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>=========== WILL YOU BE THERE? ============</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Dear scattered Brethren and co-workers,</div> <bR> <div>      God's called have been given an invitation to Jesus Christ marriage and wedding feast. But only a few will be chosen to be the Bride at His wedding.  The Bible addresses for us some examples of these invitations.  Notice Matthew chapters 22:"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 [invited], 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 [invited] were not worthy.  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid [invite] to the marriage.  For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt. 22:2-5,8-9,14)  to be the bride of Jesus Christ.  </div> <div>      This example shows many  invitations were sent out, but most refused accepting its timing, leaving only a few to be the bride for Christ!  Those who did not respond to the invitation, had their mind on following the Jewish roots, causing them to have blurred and distorted  dates for  the marriage and the wedding feast.  What did Christ have to say to those who teach and practice the Jews  postponed dates?  The answer is found in the next chapter  "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).   Hillel II, a  Pharisee that taught  the traditions of men, officially set forth the rules for the "postponing"of  God's appointed feast days in 358-59 A.D.  A sincere question need to be asked, will obeying the false teachings of postponement rules, keep me from becoming the bride of Jesus Christ and being in His Kingdom?</div> <div>      As this age nears its ending, the Church of God, In Truth,  has been sending out warnings along with  invitations,  to prepare  for the up coming  marriage, and  the marriage feast that will follow.  This message has been going out  for the last seventeen  years, beginning February 6, 1993,  followed up eleven months later  with the first "PROVE ALL THINGS", Newsletter, dated December 1993.  We never know when this might be the last opportunity to accept God's invitation!  Are you going to be at the royal wedding of Jesus Christ on the right date?  Or, are you going to be like a foolish virgin having to go and buy God's truth after the Bridegroom had come for His bride? (Matt. 25:1-12).  Many are called, but too many are sitting on a fence waiting for someone else to make a decision for them.  We are told, "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). </div> <div>      God commands: "<B><U>My Sabbaths you shall keep</U></B>: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you" (Exo. 31:13).  "Sanctified" means set apart - set apart by truth!  The wedding garments we are to be clothed with are the garments of righteousness. That involves obeying God, and doing what is right in His eyes.  "When the King came in to see the guests, He saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  And He saith unto him, Friend, how cometh thou in hither <B><U>not</U></B> 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).  </div> <div>      Why will many called not be at  Jesus Christ great marriage and wedding  feast ?  Have they forgotten the laws of God which command them to appear at the appointed time for the Holy (Feasts) Days, God has set apart. (Lev. 23:1-2).</div> <div>      Many today  have stopped saving their second tithe that gives them the resources to keep God's Feast of Tabernacles.  Moses was inspired to write in the book of Deuteronomy- God's law on our using of the second tithe.   "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.   And you shalt eat before the LORD your God, in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of your corn, of your  wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks; that you mayest learn to fear the LORD your God always. And if the way be too long for you, so that you art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from you, which the LORD your God shall choose to set His name there, when the LORD your God has blessed you: Then shalt you turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, [ pay for your labor ] and shalt go unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose" (Deut 14:22-25).</div> <div>      Has God changed His mind?  NO! God still require us to save our tithes to go to the Feast of Tabernacles.     "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.  Even from the days of your fathers you are gone away from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But you said, Wherein shall we return?  Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings" (Mal. 3:6-8).  Not only is God robbed when we don't tithe and give offerings, but we rob ourselves, because we do not receive the blessings God is so welling to give us!  We miss the blessing of being able to attend God's Feasts!  We miss the blessing of being together with people of like minds!  Can any called- afford to ignore God's  invitation and blessings after He has shown us a way to afford going? </div> <div>      Over the years, God's people have lost the vision of the Feasts of God!  They have grown lukewarm.  The cares of this world and trials of this life have caused God's people to take their focus off God's soon coming Kingdom.  Christ said, "But seek you first the kingdom of God [which the Feast of Tabernacles pictures], and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33 ).  But, most have lost the zeal for God's truth.  They have put the cares of this life before the commandments of God.  "Lay <U>not up </U>for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: <B>For where your treasure [money] is, there will your heart be also"</B> (Matt. 6:19-21).</div> <div>      Now is the time to examine and judge our spiritual life!  "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 Pet. 4:17).  Now is the time to accept the invitation to the marriage feast of Jesus Christ. Think about it. If you receive an invitation to a close friends wedding, you would go at the time noted in the invitation.  You would not pick your own convenient  time, to be at your friends wedding !  Postponing the dates for God's Holy Days leaves you in the same position as postponing your friends wedding date. We do not have the prerogative to show up when we want to.  God sends the invitation, we must choose whether to show up at His appointed time or let it slide. Keep in mind,  "And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and <B>the door was shut</B>.  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  But He answered and said, Verily I say unto you, <B>I know you not</B>.  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt 25:10-13).  </div> <div>      God's called  must be ready and willing to accept the first watches invitation to God's wedding  if we want to become the bride of Jesus Christ!  If you accept the second or third watches  invitation to the wedding supper then Luke reports to us, "And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when <B>He will return from the wedding; </B>that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him immediately.  Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find <B>watching: </B>verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.  And if He shall come in the <B>second watch</B>, or come in the <B>third watch</B>, and find them so, blessed are those servants"  (Luke 12:36-38).  Why would anyone want to ignore Jesus Christ's  marriage invitation or His wedding supper invitation that follows the marriage ceremony?   Can anyone afford to postpone God's appointed  times?</div> <div>                                          </div> <div>                                                                    Church of God, In Truth                                    </div> <div>                                                                                P. O. Box 1120</div> <div>                                                                  Kimberling City. MO 65686</div> <div>                                                                         Tel: 417-338-0033      </div> <div>                                                                         Fax: 417-338-0031</div> <div>                                                                        E-Mail: cogit@flash,net</div> <bR> <div> James Russell, Elder                                        Martin Martinez, Deacon                                 Pete Fleming, Elder</div> <div> Tel: 417-338-0033                                           Tel: 787-786-5856                                           Tel: 830-885-5502  </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >E-Mail: </FONT><A HREF="mailto:cogit@flash.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:cogit@flash.net"><U>cogit@flash.net</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >                                  E-Mail: martin2k@onelinkpr.net                     E-Mail: </FONT><A HREF="mailto:pmf@gvtc.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:pmf@gvtc.com"><U>pmf@gvtc.com</U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >   </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>