On Saturday, November 1, 2003, Norbert Link will be presenting the sermon, “Fire!”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream.”
 

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What a tragedy of epic proportions the fires in Southern California have been. The damage it has done is in many ways immeasurable and the effects will be felt for a life time for many.

As we view television, we see many on their roof tops or other vantage points desperately watching for fires or signs of impending danger. They are ready to act at a moment’s notice and respond with all due diligence. Rightly so, they have a responsibility to guard what they have.

Perhaps, those of us not in the vicinity of the wild fires are feeling a certain amount of relief that we do not have to keep so vigilant a watch. Or maybe we feel that there is no reason for concern as nothing of this magnitude could happen to us. But this is not the case.

As Christians we are to be as SENTRIES on our roof tops STANDING WATCH – and warning of the impending danger that this world now faces!

God has shown us in His Word what the signs of the end-time would be. Have we seen these? Do we have a good enough vantage point? He has told us of the events that would precede His coming…are we watching diligently for them? Do we know which have already come to pass? Do we know the ones yet to come?

If we are to make our calling meaningful and worthwhile and if we expect or hope to escape the soon coming perilous times, then we must WATCH and PRAY ALWAYS as God, in His Word, has admonished us to do (Luke 21:36).

“WATCH therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes” (Mat 24:42-44).

Matthew 1 and Luke 3 describe different lines. Matthew 1 describes Christ’s legal genealogy through Joseph. Luke sets forth Mary’s line.

Matthew 1:16 tells us that Matthew’s record covers Christ’s lineage through His stepfather Joseph. It says “Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”

A correct rendering of Luke 3:23 shows that Luke is setting forth Christ’s blood descent. However, the translation of the New King James Bible is misleading. It gives the impression that Joseph was the father of Heli, and that therefore, Luke is also setting forth Christ’s descent of Joseph. This is incorrect, as Joseph was not the SON of Heli, but of Jacob, as Matthew 1:16 points out.

Luke sets forth Christ’s genealogy through His mother Mary, NOT through His stepfather Joseph. Accurately translated, Luke 3:23 should read:

“Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age (being, as was supposed the son of Joseph), which was of Heli.” The parenthesis should start with the words “being, as was supposed,” and it should close after “the son of Joseph.”

The word “son” in “son of Heli” is not found in the original Greek. Jesus, who was supposed to be the son of Joseph, was, through Mary, a grandson of Heli. Heli was the father of Mary.

Luke 3:23 tells us that Christ was considered to be the son of Joseph, since the people did not accept the truth that Jesus had been supernaturally conceived by Mary through the Holy Spirit (compare, Luke 4:22; John 6:41-42).

Halley’s Bible Handbook comments on the different genealogies and their purpose, as follows:

“Matthew goes back to Abraham; Luke to Adam. One is descending, ‘begat’: the other is ascending, ‘was son of.’ From David they are separate lines, touching in Shealtiel and Zerubbabel. The commonly accepted view is that Matthew gives Joseph’s line, showing Jesus to be the Legal Heir to the Promises given Abraham and David; and that Luke gives Mary’s line, showing Jesus’ blood descent, ‘Son of David according to the flesh’ (Romans 1:3).”

The Nelson Study Bible confirms: “Matthew provided the legal lineage from David through Joseph to Jesus, while Luke provides the physical lineage from David through Mary to Jesus.”

Since Christ was a physical descendant of King David, through His mother Mary, Christ Himself was of the tribe of Judah – that is, He was a Jew. Many Biblical Scriptures confirm this fact.

We read in Hebrews 7:14: “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah.”

He is identified in Revelation 5:5 as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David.”

Jesus looked like an ordinary Jew – so ordinary that Judas had to identify Him to the arresting soldiers (Matthew 26:47-50).

Through His mother Mary, He was a descendant of Judah, a son of Jacob (Luke 3:33-34). Judah brought forth a son, named Perez, whose descendant was David (Luke 3:33, 31). Mary was a descendant of David and David’s son, Nathan (v. 31). She was also a niece of her aunt, Elizabeth, a daughter of Aaron (Luke 1:5), a descendant of Levi (Exodus 4:14).

Jesus, as a human being, was a Jew. He belonged to the Jewish nation. He confirmed that He was “the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:11). Pilate recognized Him as such, and so did the Jewish people (Mark 15:9, 12). Pilate also stated that Christ belonged to the Jewish nation, when he said, “Am I a Jew? YOUR OWN NATION and the chief priests have delivered You to me” (John 18:35).

Through Mary, Jesus was a Jew by race and nationality. Jesus was also a Jew by law. His legal stepfather was Joseph, a son of David (Matthew 1:20). Joseph had been born in the city of Bethlehem, in the nation of Judah (Luke 2:4).

Tragically, we read in John 1:11-12, in the Living Bible, “Even in His own land and among His own people, the Jews, He was not accepted.” Today, most Jews still reject Christ. However, the time will come when they, too, will recognize Christ as what He really is. This event is still in the future for most Jewish people. Christ predicted, however, what is soon going to happen. Shortly before His death, He exclaimed:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Matthew 23:37-39).

God’s church has a duty to proclaim to the nation of Judah that Christ, their God, their Lord and their King, will soon return (Isaiah 40:9).

For more information regarding this vital part of God’s commission to His church, please read our free booklet, “The Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.”

On Saturday, October 25, 2003, Dave Harris will be presenting the sermon, “Who Are You?”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream.

Back Into the World?

From all reports we have had, we had a tremendously uplifting and rewarding Feast. Although we have used the following phrase many times before, it was stated once again by quite a few that this Feast was indeed “the best Feast ever.” Especially the baptisms of five fine young people at Morro Bay added to the spiritual highlights and showed that God is still working mightily with His people, adding to the Church those who are “being saved” (compare Acts 2:47).

Now we are back. The Feast of Tabernacles 2003 is over. We wished it could have gone on much longer. If there was one downside to this year’s Feast, it was the feeling that it was “far too short.” We heard questions like, “Why do we have to go back into the world, back to school or college, back to work? Why can’t the beauty of the Feast last forever?”

Yes, why indeed? We know, of course, that the time will soon come when everything that the Feast pictures and foreshadows, and much more, will have become reality. This time is near, but it has not yet arrived. There are several reasons why this is so.

Christ has not yet returned as not all of His people are ready yet for His return. When Christ marries His bride — the Church — the bride will have made herself ready (Revelation 19:7). This does not necessarily mean that everyone who “attends” the Church will be ready. Still, God wants everyone whom He has called to be in His Family. We read in 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise [to return], as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward US, not willing that any [of US] should perish but that all [of US] should come to repentance.”

God might very well hold some of His people responsible for delaying Christ’s coming — to an extent — through our unwillingness to repent and to overcome — both in our own personal lives and toward the Church’s ongoing commission to preach the gospel in all the world as a witness. Some have become lackadaisical regarding the Church’s job, and have lost their former zeal and energy (compare Revelation 3:15, 19). This lack of enthusiasm for God, His Work, and His way of life might very well delay Christ’s coming to an extent. At the same time, our godly and zealous conduct — individually and collectively — could hasten or accelerate Christ’s coming (compare 2 Peter 3:12, “… looking for and HASTENING the coming of the day of the Lord…”).

The fact that God very carefully watches over His people and that His actions are influenced by them is borne out in the example of Lot. In Genesis 19:16, it states that Lot lingered in Sodom after being told that he must leave in order to save his life and that of his wife and daughters; nonetheless, the angels took action to lead them outside the city. Then, in verse 22, this remarkable statement is made by one of the angels to Lot: “Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything UNTIL you arrive there [Zoar].”

We still live in this world today, because God WANTS us to (compare John 17:11). Christ told His disciples that He SENT THEM as “lambs” or “sheep” to the “wolves” of this world (compare Matthew 10:16; Luke 10:3; John 17:18). He did not take them out of the world (John 17:15). Why? So that they could OVERCOME the world. So that they could show in their lives, and be constantly reminded of the fact that they are not part of the world (John 17:16) — rejecting the things of this world (1 John 2:15-17). Christ said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of this world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).

At the same time, Christ sent us into the world to show the world by example how to live. He told us, “You are the LIGHT of the world… Let your light so SHINE before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). We are to become “blameless and harmless, children of God without fault IN THE MIDST OF a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you SHINE as lights [literally, as light givers] in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

We are to bring the light of God’s truth to this dark world — individually and collectively as the Church. Sadly, some have forgotten and forsaken this tremendous calling and have returned to the world (compare 2 Timothy 4:10). This we must never do. Rather, we are to be spiritually separate from the world, while living in it as “light in the Lord.” We are to “walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). That’s our calling. That’s what God wants us to do. Let us show the world, then, what true Christianity is all about

UN and Iraq

U.N. and Iraq

In a most surprising move, constituting a “major diplomatic victory for the Bush administration, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday (October 16, 2003), endorsing the struggling U.S. occupation of Iraq and calling other nations to contribute troops and economic aid,” according to the “San Francisco Chronicle” of October 17, 2003. What can only be viewed as the U.N.’s political hypocritical duplicity, “the 15-0 vote came as a surprise because France, Germany and Russia had vehemently opposed the resolution… But their opposition melted in last-minute negotiations… Even Syria… went along in the end,” according to the article. The practical effect of the resolution is minimal, however. As the newspaper pointed out, “President Bush… is likely to receive little extra foreign troops and cash… Japan is offering $1.5 billion, while Europe has approved only $233 million.”

The resolution was sharply criticized by the ambassadors of France, Russia, Germany and Pakistan. They said in a joint statement that “their governments will not make any new military or financial contributions to support the occupation… Germany’s U.N. ambassador Gunter Pleuger said the council squandered the chance to give a ‘clear signal that the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis will be accelerated,'” according to the newspaper article.

War on Terrorism and Satan

As the Associated Press reported on October 17, “Pentagon leaders spoke up in support… of a top general [Three-star Army Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, Pentagon’s deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence] who had told church audiences that the war on terrorism is a battle with Satan and that Muslims worship idols.” The article continued, “Boykin said Islamic extremists hate the United States ‘because our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christian… And the enemy is a guy named Satan.'” The article also published the reaction of Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. He was quoted as saying, “‘Putting a man with such extremist views in a critical policy-making position sends entirely the wrong message to a Muslim world that is already skeptical about America’s motives and intentions.'” Awad also noted that “a verse in the Koran says Muslims believe in the same God as Jews and Christians.”

We might mention that this last statement is blatantly false, insofar as the true Christianity of the Bible is concerned. The Bible reveals that God is a Family, consisting of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son. Neither Jews nor Muslims believe in the God Family. Neither does traditional Christianity, as they teach the Trinity — three Persons in one Person, erroneously claiming that the Holy Spirit is a Person. For more information, please read our free booklets on “Is God a Trinity?” and “God is a Family.”

Malaysia vs. Jews

The Associated Press reported on October 17 that Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad “told a summit of Muslim leaders… that Jews ruled the world and recruited others ‘to fight and die for them.'” The article quoted Mahathir as follows: “‘The Europeans killed 6 million Jews out of 12 million, but today the Jews rule the world by proxy… They invented socialism, communism, human rights and democracy so that persecuting them would appear to be wrong.'”

A.P. continued: “Mahathir’s speech drew immediate criticism from Israel and Jewish organizations, which feared it could fan violence against Jews, but a standing ovation from the kings, presidents, sheiks and emirs — INCLUDING KEY U.S. ALLIES — gathered in Malaysia’s new capital, Putrajaya. A.P. pointed out that “Malaysia is considered by the United States a RELIABLE — if prickly — ALLY, cooperating in breaking terrorist networks in Southeast Asia… [Mahathir] remained a blunt opponent of the U.S. attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq, and repeatedly warned that the war on terrorism is becoming a war against Muslims.”

When reading this, one wonders how reliable those U.S.allies really are.

In the aftermath of this very antagonistic speech by Malaysia’s prime minister, President Bush openly rebuked him at the APEC summit. According to www.cnn.com, “Bush told Mahathir Mohamad, who steps down as prime minister next month, that his comments about Jews ‘stands squarely against what I believe’ and went on to characterize them as ‘wrong and divisive.’ “

Bible prophecy reveals that the Jews along with the British and American people will increasingly become isolated and at odds with the rest of the nations of this earth. The very fact that these modern descendants of the greater nation of Israel are lumped together in political alignments, is precise fulfillment of events that God foretold long ago.

The Catholic Church and Hinduism

Zenit published on October 14 a written message, sent by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to Hindus on the occasion of Diwali, the festival of lights. To better understand this festival and the significance of the Vatican’s message, here is a brief summary of the meaning and origin of that Hindu festival:

Of all the festivals celebrated in India, Diwali is by far the most glamorous and important. Diwali celebrations are similar to Christmas celebrations. Homes are decorated, sweets are distributed and thousands of lamps lit to create a world of fantasy. Although the ancient stories of the origin of Diwali differ, the festival is mainly said to have started, especially in the north of India, as a celebration of the divine king Rama’s coronation after his epic war with Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, and his and queen Sita’s return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. In the south of India, the origin of Diwali is seen in Krishna’s victory over Narakasura, the demon of hell, or Vishnu’s victory over “King Bali, the benevolent demon king of the netherworld.” Vishnu gave this demon-king the lamp of knowledge to light up the dark underworld, and allowed him to return once a year to light millions of lamps for the people.

During the festival, on the “dark new moon night,” the entrances of all homes are lit up and decorated to welcome Lakshmi, the radiant consort of Vishnu and the goddess of wealth and luster. In many Krishna temples, Diwali is celebrated as a day of feeding and venerating cows. The sacredness of the cow goes back to the myth of the churning of the cosmic ocean by the gods. Kamadhenu, the celestial cow, was venerated as the mother of the universe. A cow is the constant companion of Krishna.

Considering the Catholic Church’s history of embracing pagan rites and customs and placing a “Christian” mantle over them, the following excerpts from the Catholic Church’s written message to the Hindus are quite remarkable:

“Dear Hindu Friends, This year I am pleased to greet you and share with you a short message on the occasion of Diwali, the feast which you celebrate according to your venerable religious tradition… Diwali is a time for families to get together, and celebrate in a meaningful way the rites prescribed by the ancient dharma… I have always been impressed by the fact that on the occasion of Diwali there are some Hindus who make every effort to bring about reconciliation within families and between neighbors, friends and acquaintances. Could not Catholics and Hindus extend these efforts to bring about wider reconciliation and a more lasting peace in our towns and villages and indeed throughout our countries and the world at large?… The occasion of the festival of Diwali provides us with ample food for thought when the Hindu tradition informs us of how light overcomes darkness, how the victory of good is achieved over evil and how hatred gives way to love through forgiveness… Dear Hindu friends, may you, your families, friends and even the strangers in your midst experience joy, peace, serenity, and light on the feast of Diwali, as symbolized by the innumerable flames…”

Reconciliation sounds good — but it must never be achieved through the adoption of pagan ideas and customs and the compromise with God’s Holy Word. In describing our present western societies, Isaiah says in no uncertain terms about the God of the Bible: “You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, Because they are filled with eastern ways” (Isaiah 2:6). In this context, be sure to read our Q&A section in this issue, discussing “Halloween.”

The Catholic Church’s Future Role

In spite of agonizing and reprehensible actions on the part of many priests in the United States that have come to light over the past several months, that “bad press” has largely evaporated as, once again, the Catholic Church in Rome has taken center stage.

The occasion for world attention has emerged as the pope celebrated his 25th anniversary as pontiff. There have been many ceremonies highlighting this event, but underlying this celebration is the health of the pope. According to www.mcjonline.com (10/22/03), “Showing the frailty that marked her last days, Pope John Paul II beatified late nun Mother Teresa in Vatican City Sunday, October 19, for of up to 300,000 people, one of its largest crowds ever.” This article continues: “Yet, for the first time in a major Vatican ceremony, the pontiff was unable to utter a word of his homily, leaving other prelates to do so. In the few prayers he did say, his words were so slurred and shaky they could barely be understood, reporters noticed.”

Another event at this celebration also drew much attention and speculation about the pope’s health. From www.guardian.co (10/22/2003), “Pope John Paul II, who is in declining health, yesterday announced 31 new cardinals to join the ranks of those who will eventually choose his successor.”

It is noteworthy that the Catholic Church may indeed undergo a change of papal administration in the coming months. This is especially critical at this point in time as Europe struggles to unify. Although there is an overall move in the direction of building a cohesive union, both political and religious union are still lacking. A younger, vigorous and dedicated pope would not only revive the fortunes of the Catholic Church, but new religious leadership would certainly help the cause of European unification.

Q: The United States and many other nations celebrate Halloween on October 31. Some feel that a Christian should not participate in such celebrations. What is your point of view?

A: The Bible is very clear that a true Christian must not, under any circumstances, celebrate Halloween.

Halloween has its origin in pagan and occult worship services and ceremonies. It was later “adopted” by the Catholic Church which gave it a “Christian” mantle. However, its Satanic and demonic rites remained and can still clearly be noticed even in today’s Halloween
customs.

The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1959, has this to say about “Halloween”:

“…the occasion shows clear connections with the religion of the Druids in pre-Christian Ireland and Scotland. The Celtic year ended on October 31, the eve of Samhain, and was celebrated with both religious and agrarian rites. For the Druids, Samhain was both the ‘end of summer’ and a festival of the dead. The spirits of the departed were believed to visit their kinsmen in search of warmth and good cheer as winter approached… Divination and auguries for the new year were practiced at Samhain. These magical practices concerned such questions as who would die during the next year… It was also an occasion when fairies, witches and goblins terrified the populace… THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE [CATHOLIC] CHURCH SOUGHT TO ELIMINATE OR SUPPLANT THE DRUID FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD BY INTRODUCING THE ALTERNATIVE OBSERVANCE OF ALL SAINTS’ DAY ON NOVEMBER 1. This feast was established to honor all saints, known or unknown, BUT IT FAILED TO DISPLACE THE PAGAN CELEBRATION OF SAMHAIN… By the end of the middle ages, the celebration of Allhallows [sic] Eve was an established part of the annual calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. However, after the Reformation, Protestants REJECTED this feast ALONG WITH OTHER IMPORTANT ONES SUCH AS CHRISTMAS AND EASTER.”

Other sources point out that Halloween was not celebrated in the United States until about 1845 when thousands of Irish emigrants flooded into New York. Today, it is said to be the “second highest grossing money maker” in the United States outside Christmas.

The Encarta Encyclopedia explains that “the Roman Catholic Church often incorporated modified versions of older religious traditions in order to win converts. For example, Pope Gregory IV sought to replace Samhain with All Saints’ Day in 835. All Souls’ Day, closer in spirit to Samhain and modern Halloween, was first instituted at a French monastery in 998 and quickly spread throughout Europe. Folk observances linked to these Christian holidays, including Halloween, thus preserved many of the ancient Celtic customs associated with Samhain.”

As one source puts it, “when Christianity spread to parts of Europe, instead of trying to abolish their pagan customs, people tried to introduce ideas which reflected a more Christian world-view. Halloween has since become a confusing mixture of traditions and practices from pagan cultures and Christian tradition… Many of the [pagan] customs survived and were blended in with Christianity.”

We are told in historical records that the Celts and their Druids believed that on October 31, the night before their New Year, the “Lord of the Death” gathered the souls of the evil dead, and that ghosts, evil spirits and witches roamed about. In order to honor the Sun God (Belenus), and to frighten away the evil spirits, large bonfires were lit. It was also believed that Samhain was a time when the division between the two worlds became very thin, when hostile supernatural forces were active and ghosts and spirits were free to wander as they wished. Samhain was the supreme night of demon celebrations. Spirits of the dead were believed to rise out of their graves, trying to return to the homes where they formerly lived. Frightened villagers tried to appease them by offering them gifts of fruit and nuts. This is the origin of the present day “trick-or-treat.”

Masks were worn to hide oneself from the spirits of the dead. This constitutes the origin of today’s custom on Halloween to masquerade as devils, imps, ogres, and other demonic creatures. As the “Plymouth District Library” states, “When Christianity came to the British Isles, it became the eve of All Hallows [sic] or All Saints’ Day, but the old traditions remained. That’s why youngsters wear masks when they go out trick-or-treating and it is also why the hollowed-out jack-o’-lantern has a masklike face.”

We are also informed that “Jack-o-lantern,” the festival light for Halloween, is the ancient symbol of a damned soul. Originally the Irish carved out turnips or beets as lanterns as representations of the souls of the dead or of goblins freed from the dead. When the Irish emigrated to America, they found an abundance of pumpkins, to substitute the hard-to-find turnips. They began to cut pumpkins with faces representing demons, which were originally intended to frighten away evil spirits. Additional popular symbols of Halloween are bats, owls and black cats. They were originally feared because people believed that these creatures could communicate with the spirits of the dead, or that witches could turn themselves into them, especially black cats.

Many countries and cultures celebrate some form of Halloween. In Sicily, the Festival of the Dead is a big holiday, celebrated on November 2. It is believed that the deceased family members return to leave sweets, cakes and trinkets for the children. In Mexico, a festival called “El Dia de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) begins on October 31 (or on November 2, according to some sources). It is described as a “gruesome festival, where death becomes a kind of neighborly figure, appearing on candy, jewelry, toys, bread, or cakes. This is the time when the souls of the dead return and when the living are to honor them: for example, doors are decorated with flowers to welcome the ‘Angelitos,’ the souls of the dead children.”

Considering the origin of Halloween and its customs, who can deny, as one Christian author wrote, “that virtually all of the symbols of Halloween are evil? Witches, monsters, ogres, vampires, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, devils and demons all portray evil… When America and the world celebrates the Festival of Samhain and the powers of darkness by masquerading as evil creatures or decorating our homes, schools, businesses and churches with occult symbols, Satanic power is glorified… When Christians participate in Halloween, its sends a message to children that witchcraft, demonism, Satanism, and the occult are something fun, entertaining and harmless… Some children develop a fascination with the supernatural which leads them later into more sinister occult practices… What’s wrong with Halloween? It does not have even one single redeeming virtue. It is a custom born out of pagan superstition. It is a demon-inspired, devil-glorifying, occult festival. It is an evening holy unto evil, death, and divination…”

God was very careful to warn the nation of Israel about separating itself from the practices of the surrounding nations who were steeped in pagan practices. The priesthood of Aaron was to ” ‘…distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean'” (Leviticus 10:10). All modern nations–including those descended from Israel–have lost both the knowledge and the will to distinguish between good and evil. The consequences are far reaching in God’s sight! These kinds of evil practices have an accountability, and the Word of God clearly reveals that events now arising will soon culminate in the return of Jesus Christ.

The Bible commands us to have nothing to do with the devil or his evil forces of darkness (compare 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22; Ephesians 5:10-12). Paul warns us that we must not attempt to partake of the cup of the Lord and of the cup of demons (1 Corinthians 10:21). We are also warned not to try to communicate with the dead (Deuteronomy 18:9-14). Witchcraft in all its different forms and variations is abominable and sinful (1 Samuel 15:23; Galatians 5:20). Further, the entire concept underlying Halloween or All Saints’ Day, that men’s “immortal souls” continue to live after man dies — either in heaven or in hell or someplace else — is totally unbiblical. For further information on these important questions, please read our free booklets, “Do You Have an Immortal Soul?” and “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World.”

On Saturday, October 4, 2003, Edwin Pope will be presenting the sermon, “Fast to Draw Near to God.” Services will start at 2:30 pm Central time (which is 12:30 pm Pacific time).

On Monday, October 6, 2003, is the Day of Atonement. Norbert Link will be covering important aspects of the meaning of that annual Holy Day in his sermon, “The Two Goats.” Services will begin at 2:30 pm Central Time (12:30 pm Pacific time).

This will be the last Update prior to the Feast of Tabernacles, which will begin Friday evening, October 10, 2003. Opening night services will start at 9:30 pm Central time (7:30 pm Pacific time).

Our next Update is scheduled to appear on October 24, 2003.

We wish all our members, supporters, and readers a rewarding and uplifting Sabbath, Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream.”

A SPECIAL NOTE: All of our services during the Feast of Tabernacles (beginning with the opening night) will be broadcast on the Internet. For dates and times go to www.cognetservices.org.
 

In Deuteronomy 16:13-14 we are admonished by God in this manner: “You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. And you shall REJOICE in your feast, you and your son and your daughter…”

We are told not just to observe or keep the feast but to rejoice in it, together with our families. For many of us, the only family we have to rejoice with is our Church family. Others are blessed of also having their flesh-and-blood family with them. Here are some tips to rejoice at the feast:

1) Let us make every effort to pray and study the Bible during the feast. It is not sufficient to just attend services. Personal study and prayer during that time are very important. Some have found it very helpful to take time out and review, as part of their personal study, the sermonette and sermon notes that they took down on the previous day. In doing this, our relationship with God will be strengthened, and we will be able to reflect God’s joy in our lives.

2) Let us pray for a positive personal attitude. We might run into problems before or during the feast, but they should not influence us to become upset and negative. When we notice that bad feelings seem to overpower us, let us immediately pray to God and ask Him to restore in us the joy we all need to have and to express to others.

3) Let us pray for one another that we will all arrive at the feast safely. This would include praying for the safety of the ministry who are there to serve all of us. We need to also pray for those who cannot be there this year, be it for personal or other reasons. Sending them a card is a nice way to let them know that they are not forgotten at this time. Most importantly, let us pray that God would restrain the hand of Satan so that the Internet broadcasts, Church services and other feast activities would go well.

4) Let us make this an opportunity to take brethren out for dinner who may not have been able to save enough second tithe. This would include, perhaps, a widow or a large family. I remember my first feast when I did not have a lot of second tithe since I was baptized in August. Another member took me out for a meal. It left a lasting impression on me. In subsequent years I was able to do the same for others. It has had a cumulative effect. I was able to pass on to others, what someone else had done for me first.

5) Let us strive to meet and converse with new people. It is amazing how we can draw close to one another and learn more about one another just by conversing and enjoying the fellowship afforded us at this time. This is perhaps the only time we will get to see some of our beloved brethren in the year.

6) Let us make every effort to stay in good health and get sufficient rest. This will enable us to attend every service to get the spiritual food which has been prepared for us, and also, to participate in all of the planned activities at the feast.

7) Let us serve as much as we have opportunity. There are many ways to serve the brethren at the feast, be it with ushering, offering someone a ride or giving them other needed assistance, or participating in choir or the Talent Show. If you have a talent in singing or playing an instrument, share it with others at the feast. This will help all of us to enjoy the feast more fully.

It is our hope that you will have a wonderful and inspiring feast this year. When we follow the time-proven admonitions set forth in this Editorial, it will be much easier for us to truly REJOICE at the feast.
 

The United States and Germany

DER SPIEGEL Online reported on September 29, 2003, about the “new-found friendship” between President Bush and Chancellor Schroeder. The magazine commented, as follows:
“… the most important objective of the meeting with Bush already seemed to have been achieved: The Chancellor wanted to reestablish a basis for discussion, something the German government and its most powerful ally, following their heated dispute surrounding the Iraq policy, had lacked for a sixteen-month period. The prevailing opinion at the White House was that it’s about time, and Schröder also felt that it was time to break the silence. He likes to say that nations do not pursue romantic relationships, and in this respect his sentiments echo the words of Otto von Bismarck, former Chancellor of the German Reich, who once wrote in his memoirs that ‘not even the king’ has the right to subordinate the interests of the state to his personal sympathies or antipathies…

“After all, the meeting was poised to begin on a less than positive note. In an earlier meeting, French President Jacques Chirac had given his US colleague an affected lecture on war, peace and international law. According to American sources, George Bush was… [extremely angered] and became all the more so when Chirac railed against a ‘policy of fait accompli’ in his speech before the General Assembly of the United Nations…

“Have German-American relations returned to their former state of normalcy? Schröder and Fischer, at least, would disagree, since they did not in fact abandon any of their prewar positions. On his flight to New York, the Chancellor declared that he was not traveling to the United States as a supplicant, and on his return flight one of his advisors repeated the sentence that was considered a rallying cry just a few months ago, but now describes little more than a state of affairs: ‘German foreign policy is determined in Berlin.’

“… So the relationship between the superpower and the ‘European central power’ (Schröder) has returned to that sober footing where personal sympathy is important but not decisive. In the future, both sides will deal with one another more cautiously and with fewer illusions. ‘There can be no greater error,’ said the first American president, George Washington, ‘than to expect or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation.’ When seen in this light, Americans and Germans are henceforth partners without pathos.”

BILD Online published a commentary, dated September 23, addressing the deteriorated relationship between the United States and Germany. The commentary stated, “When the United States got rid of one of the worst dictators, Saddam Hussein, we saw anti-Americanism unleashed in Germany. The world power [United States] hit back. That was bad politics. And it will take a long time until the consequences will disappear. But at least — a beginning has been made.”

The United States and Europe

DER SPIEGEL Online published on September 29, 2003, an interview with Washington’s former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, discussing the feud between transatlantic allies, the US role, the Europeans’ failings and perceptions. We are bringing experts of Mrs. Albright’s insightful interview, as follows:

“…What has happened here in the United States as well as in Europe is so painful to me. There have always been times when there were anti-European sentiments in the United States and anti-American feelings in Europe. But when both trends occur at the same time, we have a vicious circle. This is precisely what has happened now. It’s disgusting to watch Europeans gloat over the chaos in Iraq or the recent power outages in the United States, for example. Conversely, should we be pleased when 10,000 people die in a French heat wave? Well, at least the squabblers are talking to each other again. But both sides bear responsibility for letting things get so far out of hand…

“There were some [European leaders] who preferred an entirely different approach to Saddam. There were many attempts in the Security Council, especially on the part of France, to ease the sanctions regime against Iraq. This already complicated the relationship with Europe… Chancellor Schröder could certainly have campaigned for reelection somewhat more elegantly – not exclusively at the expense of the United States. And President Chirac made the situation unbelievably complicated. In truth, both sides prevented the UN from playing an important role before the war. President Bush because he kept saying: ‘I don’t care what they say,’ and President Chirac because he said: ‘I will submit my veto, no matter what.’ Both contributed to the decline in the UN’s significance…

“The Europeans allowed a horrible disaster to happen in Bosnia, and that’s why it was important for us to intervene. But not alone. It’s sometimes difficult to do anything right for the Europeans. If the role the United States takes is too strong, we’re criticized. If we do nothing, we’re neglecting our commitments. It isn’t always easy to be the United States… I’ve always been fascinated by Germany. I was born in Czechoslovakia. When we fled to London, I knew that the bombs that were falling around me were German bombs. Consequently, my impressions of Germany were of course very negative. But in every conversation with Joschka Fischer I sensed that he was quite conscious of Germany’s responsibility for the past. When we discussed the Kosovo conflict and talked about how intellectuals from Pristina had been taken away, he said: ‘Yes, that is exactly what happened with the Nazis.’ I asked him more than once about his days as a street protester. His only response was this: ‘You know, Madeleine, you would have done the same thing if you had literally suspected every single authority figure around you – the police officer, the doctor, the teacher – of having supported the Nazis.'”

New European Plans?

The Guardian reported on September 23, 2003 about a “super region” plan to revive the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. The article pointed out: “Political leaders from three countries, including Austria’s controversial far-rightwinger, Jorg Haider, are pushing for creation of a new European ‘super-region’ that would slice through national boundaries and take in a large part of the old Austro-Hungarian empire.

“The plan is likely to meet a frosty response from Tony Blair and other European leaders who are keen to ensure that power in the European Union stays with nation states.

“Riccardo Illy, recently elected president of the north-eastern Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, told the newspaper La Stampa the projected ‘super-region’ was planned to extend from Austria to Rijeka on the Croatian coast. It would also include his own region and parts of Slovenia.

“He said Mr. Haider, governor of the Austrian state of Carinthia, had been ‘very positive.’ The scheme had won the backing of the mayor of a key Croatian local authority and was under discussion with the Slovenian government… His plan would reunite territories that all formed part of the Austro-Hungarian empire that ended in 1918.”

Euobserver.com reported on October 2, 2003, that “France and Austria clash over [the proposed European] Constitution.” The article continued, “Austria finds itself at the head of the group of smaller countries arguing for substantial changes to the draft, whereas France — along with the UK and Germany — are wary of unravelling the text drafted by former French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing.”

Water Shortage in Australia

ABC News reported on Wednesday, October 1, 2003, about mandatory restrictions for Sydney, the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. The article pointed out that “the region’s main water supply, the Googong Dam, is now at 36 per cent capacity. Recent rain has done little to alleviate the region’s water crisis. Even though water consumption is already below the stage three target of 127 megalitres a day, total dam levels are still below 50 per cent. The ACT Government has described Canberra as being on a knife-edge, warning there is no room for complacency, particularly during summer. From today sprinklers are banned, as is washing your car at home. Private gardens can only be watered with hand-held hoses or buckets on alternate days, though pools can be topped up as long as they are covered. Anyone caught breaking the rules could face fines of up to $5,000.”

We are informed that there have virtually never been water restrictions in Canberra before. The Googong dam, about five minutes drive from Canberry, has usually been fairly full. An additional indication for the unusual events in Sydney can be seen by the fact that Sydney usually has high rainfall and is semi-tropical.

Meteorites in India

BBC News reported about a meteorite that crashed in eastern India. Fortunately, only three people had been injured as a result of the meteorite falling to earth. Officials investigating the event say it was part of the most spectacular meteor shower in the country’s recent history, according to BBC News.

The article continued, “Flaming debris from the space rock lit up the sky in Orissa state on Saturday night, and sent villagers running after its burning fragments set fire to their houses. ‘I have never seen a meteor covering such a large area with a huge fireball and roaring sound,’ said Basant Kumar Mohanty, senior director of the Geological Survey of India. According to state authorities, two large fragments of the meteorite, weighing roughly five kilograms each, have been recovered.”
 
 

It sure does. Although tattooing our bodies is extremely popular amongst many peoples and even in our Western society, including amongst sailors, marines, teens and others, the Bible clearly prohibits this practice.

Leviticus 19:28 tells us:

“You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD.”

The translation “tattoo” is an accurate rendering of the original Hebrew. The Authorized Version states, “…nor print any marks upon you.” The intended meaning is “tattoo” or “tattoo marks.” The New International Version states, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourself.” The Revised Standard Version states, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you.” The Revised English Bible states, “You must not gash yourselves in mourning for the dead or tattoo yourselves.” Compare, too, Moffat, the New American Bible, the New Jerusalem Bible, and the Elberfelder Bible.

The Hebrew word, translated as “tattoo,” is “qa’aqa.” Strong defines it under Number 7085 as an “incision” or “gash” or a “mark.” The Interlinear Bible Hebrew-Greek-English edition by Jay P Green Sr uses the word “tattoo” as a literal translation of Strong’s Number 7085.

The Ryrie Study Bible comments on Leviticus 19:28: “Both cutting and tattooing the body were done by the heathen.”

Soncino remarks, “…’nor imprint any marks,’ i.e. tattooing with a needle. The flesh should not have any marks other than the ‘sign of the covenant,’ circumcision.”

Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary has this to say about “tattoos”:

“A permanent mark or design fixed upon the body by a process of picking the skin and inserting an indelible color under the skin. The moral and ceremonial laws of Leviticus declare, ‘You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks upon you,’ (Leviticus 19:28). Any kind of self laceration or marking the body was prohibited amongst the Hebrew people. Such cuttings were associated with pagan cults that tattooed their followers while they mourned the dead.”

The Nelson Study Bible adds, “The human body was designed by God, who intended it to be whole and beautiful. Disfiguring the body dishonored God, in whose image the person was created. Cutting one’s flesh for the dead and tattooing (or perhaps painting) one’s body had religious significance among Israel’s pagan neighbors. In Israel, such practices were signs of rebellion against God.”

Henry’s Commentary points out, “The rites and ceremonies by which they expressed their sorrow at their funerals must not be imitated… They must not make cuts or prints in their flesh for the dead; for the heathen did so to pacify the infernal deities they dreamt of, and to render them propitious to their deceased friends.”

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary on the Whole Bible, has this to say about the subject: “… nor print any marks upon you — by tattooing — imprinting figures or flowers, leaves, stars, and other fanciful devices on various parts of their person — the impression was made sometimes by means of a hot iron, sometimes by ink or paint, as is done by the Arab females of the present day and the different casts of the Hindoos [sic]. It is probable that a strong propensity to adopt such marks in honor of some idol gave occasion to the prohibition in this verse; and they were wisely forbidden, for they were signs of apostasy; and, when once made, they were insuperable obstacles to a return…”

The Broadman Bible Commentary adds, “The peculiar markings referred to in vv. 27-28 were all customary mourning rites practiced by the ancient world. Their intention was to make the mourner unrecognizable to evil spirits who might hover around a dead person. In Israel such deference to the presence and power of evil spirits was prohibited.”

Some religious people, although they are aware of Leviticus 19:28, nevertheless claim that they tattoo their bodies just for decoration, without thinking about evil spirits, or mourning for any dead person. They feel Leviticus 19:28 only prohibits tattooing in the context of mourning for the dead. We need to realize, however, that tattooing, even if it was originally done for the purpose of expressing sorrow for a dead person, had a somewhat permanent nature — the person would still continue to wear the tattoo long after his mourning for the dead had ceased. It is also important to consider the origin of a certain practice. If tattooing was originally done to placate evil spirits and to mourn for the dead, as most commentaries suggest, and was therefore prohibited, it would still be wrong to carry out such practice today, even if it was done for different motives. For instance, members of God’s Church don’t keep Halloween, because this festival is clearly of a pagan or demonic origin. This fact is not changed by the argument that most people keeping Halloween today don’t do so for the purpose of placating or expelling demons.

In addition, Leviticus 19:28 contains two commandments. The first commandment prohibits cuttings in the flesh for the dead. The second commandment is broader than that. It says, “…and do not tattoo yourselves” (New American Bible). Although tattooing “for the dead” is included, it is not limited to it. According to Leviticus 19:28, all kinds of tattooing are wrong.

We need to realize, too, that tattooing is a form of “mutilation” (compare Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol.21, ed. 1959). A Christian is not to “mutilate” himself, except where it is expressly commanded or impliedly permitted by God, such as in the case of circumcision. A Christian is to take care of his body in a right and cherishing way (Ephesians 5:29). He is to glorify GOD in his body, knowing that his body is the temple or dwelling place of God’s Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20).

More proof on the background of this now popular activity of tattooing may be found in Deuteronomy 14:1 wherein God strictly forbids pagan practices about cutting or disfiguring oneself. Also, in the account of 1 Kings 18, Elijah confronts the false religious leaders of his day. Verse 28 states: “So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.” When Jesus confronted demon possessed people, one of the common manifestations was that these people mutilated themselves in destructive ways.

Tattooing has given rise to other forms of body mutilations that often prove to be permanent disfigurations. Right and true worship of God not only avoids these practices, but Christianity is a way of living in which individuals seek to honor God through the kind of obedience that is rooted in love–not body mutilation.