DON'T LET SATAN STEAL YOUR CROWN
James Russell, Elder
To God's scattered Brethren
Greetings to the faithful readers of the "Prove All Things." Several changes has been made in our phone connections. Corona, California has a new area code for both the telephone number and fax number. Our new area code is "951." Office Telephone #: 951-737-0559– Fax #: 951-279- 7302. Also the Sabbath Service Telephone number is now: 617-328-1785.
It was with great joy we received the news from the Church of God, In Truth In Kenya, that several people were baptized.
"Feast fever" is already on the rise for them and us according to the e-mails, letters and phone conversations we have received and in just a few weeks we will be gathering as commanded for God's Holy Convocations, starting with the day of Trumpets that entails the reading of God's law at its appointed time.
"And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month" (Neh 8:2). This feast is followed ten days later with the Spiritual Feast of Atonement, which pictures being at-one-ment with God! "It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath" (Lev 23:32). Moses further instructed about this very important seventh month, "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein" (Lev 23:34-36).
These are busy Holy Days for all of God's called out ones. Working, sharing and serving along side with others of like mind are action tools for preparing us to be in God's soon coming Kingdom. These Feasts of God always draw our attention to the fact that the Millennium will follow the most ferocious storm that mankind will ever experience. The curtain on Satan's grand finale is about to go up. From where will you be watching Satan's last act? Will you be watching from the front row with the Pharisees who sit in the chief seats? Or, will you be watching from a place of protection where Satan can not make contact with you? Right now you still have the option to choose the seat [location] where you want to sit! In Revelation, John writes God's message to the Philadelphia Church, "I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; [these claim to obey God but instead obey the "tradition of men"] behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown" (Rev. 3:8-11). This "crown" Jesus Christ is offering, is a symbol of honor and a badge of royalty.
Looking forward to that day of royalty, we have come to understand Jesus Christ is going to marry His bride prior to the millennium. We find written in the book of Matthew an example of Jesus Christ giving His servants instructions to invite His called to the wedding. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden [invited] to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, ‘Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.' But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: Then saith he to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go you therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid to the marriage. For many are called, but few are chosen.'" (Matt. 22:2-5, 8-9, 14).
God's Word, which is never out of date, is sending His servants out with the wedding invitations again this year! But someone is still blurring and distorting the appointed time of this wedding! Who might that be? The answer is found in the next chapter of God's word: "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for you neither go in yourselves, neither suffer you them that are entering to go in"(Matt. 23:13). Obeying fictitious appointed times, for God's Feast days, and making a preparation day more important than God's assigned Holy Days, can cause a called out one to miss the wedding and keep a person out of the kingdom of God! How do we know that? "Wherefore the children of Israel [potential bride] shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever"(Ex 31:16-17).
Are the Autumnal Feast Days SABBATHS?
Feast of Trumpets,
"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall you have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation"(Lev. 23:24).
Feast of Atonement
"It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and you shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall you celebrate your Sabbath"(Lev. 23:32).
Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day
"Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a Sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath" (Lev. 23:39).
The weekly and annual Sabbaths are a sign of God's bride to come. Ask yourself, am I going to be at that wedding at its appointed time, or am I in the category of the five foolish virgins that were slumbering and sleeping having no oil to keep their lamps burning ? What "oil" was it that the five foolish virgins had to go and buy, knowing we are not to buy or sell on the Sabbath? "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding"(Prov. 23:23). This can be accomplished by following Paul's advice to Timothy: "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15). These foolish virgins had to come to the realization they had not been feeding on God's truth! So now they will have to wait till Christ returns from the wedding to have a chance to serve under the five wise virgins. Christ now tells them, "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And you yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding; that when He comes and knocks, they may open unto Him immediately" (Luke.12:35-36).
Many are called today, but too many are sitting, waiting for someone else to make a decision for them before jumping off the Laodicean fence that they have chosen, to put themselves on. The Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Roman Church when he saw this kind of attitude, ".... be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:2). The Apostle Peter awakens our attention also, when he wrote, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter. 4:17). "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he said unto him, Friend, how came you in here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 22:11-14).
Warnings and invitations have been sent out to the guests that the Bridegroom is coming at His appointed time, not man's postponed time! It is the servant of God's responsibility to "cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isa. 58:1). This is exactly what this magazine, "Prove All Things" is doing!
Once again you are being invited to God's Feast of Tabernacles. Be sure to see the enclosed Feast of Tabernacles brochure for the information about attending the Feast in Branson West, Missouri!
Proving All Things takes time and work, but it pays big dividends, so don't let Satan steal your crown!
Church of God, in Truth
P.O. Box 2109,
Corona, Ca. 92878-2109
U.S.A.
TEL: 951-737-0559
FAX: 951-279-7302
e-mail address: cogit@flash.net
WEB PAGE
www.postponements.com
Sabbath and Holy Day Services
Telephone conference line: 617-328-1785
Access code: 428
Internet Sabbath Service
www.postponements.com
Services meet at 11:30 AM Pacific Time Zone Click on live sermons
Contact: James Russell, Elder 951-737-0559 Or Pete Fleming, Elder 512-847-1131
e-mail: cogit@flash.net e-mail: pmf@asapchoice.com