This Sabbath, Norbert Link will be presenting the sermon, “The Need for Hearing.”

On Monday, September 16, is the Day of Atonement. Edwin Pope will be covering important aspects of the meaning of that annual Holy Day in his sermon “A World At One With God.”

This will be the last Update prior to the Feast of Tabernacles, which will begin Friday evening, September 20. Our next Update is scheduled to appear on October 4th.

We wish all our members, supporters, and readers a rewarding and uplifting 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 the Feast services will be broadcast on the Internet, beginning with opening night. For dates and times please go to www.COGNetServices.org

Paul gives strong admonitions to those “upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). He warns them not to “lust after evil things,” not “to become idolaters,” not “to commit sexual immorality,” not “to tempt Christ,” “nor to complain.” (vv. 6-10). We need to understand that Paul is primarily talking to us today. It is we “upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
 
The prophet Daniel received revelations from God, which he wrote down, without understanding them. His writings were to be sealed “until the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:4, 8-10). The “end,” referred to in those passages, is the time of Christ’s return and of the first resurrection (Daniel 12:13).
 
Likewise, the information which John received, was also related to the very end of our age — it pertained to events leading up to and occurring at a time, called the “day of the Lord.” Christ had received this information from God the Father, and He passed it on to John through an angel. We read in Revelation 1:1-3, that the message pertains to events which will “shortly come to pass,” and that those who hear the message should not forget it, “as the time is near.”
 
But, how can we be sure that these scriptures are really primarily directed at us today? The answer is — a passage in Revelation 17:10 gives us a time perspective. This passage talks about the seven last resurrections of the “Holy Roman Empire.” It reads, “There are also seven kings [or kingdoms]. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.” This “short time” is described in verse 12 as “one hour,” and in Daniel 7:25 as “3 1/2 years.”
 
God revealed the meaning of this passage in Revelation 17:10 to Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong precisely at the time — in the late 30’s and early 40’s of the 20th century — when the first five of the seven last resurrections of the “Holy Roman Empire” had come and gone, and when the sixth resurrection was in power. It was the resurrection brought about by Hitler and Mussolini. At that time, the last and final resurrection had not occurred yet — but when it would occur, it would only continue for a short time. We see right now before our very eyes that last and final resurrection forming in Europe. That is one of the reasons why we KNOW that the time is short.
 
When John wrote the book of Revelation, the end-time events, described therein, would not happen for more than 1900 years. But they are happening now. The message contained in the book of Revelation is primarily for us today.
 
Notice Christ’s warning to the remnant church in Philadelphia, “‘Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown'” (Rev. 3:11). He states in Rev. 22:7, 12, and 20: “‘Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book… And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work…’ He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.'”
 
Again, we see whom Christ is primarily talking to — it is His church at the very last days, prior to His return. Notice, too, Paul’s comment in Philippians 4:5:
 
“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand!”
 
And James adds, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord… You also be patient, Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand… Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:7-9).
 
Although judgment had begun at the house of God, the Church  (1 Peter 4:17) — technically, the Judge was not standing at the door, when James wrote down these words. But notice, what Christ tells the very last era of God’s church — the era in which we live today:
 
“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.'” (Rev. 3:20).
 
Now, Christ DOES stand at the door. His return IS at hand! Christ IS coming quickly. Let’s make sure that we are getting ready for His return — and that we are not keeping our individual doors locked. If we were to prevent Jesus Christ from entering our lives today, we might find ourselves in the situation that He may not open to us His door to the Kingdom, when He returns.
 
Do you remember what will happen to the five foolish virgins, when the bridegroom returns and finds them unprepared? When the return of the bridegroom was delayed, all the virgins fell asleep, but the wise ones were able to “make themselves ready” (compare Rev. 19:7) when the cry was heard at midnight that the bridegroom was coming (Matthew 25:5-6). The foolish virgins, however, were unable to get ready “on such short notice.” We read in Matthew 25:10-12, “And while they [the foolish virgins] went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready [the wise virgins] went in with him to the wedding, and the door was shut. Afterward the other [foolish] virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'”
 
They had not opened the doors of their hearts to Christ — they had not allowed Christ to enter their lives and to direct and lead them. Let us take good note of Christ’s warning to all of us today, in Matthew 24:13, “‘Watch therefore [that is, get ready, because the time is short], for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.'”
 

IRAQ–AND NO PEACE IN SIGHT?

The pressure on Iraq increases. While President Bush gave a strong speech on Thursday to the United Nations, Germany’s position has been unrelenting against any military action.
 
Der Stern reported on September 5 that “the fight between Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and U.S. President George W. Bush involving Iraq has escalated to reach a serious crisis between the two countries.” While Chancellor candidate Edmund Stoiber, according to Der Spiegel, dated September 12, had tried to “wiggle himself out of the Iraq debate,” highly-respected former President Richard von Weizsaecker approved the position of Gerhard Schroeder’s government, according to Der Spiegel of September 10. On September 12, Bild reported, that Edmund Stoiber reversed his prior position, stating that he could not support an American military attack against Iraq. He also pointed out that Germany could not be involved, militarily, in any action against Iraq.

 
So far, Russia and China have also stated that they will not support a military attack on Iraq. Tony Blair of Great Britain, however, has announced that he will support President Bush. The positions of France, Denmark and Italy are less clear.
 
In the meantime, the German government clarified, according to Der Spiegel of September 10, that they will not support a military attack in Iraq, even if the United Nations were to agree to it, and that this would include even financial aid. The international constitutional legal expert, Professor Peter Schlotter, explained that an attack on Iraq would violate international law, as it does not allow a preventive military strike on other nations.
 
Previously, on September 4, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had pointed out, during the traditional televised Jewish New Year’s message on September 4, that Libya was close to becoming the first Arab and African country to join the nuclear club. He stated that Libya would have its atomic bomb by 2004, adding that the Libyan program was being carried out by Iraqi and North Korean nuclear scientists with Saudi funding.
 
Prior to President Bush’s speech on September 12, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan opposed any pre-emptive action without Security Council backing. But he also accused Iraq of continuing to defy mandatory Council resolutions, which allows the use of military force, according to Washington Post of September 12. Mr. Annan put Iraq “second on a list of four current threats to world peace… First on the list is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and after Iraq comes Afghanistan and the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir,” according to the newspaper.
 
Yahoo! News summarized President Bush’s subsequent speech in this way, “President Bush told the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday that ‘action will be unavoidable’ against Iraq, unless the United Nations enforced resolutions requiring Baghdad to disarm.” Der Spiegel commented, “U.S. President George W. Bush has clarified to the United Nations, that a military attack on Iraq is unavoidable, if the United Nations does not force Saddam Hussein to disarm.”
 
Iraq’s U.N. ambassador criticized President Bush, saying, “We don’t care about the position of the United States. If they are threatening, if they would attack, certainly we will be there for defending ourselves.”

In Germany, according to Der Spiegel, Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer described President Bush’s speech as “very harsh, very clear, and unambiguous.” Finance Minister Hans Eichel warned that a military campaign on Baghdad was the only thing that could wreck Germany’s economic recovery, according to USA Today.

The newspaper also mentioned that the United Kingdom welcomed the speech, as did Norway and Romania.

The entire written text of Mr. Bush’s speech can be found on www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-09-12-bush-speech_x.htm
 
We are bringing the following excerpts from his speech:
 
“Twelve years ago, Iraq invaded Kuwait without provocation… Last year, the U.N. Commission on Human rights found that Iraq continues to commit ‘extremely grave violations’ of human rights and that the regime’s repression is ‘all pervasive.’ Tens of thousands of political opponents and ordinary citizens have been subjected to arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, summary execution, and torture by beating, burning, electric shock, starvation, mutilation, and rape. Wives are tortured in front of their husbands; children in the presence of their parents — all of these horrors concealed from the world by the apparatus of a totalitarian state…
 
“In 1993, Iraq attempted to assassinate the emir of Kuwait and a former American President. Iraq’s government openly praised the attacks of September 11th. And al-Qaeda terrorists escaped from Afghanistan are known to be in Iraq… [T]he regime admitted to producing tens of thousands of liters of anthrax and other deadly biological agents for use with Saudi warheads, aerial bombs, and aircraft spray tanks… Iraq has made several attempts to buy high-strength aluminum tubes used to enrich uranium for a nuclear weapon… Iraq is building more long-range missiles that could inflict mass death throughout the region…
 
“Saddam Hussein attacked Iran in 1989, and Kuwait in 1990. He has fired ballistic missiles at Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Israel. His regime once ordered the killing of every person between the ages of 15 and 70 in certain Kurdish villages in Northern Iraq. He has gassed many Iranians and 40 Iraqi villages. My nation will work with the U.N. Security Council on a new resolution to meet our common challenge. If Iraq’s regime defies us again, the world must move deliberately and decisively to hold Iraq to account. The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced — the just demands of peace and security will be met — or action will be unavoidable. And a regime that has lost its legitimacy will also lose its power… We cannot stand by and do nothing while dangers gather. We must stand up for our security, and for the permanent rights and hopes of mankind. By heritage and by choice, the United States of America will make that stand. Delagates to the United Nations, you have the power to make that stand as well.”
 

THE RETURN OF JOERG HAIDER IN AUSTRIA

As the Washington Post reported on September 9, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel broke up his coalition with Joerg Haider’s Freedom Party, calling for new elections in November, after Haider had led a revolt within his party, forcing the resignation of party chief and Vice Chancellor Susanne Riess-Passer and Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser. The paper continued that these events “mark Haider’s return to the center stage of Austrian politics” and that “Haider was likely to lead the Freedom Party on a more radical course, including opposing EU expansion.” Der Spiegel and Der Stern reported on September 11 and September 12 that Haider, after certain unspecified concessions had been made to him, was recommended to become the party’s new leader, and that a close friend of his, minister Herbert Haupt, will be nominated as Chancellor candidate. Haider explained that he did not want to run for Chancellor in November, as he had promised to remain governor in the province of Carinthia until 2004, and that he “is used to keep his promises.”
 

This Sabbath is the Feast of Trumpets. We will be broadcasting two services over Internet, covering important aspects of the meaning of the Holy Day.

In the morning, Dave Harris will be presenting the sermon, “The Way of Peace.”

In the afternoon, Norbert Link will be speaking on the reasons why Jesus Christ will return to this earth.

We wish all our members, supporters, and readers a rewarding and uplifting Feast of Trumpets.

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

The Feast of Trumpets is swiftly approaching, a day which pictures Christ’s return to this earth as King of kings and Lord of lords and reflects the beginning of a series of events culminating in the putting away of Satan for a thousand years and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on this earth.

We see continued trouble in the world which was predicted millennia ago to happen in the last days. Christ, while on this earth, spoke of a time of wars and rumors of wars, of famines, pestilences, and earthquakes – of false prophets deceiving many, and of peril for His chosen people – even lawlessness within their ranks and the love of many growing cold.

What is our number one objective as we come down, according to Biblical reckoning, to the end of 6,000 years of mankind’s existence on this earth? Is it not to have a part in the establishment of God’s great Kingdom on this earth in the very near future? What could be more important to this remnant of God’s chosen people than to understand God’s Truth as outlined in the Scriptures? Yet, is not a lack of true knowledge one of the major obstacles facing God’s people at the end time?

We are living in a time of technological advancement unimaginable just a few generations back. Yet God understood the ability of mankind to achieve such phenomenal growth in all areas of physical life. Very early in the history of man, God saw this ability to advance rapidly and in order to slow down this growth to His timetable, He actually came down and made adjustments to slow this whole process down (Genesis 11:4-8).

Today, unless God intervenes, mankind has come to the point where he has the ability to totally annihilate all life from the face of the earth. And it is a fact that man has never developed a weapon, which he has not eventually used. God’s timetable is now set and we can clearly see events drawing closer to a climax.

Now, relative to God’s people at this same time, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, tells us in 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” God’s people are prophesied to begin turning away from the sound doctrines, which have been taught in the Church by God during the life of Mr. Herbert Armstrong, an apostle of Jesus Christ during our time.

Earlier in this book, Paul tells us, “…all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Many of God’s people no longer want to be reminded that we are living in such perilous times. Many do not want to be put under the pressure of these truths that reveal that it is through much tribulation, through many trials, that we will enter the Kingdom.

Paul instructs us, “…in the last days, perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, …lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power…”(2 Timothy 3: 1-5). And in verse 7, “…always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

We are told in verse 13 that during this same period, “…evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

These words were inspired, through the apostle Paul, by God, as a warning to His people who would be living in the latter days. These words were meant for you and me.

Are we offended when a minister of God spends time expounding these and similar scriptures? Do we get weary or bored when we hear such things? Do we realize that it is in the many little things we do in our efforts to live our lives according to the example Christ lived that will eventually reveal our sincerity toward this way of life?

Mr. Armstrong seemed to think that one of the most important things for God’s people in these latter days would be for the bride to be made ready for the marriage supper that is planned at the return of Christ. The individual assigned this responsibility did not perform that task and we find the body of Christ scattered in disarray. We should therefore, in addition to performing our responsibilities relative to preaching the Gospel to the world, be spending sufficient time in carrying out those important details relative to the feeding of the body of Christ in preparation for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

In Titus 2:12-14 Paul writes, “…we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Let us be zealous for good works, brethren. Let us do God’s Will, to live godly lives and to not be so easily offended by one another or by what we consider the milk of God’s Word. If we cannot take the milk, how will we be able to take the meat, both of which are plenteous in the Word of God? Or, do our ears itch to hear fables, speculations, and the hypocrisy of soothing words telling us we are all okay? Are we indeed rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing?

Dear brethren, we are in perilous times. However, our Lord Jesus Christ wants all of us in His soon coming kingdom when the last trump sounds. Let’s be there!

IRAQ–WHAT’S NEXT?

When carefully observing and analyzing the press reports and releases regarding Iraq’s future, one may be surprised to see that the war of propaganda has already begun. Yahoo! News ran an article last Saturday, titled, “EU Nations Agree With Bush on Iraq.” When reading the article, however, one discovers that just the opposite is correct. In the article, it is stated, “European Nations share the U.S. view that Iraq is a dangerous nation but — wary of Washington tripping into a military adventure — insist the Bush administration seek U.N. Security Council backing for any armed action, European officials said Friday…. Germany and France have urged the Bush Administration not to attack Iraq… “

The United Press International pointed out in its article on Saturday Germany’s strong opposition to any military intervention in Iraq. News Telegraph, a paper in the United Kingdom, discussed in its contribution “Germany’s emerging role as the leader of anti-US sentiment in Europe.” It explained that new German parliamentary elections are only three weeks [by now two weeks] away, and that “polls [in Germany] show fierce public opposition to an attack without United Nation’s backing.” The “relations between Germany and America regarding Iraq,” according to the paper, “have deteriorated markedly since March.”

Der Spiegel published several articles this week on the topic of Iraq. It speculated on September 4 that President Bush might declare war on Iraq in his speech on September 11, while Chancellor Schroeder’s criticism got even stronger. He stated, according to the article, “that the U.S. government has no concept for a new order after an attack on Iraq… I don’t see such a concept, in none of those who advocate an attack.” He also accused those who support an attack of being in violation of the declared goal of the United Nations. He reiterated again that Germany will not participate in any attack on Iraq under his leadership.

In a separate article, Der Siegel wrote on September 4 that, according to a worldwide poll, the majority of the Europeans, as well as a majority of the Americans, oppose an American attack on Iraq without the backing of the U.N. According to a poll of the ABC, only 39 percent of the Americans are still in support of an American attack on Iraq without support from America’s allies. An additional interesting result of the worldwide poll is the fact that most Europeans want to see Europe become a second economic and military super power, equal to the United States. Although only 48% of the Germans advocate that goal, 91% of the French support it.

In a third article, Der Spiegel reported on September 4 that the Ambassador of the United States to Germany, Dan Coats, strongly accused the German government. He stated that, if Germany should not stop its criticism of the United States, the relationship between the two countries would deteriorate, and Germany would find itself in an isolated position, even within the European Union. Although French President Jacques Chirac had just declared that “unilateral U.S. action would be contrary to the cooperation of states, the respect of law and the authority of the Security Council,” Mr. Coats’ statements were nevertheless somewhat supported by a sudden switch of Britain’s Tony Blair’s public position, who announced that he agrees with President Bush. The Times commented that with that announcement, Tony Blair has begun to prepare Great Britain for a war against Iraq, and the Guardian also stated that Tony Blair is preparing Great Britain for a war against Saddam Hussein.

We should be able to see that the topic of Iraq might contribute to the formation of new alliances. The Bible prophecies clearly that the European Union — under the leadership of Germany — will look for its own destiny and future, while the United States of America, as well as Britain, will ultimately be left behind, looking in from the outside. The current developments might very well be of tremendous consequences for our immediate future.

UNITED STATES SLAPPED WITH ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

As GlobeandMail.com reported on August 30, the United States lost a major trade battle Friday after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the European Union is free to impose sanctions of up to $4 billion U.S. to counter a U.S. tax policy that favors U.S. exporters. “The exporters have been able to continue to take advantage of tax breaks as ‘foreign sales corporations’ under U.S. tax rules, which President George W. Bush signed into law in November, 2000, despite an earlier agreement with the WTO to remove the tax concessions,” according to the article. “While the United States acknowledged that the tax breaks continued to violate WTO rules, it argued that the subsidies for U.S. exporters specifically affecting Europe were closer to $1 billion.” The article also pointed out that it is now up to Congress to enact new legislation, and that Washington hopes that, in the meantime, Europe will remain patient.

UNITED STATES SLAPPED WITH ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

As GlobeandMail.com reported on August 30, the United States lost a major trade battle Friday after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the European Union is free to impose sanctions of up to $4 billion U.S. to counter a U.S. tax policy that favors U.S. exporters. “The exporters have been able to continue to take advantage of tax breaks as ‘foreign sales corporations’ under U.S. tax rules, which President George W. Bush signed into law in November, 2000, despite an earlier agreement with the WTO to remove the tax concessions,” according to the article. “While the United States acknowledged that the tax breaks continued to violate WTO rules, it argued that the subsidies for U.S. exporters specifically affecting Europe were closer to $1 billion.” The article also pointed out that it is now up to Congress to enact new legislation, and that Washington hopes that, in the meantime, Europe will remain patient.

FULFILLING ISAIAH

As the business world reels from scandals reflecting the dismal greed of people who were considered the “captains” of industrialized America, mounting and alarming statistics that should shock and outrage the people of this land have now become common grist for the daily news.

For example, a report from CBSNEWS.com for July 31, 2002, relates the following:

“…the U.S. continues to be the WORLD LEADER in terms of what percent of its population is behind bars. For last year, the rate of incarceration was 686 inmates out of every 100,000 Americans.”

Another poignant quote from the National Center for Health Statistics in a release for July 24, 2002 states: “By age 30, three-quarters of women in the U.S. have been married and about half have cohabited outside of marriage…” Considering that the divorce rate in U.S. stands at around 50 percent, there is little wonder that the American family is on the rocks.

In the first chapter of Isaiah, God chastises modern Israel (v. 3) — mainly the United States and the Commonwealth nations — and in verse 4, identifies it as a “…sinful nation, A people laden with iniquity, A brood of evildoers.” Continuing in verse 5, “…The whole head is sick, And the whole heart faints, From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores.” These somber judgments about modern Israel are now finding fulfillment in our nations–yet, most are sadly unaware of the real solution. Carefully watch as the sins of this people are now reaping their inescapable consequences–leading to the impending time of “Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7).

AUSTRIA’S JOERG HAIDER “WITHDRAWS” — AGAIN!

As the international press reported this week, Joerg Haider, the former leader of Austria’s Freedom Party, announced that he was withdrawing from national politics because of differences with party members. Following massive floods in Austria earlier last month, the government said that it would no longer be able to pass the tax reform package in 2003, as originally planned. Haider sharply criticized that decision, arguing that the government should fulfill its promise to voters to pass the laws on schedule. Der Spiegel reported that Haider also said, however, that he would be willing to take over the party and begin again, after the next Austrian parliamentary elections in the autumn of 2003, should the party so desire. Several Austrian commentators responded that nobody believes that Haider’s “retreat” should be taken seriously. An interesting scenario was, however, presented by several political observers, as published in Der Spiegel on September 2. According to their view point, Haider is no longer interested in Austria, as his goal is Europe. He is looking for a European mass movement of the right. Some say that he feels that he is “the Savior of Austria, if not of Europe.”

OUR ENVIRONMENT

While the environment summit in South Africa was used by Germany’s Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to criticize the American politics, and while U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell was interrupted several times during his speech by opposition groups, the problems which were presented to the summit are indeed staggering. As USA Today reported last week, the issues include:

Overpopulation: World population stands at 6.1 billion and could grow as much as 50%, to 9.3 billion, by 2050.

Poverty: About 2.8 billion people live on less than $2 a day.

Resource overuse: Air, sea and land resources are being used 20% faster than they can be replenished.

Global warming: Greenhouse gases have increased by 30% in the Earth’s atmosphere since 1950.

Water problems: About 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, mainly in Africa and Asia.
A very insightful article was published on August 30 in the German magazine, “Max.” We are bringing you excerpts from this article:

Natural catastrophes without end – and man is predominantly to blame. We pump tons of gases into the air, which disturb our climate…

The water comes as an avenger over the land…

The Apocalypse seems to be near. The one-hundred-year flood in Germany and Europe is not everything, which is visiting our planet this year: Fires destroy the forests in the western parts of the United States, a hurricane sweeps through Berlin, and Southern Africa withers under a merciless sun. In Bangladesh, in East India, in Nepal and in China week-long rain causes the rivers to grow and to roll like cylinders through the land. And while the monsoon showers down in the east, it fails to appear in the west of the Indian sub continent – the soil withers in the worst drought since 15 years.

The list of disasters in 2002 reads like an opening statement for the Last Judgment: Floods, droughts, fires and storms on nearly all continents. Plentiful and devastating. For the International Organization of Meteorology, the year 2001 was already “the year of extremes.” For 2002, we seem to have lost superlatives already in the month of August….

In the arctic, layers of ice half the size of Bavaria disappear every year. Worldwide, glaciers are retreating, for instance in Asia, in Africa, and in South America. Even the white giants of the Alps are melting away – they have decreased by one fourth since 1970…

For this century, a temperature rise worldwide of 1,4 to 5,8 Celsius is prognosticated…. What will happen exactly, no one seems to know… Ideas for the world tomorrow exist abundantly: In Asia the monsoon becomes totally unstable and unreliable within the next decades; the Ocean devours the islands in the South Sea; the Alps lose half of their glaciers; rivers in Europe overflow more and more; and the drought changes the Great Plains, the granary of the United States, into a dusty desert. The whole planet stumbles into a different time.

According to most scientists, the cause for all of this is predominantly man – with ninety percent certainty, man has caused 2/3rd of it all….

The earth is in the middle of a climatic change. That almost everybody agrees on…

The change in temperature, which we will soon experience, is unique in the history of man…
 

This Sabbath, Edwin Pope will be presenting the sermon, “Faithfulness in Little Things.”

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

 

If your task were to cut shingles, you would start with an original pattern shingle and make all your cuts from that original. Failure to do so would cause you to end up with shingles of many different sizes. In the same vein, whenever someone has something printed, the best quality is achieved by working from the original. Blurred and indistinct images occur whenever copies of copies are made.

How closely are we duplicating our Christianity from the Original?

We are exceedingly fortunate that we have the Bible as our reference point. 1 Peter 2:21 shows that our example is Christ, and we “…should follow His steps.”
If we take the steps of our lives in this way, then we have assurance that we can enter the “narrow gate” spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 7:14.

He also added these sobering words in this same verse: “…difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Isaiah faced similar challenges in his time. In fact, he was inspired by God to prophesy of our days — the climatic and unparalleled end of this age. There is a significant key to the task he faced that was given to him by God’s pointed warning: “for the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and INSTRUCTED me that I should not walk in the way of this people…” (Isaiah 8:11).

Isaiah was further instructed to fear and obey God. That was how he would be able to not drift over into the path of those who were in rebellion against the true God. We face the same deadly challenge.

How close you and I are to Jesus Christ and His explicit pattern of living can be measured by how much we all walk in the way of this people. Modern society is racing headlong into catastrophe, and we must never let down in the very difficult and ongoing battle to walk as Christ walked.

In the end, when Jesus returns to establish God’s supreme rule and authority, an amazing promise will find its fulfillment in our lives: “…but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2).

In the meantime, we all have much to accomplish, individually. Let us all be careful to NOT walk in the way of the people of this age, but let us carefully follow Jesus Christ — the true Original!

U.S., IRAQ, AND THE REST OF THE WORLD

On Monday, August 26, Vice President Cheney stated in a somber speech that a strike against Iraq would be advisable sooner rather than later. He pointed out that “the risks of inaction are far greater than the risk of action,” and accused those who disagree of “wishful thinking or willful blindness.”

The rest of the world was quick to condemn what USA Today described as, “the rising rhetoric from Vice President Dick Cheney.”

On Wednesday, August 28, America’s allies in the Arab world opposed an attack on Iraq. Hosni Mubarak of Egypt warned that Arab leaders would not be able to contain outrage in the street in such an event. Saudi Arabia joined Mubarak in reiterating opposition to a U.S. attack. King Abdullah II of Jordan had already stated earlier this month that he rejected U.S. war threats against Iraq.

In addition, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the United States on Wednesday to resist attacking Iraq.

The present position of the German government under Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder against an attack on Iraq is well known. Mr. Schroeder reiterated on Wednesday that “Germany wouldn’t take part in an attack — at least not under my leadership.” While Mr. Schroeder had called an attack on Iraq “an adventure,” Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer called it “a mistake.” He added that we need to tell the United States that they are going the wrong way.

While the Chancellor-Candidate of the CDU/CSU, Edmund Stoiber, had — until recently — vouched support for the USA, he surprised the world this Wednesday by stating that, at this time, he and his party would be unable to support and participate in an attack on Iraq. Earlier this week, Canada had likewise refused to give any support to the United States.

In a perhaps all-too-common indecisive fashion of political duplicity, the British government has repeatedly said it is too early to make a decision about whether to participate in such an attack. On Wednesday, a spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said on condition of anonymity that Britain has “100% agreed with the U.S. that you have to deal with the issue of weapons of mass destruction.” He added, however, according to USA Today, that “equally, there is a route for Saddam to resolve the issue by giving unfettered access to U.N. inspectors and for him to comply with U.N. sanctions.”

This, however, would not satisfy the Bush administration, as it has been President Bush’s declared goal to see Saddam deposed.

Are we beginning to see, in these political maneuverings, the formation of alliances against the United States, Israel and possibly Great Britain? If we do, we can be certain that the day of Christ’s return is much sooner than many would like to think.

“U.S. STEEL FIRMS LOSE ANOTHER IMPORTANT BATTLE”

With this headline, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, August 28, that the U.S. steel industry suffered its second trade setback as a government panel ruled against imposing anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled steel from five countries (Japan, Australia, India, Sweden, and Thailand). The other defeat occurred one week earlier, when the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office decided to substantially increase the number of imported steel products that are exempt from the tariffs that President Bush imposed in March. This means that nearly a quarter of all steel imports can now enter the United States under normal rules.

While many big U.S. steel companies reacted harshly to the decisions, the European Union and Japan were pleased by the move. Although they vowed to continue pursuing complaints against the tariffs at the World Trade Organization, their praise for the exclusions indicated that they are no longer likely to follow through on threats to retaliate immediately by slapping punitive duties on U.S. exports, according to the Washington Post.

Analyzing what has just occurred, it seems obvious that the United States has given in to pressures from foreign countries. They have thereby set a signal, which might backfire in the long run.

WEST NILE VIRUS IN EUROPE

Bild Online reported on Wednesday that the West Nile virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes and which has killed so far at least 22 people in the United States, is not uncommon in parts of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. At least one expert has now warned that Germany is not immune from this disease as well, especially since the flooding has left ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The paper continued that the danger is real, and that we don’t know of any medications or immunizations against the disease.

The disease is primarily transmitted by a mosquito of the type “Culex pipens,” which predominantly bites birds. However, recently infected mosquitoes have been found which belong to the type “Aedes albopictus.” This type is known to especially bite humans.

The Bible warns of old and new diseases which will plague mankind. The West Nile virus would most certainly fall into that category.

Isn’t the Sabbath for the Jews only, and didn’t God introduce the Sabbath to the Jews for the first time in Exodus 16?

It is not correct that the Sabbath is mentioned for the first time in Exodus 16, or that God introduced the Sabbath to the people at that time. The Sabbath is mentioned in the very second chapter of the Bible, where God set it aside as HOLY, to be USED by man for a HOLY purpose.

God created the Sabbath at the time when He created man. We read in Genesis 2:2, “He RESTED on the seventh day from all His work…Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work.” The word for “rested,” in the Hebrew, is “shabath,” and it means, according to Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible, “to cease, rest, keep Sabbath.” God created the Sabbath at the time of the creation of man, by RESTING or ceasing from His work, and He “sanctified” that day, that is, He “set it aside for a holy purpose.”

Later, we read, in Exodus 20:11 that God had “rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the SABBATH day and hallowed it.”

Also, we read that God made the Sabbath for MAN — not only for the Jews or the Israelites (Mark 2:27).

The reason that God had to re-introduce the Sabbath to the people in Exodus 16, is that they had come out of slavery in Egypt, where they had FORGOTTEN to keep the Sabbath. They were under hard bondage and forced to work every day, and they were obviously not allowed to keep the Sabbath. So, in time, they got used to not keeping it. Note what God said to Moses, after they had, for the first time, gone out on the Sabbath to gather manna: “HOW LONG do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws? See! For the LORD has given you the Sabbath…” (Exodus 16:28-29). The people had not kept God’s Sabbath for a very LONG time — that’s why God is asking, “HOW LONG do you refuse” to keep it holy?

Dave Harris will be speaking this Sabbath about true worship.

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

The Feast of Tabernacles at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, England is eagerly awaited again as members look forward to keeping the Feast there for the fourth consecutive year. A catered meal has been organized for the first day of the Feast and other activities have been planned.

On Sunday, there is planned a fish and chip lunch at one of the best fish restaurants in the area. The following evening is a fun night at the Devonshire Arms where Charles Dickens, the writer, visited many times on his trips to the area. On Thursday evening, a Feast dinner has been arranged together with a last night buffet after the Last Great Day.

Each day, activities in the area are recommended so that if members want to visit these attractions, they can do so together. One of the suggested activities is a tour of Chatsworth House which is the most visited stately homes in England. The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, who reside there, have recently had their fortune estimated at £1.3 billion, most of which is accounted for by treasures within the House itself.

Norbert Link will be the visiting minister from the USA and he and his wife, Johanna, will be assured of a very warm welcome.

JERUSALEM: RUMORS OF WAR

As threats of a U.S. war against Iraq heated up this week, the lone ally of America in the Middle East prepared for the worst. Israel, according to a report in World Tribune.com, “…has determined that Iraq is preparing a missile strike that could be launched at any time.”

This article continues, “The officials said Iraq could decide to preempt any U.S. attack on the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with a missile barrage against Israel. They said such an Iraqi attack could be aimed at foiling U.S. plans to use Jordan and the Gulf states as launching pads for a military campaign against Baghdad.”

Also, “Officials said authorities have tested masks for the protection of Israeli civilians against Iraqi chemical weapons attacks.” Similar frightening preparations were reported by the Jerusalem Post Internet Edition: “Fifteen thousand emergency personnel will be vaccinated against smallpox, security officials decided Wednesday, fearing that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein could use the deadly virus as a biological weapon should the US attack Baghdad.”

News reports in the U.S. have mentioned that Israel is also now taking steps to prepare its citizenry for the real possibility of nuclear attack! All of these very ominous events were forewarned. The prophet Zechariah records that Jerusalem will eventually become the caldron of trouble that will bring all nations of the earth against it (chapter 12, verse 3). The good news is that very soon these troublesome times will end, and Jesus Christ will establish God’s righteous government on this earth–an earth now suffering from “wars and rumors of wars!”

FLOODING IN GERMANY

The unprecedented flooding in Germany has prompted STERN magazine to publish a remarkable editorial in this week’s issue. We are translating portions of this editorial, as follows:

“In the Bible, in the book of Genesis, God let it rain for 40 days and 40 nights, to extinguish all life and all sins on earth. Only Noah and his arc survived the flood. Also, the flood catastrophe at the Elbe and Danube rivers seems to be a consequence of human sins: Through the unrestrained consuming of energy, we have accelerated the change of our climate. We have changed beautiful brooks… into threatening rivers. And, through construction in endangered regions, we have ignored the forces of nature in a criminal way… Let us not return to our daily affairs, but let us talk about the consequences… All of us will soon have to pay as dearly for the sins of the past , as the people in Bavaria and Saxony have already paid.”

We are soberly reminded of a warning in Revelation 11:18. We are told there that God “will destroy those who destroy the earth.” Rather than beautifying this planet, mankind has been guilty of polluting and destroying it. But, there will come a time of reckoning. The recent flooding in many parts of the world is just a prelude of what is soon going to occur in a much greater way.

TAKE-OVER OF IRAQI EMBASSY IN BERLIN

As USA Today reported on August 20, “masked German police commandos freed two senior diplomats from armed men who stormed the Iraqi embassy Tuesday, bringing a bloodless end to a five-hour hostage drama by a previously unknown group opposed to Saddam Hussein.” The newly-founded group, calling itself “the Democratic Iraqi Opposition of Germany,” stated that they had taken over the Embassy to bring attention to the need of liberation in Iraq.

The Embassy seizure came, “as Germany expresses opposition to any U.S.-led military action to remove Saddam… The German position has stoked a rare open spat between Washington and one of its chief European allies,” according to the newspaper.

The United States denied any prior knowledge of, or contacts or involvement with the seizure. The Bush administration declared that the siege did not help in the goal to overthrow Saddam.

In light of biblical prophecy, we can expect the friendship between the United States and Germany to cool off. The difference in positions as how to deal with Saddam could very well contribute to such an alienation.

RUSSIA IN THE NEWS

Yahoo! News reported on August 21, that the United States is concerned about Russia’s plan to build nuclear reactors in Iran and a proposed economic agreement with Iraq. Iran and Iraq are both part of what President Bush has termed the “axis of evil,” along with North Korea, because of their efforts to obtain weapons of mass destruction.

Washington fears that by helping construct nuclear reactors in Iran, Moscow is helping Tehran develop nuclear arms. In addition, the United States expects Russia to continue to abide by United Nations sanctions against Iraq. Moscow, however, has taken the position that the proposed economic cooperation program with Baghdad, which is reportedly worth $40 billion, would not violate sanctions.

Biblical prophecy reveals that Russia will play an important role in future events — but not in the way, which many expect today. The Bible does not predict any major war between Russia and the United States prior to Christ’s return — but it does predict another war between Russia and continental Europe, following the establishment of some kind of a confederation between Europe and the Iraq.

AL-QAEDA VIDEOTAPES

The world was shocked this week to learn, what the Washington Post of August 21 described in this way: “A trove of videotapes unearthed in Afghanistan and spirited out recently by CNN confirms in graphic detail what U.S. intelligence officials have been saying over the last several years: that al Qaeda was learning how to make and use toxic chemical agents and that it has a disciplined, trained cadre of militants willing to kill, bomb and kidnap to meet its goals.”

The most graphic tape, according to the newspaper, “involves the apparent death of dogs inhaling a white vapor, which CNN commentators said they believe to be sarin or other poisonous gases.” This tape was so graphic that at least one local station in San Diego refused to air it. Many of those who did see it broke out in tears.

We must realize that we are living in a time, where Satan’s wrath is very great (Revelation 12:12). He is in the process of influencing people to develop a cruel, unloving, and hateful attitude unparalleled in the annals of mankind. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:1-3, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves…, proud, blasphemers…, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving…, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good…”

The coldness, brutality and cruelty portrayed in those tapes show without any doubt Satan’s influence and inspiration. To cause a dog to die in pain, and to laugh about it, as some of the al Qaeda observers were heard to do on the tape, portrays an ungodly spirit beyond belief. Indeed, perilous times have come upon us.

Can you please explain how the term “Apostle” should be used today in light of its usage in the New Testament?

Jesus Christ is the only individual who is referred to in Scripture as “the” Apostle (Hebrews 3:1). Paul and Peter refer to themselves as “an” apostle,” or, as “an apostle of Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 9:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 12:12; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:1; 1:11; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1).

The Authorized Version translates Romans 11:13 this way, “I [Paul] am the apostle of the Gentiles.” However, in the Greek, there is no definite article (“the”) in front of the word, “apostle.” By contrast, in Hebrews 3:1, in reference to Jesus Christ, there is a definite article (“the”) in the Greek in front of the word, “Apostle.” Many translations, including the New King James Bible, or the Revised Standard Version, translate Romans 11:13, in this way, “I am an apostle to the Gentiles.”

When referred to apostles as a collective group, we find many times the expression, “the apostles.” (Matthew 10:2; Mark 6:30; Luke 9:10; 17:5; 22:14; 24:10; Acts 1:2, 26; 2:37, 42, 43; 4:33, etc.). The designation as “the apostles,” when referring to more than one individual, does include apostles in addition to the original twelve (Acts 14:14, “…when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this…”).

The designation as “apostle” is derived from “the” Apostle, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God (Luke 6:13; Revelation 21:14).

Since the designation of “the Apostle” is scripturally reserved for Jesus Christ only, we should not refer, then, to any individual or particular apostle as “the” apostle. Rather, following Scripture, an individual (as distinguished from a group) may and should be referred to as “an” apostle.