Rene Messier of Canada and Brian Gale from the UK will be giving split sermons this Sabbath. The title of Rene Messier’s message is, “Know Your Enemy.” Brian Gale will address the current crisis with Iraq from his European perspective.

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

How accustomed have we become to war? Would we agree with most people that our wars — although perhaps undesirable — are nevertheless necessities? Do we believe that our wars will solve at least some of our problems, and that they will bring lasting peace? Are we prepared to accept the death of thousands of innocent people in the course of man’s wars, thinking that these “casualties” are necessary by-products for the ultimate goal of peace?

The Bible tells us that Satan has deceived this whole world (Revelation 12:9). It is Satan, the author of war, who has caused man to think that destruction can produce construction — that war can result in peace.

Man wants peace. But, man does not know how to achieve it. Paul tells us in Romans 3:11-17: “There is none who understands… Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known.” Peter was willing to kill with the sword to defend Jesus. His Master had to tell him: “‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.'” (Matthew 26:52). This same message is repeated in Revelation 13:10: “…he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.” When James and John, the “sons of thunder,” were prepared to call fire from heaven to devour the Samaritans, Christ rebuked them with these words, “‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.'” (Luke 9:55-56).

6000 years of human history of pain and misery have proven that our wars do not bring peace, but that they only result in more wars. Just looking at the last century, we know that there would not have been a second world war without the first. And as prophecy reveals to us, there will be in the near future a third world war — the deadliest of them all — caused to a large extent by the last two wars. Indeed, wars only breed more wars.

God has given His people understanding — including the understanding that the way of peace is not found through the wars of men. God will send Jesus Christ back to this earth to end all wars (Psalm 46:9). In His government, and under His rulership, man will not learn to fight in war anymore (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). Christ is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and we are told that of the increase of His peace, there will be no end (Isaiah 9:7; compare Psalm 72:7).

Christ has commissioned His Church to proclaim His way of peace to all nations (Ephesians 6:15; Acts 10:36). This means, we must live this way ourselves. As His true disciples, we will not participate in any war fought by men — and we will not even advocate any such wars. We will not allow ourselves to become deceived again, thinking that any human war is justified — rather, we will counsel peace (Compare Proverbs 12:20: “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy”). We will do today what Jesus Christ will do when He rules on the earth: We will “speak peace to the nations” (Zechariah 9:10).

God’s way of peace and Satan’s way of war are total opposites. A true Christian will not practice or endorse anything that will bring destruction and pain for others — and war brings destruction and pain for others, as we all should know. Our conscience objects to human warfare — that is, why we are called “conscientious objectors.” Notice Christ’s commission to His end-time Church: “Behold, on the mountains The feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims peace!” (Nahum 1:15; compare Romans 10:15).

Christ has enabled us to proclaim peace to others, since Christ has given us His peace to dwell in us (John 14:27; compare Colossians 3:15). Christ guides our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:79) — far away from the destructive road of war. We are called to “follow peace with all men” (Hebrews 12:14, Authorized Version), knowing that peace will be given to us if we are peacemakers (James 3:18; compare Matthew 5:9). If we ourselves “seek peace and pursue it” (1 Peter 3:11), if we make every effort, “as much as depends” on us, to “live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18), then we can be used by Christ as His ambassadors of peace. We are to represent His government, His kingdom, His rulership — and as such, we cannot be participating, neither in word nor in deed, in this world’s ways of war.

We are to live and proclaim a way of give. The wars of this world are the result of the way of get. James 4:1-2 tells us, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?… You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”

Why does man go to war against his neighbor? Because he wants what his neighbor has, or he wants to make sure that his neighbor does not get what he has. At the same time, he does not ask God for help, and even if he asks, he does not live the way God wants him to. God promises us in Proverbs 16:7: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

A very powerful practical example of this promise can be seen in 2 Kings 6:8-23. Warring Syrians — enemies of the nation of Israel — sent an army to the land of Israel to capture the prophet Elisha. “So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, ‘Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.'” (Verse 18). God answered Elisha’s prayer. Elisha led the blind soldiers to Samaria where God removed their blindness. The king of Israel asked, “Shall I kill them?” Elisha answered, “‘You shall not kill them… Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.’ Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.” (Verses 22-23).

This is God’s way of love and peace in action. When our enemy is hungry and thirsty, we give him to eat and to drink, thereby heaping “coals of fire on his head” (Proverbs 25:22; Romans 12:20). The carnal mind says, This does not work. One cannot rule a country with the Sermon on the Mount. And so, man has never really tried out this way of life. Rather, man has chosen Satan’s way of war, destruction and death — and as a consequence, man is now facing the distinct possibility of eradicating all human life from the face of this earth.

God’s disciples and children MUST be different. We have a unique opportunity today to preach peace to the world — by our words and by our deeds. Perhaps some might listen and try it out in their lives. What a surprise they will experience when they find out that God’s Way of Life DOES work!
 

AMERICA AND EUROPE — A GREAT DIVIDE

MSNBC News published this week on its Webpage an article from Newsweek, titled, “A Great Divide.” The article stated, “Europe and America are largely split over whether a war to change the regime in Iraq is now justified. But the divisions go much deeper than that – to differing perceptions of history and politics, power and God.”

It is interesting how the author, Christopher Dickey, recognizes the ever-increasing divide between the two power blocs. He asks, “How did the magnificent alliance between democratic Europe and the United States… reach this sorry state of affairs?” He continues, “In some eyes, the problem today is not what France, or the Europeans, have forgotten; it’s what they remember… Europe’s critical experiences of faith and history, God and War, are not the same as America’s… [A] basic source of resentment against the United States is a kind of strategic envy. American military power is simply overwhelming…”

The article continues, “Americans are religious in ways that many Europeans find almost incomprehensible… Why? Because in America religious faith is increasingly tied to freedom of choice. Europeans grow up in their Roman Catholic or Protestant cultures… To most Americans it seems natural enough that President Bush, a born-again Christian, would incorporate religious references into his speeches. His Manichaean descriptions of good versus evil, with us or against us, are rooted in his reading of the Bible and strike many in the U.S.A. as strong, righteous and decisive. But all this sounds to Europeans very much like the kind of theology – or ideology – that led them to slaughter each other for centuries.”

On Sunday, February 16, 2003, the San Diego Union Tribute published commentaries from Henry Kissinger and John Keegan. Mr. Kissinger, former secretary of state and presidential advisor, stated that the “Atlantic Alliance is in its greatest crisis.” Mr. Keegan, a military historian and defense editor of “London Daily Telegraph,” felt that “‘Old Europe’ may push America too far.”

At the same time, massive anti-war demonstrations of millions of participants took place this week all over the world, including in London, Berlin, Paris, Madrid and Rome, as well as several cities in the United States. Der Spiegel asked, “What now, Mr. President?” The magazine continued, “Suddenly, those who are against war with Iraq are not isolated anymore, but the world power – the United States – is. The appearance of Blix before the Security Council has made true the worst fears of the U.S. military… It was exactly the situation in which President Bush never wanted to be… Suddenly, the entire world is against… Washington…”

And so it seems. The AP reported Wednesday that the Vatican warned again against unilateral action against Iraq. This was perceived to be a veiled message to the United States. USA Today ran an article, titled, “U.S. struggles for support on Iraq.” It continued, “The overwhelming opposition to the Bush’s administration’s policies on Iraq… set back plans for the introduction of a new resolution Wednesday… Over nearly four hours Tuesday, a parade of ambassadors spoke out during an open debate in the Security Council in favor of disarming Iraq through continued weapon inspections, not war. Only Australia and Japan supported Washington and London in seeking a quick new Security Council resolution… Representatives of the Non-Alignment Movement, the Arab League, the European Union and other Asian, African and Latin American nations staunchly spoke out against the idea.”

All of this prompted Secretary of State Colin Powell to say on Wednesday on French radio that countries like France that oppose swift military action against Iraq are afraid of upholding their responsibility to disarm Baghdad by force, according to an article published by the AP, widening the rift between the Bush administration and the French government.

Manfred Guttamacher of the Potsdam University in Germany was interviewed by CNN. He stated, “We are on the brink of a fundamental rift between the United States and Europe which goes much deeper than the rifts that came up in the course of anti-American sentiments in the 60’s or the early 80’s.”

How deep the rift already is can also be seen by the fact that most Germans – as well as most British – say that President Bush is a greater threat to world peace than Saddam Hussein. CNN.com published an article on February 14, stating, “Anti-Americanism in Europe deepens,” voicing the opinion that a “new generation of U.S.-haters” is “being created” in Europe.

Der Spiegel Online ran an article Wednesday, titled, “Americans come from Mars, Europeans from Venus.” It continued, “European and American NATO-partners are alienated as never before.”

On Monday, the 15 European states agreed on a unified position. Both France and Germany acquiesced to a statement that war against Iraq as a last resort is no longer rejected. Although some feel that this statement constitutes a defeat especially for Germany, the German tabloid “Bild” commented: “It was important for the European Union to find a compromise. They can now demonstrate to the United States that they are unified. A decision regarding peace or war stays within the United Nations.”

Some observers concluded that Germany’s modified stance constitutes a victory for Joschka Fischer in an internal power struggle between Chancellor Schroeder and the Foreign Minister. Nevertheless, both politicians declared afterwards that Germany would under no circumstances actively participate in a war against Iraq. Germany was also successful, according to AP, to block a European “declaration from warning Saddam Hussein that ‘time is running out’ – a phrase favored by Britain, as well as the United States.”

Der Spiegel Online reported on February 19 that Joschka Fischer again strongly criticized the policy of the Bush administration. He asked for a “strategic debate regarding the preventive-war-doctrine of the United States.” Although the U.S. might be strong enough militarily to fight alone against Iraq, they need the UN, and firstly Europe, to build and maintain peace, Fischer said in an interview with the German newspaper, Die Zeit. At the same time, German Minister for the Environment, Juergen Trittin, stated in an interview with the German newspaper, “Die Welt,” that America wants a war against Iraq to secure the oil in the region.

As Der Spiegel Online reported on Wednesday, Russia’s Vladimir Putin criticized the United States’ and Great Britain’s routine air bombings of places in Iraq. He said that these attacks are violations of the UN-resolutions that cannot be justified.

THE EURO ON THE RISE

All of these developments have influenced the value of the European currency – the euro. MSNBC News reported on January 31, that the U.S. dollar is no longer seen as a safe haven, and that the euro has risen more than 20% since it was introduced a year ago, due to “growing fear of war in Iraq.” The article continued, “Analysts say the euro is showing signs of becoming a serious rival to the long-dominant dollar on world markets… International investors are worried that the United States and Britain would be isolated in a war against Iraq and that a conflict could be prolonged and draw in other countries such as Israel and Saudi Arabia. There is also concern that the United States would have to bear most of the cost of a war, which some analysts estimate could be as much as $200 billion.”

IS THE WORLD FACING SELF-DESTRUCFTION?

Another insightful article from the Washington Post was published on February 14 in the San Diego Union-Tribune, titled, “The world is at a major turning point.” In the article, Charles Krauthammer points out, “Anyone with a reasonable education in modern physics, chemistry or biology can brew” weapons of mass destruction. There is no avoiding the danger any longer… We are in a race against time. Once such hostile states establish arsenals, we become self-deterred and they become invulnerable. North Korea may already have crossed that threshold. There is a real question whether we can win the race. Year One of the new era, 2002, passed rather peaceably. Year Two will not: 2003 could be as cataclysmic as 1914 or 1939.”

Then, the following poignant question is asked: “What are the odds that our species will manage to contain this awful knowledge [of weapons of mass destruction] without self-destruction – not for a billion years or a million or even a thousand, but just through the lifetime of our children? Those are the stakes today.”

DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA AND THE US

At the same time, parts of the world are facing serious food shortages as a consequence of unusual droughts. For instance, ABC News Online reported that Australia will be forced to keep importing a “considerable” amount of grain. The Australian government stated that 2002/2003 is “turning out to be one of the worst years on record for Australian grain producers.” The summer crop for 2003 is estimated to be the smallest in 20 years. In the United States, especially Colorado faces dire consequences of a prolonged “dangerous drought,” according to MSNBC News.
 

If they do, does that mean if we are unclean because of a bodily discharge as described in verses 16-24 that we should not come before God in prayer or for worship during the time which we are unclean? Should we abstain from sexual relations with our marriage partners in order to be clean thus allowing us to keep the Sabbath holy?

A: Most of the laws in Leviticus 15 were clearly only of a ritual nature and are no longer binding for us today. We explain the concept of ritual laws in our free booklet, “And Lawlessness Will Abound…” As we point out on page 53 of the booklet, one way to determine whether laws are temporary or permanent, is to look at the “penalty”:

“For instance, the violation of a statute or a particular circumstance could make a person ‘unclean’ for a certain period of time. Following ritual washings, that person could become clean again. Clearly, these kinds of laws are strictly ritualistic in nature, as no violation of a binding law was automatically cured simply by lapse of time and ritual washings.”

Most of the laws in Leviticus 15 provide that the person was only unclean until evening. When the sun set, the person became clean again — after he or she had gone through washing and bathing (note, for example, verses 5- 8, 10-11, 16-19, 21-23, and 27).

In this context, Hebrews 9:9-10 tells us: “It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices were offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience — concerned only with foods and drinks [or food and drink offerings], various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.”

As mentioned, violations of permanent laws were not automatically cured by lapse of time (“when evening comes”) and washings. (This is not to say, however, that we should not, for hygienic purposes, cleanse our bodies, or even things with which our sick bodies came in contact. Further, some of the laws listed in Leviticus 15 have a permanent application. Note, for instance, verse 25: “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her customary impurity. She shall be unclean.”)

There is never a time when we should not approach God in prayer, or when we should not fellowship with brethren — assuming that we are living close enough to other brethren, and that we do not suffer of a contagious sickness. Further, there is not a Biblically prescribed time for us to abstain from sexual intercourse with our mate, unless during the actual time of a woman’s menstruation (compare Leviticus 18:19; 20:18; Ezekiel 18:6; compare, too, Leviticus 15:25), or when both agree, so that they have time for individual prayer or fasting (compare 1 Corinthians 7:3-5: “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due to her, and likewise also the wife to her husband… Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because your lack of self-control.”). Otherwise, the Bible does not command us today to abstain from sexual relationships with our mates before or on the Sabbath.

Norbert Link will give the sermon this Sabbath. The title is: “Principles of Faith.”

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

It is easy in this life to take those closest to us for granted! We have all been guilty of such actions in our daily lives and that is certainly something we need to work on. When we are on the receiving end of such an error, we do not appreciate it.

But – do we allow ourselves this same prerogative with our God? If we are not careful, brethren, this can become a very easy thing to do and can become habitual. Generally our lives are filled with activities and at times it becomes difficult to keep all the balls in the air simultaneously. The tendency becomes one of selecting what we feel is important and letting everything else go. However, God is very clear about certain priorities we are to have in our lives.

In Exodus 20:3, God is very clear in His statement where He tells all who would follow Him – “You shall have no other gods before me.” He adds, in verse 5, “For I am a jealous God…” Brethren, it becomes very easy, in our hectic lives, to allow ourselves to put off doing things that even we consider very important, thinking “I can do that later,” in order to accomplish what we feel pressured to do. Therefore, many times we let our Bible study and time for meditation, our time for prayer and fasting to slip, in order to accomplish the tasks which are a part of our everyday routine.

We must not allow ourselves to do this. God gave special instructions regarding those who would be established as kings over the nation of Israel, ruling over the Children of Israel. Note in the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 17, beginning in verse 18 –

“And it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”

You and I have been called to be kings and priests in the Kingdom God will soon establish on this earth. God has thus given to us an awesome responsibility, in which we must not be negligent.

Anything we put before our God and the responsibilities He has given us at this time becomes an idol before Him, and we become guilty of breaking His law. We must not do this. We must learn to put first things first in our lives; and, in so doing, fulfill the royal law of love. Let us not be negligent in this important area of our Christian lives.
 

THE WORLD AT THE BRINK OF WAR?

Actually, this headline does not even accurately reflect the grim reality — since the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, including the red horse, signifying war, have already been riding on this earth for quite a while. Many of today’s battle fields remain virtually unnoticed by the general public.

CNN.com published an article on January 31, titled, “Conflicts rage across the globe.” It pointed out the following: “Iraq and North Korea have dominated the world’s attention in recent months, yet in countries and regions around the globe, strife smolders with sporadic notice. Civil war. Mutilations. Threat of nuclear deployment. Human trafficking. Starving babies. Those are some of the seeds and harvest of conflicts in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America… Millions of Zimbabweans face starvation… Since tensions broke out in the African nation of Burundi in 1993, more than 200,000 people have been killed… Burundi could evolve into a genocide without too much imagining… The conflict over Kashmir has raised the specter of nuclear conflict… Most regions in conflict suffer from long absences of international attention until overwhelming bloodshed or combat renews interest…”

This week, the world was shocked to learn that North Korea has “an untested ballistic [long-range] missile capable of reaching the western United States,” according to USA Today. This revelation followed North Korea’s announcement that they will use nuclear weapons if the United States maintains their troops in the region.

At the same time, a worldwide terror alert has prompted the governments in Great Britain and the United States to increase measures to defend against such an attack, including the stationing of military personnel at Great Britain’s airports in London and Heathrow. According to the “Guardian,” terrorists have allegedly smuggled rockets into Great Britain.

Truly, Christ’s warning that we will hear, in these end times, of wars and rumors of wars are being fulfilled before our very eyes and ears. And, no one is safe anymore, no matter where one may be, UNLESS one has God’s protection.

As prophesied, the friendship between the United Sates and Germany (and much of the rest of Europe) continues to cool off. This week, we witnessed a further heated exchange between American and German government representatives. While Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld had declared earlier that he did not want to attack Germany, when comparing the country with Libya and Cuba, his advisor Richard Oerle stated, “The Germans do not play a role any more.” (Bild-Online). This was followed by a statement of Donald Rumsfeld that countries such as France and Germany that favor giving Iraq another chance to disarm are undermining what slim chance may exist to avoid war. (msnbc.com, February 8). Der Stern ran an article on February 7, pointing out that the “marriage” between Europe and the United States was in a “deep crisis.”

During the Munich Conference on Security Policy, Mr. Rumsfeld encountered strong resistance from Germany’s Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer. As Netzeitung.de reported on February 8, Fischer addressed Rumsfeld personally in a speech, saying, “You have to convince us. We have to discuss the matter together.” He also stated to Rumsfeld, “Excuse me, I am not convinced.” (Der Spiegel, February 8). He added, “We have not completed our job yet (in Afghanistan). Why now these priorities? I don’t understand the reasoning.” According to Bild Online, Mr. Rumsfeld “did not explain the reasoning.” Der Stern wrote, “The ditches between Germany and the United States have deepened.”

At the same time, Joschka Fischer had a private audience with the pope. The pope criticized the first official draft of the future European Constitution, presented by former French president Valery d’Estaing, as it makes “no mention of Europe’s religious roots nor the juridical status of churches,” according to Zenit, February 7. The pope expressed his support to Fischer for Germany’s position toward Iraq, according to Bild Online. The paper added, “Catholic Fischer gave the pope a promise: He will see to it that God is going to be included in the European Constitution.”

The relationship between the United States and some European countries increasingly worsened this week, when Germany, Belgium and France vetoed a NATO proposal to help Turkey arm for a conflict with Iraq. This action has caused great concern within the United States. Some even went so far as to say that the survival of NATO is at stake.

In light of all of these events, observers waited anxiously for German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s parliamentary address on Thursday. If anyone had thought, however, that Mr. Schroeder might modify his stance, they were disappointed. Mr. Schroeder insisted that there is still a peaceful solution, and that his government will not support a war against Iraq. He also emphasized that Germany is not isolated at all, but that France, Russia and China are supporting Germany’s position. He stated that Resolution 1441 does not authorize a preventive war against Iraq, and that only the Security Council of the U.N. has the jurisdiction to decide what the next steps should be. Mr. Fischer added that he has received more support from the pope than from the Christian parties in Germany (CDU and CSU).

At the same time, Belgium angered Israel’s President, Ariel Sharon. Brussel’s Court ruled that Sharon could be sued in Belgium for alleged atrocities against Palestinians in 1982, but only, once Sharon loses his immunity after his term as President. Israel’s Minister of Justice, Meir Schitrit, responded that it is unacceptable that such a “little and insignificant nation” should become the judge of the world (Spiegel Online, February 13, 2003).

New alliances are being formed. We will see soon a strong coalition of continental European countries, with the support of the pope, protecting and advocating what they determine to be their interests and values. Ultimately, this coalition will be at odds with the United States, Great Britain and the nation of Israel.

In observing these events, we must not forget why these developments occur. God is very angry because of the sins of the modern nations of the houses of Israel and Judah. God will use a modern United Europe, mainly under the leadership of modern Assyria, to punish modern Israel and Judah. Isaiah 10:5-6 reads, “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation. I will send him against an UNGODLY nation, And against the people of MY WRATH. I will give him charge, To seize the spoil, to take the prey, And to tread them down like the mire of the streets.” God describes the modern nations of Israel and Judah as “ungodly nations.” He says in Isaiah 1:2-4: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: ‘I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me; The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.’ Alas, sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers, Children who are corrupters! They have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, They have turned away backward.”

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse — religious deception, war, famine and death — have been riding for a while. The very next event — pictured by the fifth seal — describes the Great Tribulation: religious persecution and captivity of national and spiritual Israel and Judah.

But, it does not have to include you. You can be protected from war, terror attacks, sickness, plagues and death. Notice Psalm 91:2-10:

“I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence… You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day [wars and terrorist attacks], Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday [at
tacks with chemical and biological weapons]. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.”

Have we made God our refuge? Or do we believe that man’s wars are the solution to our problems? Ari Fleischer made some interesting comments to the press on February 12, 2003, as shown on CNN. He said that the President of the United States respects the train of thought by those who believe that war is never the answer. He added that there is a long-standing tradition in the United States for this position. We hope that, when the times comes, this statement will be remembered and applied towards God’s people who are conscientiously objecting against any wars fought by men.
 

A: According to the Hebrew calendar, a month starts with a new moon. While there are express and clear commandments in the Bible to celebrate today God’s weekly Sabbath and His annual Holy Days, there is no command in the Bible, enjoining us to celebrate today the beginning of the new months — or new moons. The early New Testament Church continued to keep and celebrate the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days, but we do not have any Biblical record indicating that they celebrated new moons. (In Colossians 2:16, Paul does not speak about “new moons” in general, but about “a new moon” — referring specifically to the Feast of Trumpets, the only annual Feast day which falls on a new moon.)

In ancient times, some assembled on the occasion of each new moon, with the blowing of trumpets, to signify the beginning of a month (Numbers 10:10). Calendars were not available to everyone in ancient Israel the way we have them today. Rather, the priesthood was entrusted with the responsibility to determine and make known to the people when a new month would start.

Some form of ceremony took place on the day of a new moon, to let the people know that a new month had begun. Some used the occasion to have a feast on that day (1 Samuel 20:5, 18, 24) — although, as mentioned, the Bible nowhere commands that new moons have to be celebrated in that way. We read that offerings were to be given on new moons (2 Chronicles 31:3; Ezra 3:5; Nehemiah 10:33), but such offerings (sacrifices) are, of course, no longer required today, either. Even in ancient Israel, we do not find that God commanded the celebration of new moons per se — that is, unconnected to the giving of sacrifices. On the other hand, we do find that the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days were in force before the sacrificial system was introduced, and that they are to be kept today, even though sacrifices are no longer necessary (Our booklet, God’s Commanded Holy Days, on the Sabbath and the annual Holy Days proves this fact from the Bible.).

It was, however, necessary in ancient times to somehow mark the beginning of the month, as it was not always easy for everyone to independently observe the new moon, due, perhaps, to clouds or heavy rain. By actually conducting a certain ceremony at the appearance of a new moon, the general population was sufficiently informed and enabled to prepare for any approaching seasons or annual Holy Days, which are counted and determined by the appearance of the new moon. For instance, as mentioned, the Feast of Trumpets is celebrated on a new moon (compare Psalm 81:3) — the first day of the month. Ten days later, the Day of Atonement is kept, and the Feast of Tabernacles begins fifteen days after the Feast of Trumpets.

It appears that in the process of time, the ancient celebrations of new moons had reached proportions that were not accepted by God. He tells us in Isaiah 1:14, “Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.” Apparently, new moons were even celebrated in the same way as Sabbaths are to be kept — with prohibitions to engage in merchandising (compare Amos 8:5). However, such a prohibition for new moons cannot be found in Scripture.

Today, it is not necessary to mark the beginning of each new month with feast celebrations, the blowing of trumpets, or an assembly. Calendars are available which list, well in advance, the dates of the appearance of each new moon throughout the year.

It is true that the Bible indicates that at the beginning of the Millennium, new moons will be kept in conjunction with the bringing of sacrifices (Ezekiel 45:17, 46:1, 3, 6; Isaiah 66:20-23). Why God will reintroduce a system of sacrifices in the Millennium, connected with new moon celebrations, the Bible does not explicitly say. Our free booklet, “And Lawlessness Will Abound…” suggests a distinct possibility.

It is clear from Scripture, however, that God does not command His people today to celebrate new moons.

Edwin Pope will give the sermon this Sabbath. The title is: “God’s Law and the Covenants.”

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

Over the years we have shown that so many of the world’s celebrations are to be avoided. The world’s holy-days or holidays, days of celebration — religious or otherwise — keep coming round. Whereas God’s Holy Day calendar shows a Master Plan wonderfully thought out, the world’s days are just a jumble of days without any co-ordination or real meaning whatsoever.

One of those days rooted in paganism, Valentine’s Day, is just around the corner. Radio and television programs and advertisements will be full of it as will be newspapers, magazines and periodicals. Little, if any thought will be given to its background and whether it should be something to be involved with. The world ‘s society doesn’t think that way. God is not in the picture.

The world will celebrate Valentine’s Day this year on February 14th. Let’s notice the pagan origins of Valentine’s Day:

Centuries before Christ, the pagan Romans celebrated the evenings of February 14th and February 15th as an idolatrous and sensual festival in honor of Lupercus, the “hunter of wolves.” The Romans called the festival “Lupercalia.” In her book, “Customs and Holidays Around the World,” Lavinia Dobler states, on page 172, the following: “It was not until the reign of Pope Gelasius that the holiday became a ‘Christian custom.’ As far back as 496, Pope Gelasius changed Lupercalia on February 15th to St Valentine’s Day on February 14th.”

The Encyclopedia Britannica states on page 336 in its 15th edition, volume 10:

“St Valentine’s day as a lovers’ festival and the modern tradition of sending valentine cards have no relation to the saints but, rather, seem to be connected either with the Roman (sexual) fertility festival of the Lupercalia (February 15th) or with the mating season of birds.”

The Encyclopedia Americana states that “this pairing off was, of course, linked with sexual immorality.”

How did this pagan festival acquire the name of “St Valentine’s Day”? In addition, why is the little naked Cupid of the pagan Romans so often associated today with February 14th?

The Church published an article in “Tomorrow’s World,” in February 1970, explaining that Valentine was a common Roman name. Roman parents often gave the name to their children in honor of the famous man who was first called Valentine in antiquity. That famous man was Lupercus, the hunter. Who was Lupercus? Why should he also have borne the name “Valentine” among the heathen Romans? The Greeks called Lupercus by the name of “Pan.” The Semites called Pan “Baal” – mentioned so often in the Bible – and this name was merely another name for Nimrod, the “mighty hunter” (Genesis 10:9). The hunter Nimrod was the Lupercus – or wolf hunter – of the Romans. “St Valentine’s Day” was originally a day set aside by the pagans in his honor.

Alexander Hislop wrote something similar in the “Two Babylons.”

Here, then, is the real origin of the Roman Lupercalia. The early Catholic Church, seeking the allegiance of the Roman populace, attempted to “Christianize” this festival along with other popular pagan celebrations.

In the above-mentioned article in “Tomorrow’s World,” the Church also explained why the Romans chose February 15th and the evening of February 14th to honor Lupercus – the Nimrod of the Bible. (Remember that in ancient times, days began at sunset the evening before). Nimrod – Baal or sun god of the ancient pagans – was said to have been born at the winter solstice. In ancient times the solstice occurred on January 6th and his birthday therefore was celebrated on January 6th. Later, as the solstice changed, it was celebrated on December 25th and is now called Xmas. It was the custom of antiquity for the mother of a male child to present herself for purification on the 40th day after the day of birth. The 40th day after January 6th – Nimrod’s original birthdate – takes us to February 15th, the celebration of which began on February 14th – the
Lupercalia or St Valentine’s Day. On this day in February, Semiramis, the mother of Nimrod, was said to have been purified and to have appeared for the first time in public with her son as the original “mother and child.”

We have to remember that Satan is behind all of this society’s customs and practices, wanting to throw true believers off the Godly path. Satan is far cleverer and more subtle and crafty than any human being (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2).

The world at large doesn’t realize that the devil is a real spirit being. He most certainly is, however, and his handiwork is all around for those who have eyes to see. Satan has blinded humanity and deceived the whole world (Revelation 12:9). Is it any wonder then that when the days of this world come along that they are all inspired by the great deceiver? Jeremiah 10:2 tells us not learn the way of the heathen.

Valentine’s Day is one of those pagan days that has become part and parcel of the fabric of today’s society.
It is clear that Valentine’s Day – whichever way you look at it – has paganism written all over it. Paganism is not to be entertained by the people of God.
 

AMERICA’S TROUBLE — AND NO END IN SIGHT

SPACE SHUTTLE CATASTROPHE

The world was stunned and saddened to learn about the most recent space shuttle Columbia disaster, causing the deaths of all of the seven astronauts on board. At this time of mourning, USA Today asked some poignant questions in its editorial of February 4:

“Clear vision… was lacking in America’s space program long before Columbia shattered into pieces on its journey home this past Saturday. Since Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon in 1969, the space program has lost its way… In 1986, the Challenger exploded on takeoff, and no shuttle flew for nearly three years. The nation had an opportunity then to redefine the program’s goals. Instead, it focused on making the fixes needed to save the shuttle program. Now a second disaster offers another chance… Risking lives requires clear reasoning… Tuesday, the president praised the seven lost astronauts for possessing ‘the daring and discipline required of their calling.’ America needs a measure of both to define a space mission worthy of their memories.”

NORTH KOREA THREATENS THE UNITED STATES

As USA Today reported on February 6, 2003, “preemptive attacks on North Korea’s nuclear facilities would trigger a ‘total war,’ the communist state warned Thursday after U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld labeled the North’s government a ‘terrorist regime.’ The harsh rhetoric came a day after North Korea said it was putting the operation of its nuclear facilities on a ‘normal footing,’ triggering fears it was about to produce weapons materials.” The magazine also quoted a spokesman of the North Korean government, stating that North Korea was capable, willing and entitled to launch a preemptive strike against the United States.

COLIN POWELL ADDRESSES UN SECURITY COUNCIL

On Wednesday, February 5, 2003, Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the U.N. Security Council, giving America’s strongest presentation so far against Saddam’s dictatorship and his possession of weapons of mass destruction.

As USA Today reported, Mr. Powell claimed “that weapons inspections are futile because Iraq has perfected the art of concealment and has no intention of voluntarily offering up its weapons… He asserted for the first time that an active cell of the al-Qaeda terrorist network has been present in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, for the past eight months, and that it has ties to operatives in five European countries.” Mr. Powell also quoted from unidentified sources, showed slides and played audio tapes of phone conversations between Iraqi officials, allegedly proving the existence and concealment of weapons of mass destruction.

The reaction to Mr. Powell’s presentation was mixed – both in the United States and internationally. A Gallup Poll in the U.S. showed that 57% favor war, with a margin of error of 4 percentage points, according to USA Today. Members of Congress in both parties described Mr. Powell’s presentation as “compelling.” Several key senators, however, stated that the President needs to do more to explain to the American people the war’s likely aftermath. Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware said many voters don’t realize how long the United States is likely to be engaged in the region after military action is over. “But Johnny will not be marching home,” he said. Rather, Americans should be prepared for a long and expensive period of establishing political stability in Iraq.

The world reaction was even more cautious. Iraq, of course, dismissed Mr. Powell’s presentation as a “fabrication,” containing nothing but lies.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jack Straw stated that Iraq is in further material breach. At the same time, a majority of the British people is opposed to a war with Iraq, at least without a further UN resolution.

France’s Foreign Minster Dominique de Villepin wants to give Mr. Hans Blix more time to verify Mr. Powell’s claims [Another report of Mr. Blix is due on February 14. German newspapers have joked about his first report, stating, “Blix weiss nix.” (“Blix knows nothing.”)]. Virtually all of the French newspapers reacted sarcastically to Mr. Powell’s speech, stating that he did not present any facts that would warrant military actions, according to the French correspondent of the Today Show.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov also advocated more time for the weapons’ inspectors. He thereby accurately reflected the overwhelming sentiment of the Russian people. They are strongly opposed to war.

China’s Foreign Minster also agreed with the reactions of Russia and France.

Even Canada’s Foreign Minister Bill Graham did not feel that the evidence presented by Mr. Powell justified an immediate assault.

On the other hand, ten Eastern European nations signed a joint declaration, stating that Mr. Powell gave compelling evidence of Iraqi deception and evasions. These nations are: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who was also presiding over the Security Council Meeting, stated that the United States’ evidence needs to be studied. He pointed out that Saddam is a cruel tyrant whose activities need to be stopped. The German newspapers reacted in a more differentiated way. Der Spiegel Online called Mr. Powell’s presentation “a matter of faith.” The article stated, “If the U.N. Security Council’s session proved anything, then it proved the determination of the United States to immediately eliminate the problem Hussein Saddam… Are there enough proofs, which justify a war? Perhaps there are – perhaps there are not. “

The German tabloid, Bild, reacted quite differently. In its commentary, it pointed out: “The facts are grave. They convict Saddam of lies and intentional deception…. [German Chancellor Gerhard] Schroeder becomes a laughing stock when he pretends that it is irrelevant to him what the Americans lay on the table…. The material is… dangerous… Who can deny that? Are the inspectors to continue to search in the Iraqi haystack? Powell’s presentation was not a declaration of war, but a final warning. If Saddam does not reveal his poisons, a military [intervention] cannot be avoided.”

This mood swing in at least some influential German papers, beginning to support the United States’ position regarding Iraq, coincides with Gerhard Schroeder’s devastating defeat in two state elections (This “protest vote” was mainly due to Germany’s high rise of unemployment and the perceived lack of vision of the German government as to how to change the situation). Unfortunately, at the same time, U.S. Minister of Defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld, compared in a speech before the U.S. Congress Germany with Libya and Cuba. The German press responded furiously. Bild (the very same paper that had just supported Mr. Powell’s speech), wrote: “Rumsfeld shoots again against Germany… He had already attacked Germany last month… What does he think to gain with his criticism?… Is he going to repeat his bad attack?”

Der Spiegel Online wrote, “The German-American friendship is again being tested…. The Greens [German coalition party] stated that Rumsfeld’s comments were rude.” Der Stern wrote that U.S. Ambassador in Germany Daniel Coats distanced himself from Rumsfeld’s remarks, pointing out that “Rumsfeld does not speak for the government of the United States.”

The position of the Catholic Church and many Protestant Churches remains unchanged. As Zenit reported, the Vatican Newspaper L’Osservatore Romano strongly criticized the concept of a “preventive war” and drew attention to the plight of the Iraqi people. It also stated that the presidency of the Swiss Episcopal Conference appealed to all believers to redouble their prayers so that war will not break out and that common sense would triumph. The bishops said, “For years, the Iraqi people, most especially the children, have suffered atrociously from the consequences of the international embargo against this country. Let us not martyr them still more…”

Zenit also announ
ced that John Paul II will meet on February 14 with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz. Aziz is a member of the Christian minority. The fact that Aziz seeks support from the pope is interesting, given the fact that some of the descendants of the ancient Assyrians live in Iraq.

This world is at the brink of war. New alliances are being formed against the United States. Bible prophecy is marching on. We need to watch and pray that we can escape all those things that are surely going to come to pass soon.
 

Doesn’t this contradict Scriptures such as Deuteronomy 24:16, stating that children are not to be put to death for their fathers, but that a person “shall be put to death for his own sin.”?

A: This question has puzzled many over the years. To fully understand what God is saying in Exodus 20:5, let us read the entire passage in context, beginning with verse 4:

“(4) You shall not make for yourself a carved image… (5) you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, (6) but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

Similar statements can be found in Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; and Deuteronomy 5:8-10.

In addition, passages like Deuteronomy 24:16 state that children are not to be put to death for the sins of their fathers. The same is expressed in 2 Kings 14:6. Also, Ezekiel 18:4, 17, 19-20 tells us, “(4) Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son are Mine; The soul who sins shall die…(17) [The righteous son] shall not die for the iniquity of his father; He shall surely live…(19) Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of his father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. (20) The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son.” (Compare, too, Exodus 32:31-33.)

All these passages don’t contradict each other; rather, they compliment each other.

Notice how some commentaries explain the passages in Exodus 20 and in Ezekiel 18:

The Companion Bible comments to Ezekiel 18: 4, 20: “Descendants were not punished for the sins of their ancestors unless they persevered in their ancestors’ sins.” The same thought is expressed in Exodus 20. Note that Exodus 20:5 speaks of those “who hate Me.” Soncino points out that the phrase, “of those that hate Me,” applies to the children, i.e. God will punish the children if they [the children] hate Him. Soncino comments, too, that the punishment will be brought upon the children, “when they retain the evil deeds of their fathers.”

Those who hate God will be “visited” by God. Note, though, it does not necessarily say that they will die. Those who love God will receive His mercy. At the same time, the conduct of the parents may have a lot to do with the fact whether their children or grandchildren love or hate God.

The sins of the fathers do affect future generations — and so does the penalty for sin, which is oftentimes automatic. Soncino explains that the “effects of the penalty imposed upon a sinner are felt up to and including the fourth generation.” The New Commentary of Holy Scripture, S.P.C.K., 1951, comments, “It is an everlasting law of human society that children suffer by reason of the sins of their fathers.” This shows, then, how parents must consider the consequences of their actions – not just for their own sakes, but also for the sakes of their children, grandchildren, and future generations (A wrong lifestyle might very well affect the parents’ offspring – even in physical ways).

For instance, as long as even one parent is in the church, his or her children are sanctified (1 Corinthians 7:14), that is, they can and do have access to God. If both parents leave the Church, their children’s access to God is no longer guaranteed and may in time totally disappear. We note that because of Lot’s righteous conduct, God saved his daughters, while David’s adultery caused the death of his child (2 Samuel 12:13-14, 19-23). It should be pointed out here, however, that God did not consider David’s child to be guilty in any way and worthy of punishment. God punished David. The innocent child will be brought back to life by God at a time of peace and happiness, when prejudice and the hatred towards illegitimate children (compare Judges 11:1-2), who did nothing to deserve their fate, will be a thing of the past.

When Adam and Eve sinned, the penalty imposed on them affected all mankind. Through their sin, they cut themselves – and man – off from God. Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), and since all have sinned, all have incurred the death penalty for sin (Romans 5:14). One might say that the sin of Adam and Eve affected, at the very least, the third and fourth generation, but since Cain sinned, his sin affected the next four generations, and so on. The effect of sin is cumulative. Finally, sin had become so all-encompassing that God decided to destroy the entire world in a flood.

Christ, in showing the evil influence of their parents and their own culpability in their continued hate of God, pointed out in Matthew 23:31-36, how the principle of Exodus 20:6 was fulfilled in the persons of the scribes and Pharisees at Christ’s time.

The vicious cycle of sin, penalty, and death can be interrupted, however, when a person turns to God, repents, and obtains forgiveness. Noah was found righteous, and because of his righteousness, eight souls were spared from death, and through them, mankind survived. God’s mercy, extended to Noah, affected “thousands.” Because of the righteousness of Abraham, the father of the faithful, “thousands” experience God’s mercy to Abraham, due to the unconditional promises given to him, pertaining to national greatness and spiritual grace. Then, because of God’s mercy towards obedient David, his offspring were blessed, in that his throne would always be occupied by one of his descendants. We can also think of the harlot Rahab, who, by virtue of her righteous deed of saving the spies and God’s mercy extended to her, saved her family and offspring.

The most shining and outstanding example of God’s mercy, extended to a Man, and through that Man, to “thousands,” is of course Jesus Christ. Through His sacrifice and death, all of us can be saved, if we respond to God’s call. Although all of mankind has become an enemy of God, due to the sins of Adam and Eve, the resulting penalty of being cut off from God, and man’s continued disobedience of God’s law, man can return to God through the deeds of one Man, Jesus Christ, the second Adam. Only a few are called today to return to God, but all will be given the same opportunity of accepting God’s mercy, in due time (1 Corinthians 15:23-24).

When God tells us that His mercy will extend to “thousands” who love Him, He is really talking about man’s ultimate potential to join His very family, for all eternity. Notice how the Jewish Bible translates Exodus 20:6, “…but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

If you count all generations from the creation of Adam until the time of the end of the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-12), you will still not have a thousand generations. Therefore, the thought is conveyed here that all who love God and keep His commandments will obtain God’s love and mercy, due to the love and obedience of their forefathers – including Noah, Abraham, David, and of course Jesus Christ. Especially through Christ who kept the law perfectly, and who loved God the Father perfectly, God’s love and mercy are extended toward all of us, if we, too, follow in the footsteps of Christ (1 Peter 2:21). The end result of God’s love, if we abide in it by keeping His Word, is our entrance into the Kingdom and Family of God (2 Peter 1:10-11).

Dave Harris will give the sermon this Sabbath. The title of the sermon is: “Our Relationship To God.”

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

The greatest prophet who ever lived spoke to His generation about the good news of the Kingdom of God. Of that prophet’s work, these words seem to sum up how many of those who heard Him responded: “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him.” (John 12:37).

This is, of course, the Savior-Jesus Christ. In chapter 8 of John, verse 43, Jesus said to some of the Jews: ” ‘Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to LISTEN to My word.’ ” But these weren’t just any Jews. In verse 31 of this same chapter, we learn that He was speaking “…to those Jews who believed Him.” However, they dismissed what Jesus taught, and we see in verse 59 that these who once believed “…took up stones to throw at Him.”

At the first, these Jews-along with many of their countrymen-found Jesus to be a great attraction. After all, they thought He might just be their promised Messiah. And though He indeed was, they were unable to recognize Him as fulfilling that role. They had so shaped an expectancy into the way they interpreted the Word of God that when they heard the truth, they rejected it!

Peter, James and John were able-in vision-to see Jesus in the kingdom. What was further revealed to them at that time was something they were to do relative to the Son of God-they were to ” ‘…Hear Him!’ “

People have from time to time been in a position to hear the truth. The children of Israel heard the voice of God. Yet, they immediately turned to idolatry. Solomon, although God appeared to him twice in vision, later turned away from God.

However, we can also look to ourselves and our own generation. The truth of God has flowered in our time with many hearing the good news of the Kingdom of God. We, too, must be on guard to not take what we hear for granted or to turn away from what is true.

Paul spoke prophetically of a time to come when people-people who hear the truth-would have “itching ears.” He showed that the reason for this was that these people would put their own desires first, and because of this, they would not continue to listen to “sound doctrine.” (Cp. 2 Timothy 4:3-4).

We are further warned in Hebrews 4, verse 7, ” ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.’ “

Just as does all of God’s Word, the voice that the three disciples heard speaks to all Christians for all times-and especially those of us upon whom the end of this age now falls–“Hear Him!”

IRAQ — NO END IN SIGHT…

As we announced in our last Update (#77), Germany and France — the two leading European nations opposing a preventive military strike against Iraq — angrily rejected U.S. Minister of Defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld’s remarks identifying Germany and France with the “old Europe” and as an “isolated problem” within Europe. CNN.com stated on January 24 that “Rumsfeld’s comments had unusually brought unity among French and German politicians of left and right together with the two countries’ newspapers, from the German tabloids to the French heavyweights… Even the strongest advocates of U.S. policy in Berlin and Paris were annoyed, including Germany’s mass circulation Bild Daily, traditionally a vocal supporter of the United States.” CNN.com quoted excerpts from Bild’s editorial. We bring you here the entire text:

“Dear Mr. Rumsfeld:
“France and Germany are for you the ‘old Europe,’ and Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, etc., are the ‘modern Europe.’

“To start with two items: Without the old Europe, there would be no new world and you would not exist. Both your parents are of German descent. Also, ancient grandpa and grandma Rumsfeld, old residents of Bremen, do not like to hear in heaven, how you put down your native land.

“The ‘old Europe’ is a bridge to the childhood of America, and it led the way across the ocean to the forests and prairies of your country — and to the moon and back. The German rocket scientist Wernher von Braun has given you this triumph. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the American Declaration of Independence, was inspired by the ideas of the French Revolution. He almost copied them : liberte, egalite, fraternite.

“Mr. Rumsfeld, hundreds of thousands of your ‘G.I.s’ fell for old Europe, because they freed us from the tyranny of Hitler. You are sinning against your own heroes by disparaging old Europe. Your ‘G.I.s’ died for the ideals of your place of origin.”

On January 28, the Los Angeles Times reported that Secretary of State Colin Powell was attempting to “repair [the] rift between [the] U.S. and Europe.” At the same time, he warned that the United States “is prepared to go to war alone.”

The L.A. Times also reported on the same day that Chief U.N. Weapons inspector Hans Blix gave a “tough report that helps Washington’s contention that Iraq has no intention of coming clean,” and that “Saddam Hussein does not appear to be serious about disarming.” USA Today added that “Iraqi weapons are missing,” including “VX nerve gas,” “anthrax,” “artillery shells,” “chemical bombs,” and “missile deployment.”

On January 28, President Bush gave his long-awaited State of the Union address. While he spoke for the first half about the U.S. economy, his tax plan, AIDS, Medicare reform, and education, he lunged out against Iraq in the second half of his speech. He pointed out that Iraq is an imminent threat, and that trusting Hussein’s restraint is “not an option.” He linked Saddam with al-Qaeda, said the Iraqi leader “is deceiving,” and made clear that he is willing to start a war together with those who will support him, regardless of whether the U.N. approves it or not. At the same time, he said that he is willing to work with the U.N., but not indefinitely.

The L.A. Times wrote in its “News Analysis”:

“President Bush’s state of the union address Tuesday night underscored how thoroughly his presidency is being driven by the fierce engine of war… His speech Tuesday night was dominated by the prospects of military action against Iraq — if not imminently, then before very long. ‘We will consult, but let there be no misunderstanding,’ Bush said. ‘If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm, for the safety of our people and for the peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him.'”

Reactions to Mr. Bush’s speech were mixed. Many criticized his domestic agenda as being doomed to fail, while pointing out that he did not present so far the evidence to the American people that Saddam is indeed in possession of weapons of mass destruction. While Mr. Bush stated that Saddam had not proven that he had destroyed the weapons, some observers felt that it is Mr. Bush’s burden to prove that Saddam possesses those weapons, to begin with.

Mr. Bush announced that Secretary of State Colin Powell will share these proofs with the U.N. Security Council on February 5.

On January 29, Russia’s Vladimir Putin stated that the United States must present irrefutable proof for their allegations (Der Stern). Otherwise, the weapons inspectors must be allowed to continue their search and investigation. Russia stated, too, that they had no information about ties between Iraq and al-Qaeda (msnbc news).

CNN.com reported on January 29 that “British Prime Minister Tony Blair gave full backing to U.S. President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address. But other nations — notably Russia and France — said Washington had not done enough to make the case for war against Iraq… CNN’s Jim Bittermann in Paris said that French President Jacques Chirac spoke to Blair on Tuesday night and told him nothing so far that he had seen justified military action against Iraq… German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder sounded his most pessimistic in attempting to avert war. He was quoted by Reuters as telling a conference in the western town of Wesel on Wednesday: ‘The international situation, especially the crisis over Iraq is worrying me. I am worried about whether we will succeed in avoiding a war in Iraq.'”

On January 30, another bombshell hit the world in the ongoing saga of how to deal with Iraq. Spiegel Online reported, “Bush splits Europe.” It continued, “With a diplomatic offensive, U.S. President George Bush has succeeded to prevent a unified anti-war-coalition [in Europe]. The declaration of eight European countries seems to be saying, If you are not for the United States, then you are against it.” These eight countries, supporting the United States in the attempt to force Saddam to disarm, are Spain, Portugal, Italy, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Denmark. Germany and France were not even informed about the declaration ahead of time.

At the same time, according to the magazine, the European Parliament passed a resolution, calling on the United States not to take unilateral military action against Iraq. Instead, the United Nations is to do everything possible to find a peaceful solution. The European Parliament reiterated their position that a preventive military strike would violate international law and the U.N. Charter. Further, as msnbc reported, “former South African President Nelson Mandela lashed out at President Bush’s stance on Iraq, saying the U.S. leader, along with British Prime minister Tony Blair were undermining the United Nations, and suggested they would not be doing so if the organization had a white leader.”

Roman Catholic Cardinal Georg Sterzinsky of Berlin, Germany, also strongly criticized President Bush. As Der Spiegel Online reported on January 30, the Catholic leader of Berlin stated that President Bush cannot expect to be viewed by the international community as a prophet. We will not do so, he said, adding that the Catholic Church has condemned a preventive military strike against Iraq.

It will remain to be seen what Germany and France will do. The attempt by some European countries to ignore them, intimidate them, or to push them into a corner might very well backfire on them. Germany and France are the leaders of Europe. They have the support of the Catholic and Protestant Churches. European countries such as Great Britain and Denmark might very well find themselves outside the confines of the European community before long. In addition, the Bible prophecies that the final United States of Europe will be “divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile… they will not adhere to one another.” (Daniel 2:41-43). When c
hallenged or perceived to be challenged, however, by the United States, Great Britain, and certain other nations, they will give their power, authority and strength for a short time (“one hour”) to a future powerful, autocratic, political and military European leader (compare Revelation 17:12-13). As we see events developing, this time is not too far away.

A: Many years ago, the Church of God, under Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, the late Pastor General of the Church, made the administrative decision to ask Church members and co-workers to send one tenth of their second tithe to the Church, to be used for necessary Feast of Tabernacles expenses, including rental for Church halls. Since then, the Church has usually referred to this amount as the “tithe of the tithe.” Church members and co-workers were asked to calculate their second tithe available to them at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, and to send ten percent of that (calculated) amount to the Church, in advance, as soon as possible. This practice has allowed the Church to avoid using for the payment of Feast expenses general contributions received to be spent for the preaching of the gospel and the feeding of the flock.

At the time of the institution of the “tithe of tithe,” and sometimes since then, consideration has been given to the possibility to, instead, charge each individual Feast attendee with the same amount for his or her Feast attendance. This possibility was rejected, however, as it was judged to be arbitrary and unfair. Some Church members do not have jobs or live on small pensions, while others earn good salaries. Following Biblical principles (compare Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 2 Corinthians 8:12-15), it was determined that the institution of the “tithe of the tithe” was the most equitable way for all concerned, to provide for the payment of necessary Feast expenses to be incurred by the Church, and also to help those less fortunate, as much as possible, to attend the Feast.

The Church of the Eternal God sees no Biblical reason to change Mr. Armstrong’s decision, realizing the Biblical wisdom for the decision, and acknowledging that the Church has the administrative authority to bind and loose matters like these (compare Matthew 16:19; 18:18).