January/February 2002

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TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>January/February 2002</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>CONCERNED </B></div> <div> James Russell, Elder </div> <div> To God's scattered Brethren, </div> <div> Greeting!! Thank You for walking with all readers of the "Prove All Things" down the path of challenge. It is through your dedicated support with phone calls, fax's, letters and prayers, tithes and offering that this work of God is bringing attention to our brothers and sister in Christ who are now being challenged as you are, to "Prove All Thing, hold fast that which is good [abstaining from all appearance of evil]" (1 Thes. 5:21-22). </div> <div> Prophesied events are now rapidly occurring. Now is not the time to be napping or snoozing! Today is a day of great deception and there is cause to be concerned, because there are those who have known the truth yet refuse to remain steadfast and endure with patience unto the end of the age that is very near at hand. </div> <div> This is the hour when we need spiritual discernment and commitment so we will be delivered from the strong delusions and snares set to catch those who are laid back and asleep! "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thes. 5:1,4,6). </div> <div> September 11, 2001 is still fresh in our minds. Americans throughout the world and especially here in the United States [two months ago] celebrated a day of Thanksgiving. At this special time and event, we were enlightened to remembrance the faithfulness and love God gave to this nation. Early pioneer Christians who set out to establish a nation that would honor God and His word is an inspiring memorandum. It teaches us faith, courage, and hope! It was upon their sacrifices and struggles that this God given nation has been built. This blessed by God, U.S.A., has fed and financed many other impoverished nations. </div> <div> Now this giving foundation is under attack by the anti-christ forces of evil that are seeking to dismantle Christianity. The Apostle Paul was inspired to write about this evil Gentile force. "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Rom. 1:21-22). </div> <div> The age in which we are today is very frightful!! Yet many who are affiliated with the Church of God believe that time will go on for another 10, 15, or more years. "Norman Edwards of Perry, Mich. Who publishes Servants' News and Shelter in the Word, posted a 12 page letter about the attack on his Web site. Mr. Edwards told "The Journal" that "I don't see this as some big judgment from God or specifically prophesied. </div> <div> God allows things to happen. He starts small and gets bigger. The people God loves He chastens at first. I don't think [the attacks are] a definite sign the end is near. The corruption of the state is not as bad as, say, 800 years ago, when a corrupt state was in league with a corrupt church." </div> <div> "Are the events proof that the end is nigh?" </div> <div> "It's a warning shot," he said. "The U.S. is still a long way from being destroyed. I don't see any more proof that we are any nearer seeing the end in my lifetime that, say, someone who lived in the 1840's." </div> <div> HUH!! No urgency??? Time is not running out?? The clock is not ticking away?? </div> <div> We see there are people who are calloused to what is going on in this world around them, like the recognition of armies surrounding Jerusalem as one of the signs that Christ's return is near. "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh" (Luke 21:20). </div> <div> Jerusalem is surrounded by hostile armies and hostile countries at this moment! As Christians we are warned by the word of Jesus Christ, "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:34-36). Within this last verse, Christ speaks of a divine promise of protection for those who are awake!! </div> <div> Those who are asleep, lethargic, lukewarm and sitting on a fence are told by Christ, "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth" (Rev. 3:16). </div> <div> God's church, God's chosen elect should understand as the prophet Jeremiah did when God revealed to him the destruction that was about to take place in Judah because of their sins. "If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto Me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of My sight, then shalt thou not remove. And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory. For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities. Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction" (Jer. 4:1-6). </div> <div> King Nebuchadnezzar's army was preparing to over run Jerusalem. Jeremiah in vision saw the people sound asleep. This vision distressed Jeremiah, literally to the point of pain deep within his heart. "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. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment" (Jer. 4:19- 20). </div> <div> The Church of God, In Truth knows how he felt!! We can not keep silent at this end time. Sept. 11, 2001 indicates we are at the beginning stage of all Israel's great tribulation. Ignoring God's revealed sign posts of truth produces a lethargic attitude and THAT IS FRIGHTENING!! </div> <div> Through sermons, worldwide web page, and the "Prove All Things" magazine, we are trying to wake those who are asleep to the TRUTH of God's Word before its too late!! We are commanded to, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isa. 58:1). Truth is what we as God's called are commanded to teach, not soft and smooth things! Building a following after ourselves is not our goal. Waking up to the reality of God's Word and Truth from His written word is our goal! </div> <div> In the June 1996 issue of the "Prove All Things" magazine we printed, "World events are about to erupt. The New World Order players are being put into their strategic positions. Behind the scene, forces are at work with plans, programs and conspiracy movements to control every move. </div> <div> Will such a crises involve a financial collapse; a political crises [precipitated by a series of terrorist attacks in America?], a state of emergency triggered by the New World Order/New Civilization crowd to speed up their agenda; a military crises with Russia, Red China or both: an outbreak of deadly viruses: </div> <div> persecution of Christians and traditionalists [especially in America] or some combination of several of these items?" </div> <div> God's people have to wake up before its to late to put their house in order. Groping around in darkness of confusion, ignorance, mis-information and mis-understanding will not allow entrance into God's soon coming Kingdom. </div> <div> It seems God's called, not yet chosen, have closed their ears from hearing God's truth. The confused leaders have become steeped in tradition and deceptive false education, not willing to be aroused from their slumber. These confused leaders profess to do God's will, but will not accept God's Word as being His will!! </div> <div> If you have read the "Prove All Things" over the passed eight years, it is evident that the leaders of the Churches of God only believe, if Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong did not teach it or if Ambassador College did not teach it, it cannot be truth! Were they listening to Mr. Armstrong? He clearly stated "Don't believe me--- Believe your Bible!!! </div> <div> Sabbath breaking was the prime reason for Judah's captivity. Sabbath keeping is so important to God </div> <div> He punished both Israel and Judah, His chosen, for not following His statutes and His commandments. "Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded thee: And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever. Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and He shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until He have destroyed thee" (Deu. 28:45-48). Are God's Holy Days worth postponing? Now is not the time to be asleep, drowsy or lukewarm! "Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie" (2 Thes. 2:5,9-11). </div> <div> God's called and chosen are set apart. "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). </div> <div> When believing God's Word, Paul states, "We are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thes. 2:13) </div> <div> There is much to pray for and much to be grateful for. It is important to also remember the nation of Israel where God's Word was given to our forefathers! Thank God for the freedom we have had!! </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Church of God, In Truth </div> <bR> <div> UNUSUAL WORDS AND PHASES: </div> <div> What is the origin of the @ symbol? We know it well as the standard symbol for E-mails, but from whence did it come? History says that the @ symbol was created by medieval monks. During the Middle Ages, each copy of a book was painstakingly transcribed by hand. The task went to monks, who developed ways to reduce the number of pen strokes for common words. The result was to loop the "t" in the word at around the "a." There is no official, universal name for the @ symbol, and several languages have strange terms to describe it: </div> <div> apenstaartje: Dutch for "monkey's tail" dalphaengi: Korean for "snail" </div> <div> snabel: Danish for "elephant's trunk" grisehale: Norwegian for "pig's tail" </div> <div> kissanhnta: Finnish for "cat's tail" sobachka: Russian for "little dog </div> <div> klammeraffe: German for "hanging monkey" </div> <div> papaki: Greek for "little duck" </div> <div> kukac: Hungarian for "worm" </div> <div> From UselessKnowledge.com Web site </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Church of God, In Truth E-mail address: cogit@flash.net </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>