, “Will a Temple be
Rebuilt in Jerusalem?”
#25 -- Truth about Divorce and Remarriage.
Jesus plainly said that in the case
of “fornication” – porneia, in the Greek – a marriage was not binding,
and the partners would be free to remarry.
Some are seemingly blind to the definition of this word
as found in Greek lexicons, and insist it only applies to “premarital sex” when
used in the New Testament! Yet Paul used
it in I Corinthians 6:18, which Moffatt translates as “immorality.”
The truth is, porneia refers to all
kinds of sexual sins, promiscuity, whoredom, adultery, harlotry, as well as
premarital sex! This simple
understanding would have saved thousands of families from incredible needless
suffering and spiritual “martyrdom.” Broken homes, with children the innocent
victims, would have been saved, rather than imperiously destroyed in order to
satisfy a rigid and heartless misinterpretation of Scripture!
If you would like to read the real
“plain truth” about divorce and remarriage, according to the Bible, then write
for our article on the subject. It will
make it truly plain and understandable.
Write for our booklet, “Marriage and Divorce.”
#26 -- Tithing.
To
tithe, or not to tithe? That is
the question Hamlet might have posed, had he been a seeker of religious truth!
Many churches and ministers
have abused the tithing principle. Like
greedy hogs, they have devoured the tithe for their own appetites, and stolen
from God and God’s peope.
This abuse of authority and corruption of
the use of money is standard operating procedure for human nature, of
course. An old saying goes, “Power
corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It was corruption and the abuse
of money that led to the Reformation in the Middle Ages, even more than
doctrinal error.
The truth is, Jesus taught tithing as a
commandment or law of God which we should obey (Matt.23:23) – He said He did
not come to abolish ONE SINGLE SOLITARY law of God (Matt.5:17-19) – He never
intended His Church to make “tithing” such a burden on the backs of the people
of God! Of course, true Christians
should “tithe” ten percent of their income, as faithful Abraham and Jacob did,
to God, as the means of support for the New Testament Church ministry
(Gen.14:20; 28:22; I Cor.9:7-14).
The truth is, tithing was a law of God BEFORE
the Levitical priesthood even existed (Gen.26:5). The tithe was later transferred to the
Levites, for their support (Lev.27:30-32; Num.18:21). However, when Christ came and instituted the
Church, He transferred the tithe from the Levites to His ministry
(Heb.7:4-12). “For the priesthood being
CHANGED, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” Notice!
Not a doing away with the tithing law, but a CHANGE IN THE
LAW! What change? A change necessitated because of the change
in priesthoods, from Levitical to Melchisedek!
Christ is a high priest after the order of Melchisedek. Now the tithes should go to HIS
representatives – the true ministers of God – for the support of God’s true
endi-time Work on this earthWrite for our booklet, “What’s All This about
Tithing?”
#27 – Church Authority.
Some
churches have adopted a very rigid and lofty form of Church Government. Ministers “rule” over the flock, potentially
in every area of their lives. Members
are encouraged to counsel with their local minister in just about
everything. Ministers take authority to
even judge people’s attitudes and to disfellowship individuals who disagree
with them on some minor point or issue.
Of course, sometimes the minister errs and gets caught, and is
reprimanded, but nevertheless the abuse of authority was and is
commonplace.
Jesus
Christ never approved of such an approach toward Church government. Peter said elders should feed the flock of
God “which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint but
willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being LORDS
over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (I Pet.5:2-3).
Christ
Himself warned His disciples, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your
servant” (Matt.23:11). He cautioned His
disciples, “Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles EXERCISE DOMINION over
them, and they that are great exercise AUTHORITY upon them. But it shall not be so among you.- but
whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will
be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matt.20:25-27).
Somewhere
over the years this concept of the loving shepherd leading his flock with love
and devotion has been lost. Instead, we
find human nature coming to the forefront and ministers wielding authority like
tiny despots, little hitters, and even prying into peoples lives and advising
them on such silly things as what color truck or automobile to purchase.
Perversely,
it seems like some gullible sheep have a strong sheep instinct to conform, and
they enjoy being humiliated and abused, like some battered wives. At least they get attention that way! Paul had to face this same problem. He wrote to the Corinthians, “For ye suffer
fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
For ye suffer, if a man BRING YOU INTO BONDAGE, if a man DEVOUR YOU, if
a man take of you, if a man EXALT HIMSELF, if a man SMITE YOU ON THE FACE” (II
Cor.11:19-20).
Incredible,
isn't it? Yet so many brethren seemed to
actually enjoy being beaten down by authoritarian ministers! Today we live in the age of the “Monster
Minister,” who brags, struts, puffs out his chest and barks orders like a
gunnery sergeant in the army! God calls
them “CRUEL shepherds” (Jer.23; Ezek.34), who rule over the flock with
FORCE! Write for the articles on “Is
There Government in the Church of God?”, “The Plain Truth about Church
Authority,” and “Crisis in the Worldwide Church of God – the Good, the Bad, and
the Ugly.”
#28
– Rapture and Place of Safety.
In Revelation 12 we read that God will
protect some of His people from Satan’s wrath “in the wilderness”
(Rev.12:14). Jesus warned His servants
that when they saw Jerusalem surrounded by armies, they should flee to the
mountains of Judea (Matt.24:16).
Most churches today believe rather that
the saints will be secretly “raptured” to heaven to escape the Great
Tribulation and time of trouble on the earth in the end times. If this were so, then why does the Scripture
say His coming will be with a loud voice, a thundering trumpet blast, and every
eye will SEE Him (Matt.24:30-32; I Cor.15:50-52; Rev.1:7)?
Where is the future “place of safety”? No Scripture shows it to be in heaven. However, Revelation 12:6 shows that during
the Middle Ages the Church fled the boundaries of the Roman Empire to “the
wilderness, where she had a place prepared of God.” At that time the Church
fled to the mountains of eastern Europe, and southern France, and Germany, and
into western Europe and England. Thus
this “place prepared of God” need not be a desert rocky wasteland such as Petra
at all, but can refer to any mountainous region beyond the “reach” of the future
Babylonian-Roman Empire. It could include many places where individual
congregations or groups of God's people find refuge – places throughout the
nations of modem Israel – mountainous areas in the United States, Canada,
England, Australia, New Zealand, and so forth.
Write for the articles “Amazing New
Evidence – Where Is the Place of Safety?” Also write for the article, “The
Rapture – Fact or Fallacy?”
#28 – The Identity of Elijah.
Some churches think
Herbert Armstrong as the end-time “Elijah.” Some make this belief a condition for
baptism! This is very strange, because
he predicted the return of Jesus Christ to occur at the END of World War II! Then later he claimed Christ would return in
“1975” and wrote a booklet entitled “1975 in Prophecy”!
Although God did use Herbert and Loma
Armstrong to raise up a Work of God during these end-times, and in some areas
Herbert Armstrong did recapture a certain amount of truth and true values,
nevertheless, in the final analysis he was not the prophesied Elijah to
come. The one coming in the power and
spirit of Elijah is yet to appear.
Herbert Armstrong died before the culmination of prophetic events. The Elijah to come will very likely be one of
the two witnesses (Rev. 11).
Herbert Armstrong's own family deserted
him and left the Church he founded. His
daughters left the Church years ago when the Church legislated on the issue of
cosmetics and make up. His son rebelled against
Herbert Armstrong in 1978 in a power struggle over who was to run the Church. The Church has not had much success in
dealing with its young people, and the children of members. Yet the Elijah to come is to be one who
“shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the
children to their fathers” (Mal.4:6). Herbert Armstrong did not even succeed
with his own family!
Herbert Armstrong could hardly have been
the Elijah to come who truly will bring families back together. Because of the teachings of Herbert Armstrong
on divorce and remarriage, he did more to break up homes and marriages
than any other minister in modern times!
And his neglect of spending time with his own children as they grew up,
and abuse toward them, set a tragic example for the entire Church of God,
today.
Documentation is available for those who
desire it. Write for our articles, “How
Are The Mighty Fallen!” “Prophetic Errors of Herbert Armstrong,” and “Could
Herbert Armstrong be the ‘Elijah’ to Come?’
#29 – Truth about anointing and ordination of
ministers.
Jesus Christ commanded
His disciples, to whom He gave the command to preach the gospel to every
creature, and the command to teach all nations (Matt.28:19), to also teach
those who repent and believe “ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU”
(Matt.28:20).
In other words, the command to preach
the gospel was passed down to EVERY MEMBER of the Church, according to their
ability and talents. Today, if any
deacon or lay member were to “preach” without authorization from headquarters,
they would be disfellowshipped! However,
this was not the way things were done in the apostolic Church. In that Church even deacons who were not
ordained as elders did mighty works, and were “full of faith and power” (Acts
6:8).
In Acts 8 we find that great
persecution came upon the Church after the death of Stephen, and the brethren
“were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except
the apostles” (Acts 8:1).
What did these scattered lay members do?
Did they remain silent, and leave the preaching to the apostles? Notice!
"Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere
PREACHING THE WORD" (verse 4)!
One
of these early unordained “preachers” whom God inspired was a deacon named
Philip. What did Philip do? “Then Philip went down to the city of
Samaria, and PREACHED CHRIST unto them. And the people with one accord gave
heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles
which he did” (Acts 8:5-6).
Some
churches have even disfellowshiped lay members who dared to “preach” without
“proper authorization” from the “headquarters” of the church!
Philip was “preaching those things
concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12) – yet
he was not ordained as a minister or elder, he was a deacon!
In the New Testament we do find that
there are different offices in the Church of God (Eph.4:11-13). Each person
received different “gifts” of the Spirit of God (Eph.4:11; I Cor.12:31; I
Cor.12:28). There is no indication that the early Church had separate
“ordination ceremonies” for men achieving different “ranks” in the
ministry. Rather, the only kind of
ordination described was for the office of “elder.” These other “offices” were
gifts of God’s Spirit, not “ranks” of the ministry! Write for our articles, “Truth about
Anointing and Laying on of Hands,” and “How Should a Minister Be Ordained?”
#30 – Any Prophets
Today?
The Worldwide Church of God and its
off-shoots and remnant churches most all claim there is no need of
"prophets" in the church today.
There were prophets in the early Church of
God. There were also prophetesses (see
Acts 21:9-14). They performed a vital
function in the Church. They were
necessary. Yet you would think that if
any age of the Church did NOT “need” prophets, it would have been the first
century Church, because they had the very 12 apostles among them, besides the
120 who had followed Christ and heard Him teach, personally (Acts 1:15). Surely, in our day, we would need prophets
far more than they did!
The apostle Paul clearly described the
office of “prophet” as being important to the Church. He wrote to the Corinthians, “And God hath
set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily PROPHETS, thirdly teachers,
after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues” (I Cor.12:28).
Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “And He gave
some, apostles; and some, PROPHETS; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers” (Eph.4:11). In fact, prophets were considered part of the FOUNDATION
of the Church (Eph.2:20). Paul wrote of the “mystery of Christ, which was not
made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by
the Spirit to God's holy apostles AND PROPHETS” (Eph.3:5, NIV).
Scripture reveals God has always sent
prophets ESPECIALLY when the ministers or priests failed to do their duty,
corrupted God’s truth, and began to apostatize from the way of God! Today the ministry has a “prophesy not”
attitude, just as was foretold in the book of Amos (Amos 2:12). God says He will do nothing without first
revealing His plan and activity to His servants THE PROPHETS (Amos 3:6-7). God raises up prophets DURING A TIME OF
CRISIS!
We are living in a time of unprecedented
crisis, both in the world AND IN THE CHURCH OF GOD,
right now!
The 14th chapter of I Corinthians deals
almost entirely with the “gift of prophecy” (I Cor.14:1). Paul said it is
something we should all desire (same verse).
He adds, “Wherefore, brethren, COVET TO PROPHESY” (verse 39). And, to those who are negatively disposed to
the idea of prophets, Paul warns, “Despise not prophesyings” (I Thess.5:20).
Will there be prophets of God during
these end times? Of course there will
be! Peter was inspired to write, quoting
from the prophet Joel, “And it shall come to pass IN THE LAST DAYS, saith God,
I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters
SHALL PROPHESY. . .” (Acts 2:17-18).
I could go on and on, but this should be
sufficient. If you would like to study
this subject further, then write for the articles, “Are There Any Prophets
Today?” “Elijah Will Come Again!”, “Elijah the Fiery Prophet!”
#31 – Doctors,
Medicines and Healing.
In the Bible God clearly says He is Yahveh-Ropheka,
or “God our Healer” (Exodus 15:26). He
says, “I am the Lord that healeth thee” (same verse). He also says if we keep His commandments, “I
will put NONE of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians.” Evidence shows the ancient Egyptians were
smitten with all the so-called modern degenerative diseases, the diseases of
civilization, including heart disease, cancer, and diseases that stemmed from
their unbalanced diet, eating of impure foods, unclean meats, and improper
living habits.
God says if we would obey His laws, in
truth and reality, we could be spared from these modem "curses" of
the industrial and civilized world.
Modern medicine, however, sadly ignores the laws of God and His codes
which would lead to radiant health. Read
our articles on “Bible Health Keys,” and “The Lost Keys to Health.” Also, be sure to read our booklet, “Does God
Heal Today?”
The Bible nowhere condemns the wise use
of doctors, or medicine, when a person is ill.
In fact, Solomon wrote that a “cheerful heart doeth good like a medicine.” Herbs have been used to facilitate healing
since the beginning of time. However,
not everything in modern medical practice is necessarily wise or good. “In a multitude of counselors there is
wisdom,” Solomon wrote. Doctors are
human, like everybody else.
Some
medical procedures are very risky. Even
vaccinations have proved to be fatal to some people. Some people’s lives have been ruined and
devastated by inept and unnecessary surgery.
Write
for our booklet, “Does God Heal Today?”
It provides a balanced view of this subject!
#32
– “King of the South.”
In
my article “A New Look at Egypt in Prophecy!
Who Is the ‘King of the South’?”,
I make very plain that the Bible clearly shows the future "king of
the south" in prophecy will be Egypt, with its allies. Since the time of Abdul Gamal
Nasser, in the 1950's, Egypt has regained its independence and has become a
power among the Arab nations. During the
time span of Daniel 11, the “king of the south” was always Egypt. In this end-time as well, many prophecies
show that Egypt is destined to play a major role in world affairs. The evidence is plain as can be. Isaiah and Ezekiel also show that Egypt will
play a prominent role in the end-time as part of the “kingdom of the south,” an
ARAB and MUSLIM kingdom. Egypt is SOUTH
of Israel and the most populous Arab/African nation today.
Write for the article, “Daniel 11 in
Bible Prophecy,” and “Egypt in Prophecy -- Who Is the King of the South?”
#33 – Satan’s Fate.
In my book Beyond Star Wars, published
in 1978, I asked, “Will the devil, and his angels, be ultimately
destroyed? Or will their spirits roam
forever in the new universe that God will create?”
I go on to quote II Peter 3:10-13 to show
that only “righteousness” will dwell in that new heavens and new earth. I explain, “There will be no trace of
wickedness in that new world – not the vaguest hint of wickedness (Rev.21:8).
God will finally rid himself of his arch enemy, this competitor, this arch
villain, this age-old rebel. Some
believe that the devil, being a spirit creature, cannot be destroyed or put to
death, and that he will simply be cast out into outer darkness, into the
infinite regions of space, to foam out his bitterness and hostility for ever.”
I went on to explain, “But I am convinced
that such is not the case. Christ the
Creator took on himself the nature and form of a man, and suffered death – but
was resurrected from the dead. Even so,
I believe it is certainly within the capability of the Creator God to change
Satan from a spirit being into flesh, or physical matter, and then cremate his
remains in the lake of fire so that nothing is left but smoke and ashes – so
there will be no vestige or hint of his former existence in the New Age to
come!” I then quote Malachi 4:1-4 and add, “The great Destroyer will eventually
himself be destroyed” (p.314).
When I wrote this passage, little did I
perceive the furor it would evoke in the minds of certain ministers in church I
was attending. One minister accused me
of heresy! But the leaders of the Church
took no action. Subsequently, I wrote a
full book entitled Satan’s Fate, on this remarkable subject, in
which I put together proofs and evidences from throughout the Bible showing
conclusively that Satan will be destroyed along with his wicked demons.
The Word of God is very clear on this
subject, if we have an open mind (see Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezek.28:16-19). God, the
Creator, is all-powerful. That which He
can create, He is fully capable of destroying.
Even as a builder can destroy his building, or a man can create an
airplane, and then crash it, so the Omnipotent God can create a being, inferior
to Him, and destroy it if and when He so chooses. The demons themselves know they can be
destroyed (Mark 1:24). The lake of fire
is prepared specifically for them (Matt.25:41).
The Moffatt translation even renders Psalm 82:7, "Yet, like mere
men, you shall die, you shall PERISH LIKE A DEMON'!
But Hebrews 2:14 cinches the case. Here we read that Jesus Christ will “DESTROY
. . . the devil”! The Greek word kartagoo
translated “destroy” in this verse means to literally abolish, render null
and void, cancel out, obliterate, destroy totally. For more proof to back up these statements,
be sure to read my reprinted article, “What Is Satan’s Fate?”
The plain fact is that when
we study ALL the relevant evidence from the Scriptures, Jesus Christ was
crucified on Thursday, that Friday was a high holy day, and He arose just
before daybreak, Sunday morning! The
simple truth is 1) you cannot count 3 days and 3 nights between a crucifixion
Friday afternoon and a resurrection Sunday morning, no matter how hard you try;
and 2) if you count from Wednesday, then Sunday would have been FOUR days after
the crucifixion, yet the gospel of Luke says it was THREE days afterwards (Luke
24:21).
What few understand is that when Matthew
wrote that Jesus would be in the grave “three days and three nights”
(Matt.12:40), he was reckoning the days according to the Jewish method of
counting – and “parts” of a day could be considered a “day.” Therefore from Thursday afternoon, when Jesus
died, we can count as follows: Thursday
afternoon (1 day), Thursday night (1 night); Friday (2nd day), Friday night
(2nd night); Sabbath day (3rd day), and Sabbath night (3rd
night), bringing us to just before sunrise, Sunday morning (compare John 20:1;
Luke 24:1; Matt.28:1).
New knowledge from astronomy shows us that
the New Moon of the month of Nisan, during the year of the crucifixion, 30
A.D., had to fall on a Friday.
Therefore, the Passover sacrifice day would have been 14 days later,
meaning the day the Passover was sacrificed (Nisan 14) fell on a Thursday, and
the First Day of Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15) fell on Friday. To read the conclusive PROOF of these things,
write for our amazing article, “How Long Was Jesus Christ In the Grave?”
There are two problems with this view. 1) God forbids us to add to or take away from His word (Deut.4:1-2; Deut.12:31-32). 2) The “Lord’s supper” did NOT occur the night before the crucifixion – Christ was in prison on that night! Rather, it occurred the previous night – that is, TWO nights before the crucifixion! The proof is solid – incontrovertible.
A careful reconstruction of
Jesus’ last week demonstrates that the modern churches have a serious
misunderstanding of Jesus last supper.
It was not the Passover because it was held TWO DAYS PRIOR to the
Passover! It was not held the night
before the crucifixion, as many assume, but TWO nights before the
crucifixion!
How do we know this? We know that Jesus was apprehended by the
authorities after praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, late in the night. After this, He was taken before Annas the
high priest and interrogated, and then taken to Caiaphas the high priest as
well, and further questioned. At
daybreak He was taken before the whole Sanhedrin, judged, and condemned. Then, the next morning, at a reasonable hour,
He was taken before Pontius Pilate and accused.
Pilate discovered he was from Galilee, and sent Him to king Herod,
thinking to absolve himself from the controversy. But after being questioned by Herod, Jesus
was returned to Pilate’s judgment seat.
By now, the apostle John tells us, “it was about the sixth hour – about
twelve o’clock noon” (John 19:14, Amplified Version).
Notice!
Jesus was crucified on the stake at 9:00 AM in the morning. We read in Mark’s gospel, “And it was the
third hour (about NINE O’CLOCK in the morning) when they crucified him” (Mark
15:25). Now if he was judged at NOON,
but crucified at 9:00 AM, three hours earlier, then the 9:00 AM crucifixion had
to be the FOLLOWING DAY!!! You cannot
be crucified 3 hours earlier on the same day you’re judged!
Counting backward then, since we know He
was crucified Thursday morning, He was judged by Pilate Wednesday at noon. This means the “Last supper” had to be
Tuesday evening. Wednesday night He
spent in the dungeon, after being beaten and scourged by the Roman soldiers. Since He was crucified on Nisan 14, Thursday,
the evening of Tuesday would have been shortly after sunset, the beginning of
Nisan 13, when the “Last Supper” was held.
The proof of all these things is available
in our free article, “Astonishing, Profound New Look at Jesus’ Last Week.” Send for it and study it carefully, and you
will be dumfounded and amazed! Also
read, “The Sixth Hour? – When Was Christ Crucified?”
#36 – The Birth of
Christ.
Although many Messianic believers
and Christians believe Christ was born in the fall of the year, perhaps at the
Feast of Tabernacles time, a careful analysis of the gospel accounts show that
He was born around the month of February!
His ministry began when He was about 30 years old, and lasted 3 years,
so His death at Passover had to be about 33 years after His birth – or near the
time of spring, not fall! Read the
evidence in our article, “When Was Yeshua Born?”
#37 – Wearing Cosmetics and Make-up.
God nowhere condemns a little use
of cosmetics in His Word, used for the right purposes, as in to hide a blemish
or a scar. But to dress up “fit to kill”
with loads of make up, nail polish, ruby red lipstick, and eye shadow, to
“guild the lilly” as it were, would be attracting attention to the SELF, and
wrong. That is the way of Jezebel, and
the custom of HARLOTS.
Make up or
cosmetics is nowhere mentioned in the Torah.
However, the whole emphasis in the Bible is on moderation in all things,
to avoid extremes. God’s Word does not
specifically prohibit the use of make up or cosmetics. However, the Bible does mention the example
of ancient Jezebel, the idolatrous wife of king Ahab, who wore heavy make up,
attempting to seduce Jehu. We read, “she
painted her eyes, arranged her hair, and looked out of a window” (II Kings
9:30).
Here was an infamous example of using
cosmetics in an evil manner. However,
the Scriptures do not condemn all use of make up or cosmetics, only the wrong
use of such things. One should not dress
up to look like a prostitute! God’s
women should be attired in modest apparel (I Pet.3:1-6). Write for the article on “make up and
cosmetics.”
#38 – The Pharaoh of the Exodus.
Who was the Pharaoh of the Exodus? Whoever he was, the Bible says he died and
perished in the raging, foaming waters of the Red Sea. Some teach that the Exodus Pharaoh was Amenhotep
II and that he lived another 16 years after the Exodus, and his mummy is in the
Cairo Museum, today! For the truth
about this subject, read my article “Who Was the Pharaoh of the Exodus?”
#39 – America and
Britain in prophecy.
British Israelism and
others teach that the United States and Great Britain are descended from the
the ancient House of Israel, and the identity of Britain and the British
Commonwealth as being Ephraim and the United States as being Manasseh. New research has invalidated this conclusion. They got it backwards!
Ephraim was the leading tribe of the
northern kingdom of Israel. Its leaders
always had an antipathy toward the throne of David. It was the “thirteenth tribe.” Yet it was
prophesied to become the greatest! The
Work of God was prophesied to go out from Ephraim during the last days. Ephraim was prophesied to be a “union of
states” – and the UNION of the “UNITED STATES of America” has stood the test of
time, and is the most powerful UNION of states anywhere in the world!
The number “13” is stamped all over
America. Manasseh, on the other hand,
was prophesied to be “great” – and the very name of their descendants today is
“GREAT Britain”!
Ancient Manasseh was divided into two major
portions – one east of the Jordan River, and the other north of Ephraim. Today, the two major nations of Manasseh once
again are one to the EAST (Great Britain), and one DUE NORTH of Ephraim –
Canada, which is due north of the United States!
In prophesying of the descendants of these
two peoples, Moses said that Manasseh would have his thousands, but Ephraim his
ten thousands (Deut.33:17). It is significant that the population of the United
States is more dm double that of all the other English-speaking nations
combined, and that its population compared to that of its neighbor Canada is
almost exactly a multiple of ten – just like Moses prophesied!
For more intriguing information on this
marvelous fulfillment of Bible Prophecy, write for the article “Who Is The
United States in Prophecy?” Also, for
proof that indeed our modern Anglo-Saxon nations are descended from ancient
Israel, write for my new book, AMERICA AND GREAT BRITAIN – OUR IDENTITY
REVEALED – Ephraim and Manasseh in the End of Days.
#40 –
Birthdays.
Should Christians celebrate birthdays? Though you look in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, you will find no mention anywhere of any of the saints of God observing their birthdays. In fact, strange as it may seem to many, even the exact date of the birth of Jesus Christ is NOWHERE REVEALED in Scripture! The universal custom of observing “Christmas” as the birth of Christ, on December 25th, is acknowledged by all the historical authorities as having no basis in actual fact. Jesus Christ was born nowhere near December 25th, in the dead of winter.
If the very day of Jesus’ birth is deliberately left out of the Bible, doesn’t that fact tell us something? If birthdays should be celebrated, why did God leave the date of His own Son's birth out of Holy Scripture?
The plain truth is that birth day celebrations are only mentioned twice in the Scriptures – both times in reference to customs being observed by unconverted people – a pagan Egyptian Pharaoh, and wicked king Herod! On both occasions, somebody was put to death.
God inspired the prophet Jeremiah to write, “Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of the heaven (astrology!); for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain” (Jeremiah 10:1-3).
God expressly commands His people not to follow in the ways, customs, and practices of the heathen, pagan nations around them! Obviously, therefore, the Word of God does NOT sanction or approve of celebrating BIRTHDAYS!
God is even more explicit. Celebrating birthdays was a particularly Egyptian custom. God plainly commands His people, “After the DOING OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, wherein ye dwelt, SHALL YE NOT DO” (Leviticus 18:3). Write for our article, “The Surprising Origin of Birthdays.” Obviously, however, this commandment is directed toward birthday parties, as such – it is not wrong, in a small way, to give a present or gift to a child or mate or father or mother on the anniversary of their day of birth, or to have a special meal on that day.
41 – Holy Garments.
What about wearing of “holy
garments,” such as the prayer shawl, and “fringes” upon the corners? Should Christians were tallits (prayer
shawls), or “fringes” (“tassels”) on their garments? What about wearing the Jewish “kippah”? Notice what the word
of God says about this matter: “Again, the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
'Speak to the children of Israel: Tell
them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their
generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the
corners. And you shall have the tassel,
that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD to
do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your
own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and
do ALL My commandments, and be HOLY for your God. I am the LORD your God, who brought you
out of the land of Egypt, to be your God:
I am the LORD your God” (Numbers 15:37-41).
God is very clear in His instructions. He says His people are to wear unique tassels
or fringes in the four corners of their garments “throughout their
generations.” Have generations
ceased? Are people still being
born? Of course.
Many people are ignorant of this
commandment, and don’t realize that Jewish men often wear what is called a
“prayer shawl,” or tallit, when attending the synagogue. It is an item of Jewish clothing which
fulfills this commandment. It has four
fringes, called tzitzyot, tied to its four corners, and is often worn in
religious services, in the synagogue, and during religious obligations and
functions.
Should true Christians also wear
such clothing, or is this commandment abolished? Note the words of Jesus: “Do not think I have come to abolish the Law
. . . I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the
smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will be any means disappear
from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matt.5:17-18, NIV).
Jesus Christ, or Yeshua, was a Jew,
and lived a perfect life. He set us an
example of how we ought to live, in every way.
He was even baptized, setting us an example (Matt.3:13-17). The apostle John tells us: “He who says he abides in Him ought himself
to walk just as He walked” (I John 2:6).
Peter adds that Christ left “us an example, that you should follow
His steps” (I Pet.2:21).
Did Jesus Christ, our example and pattern for living a holy life, therefore, wear “tassels” or “fringes” in the corners of his garments? Yes, He did!
Therefore, this commandment is
still valid and in force. I wear a
tallit during Bible study, or church services.
God’s Word also says that women should wear a “hair covering” (I
Cor.11). Do these commands apply
TODAY?
Write for our articles, “The Woman’s
Head Covering,” “The Fringes of the Law,” and “Holy Garments.” The ‘kippah,” however, was not worn in
Biblical times and derives from the Dark Ages, as a custom of Jews living in
Babylon! We do not follow that custom.
#42 – The Prophetic Plan and
Timetable.
Is God working out a 6,000 year plan here on earth?
The apostle Peter writes, in the New Testament, “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 long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:8-10).
When the Messiah returns, He will inaugurate a millennial kingdom lasting one thousand years. (Rev.20:1-3). This “millennial rest” of 1,000 years is termed a “Sabbath” rest (Hebrew 4:9). If the Millennium is compared to a Sabbath day, which is the seventh day of the week, then it stands to reason that each of the previous six days are a thousand years each, showing thwat there would be approximately 6,000 years from the time of Creation until the second coming of the Lord!
The belief that there would be about 6,000 years for the time of man, till the Messiah, was a common belief of the ancient Jewish people, and of the early Christian church, and is mentioned very plainly in the Epistle of Barnabus. For more information on this fascinating subject, write for our article, “6000 Years and Beyond – Are We Nearing the End of the Age?”
#43 – The
Omer. “And you shall count . . .”
(Lev.23:15).
God says, “And y0u shall count
from the day after the sabbath [the Passover high holyday] , from the day that
you brought the sheaf [Hebrew, omer, consisting of 5.1 pints of barley
grain] of the wave offering seven sabbaths; seven full weeks shall they
be; counting fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath [week]”
(Lev.23:15-16, Amplified Bible).
What is this mysterious command all
about? Is this something which applies
to true Christians and believers in Christ today? Or is this just something that concerned
ancient Israel?
In Deuteronomy, God commands, “YOU
shall COUNT seven weeks; begin to NUMBER the seven weeks from the time you begin
to put the sickle to the standing grain” (Deut.16:9, Amplified Bible). Notice
that God commands His people to COUNT THE OMER during the fifty days, from
Passover until Pentecost -- numbering off the days consecutively – until they
reach the Feast of Shavuot, or Pentecost!
He commands us to DO IT -- for a great and overriding purpose!
Why?
What does the “Omer” represent?
And why are we commanded to “count” it off for seven times seven or
forty nine days, till Pentecost arrives, on the fiftieth day? This is a great mystery to most people, but
the Jews have gleaned much significance from this commandment, as they have
studied it and obeyed it, every year, in their homes and synagogues!
If you would like to understand the
mystery of the counting of the Omer, and how it applies to true Christians who
desire to obey and live by “every word of God” (Matt.4:4; Luke 4:4), as Jesus
Christ commanded, then write for our two articles, “The Mystery of the Omer,”
and “Sefirat Ha Omer – The Key to Overcoming.”
#44
– Angels, Women, and Giants.
Did Angels cohabit with women before
the Flood? This very controversial
question is answered in the affirmative in the Scriptures, ancient Jewish
works, and was believed by the early Church.
Many ancient sources testify that fallen angels, under the influence of Lucifer, led a revolt against the God of heaven, and violated His laws which ordain that there must be no inter-breeding between different “kinds” or “species” among the created beings of the Universe.
The
Bible itself bears witness to this fact, in Genesis 6:1-4, where we read: “The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair,
and they took wives of all that they desired and chose. . .There were giants in
the earth in those days – and also afterward – when the sons of God lived
with the daughters of men, and they bore CHILDREN to them” (Amplified Parallel
Bible). The Septuagint Version has this
verse, “the sons of God (Alexandrian, ANGELS of God) having seen the
daughters of men.” Josephus, in Antiquities
of the Jews, says, “for many angels of God accompanied with women, and
begat sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good, on account
of the confidence they had in their own strength, for the tradition is that
these men did what resembled the acts of those whom the Grecians called GIANTS”
(Jos., Ant., Bk.1, III, 1). Says
the translator William Whiston, in a footnote, “This notion, that the fallen
angels were, in some sense, the fathers of the old giants, was the constant
opinion in antiquity.”
Angels are called the “sons of God” in the book of Job: “Now there was a day when the sons (ANGELS) of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (the adversary and accuser) also came among them” (Job 1:6). In fact, when God created the heavens and the earth, “the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). Did some of these angels rebel against God and have sex with women? Read our revealing booklet, “Angels, Women, Angels, Giants, UFOs and the Occult – What On Earth Is Going On?”
#45 – Saul, the Witch of
Endor, and Spirits.
Did the witch of Endor bring up Samuel the prophet from the grave? Most teach that it was only a demon masquerading as “Samuel.” Yet the Scriptures repeatedly say it was Samuel himself! What happens to the “spirits” of the righteous dead? What is “spirit,” anyway? What is the “soul”? God’s Word says spirit cannot “die” (II Cor.4:18). Yet man has a “spirit” (Eccl.12:7). Read the truth about these events in our articles, “Saul and the Witch of Endor,” “Life After Death?”, and “The Spirit in Man.”
#46 – the Truth about Hell –
it IS “everlasting”!
Many believe that the wicked sinners will roast in hell “forever and ever.” Others claim that when the wicked are cast into the lake of Gehenna fire, they will “perish” completely. If so, then what happens to their ‘spirit’? It is true that the Scriptures speak in several places of “eternal fire” and “eternal punishment.” How can we equate the fact that “the soul that sins, it shall DIE” (Ezek.18:4) with the wicked being cast into “everlasting fire” (Matt.25:41)? Is hell-fire literal? Eternal? To solve this paradox, read our article, ‘Is Hell Everlasting?”
#47 – The European Union (or
ten future states of Europe) is NOT the Beast of Revelation, or the power that
attacks America and Great Britain!
My former church, led by Herbert Armstrong, taught that a union of nations in Europe led by Germany will launch a nuclear blitzkrieg against America and Britain, destroying our nations and bringing us into captivity. Many of its off-shoot branches today still believe this teaching. However, it is not true!
Rather, the soon coming “Beast power” is to be the “New World Order” which will INCLUDE the United States and Great Britain. It will be a remake of the United Nations, soon to be strengthened, revamped, and militarized. Read the truth in our articles, “The Beast, Seven Heads and Ten Horns,” and “Daniel Seven and the New World Order in Prophecy!” and “Daniel 2 and the Panorama of Prophecy.”
#48 – The Four Horsemen of
the Apocalypse and the Return of Christ.
Will Christ return soon? YES! His coming is right around the corner!
Many today think He may not come for another 1,000 years. Others say about 40 or 50 years. Still others believe another 20-30 years.
I believe the truth is more likely another 7 to 10 years! Although this is not set in concrete, or a matter of “setting” a particular date, many today are afraid to study the evidence, and to even “speculate” on such matters. It is TRUE that no man can know the “day or the hour,” nevertheless, we CAN know the approximate time, if we are wise and understanding and obedient to God’s laws and commandments (see Daniel 12:9-10).
Read our articles, “Jacob’s Troubles,” “Four Horsemen of
the Apocalypse,” “Armageddon,” “2012 in Prophecy,” and “Will Christ Return in a
Jubilee Year?”
It's
Time to WAKE UP!
I feel truly like a “voice in the
wilderness,” crying aloud, like an eagle in the sky, shrieking a warning. But hardly anybody seems to care, hardly
anybody is concerned or alarmed. The
Church of God is going astray, diving off the deep end, straight into the Great
Tribulation, and nobody, it seems, gives a faint care.
Where are the real people of God? Will the REAL SERVANTS OF GOD PLEASE STAND
UP, AND BE COUNTED?
Apostasy has set in, and thousands are
sound asleep, not wanting to be disturbed by any loud, shouting, angry,
thundering voice. “Shut up!” the people
exclaim. “We don't want to hear
it!” As Isaiah put it, “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, get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path,
cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us” (Isaiah 30:9-11).
Sometimes, like Elijah who thought he was
the only one left really serving God, I wonder, “Where have all the true people
of God gone?” Elijah told God, “I, even I only, am left” (I Kings 19:14).
Somehow the Word of God has gotten
buried in the Churches, today. Oh,
people give lip service to it; they still quote from it all the time,
particularly during sermons; but they utilize the same passages over and over
again. Their religion has become largely
a rote process of memorization, obedience, and thoughtless subservience.
God thunders in His Word: “Thou shalt NOT
FOLLOW A MULTITUDE to do evil” (Exo.23:2). The Good News Bible has it,
“Do not follow the MAJORITY when they do wrong or when they give testimony that
perverts justice.”
Rather than simply follow blindly along,
when our leaders go astray, what does God say we should do? God says, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in
thine heart: thou shalt in any wise REBUKE THY NEIGHBOR, and not suffer
sin upon him” (Lev.19:17).
God's Word condemns those who follow a
multitude into error, who blindly follow their blind leaders to
destruction. God commands all of us,
“Open rebuke is better than secret love” (Prov.27:5). Solomon also wrote,
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful”
(verse 6).
God further warns us, “A prudent man
foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are
punished” (Prov.27:12).
Do you see the danger – the evil? Will you hide yourself, and escape the peril
that lies ahead? Or will you, like the
simpleton, go merrily on your way, blind to every danger, with supreme
confidence in human leaders that cause you to err?
God commands, “Cease, my son, to hear the
instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge” (see Prov.
19:27). God adds, “Judgments are
prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools” (verse 29). Will you scorn this warning?
God
Almighty says, “The fear of the Lord is to HATE EVIL: pride, and arrogancy, and
the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (Prov.8:13). Do you hate evil so much that you refuse to
compromise with it? Do you refuse to go along
with error and false instruction?
Do
you have the attitude of the Bereans who “received the word with all readiness
of mind, and SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY, whether these things were so”
(Acts 17:11).
Are
you careful and cautious to “prove all things,” as the apostle Paul was
inspired to instruct us? (I Thess.5:21). Consider these things well. Your eternal life and destiny and salvation
could well hang on your answer!
DO YOU STILL HAVE
THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH?
After
being a member of the Radio and Worldwide Church of God for THIRTY YEARS, I
parted company with the Church in January, 1987. Why?
How could such an incredible thing happen?
I
attended Ambassador College from 1959 and graduated in 1963, and received a
Master of Arts degree in theological journalism in 1970. From 1963 till 1974 I worked for the
Worldwide Church of God, and was a pioneer member of the fledgling editorial
department and became associate editor of the Plain Truth magazine, the Good
News magazine, Tomorrow's World magazine, and the Ambassador College
Correspondence Course. During my tenure
with the Church I wrote approximately one hundred articles, booklets, and
correspondence course lessons, besides thousands of letters when I worked in
the Personal Correspondence Department
But
today I am no longer a member of the Worldwide Church of God! How could such a dramatic change occur? What happened? Simple.
In January 1987, one year after Herbert Armstrong died, the new leader
Joseph Tkach had me thrown out – disfellowshiped me and “MARKED” me as a
heretic to be avoided and spurned.
But
that occasion was really my being SET FREE – at LIBERTY! Read my article, “My Own Personal
Story.”
Jesus
Christ said, “The TRUTH shall make you FREE” (John 8:32). The apostle Paul warned that the time would
come when many would be deceived and “perish; because they received not the
LOVE of the truth” (II Thess.2:10).
The
Phillips Translation says, “Evil is ALREADY INSIDIOUSLY at work .
. .” (11 Thess.2:7). Very strong delusion has come upon this earth – “with
evil's undiluted power to deceive” (v. 10). Because some “have refused to LOVE THE
TRUTH WHICH COULD HAVE SAVED THEM, God sends upon them, therefore, the FULL
FORCE of evil's delusion, so that they put their faith in an UTTER FRAUD
and meet the inevitable judgment of all who have REFUSED to believe the
truth and who have made evil their playfellow” (verses 10-12).
How
much do YOU love the truth? If you were
to find the Church were in error, would you follow it into ERROR, or cling to
the TRUTH, even if the Church rejected it?
Blindness has come upon the leaders of the
various remnants of the Church of God, today.
Isaiah foretold it when he wrote, “Go ahead and be stupid! Go ahead and be blind! Get drunk without any wine! Stagger without drinking a drop!” (Isa.29:9, Good
News Bible). Jesus said if the BLIND
FOLLOW THE BLIND, they both fall into the ditch (Matt.15:14). Only a blind man would knowingly follow
another blind man.
In the original Hebrew, God commands us Lo
sakir paunim, which means, “Do not recognize the face” (Deut.1:17). That
means, be impartial in judgment. Follow
the truth, no matter what! Don’t follow a man into error! The Good News Bible says, “Show no
partiality in your decisions; judge everyone on the same basis, no matter who
he is.” The King James Version says: “Ye shall not respect persons in judgment;
but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the
face of man; for the judgment is God’s.”
Are you willingly to judge the evidence
impartially, without regard to a man’s “face,” position, authority, or
power? You may not know me, personally,
but will you GIVE THE TRUTH A CHANCE?
Will you allow me to present the EVIDENCE to you, even though I was
denied a hearing by the present leadership of the Worldwide Church of God?
Don’t be like the ostrich with its head
stuck in the sand. Don’t play the fool,
and err exceedingly, as Saul did. Saul
bitterly confessed, when it was too late, “Surely I have acted like a fool and
have erred greatly” (I Sam.26:21, NIV).
What about you? If you would like to understand the PLAIN
TRUTH – truth you can easily PROVE to your own satisfaction – on these vitally
important subjects; if you don't want men to lead you around by the nose, and
make a FOOL out of you; if you desire to truly SEEK GOD and value highly His
TRUTH – then be sure to write for the above articles and booklets. They will OPEN YOUR EYES!
HOW
To Save Yourselves
Let’s notice again, Paul’s admonition in I
Thessalonians 5:21. Here it is, in
various translations:
“Prove all things; hold fast
that which is good” (I Thess.5:21, KJV).
“Test everything. Hold on to the good” (NIV).
“Never disdain prophetic revelations
but test them all, retaining
what is good and abstaining
from whatever kind is evil” (Moffatt).
“But test everything that is
said to be sure it is true, and if it is,
then accept it” (Living Bible).
“On the other hand, don’t be
gullible. Check out everything, and
keep only what’s good” (The New
Testament in Contemporary English).
“Put all things to the
test: keep what is good and avoid every
kind
of evil” (Good News Bible).
“But test everything; hold fast
to what is good” (New Revised
Standard Version).
“But test and prove all things
[until you can recognize] what is good;
[to that] hold fast” (Amplified
Bible).
What about you? How seriously will you take these admonitions
from the Word of the living God? How
important is salvation, truly, to you?
How earnestly will you take these things to heart and “work out your own
salvation, with fear and trembling” (Phil.2:12)?
Let’s read that in the Amplified Version:
“Work out – cultivate, carry
out to the goal and fully complete –your
own salvation with reverence
and awe and trembling [self-distrust,
that is, with serious caution,
tenderness of conscience, watchfulness
against temptation; timidly
shrinking from whatever might offend
God and discredit the name of
Christ]. [Not in your own strength]
for it is God Who is all the
while effectually at work in you –
energizing and creating in you
the power and desire – both to will
and to work for His good
pleasure and satisfaction and delight”
(Philippians 2:12-13).
Yes, what about you, my friend? How important is it to you? Will you bear the weight, make the effort,
and begin to STUDY the Scriptures and to “PROVE” the truth of what you believe,
practice, and teach to others?
How important is true
righteousness in your sight? Your
eternal life is at stake! Save yourself
from the errors of this wicked generation!