As a result of the error that has been injected into the Church by Satan, the devil, and by certain men over the past 15-20 years, God’s people have been scattered to the four winds as to what they have come to believe relative to the Truth of God! How does God view His people in light of these events?
Edwin Pope
Where Are We Going
When the Children of Israel left Egypt, they thought they understood where they were going. Yet forty years later, they still had not entered the “promised land.” Of those adults who departed from Egypt on that “night to be much observed,” only two actually entered into the land. This should provide food for thought for God’s people today, as Satan continues to attack the Church of God.
Why God’s Holy Days?
The third day of April marked the beginning of a new year according to God’s Sacred Calendar and we are just days from the beginning of God’s spring festival season. The vast majority of people on the earth today are totally ignorant of these days. Many do observe holidays based upon certain ancient pagan practices, yet do not understand that God specifically forbids the observance of those days.
Many in the Church of God, who formerly observed God’s Holy Days, in agreement with Biblical instructions, have since turned from God’s clear instructions and have begun observing the holidays of this world. How can we know we must not follow that example?
We know that God created the Sabbath Day on the seventh day of the week. He blessed the seventh day, sanctified it and commanded that we keep it holy (Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11). We also know that God established the annual Holy Days, each in their season, to be observed forever. God states that His Sabbaths are a sign between Him and His people, forever (Exodus 31:13, 17).
We know, also, that it was the custom of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His disciples to keep these days (Luke 2:41-49; Luke 4:16; Matthew 26: 2, 17-18; Acts 2:1). Once the Kingdom of God is established on this earth, everyone will be keeping these days (Zech. 14:16-18).
Our new booklet, “God’s Commanded Holy Days,” is hot off the presses and is in the mail to all on our regular mailing list. This booklet is a complete study of these days and shows what God expects of you in relation to them. If you are not receiving our publications on a regular basis, you may request a copy of our new booklet by going to www.eternalgod.org/contact or by writing to:
The Church of the Eternal God
PO Box 270519
San Diego, CA 92198
The current Member Letter was mailed along with our new booklet. There is a link to that letter from this Update. Church members, not able to take Passover with a local congregation, can find a tape of the Passover Service on our website under the AUDIO section.
Remember Lot's Wife
Seven days of unleavened bread picture coming totally out of sin – out of the evil ways of this world, which ways have been inspired by Satan the devil. In disobeying God’s command to “not look behind you” Lot’s wife did “look back,” thus becoming a perpetual example of one not willing to come out of this world’s evil ways.
Shepherds Of God's People
Edwin Pope will give the sermon this coming Sabbath. The sermon is titled, “Shepherds of God’s People.”
The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream.”
Keys To Understanding Prophecy
We noted in our sermon of 3/08/03 that prophecy can be found in Books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and that over one full third of the Bible is devoted to this subject of prophecy. In this sermon we will go into seven of the basic keys leading to the understanding of this significant part of God’s Word.
Shepherds of God's People
God established the Ministry for the purpose of teaching His Law and His Way of Life. Yet, in Ezekiel 34, God shows He is angry with the Ministry. Why is God angry, and what must the Ministry do to correct this breach?
"Standing In The Gap"
In chapter 13 of the Book of Ezekiel, verses 1-3, we find that the Lord had a concern with the prophets of Israel. He states that some of them were prophesying out of their own hearts. He called them foolish, those who would follow their own spirit and yet had seen nothing.
This word “foolish” is translated from the Hebrew word “nabal,” indicating an act of stupidity of a wicked or vile person – one who is insensitive to what God desires. In verse 5, He states to these foolish men, “You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord.” God is saying here that what these men were doing was futile!
God goes on in the 22nd chapter of Ezekiel, verse 23-30, and shows that these prophets were committing a conspiracy which was devouring the people. In verse 26 He states, “Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so I am profaned among them.”
In verse 30 God says, “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”
Down through the generations, God has sought such men and women, but has found only a few, compared to the multitudes, who have been willing to stand for His Way. Moses is an outstanding example of one who did stand firmly for God’s Truth without compromise. He taught the people through his word and by his example. Moses loved God’s Way and God’s people and prayed for them often.
What is the cost for one to stand in the gap for God and His Way? Peter, in speaking with Christ concerning this, stated in Matthew 19:27: “See, we have left all and followed you.” Brethren, you and I have been called to a Way that requires such a commitment, yet we do it willingly, without reservation.
Christ says to you, in verse 29 of Matthew 19, “And everyone who has left homes or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting life.”
We certainly have much to be thankful for; especially that God has called us at this time to stand in the gap for His Way! This age desperately needs those who serve God–just as Moses did in his day–to likewise be a light of the Way of God as well as to intervene with God so that even in this time of darkness, some should be saved. Let each of us put our whole heart and being into serving God and to accomplishing what God has so rarely found–faithful men and women who are “standing in the gap!”
Understanding the Prophecies of the Bible
Edwin Pope will give the sermon this Sabbath. The title is: “Understanding the Prophecies of Your Bible.”
The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream.”
Understanding Prophecies of Your Bible
Over one-third of your Bible is related to prophecy. Prophecy is found in most every Book of the Bible. The Biblical record of prophecy began back in the Book of Genesis and carries on through the Book of Revelation. While many of these prophecies have been fulfilled in times past, most of prophecy will be fulfilled in our day.
