Download PDF

Dear Members and Friends,

We returned from the observance of this year’s Feast of Tabernacles to look forward to the next spring festival season—beginning with Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. Who can tell how many more annual Holy Days we will still be able to celebrate before Jesus Christ returns? A contract for accommodations for next year’s Feast of Tabernacles in Germany has been signed, and we are looking into the possibility of observing the Feast here in the USA in Colorado. Scattered members and friends, including from Canada, the USA, and Australia were listening in to our live services as well.

In Germany, we had nine baptisms, and with a baptism on the Feast of Trumpets, we actually had ten. Also, this was the tenth year that we kept the Feast in Germany as the Kirche des Ewigen Gottes. We also had an ordination to the office of deacon, with more ordinations to follow in time. We also had the highest number in attendance ever in Germany. In comparison, attendance in the USA was down, due in large part to sicknesses and the inability, because of frailties, to attend the Feast site in person. Guests did not show up because our Feast site was not “convenient” enough for them (What a difference in attitude and zeal when considering the dedication of those guests from great distances who attended in Germany). Numerical growth of membership and attendance in the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia is not high at this point, but this might change in the future.

For several months, we have been conducting an advertisement campaign over the Internet, offering our free booklet, “The Fall and Rise of the Jewish People,” and the responses have been outstanding—so much so that we ran out of stock and had to reprint the booklet twice so far. We are contemplating advertising our newest booklet as well (“God Is…Our Destiny”). We are also commencing a similar advertisement campaign in the German-speaking areas, offering our free booklet, “Die Zehn Gebote” (“The Ten Commandments”).

The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers and co-workers are few. But this must not deter us from doing the Work of God. We pray that the hundreds and hundreds of people who recently received our booklets will respond by studying their Bibles and making necessary changes in their lives which could lead to baptism.

Sometimes we might think our labor is unproductive. We might echo what we read in Isaiah 49:4: “Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain…’” But let’s not overlook the remainder of the verse: “… Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, And my work with my God.”

And so we know that our labor is NOT in vain (see 1 Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 14:13), and God will reward each and every one of us for our works (1 Corinthians 3:8). God has given us an open door enabling us to preach the gospel, even though we have only “a little strength” (Revelation 3:8). Sometimes, we might not always see clearly as to how it will work out, but this is alright. God understands it, and He tells us in Mark 4:26-29:

“And He said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.’”

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible makes this comment:

“… it is a mystery in nature, how the seed under the clods, where it dies before it is quickened, should spring and grow up, and bring forth fruit; and so it is… how the word of God first operates on a sinner’s heart, and becomes the ingrafted word there; the time when, and much less the manner how [it] is implanted in the heart, are not known to a soul itself, and still less to the ministers of the word, who sometimes never know any thing of it; and when they do, not till some time after: this work is done secretly, and powerfully… without their knowledge, though by them as instruments; so that though the sowing and planting are theirs, all the increase is God’s: this may encourage attendance on the ministry of the word, and teach us to ascribe the work… entirely to the power and grace of God.”

How true this is. We spread the Word through our literature and broadcasts, but we do not know, for the most part, who is being reached, and Christ works with those whom He wants to finally add to His Body… and that without our knowledge. While we may plant and water, it is GOD who gives the increase (compare 1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

Another powerful saying by God in this context can be found in Isaiah 55:10-11 where we read:

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

God’s Word will not be proclaimed in vain; it will not return void, empty or without fruit.

Barnes Notes on the Bible says:

“…the truth which God reveals is as much adapted to produce an effect on the hard and sterile hearts of men as the rain is on the earth… The gospel is no more preached in vain than the rain falls in vain. And though that often falls on barren rocks, or on arid sands; on extended plains where no vegetation is produced, or in the wilderness ‘where no man is,’ and seems to our eyes in vain, yet it is not so… It is addressed to the proud, the sensual, the avaricious, and the unbelieving, and seems to be spoken in vain, and to return void unto God. But it is not so… It leaves people without excuse… Or when long presented – apparently long in vain – it ultimately becomes successful, and sinners are at last brought to abandon their sins, and to turn unto God.

“It is indeed often rejected and despised. It falls on the ears of people apparently as the rain falls on the hard rock, and there are, so to speak, large fields where the gospel is preached as barren and unfruitful of any spiritual good as the extended desert is of vegetation, and the gospel seems to be preached to almost entire communities with as little effect as is produced when the rains fall on the deserts of Arabia, or of Africa. But there will be better and happier times. Though the gospel may not now produce all the good effects which we may desire, yet it will be ultimately successful… and the whole world shall be filled with the knowledge and the love of God.”

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary adds:

“Sacred truth produces a spiritual change in the mind of men, which neither rain nor snow can make on the earth. It shall not return to the Lord without producing important effects. If we take a special view of the church, we shall find what great things God has done, and will do for it… Delivered from the wrath to come, the converted sinner finds peace in his conscience… The hope of helping in such a work should urge us to spread the gospel…”

And so, we must continue preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God in all the world as a witness which is a prerequisite for Christ’s coming. In time, the effectiveness of our labor for God and mankind will become manifest. In time, some, seeing our good works of spreading God’s Word, will respond by glorifying God and changing their way of life. It may take some time, headache, frustration, disillusionment and disappointment, but in the end, it will become obvious how important our labor has been. So let us continue to do with all our might what God has commissioned us to do. And our reward WILL BE great in heaven (compare Luke 6:23; Revelation 22:12).

With Christian love, and in Christ’s Service,

Norbert Link

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

This month, we will begin to observe the Fall Holy Days. On September 26th, the Feast of Trumpets will be observed.

All of God’s commanded Holy Days portray significant parts in His great master plan for the salvation of mankind. Yet, the vast majority of people have not even the vaguest idea of their meaning, and only the precious few understand their significance. Rather, under the blinding deception of Satan’s world rule (John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4), so called “holidays” such as Christmas, Easter and Halloween have displaced the true sacred assemblies God has commanded—including Sunday worship in place of Sabbath observance. In fact, God utterly rejects worship associated with these false ceremonies and rituals! (Isaiah 1:12-15; Amos 5:21-23).

Do you remember the challenges faced when you first began to observe the weekly Sabbath and then the annual Holy Days? Do you also remember the thrill of learning the true meaning of why God has instituted His holy convocations?

Due to Israel’s disobedience in former times, the Holy Days of God fell by the wayside, and only when a righteous king arose in Judah were these foundational observances re-established. When they were, God greatly blessed the people for their obedience.

During the reign of Hezekiah, the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were once again observed. Note God’s response: “Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 30:12). Josiah also restored observance of some of the Holy Days:

“And the children of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet; and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priests and the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 35:17-18).

Following their return from Babylonian captivity, the Jews kept the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Ezra 6:19-22) and some of the Fall Holy Days (Nehemiah 8). With the completion of the second Temple, Holy Day observances eventually became firmly established among the Jews, even though they added quite a few rituals not commanded in Scripture—leading up to the time of Jesus.

The New Testament records events in which Jesus observed the annual Holy Days, and this often was centered in Jerusalem. John 7:37-38 specifically mentions the last day of the Feast, “the eighth day” (Leviticus 23:36), which is a separate Feast Day from the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles, and the theme of what Jesus proclaimed at that time.

Jesus also observed the Sabbath day, “as His custom was” (Luke 4:16). Likewise, the Church of God did not suddenly abandon either God’s commanded holy convocations or the example of Jesus in this regard, even though at times,  the Church had apparently forgotten the meaning of some of the annual Holy Days and had neglected to observe them. While the Church has never ceased to exist since its founding, historical records offer very little detailed information about how one generation after another actually served God. We do get a sense, however, of the various eras of the Church in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3.

Not until God called Herbert Armstrong in the early part of the past century did all of the Holy Days become widely observed again by members of the Church. That observance grew to such an extent that Feast sites were established in many nations.

Today, the former “singleness of heart” which is so absolutely needed to truly please God—and “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) remains a challenge for all of those called by God.

Still, we in the Church of the Eternal God and our international affiliates strive to faithfully and zealously KEEP the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days. By doing so, we participate in the Work of God given to us at this time. We also grow in knowledge about the future rule of Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God and of our part in it!

Always remember—God blesses us for our obedience to Him, and we can look forward to the approaching Holy Days in anticipation of God’s help and inspiration.

Let’s each thankfully consider the tremendous blessing of our being able to keep the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day (as well as the other annual Holy Days and the weekly Sabbath) with knowledge of their meaning—all part of the magnificent plan of God and the promise of our part in His glorious Kingdom!

You might want to review our booklet, “The Meaning of God’s Fall Holy Days,” and if you do not have a copy, we would be happy to send you one free of charge.

In Christ’s Service,

Dave Harris

Download PDF

Dear Members and Coworkers,

Georges Seurat is known for the pointillist technique of painting that he used to create very large paintings. His most famous and recognizable painting, “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”, depicts several people lounging on the lawn on a hillside by the water. You would probably recognize it if you saw it. In my early twenties, I had the opportunity to see this painting in person, and only then was I able to appreciate the grandeur. Seurat’s technique requires viewing the painting from a distance to see the full scene. However, when viewing the painting up close, I was amazed to see how the image was composed exclusively of several dots of color to create the impression of an image. I remember the surprise of seeing how the selection of unexpected colors was used to create the illusion of other colors when combined. The green lawn consisted of yellow and blue, but also red and purple, among other colors. To create such a work of art, Seurat needed to focus very closely on the work he performed at a micro-scale, giving attention to the selection of color, one dot at a time.

When Seurat first presented his masterpiece to audiences, people didn’t appreciate the magnitude of the work. Since it was initially displayed in a smaller space, observers considered it to be messy and blurry. The dots of color didn’t look like shapes when viewed in medium range. Only when standing from afar could they view the entire image and see the shapes and contours come into view. After placing the work of art in a much larger venue for viewing, his innovative painting was finally appreciated and became one of the most famous to be produced in the 19th century.

This serves as a useful example for us when considering our lives in the context of our Christian development in the Church of God. In living our lives to develop our Christian character, our actions on a day-to-day basis occur at the micro-scale. Just as Seurat carefully placed one dot on the canvas at a time, we make decisions each moment to direct our actions. Each of these actions works together to construct the greater composition of our lives. Some decisions are good, some decisions might not be so good. But they all work together to make us who we are.

This same principle applies when we bring others into view as well. Other people in our life add more figurative dots onto the canvas of our lives. And so on, as we add more elements to our lives, more and more dots appear. Up close, where we have the ability to see and control the decisions and actions we take, everything is comprehensible. We can see where we’ve done well or made mistakes. We can see the individual building blocks in our life for what they are.

But sometimes, as we back up, trying to evaluate the bigger picture, things begin to look messy or even confusing. We no longer see the individual actions and decisions, but we can’t see the big picture either. This is where we might begin to see an interaction with someone that offends us because something is blown out of proportion. Perhaps a work situation becomes frustrating because politics or mismanagement corrupt the working environment. We may even feel dismayed with the state of the Church of God, having diminished from its once great stature. Even though we may see everything accurately from this perspective, we might not understand how it fits together.

We have to remember that God is the artist who paints the big picture. He has a purpose for us that we cannot completely comprehend, because we cannot fully see from His vantage point. Our way of understanding the details of our lives, the work of the Church, and the events in the world is simply limited. “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9). God alone is the One who understands how all the elements in our lives and the world we live in fit together in His master plan.

When we see a seemingly messy view of things, small or great, we must not become discouraged and give place for sin to fester. The problems we see and the frustrations we experience can easily prevent us from thinking with the mind of God to put things into perspective. Even if we don’t fully understand it, the messiness we might experience serves a purpose! We still have to fully experience the difficulties, but in the big picture, these are opportunities for us to grow stronger in our spiritual development. Recall how David had to go through the valley of the shadow of death – not around it, or in the other direction (compare Psalm 23). Likewise, God tests us through our sometimes-messy situations. We go through them so we can grow.

It can be easy to read Romans 8:28 without taking it to heart: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God has a distinct purpose for each one of us, which He fulfills by curating our circumstances. When we might get into a conflict, fall victim to pressure, get into a situation of confrontation, find contention in something that we don’t agree with, or any myriad other difficulties, God presents us a choice in how to respond. We can allow ourselves to get poisoned by the apparent problems, or we can handle our situations with grace, knowing that God gives us the experience to grow from.

And this is where faith enters the picture. We know that God has a plan, and we must have faith in it. If we understand that He has a purpose for us, we will only succeed by living in earnest belief in that fact. The point of control in life that we have is with each moment, each decision, and each action. One by one. Just as a pointillist painting comes together one dot at a time, our spiritual development takes place one choice at a time, stepping out in faith.

Our perspective makes a difference. We can choose to see through a lens of negativity, picking out the problems and focusing on them. Or, we can choose to see through the eyes of God, focusing on the positive attributes presented to us. Clearly, the choice that is most constructive and useful in overcoming the messiness of life involves heeding the admonition from God. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).

Additionally, we are very pleased to enclose for our readers in the USA a copy of our new free booklet, “God Is… Our Destiny.” For our readers in other countries, the booklet will be mailed separately.

In Christ’s Service,

Eric Rank

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

My wife and I had the privilege of visiting the brethren in the San Diego area for the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread this year and to participate in person at the annual Church conference. It was a very pleasant trip and, not having visited the area since 2019 due to the Covid 19 restrictions, it reminded us of the great country that the USA has been, but now seems to be in terminal decline. Much of the same could also be said about the UK and other English-speaking nations, but it seems that every nation has been affected by the pandemic and other events around the world.

We were also privileged to be able to travel to the far-east at the end of last year to see family and, again, saw another nation troubled by the pandemic but with no social security or pension arrangements which are enjoyed by many nations in the west. They are not alone in not having a safety net when tragedy happens, but they get on with it as best they can. We can have expectations that the government will come to our rescue when disaster strikes while many other countries may appear not to have made any such provisions should crises or calamities arise in their nation. The differences are stark and show how the English-speaking nations have been blessed more than we deserve; particularly, when we see what is happening in our different countries.

But it now seems very clear for those who have eyes to see that such blessings have been, or are being, withdrawn as problems escalate. The UK is currently almost at war with itself with strikes and threatened strikes. Strikes threatened and those already up and running include huge train disruptions up and down the land which could go on for months as the unions dig their heels in; continual daily cancelled flights with chaos at airports with huge baggage backlogs and a threatened British Airways strike. Claims for improvement of work conditions/pay to other workers in different sectors are being dismissed which could lead to further nationwide chaos. Others joining the list threatening strike action are workers at Rolls Royce, barristers [lawyers], teachers, doctors, binmen [garbagemen], postmen and others who have not yet made their intentions clear but who could be added to the list of those whose actions cause so many problems for their fellow citizens. This has all been brought about because of ever-spiralling costs where inflation is expected to peak at 11% later in the year, huge increases in petrol (gas) prices which have virtually doubled in the last 2-3 years, utilities (gas and electricity) costs have gone through the roof with more large increases to come in a few months’ time. The Russian war on Ukraine has limited wheat supplies and there are distribution shortfalls around the world.

On top of that, we read that Covid chaos could cause even MORE misery for Britain as experts warn the virus’s resurgence could add to all the problems that we have.

I have highlighted these matters because I live in the UK and see, close to hand, the ongoing and increasing troubles. Trades unions expect high pay increases which the country can’t afford and a magic money tree is just not available. I’m sure that there are pretty much the same insoluble problems in North America, Australia, New Zealand and other English-speaking nations. Other nations struggle as well and some of these have nuclear and biological weapons which is a worry for many.

Space does not permit any further reporting on these problems which are being replicated around the world. But what we see happening today is a very large self-destruct button because God is not only left out of the picture but ridiculous and idiotic practices are discussed and implemented by a godless society. 

The saying “it’s the economy, stupid” was a phrase coined by political strategist James Carville for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign in 1992 because it was thought that the one thing voters care most about is the health of the country’s economy. That is man’s way but God cares for HOW we live our life.

There are many areas of ungodliness that have now become commonplace that the Almighty will only allow to go on for so long. Let us briefly review some of these areas that are important to God about the way we live our lives and many don’t seem to realise that our behaviour has a very great bearing on how a country will succeed, or fail. The blessings and cursings in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 show quite clearly that keeping the Commandments of God will reap great rewards and walking contrary to His ways will bring retribution. It seems today that no world leader takes any notice of this cause and effect principle.

Let’s put to one side the economy and look at the behaviour that God sees from on high.

We see the continuation of selfishness at the highest level possible with the abortion-rights activists wanting the right to abort a child for any reason at any time, should they so desire. Little if any consideration is given to the rights of the father and the unborn child itself; it is all about “me, myself and I”. When another person’s life is at stake, then such decisions are of vital importance. We cover the abortion issue in our booklet “The Ten Commandments” and show that abortion is not God’s way. However, God is not in the picture with those strident women who are not interested in anything or anybody other than themselves, it would seem, as they protest on such a matter at the drop of a hat! The recent US Supreme Court decision, overturning Roe v Wade, has shown that the USA is divided on this matter and at the highest levels of government, they are approving vehemently the killing of innocent unborn children. God says that we should not kill or murder but the US government is saying that God does not know what He is talking about!

What must God think about this?

Then we have the nonsense spewed out by some in the “trans” lobby. At a midwifery course in Scotland, a highly experienced midwifery lecturer with a PhD taught students that a male person could give birth. In May this year, the head of trans inclusion at campaigning group Stonewall told an i­ndustrial tribunal that “bodies are not inherently male or female. They are just their bodies.” They try and foist their nonsense on others by ignoring the basics of biology. They are a vociferous minority group of people who feel that they know better than everyone else, including the great Creator God who created them in the first place. Such arrogance!

What must God think about this?

The homosexual group Stonewall states on their website that they stand for “lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere. We imagine a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be ourselves and can live our lives to the full.” We have news for them. In the wonderful world tomorrow, when the Kingdom of God will rule on earth, such perversion will simply not be allowed.

This is moral relativism, the idea that there is no universal or absolute set of moral principles. It’s a version of morality that advocates “to each his/her own.” However, God says that there is an absolute set of principles, that is the Law of God which is unchanging. God gives clarity of meaning whereas the whims and wishes of society can, and do, fluctuate between generations.

In the USA in March 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black woman to be nominated to the Supreme Court, was asked simply if she “could provide a definition of the word ‘woman.’” “No, I can’t,” she eventually said. “Not in this context. I’m not a biologist.” Here we have a woman nominated for high office who couldn’t, or wouldn’t explain, what a woman is. This shows ignorance, at the highest level and someone who couldn’t be relied on to do even a very basic job.

There is so much more that could be said on all of these issues, and many others, but space does not permit it. Behaviour and the way we live our lives are of paramount importance to the great Creator God but man thinks otherwise which will lead to a time of unparalleled trouble (see Daniel 12:1).

The biblical lessons go unheeded. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of their ungodly behaviour and does anyone think that God has changed His stance on such issues purely because society has, once again, adopted different practices? These cities were razed to the ground. The current immoral behaviour will also incur the wrath of God who does not change (Malachi 3:6).

The Stonewall website also states that “In June, annual marches and festivities occur all over the world to celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. Pride Month is distinct from LGBTQ+ History Month annually celebrated in the UK in February.” 

The word pride is used which was another reason why Sodom and Gomorrah were obliterated from off the face of the earth because of their immorality (Genesis 19:24) and because of their pride (Ezekiel 16:49). Quite a connection, but the comparison doesn’t stop there. Stonewall also use the rainbow as part of their various programmes but God gave the rainbow as a sign of the covenant between Him and man that He would never again flood the earth (see Genesis 9:11-17).

There is so much wrong being perpetrated on the earth at this time, as outlined above, and in so many other areas, that it is only a matter of time before God says that enough is enough and He sends His Son, Jesus Christ, back to this earth to remedy all of the evils that have permeated society since the dawn of civilisation.

As the people of God, we have to be careful that we don’t fall into the trap of saying, or even thinking, that which is spoken of in 2 Peter 3:3-4: “…knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’”

Many of us certainly expected Christ to return well before 2022 but it wasn’t God’s time for Him to do so, and He is the master of timing. We read in Matthew 24:36-39: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

It was such an evil time, much like today, and God decided to act then. He will again act when the time is right and we must stay awake to this fact; otherwise, we could be caught unawares if we’re not careful. We pray that that may not happen to any of us.

With Christian love,

Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

Download PDF

Dear Members and Friends,

There are a number of sections in the Bible where God, in most cases Jesus Christ, showed His love, compassion and concern for the people He was dealing with at the time. The passages can help us understand how He treated His people during the ages and be examples for us today, since He is the same, yesterday and forever.

In the first section to be considered, we find there was a special relationship between Abraham and God. However, this relationship is not mentioned until 2 Chronicles 20:7 where we find that Abraham was a friend of God. This fact is repeated in James 2:23 where we read, “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God.” Of course, when Abraham believed God, this belief resulted in him comprehensively obeying God, which we can read of in Genesis 26:5.

God’s blessings for Abraham can be passed down to us, as we read in Galatians 3:7: “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham,” and in Galatians 3:9: “So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” And because of this blessing, we can also be friends of God.

Again, Jesus Christ spelled out what we must do to be a friend of Him and of God the Father. He said to His disciples in John 15:14-15: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” So, to be a friend of Christ requires obedience.

God shows His gentleness in how He treated the children of Israel. Jeremiah 31:32 states: “…not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.” God in the Person of Christ pictures Himself as a loving husband leading His wife through the wilderness to the Promised Land of Canaan, all the time providing food and protection for her as we read elsewhere. Of course, Israel rebelled continuously, so God had to deal with her accordingly.

This idea of God leading Israel is repeated in Hosea 11:3-4: “I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their arms; But they did not know that I healed them. I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.” Here God shows Himself as a compassionate loving Provider, as He says, stooping down to feed them. To think that the Creator of the universe would stoop down to feed His people is awe inspiring.

Of course, this was not the only time God fed His people. In the case of Elijah, God caused ravens to feed him daily. And when the brook he was staying beside dried up, God caused a widow’s jar of oil and bin of flour to last for the length of the famine to feed Elijah and the family without running out (compare 1 Kings 17:6-7 and 1 Kings 17:14-16).

In fact, in the book of Hosea are some remarkable revelations of the love God has for His people—things that we can hang onto that emphasise God’s love for His people. When we read Hosea 2:16, it reveals God’s desire of how we should respond to Him. “‘And it shall be, in that day,’ Says the LORD, ‘That you will call Me “My Husband,” And no longer call Me “My Master.’”’ Continuing in Hosea 2:19: “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy…”

In the Authorized Version, the Hebrew terms Ish’i and Ba’ali are used in Hosea 2:16. When we investigate these terms, which are translated husband and master, we find it is even more inspiring than reading the English translation. Ba’ali, although it is the commonly used word for husband or master today, has the original meaning of a husband who lords it over his wife—a potentially abusive husband, one whom his wife had to submit to or be punished. It was also used for the owner of a slave. God does not want us to describe Him that way.

On the other hand, Ish’i means a friend, a helper, a companion. It is used in a very positive light. An Ish’i-husband is a husband who loves his wife, cares for her and cherishes her. Christ wants us to allow Him to love us and for Him to be our Husband, to be able to show His affection, His love, and His caring to us. Of course, as we read in Hosea 2:19, He wants righteousness and justice as that is His nature, but He also wants to show us lovingkindness and mercy as our husband.

But sometimes God knows that for our good, He has to correct us. We read in Hosea 11:8: “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zebolim? [These two cities were destroyed together with Sodom and Gomorrah, compare Deuteronomy 29:23.] My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred. I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in your midst; And I will not come with terror.” Here God does not want to punish Ephraim and Israel; it distresses Him to have to do so,  but He knows that sometimes it is necessary if we are to ultimately be holy like God. As we can read in Hebrews 12:10: “For they (our fathers) indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.” That is God’s aim for us, to share His holiness in His Family forever.

What do we read in the New Testament about Jesus Christ’s compassion? We can read one example of many in Luke 7:11-15: “Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’ So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.”

Here Jesus Christ understood that this widow would have a difficult life without her son to support her. In the books of the Law or the Torah, Jesus Christ had given instructions not to afflict widows and to provide for their needs, and here He was fulfilling what He had commanded.

So, as we read the Scriptures, we can see that Jesus Christ has great love and concern for His people. He treats us as a loving husband treats his wife, and He also considers us as a friend, all with the proviso that He expects us to believe and obey Him. The examples referred to here, plus many others, should give us great encouragement.

With much love and concern,

Your brother in Christ’s service.

Paul Niehoff (Australia)

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

In this letter, we would like to report on the recent 2022 Church Conference, held on Friday, April 29th through Sunday, May 1st and conducted from Escondido, California.

We utilized “Google Meets” for those in attendance. While we did face time zone differences, Thilo and Anita Hanstein, Christoph and Monique Sperzel (from Germany), and Paul and Tine Niehoff (from Australia) were able to participate. Also, Rene and Delia Messier (from Canada) and Dave and Peggy Harris (from Colorado) joined the meetings.

Norbert and Johanna Link, Michael and Anna Link, Eric Rank, Kalon Mitchell, Margaret Adair, Rhonda Cagle and Dawn Thompson were among those in California. Also, Brian and Jill Gale had travelled from England to California for the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread and to attend the Conference.

On Friday, after the reading of the Minutes, regional summaries were given. Following, we had a wide-ranging discussion about our Internet activities: literature views and requests; accomplishments from our monthly Tech Meetings; Live Services broadcasting issues (which, by the way, have improved through the purchase of newer equipment—but more to do in that regard); new advertising campaigns; and alternatives to YouTube in case our messages are blocked. We also reviewed how we conduct Sabbath Service and the procedure regarding prayer requests; and we discussed plans for new English and German booklets for 2022.

On the Sabbath, Live Services were presented from California with Brian Gale giving the Sermonette and Norbert Link giving the sermon. Additionally, elder Eric Rank was ordained to the rank and office of Pastor by the ministry present.

On Sunday, we discussed the question of who are the elect, mentioned in Matthew 24:22. In conjunction with that discussion, we spent some time addressing the prophetic timeline based on the work of the Church of God and events in the world which point to the last generation alive before Jesus returns. A question on biblical covenants was raised, and Norbert Link will write the first Q&A as an introduction to a comprehensive series of Q&As on this topic appearing in the weekly Updates.

National and International Board Meetings were conducted at the conclusion of the Conference.

Brethren, we came away inspired by the many opportunities God has opened to us to conduct His Work—that includes dedicated individuals at every level who zealously serve to accomplish what is before us. That also includes those of you who continue to pray for us and each other as we all join in this mutual effort God has given to us.

As a final comment, we also spoke about plans for the Fall Holy Days during the Conference. We will still face issues for travel, and we have heard that some members cannot afford to attend the California location. We also know that there will be problems in Europe, as well. We know with certainty that great challenges lie ahead, but we also fully trust and faithfully believe that God will do what He has promised to do to help us.

With brotherly love,

The Ministry

Download PDF

Dear Brethren, Coworkers and Friends,

When Christ’s disciples asked Him what would be the sign of His Coming and the end of the world—this present evil age controlled and ruled by Satan the Devil—He said to be aware of religious deception, wars and rumors of wars, famine, disease epidemics and earthquakes. We have been most certainly experiencing all of them for quite a while, but Christ said when we see those events occurring with ever-increasing strength, the end is near. He called these events the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:8) and cautioned us that while these sorrows or labor pains will overtake this world unexpectedly, we must not be asleep, but awake (1 Thessalonians 5:3-6), redeeming the time, because these are evil days (Ephesians 5:16). But we know that in the end, the present sorrows will be replaced with unspeakable joy (John 16:21).

Before Christ instituted the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread at the time of Moses, He poured out ten plagues on Egypt. While the first three plagues also affected the Israelites, the subsequent seven plagues did not. Especially the Passover provided physical protection from the tenth plague—the death of the firstborn. When Christ changed the Passover symbols prior to His death, He offered spiritual protection to those who would partake of the Passover in a worthy manner. But as the end draws near, physical protection for God’s people is also necessary, and so Christ tells us to watch and pray always to be counted worthy to escape all these things which will certainly occur, beginning with the Great Tribulation (Luke 21:36).

It appears that we are living now at the time referred to as the beginning of sorrows. We have not much time left to prepare for the terrible events during the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, culminating in Christ’s return. God will pour out the seven last plagues of His wrath on this world (Revelation 15:1), which will be, to an extent, similar to the plagues which He had poured out on Egypt. And as ancient Israel was spared from the seven last plagues in Egypt, so the future seven last plagues will not be poured out on spiritual Israelites either—God’s true disciples.

We are called upon to examine ourselves to make sure that we are truly in the faith—that Jesus Christ truly lives in us (2 Corinthians 13:5). We ought to do this all year, but especially now, when the Passover season is upon us (1 Corinthians 11:28). Paul tells us that we must partake of the Passover (also compare John 6:53-56), but we must do so in a worthy manner (verse 27), meaning that when we see areas in our lives which need improvement, we ought to go to God in prayer, express to Him our sorrow and grief for past mistakes and sins, and to ask Him for forgiveness and for the strength to live better lives. In recommitting to God and showing Him our sincerity and dedication, we will be able to keep the Passover in a worthy manner, which we must do.

The Days of Unleavened Bread show us that repentance and the will to live a life pleasing to God are not one-time events, which would only be limited to the Passover evening, but they are ongoing and continuing requirements for us. The number seven signifies completeness and fullness, which means for us that we must come out of sin completely and fully. Only with God is that possible, and Pentecost reminds us of the fact that God the Father and Jesus Christ live in us through the Holy Spirit dwelling IN us (John 14:23, 16-17), directing and strengthening us so that we can live in accordance with God’s Law as we ought to (Romans 8:3-4, 9).

So, let us honestly address some personal questions about ourselves. How serious are we about God and His Way of Life? In times of pressure and disappointment, failure and persecution, are we willing to give up and walk away from God, returning to Satan’s world from which God had freed us (2 Peter 2:20-22)?  Do we really love God more than anything or anyone else, and our fellow man as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40)?

Are we serious enough about keeping the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days and appreciative of the opportunity to spend time and fellowship with our brethren, if and whenever that is possible? To stay at home and listen to services over the Internet, while we could attend in person does not show the kind of love for God and our brethren which we must have. We are admonished to stir up love and not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and so much the more as we see the Day fast approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Do we still harbor grudges against others for events which might have taken place years ago, unwilling to forgive and to forget (Leviticus 19:18)? Have we, even now, given in to Satan’s evil devices by finding ourselves in quarrels and fights with others, especially with members in God’s Church? If so, it would be high time to make peace and pursue it, insofar as and as much as it depends on us (1 Peter 3:11; Romans 12:18).

So many more questions could and perhaps should be asked, and all of us need to examine ourselves individually and personally. NOW is the time, and how quickly does it pass!

In conclusion, we are wishing all of you an extremely rewarding, uplifting and meaningful Passover season. And let the God of peace be with you (Romans 15:33).

In brotherly love,

Norbert Link

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

Physical things, by their nature, deteriorate and break down. No matter how much we pay for a vehicle, the first thing we will have to replace are the tires, and then brakes and muffler. Eventually, the alternator will fail as well as the fuel pump, the water pump, and the air-cottoned compressor; and if we have the vehicle long enough, the last two things which will break down are the transmission and finally the motor.

Even our physical bodies break down until we die. The patriarchs who lived at times over nine hundred years eventually died. Our physical bodies are not designed to live for eternity, and most of us would not want to live forever with a physical body and its limitations.

Thankfully, as life moves forward, those who remain faithful to their calling will receive a new spiritual body which will not break down, but which will last forever. Especially for those of us who are older and are living with bodies that are breaking down, that is very good news. We will have a body that is fully productive twenty-four hours a day, and which never runs out of energy. Never feeling tired nor exhausted is really something to look forward to.

Our responsibilities during the Millennium, as kings, are laid out for us, which involve providing
for the physical needs of the survivors, and also the spiritual needs which is the role of priests
(Revelation 5:10).

The object is to remove any barriers which might prevent physical or spiritual growth. There will not be any confusion as to which is the correct day to worship God, since the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy Days will be in force and effect. There will be no other options as to how to worship God, and the choices to be made are obedience or disobedience, accompanied by blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, so compliance will undoubtedly win out in the end in most cases.

Those who stubbornly refuse to submit to God’s authority and have committed the unpardonable sin will be destroyed in the lake of fire, which is a merciful way to deal with them, avoiding an eternity of rebellious and unhappy behavior. Once born-again members in the God Family, we will not and cannot sin in any way; by then, we will have proven our loyalty to God and He can entrust us with eternal life, not having to worry about attempts to overthrow His government.

What our ultimate fate will be is not spelled out in any great detail, but we will not be bored and we will be fully engaged with our new spiritual bodies in whatever God has in store for us

As we are experiencing the final stages of this sick world, reflecting the twisted and perverted mind of Satan, it behooves us to remain close to God and be involved in the finishing of the Work of preaching the gospel to the world as a witness, and of feeding the flock. This responsibility which is given to the ministry needs to be supported by the church members and by anyone who chooses to become a coworker in this great task. We must give a final warning to the modern Israelite nations and the entire world as doors open to do so, and we must all grow in grace and knowledge so that we can be counted worthy to stand before the Son of Man at His return. We will then receive our crown and move forward with tremendous tasks and achievements, according to what God has in store for us.

In Christ’s Service

Rene Messier (Canada)

Download PDF

Dear Brethren and Friends,

Two years ago, we began to experience circumstances which have changed the world. Now, the Covid-19 pandemic and governmental restrictions continue to stifle the lives of most of this world’s population. Beyond the hundreds of millions of infections and the millions of deaths, daily living is no longer the “normal” of previous years. We realize of course that the figures might be inflated, as many who had been counted as having died of corona died with corona because of underlying conditions, and that lockdowns and other restrictions contributed to the death of many, as recent research confirms. In any event, the number of people who became sick and died has been staggering.

Certainly, the Church of God has suffered during this time—along with the rest of society. Deaths have occurred and several have been stricken by this infectious disease. Due to governmental lockdowns and other restrictive measures, even the ability to assemble together for weekly Sabbath services or to attend the annual Holy Days, including the Feast of Tabernacles, has been altered and made more challenging. In some areas, even attending on the Sabbath had been prohibited, and Church members had to make a choice as to whom they wanted to obey—God or man.

We have long understood that shocking events would take place as the return of Jesus Christ draws near. Prophetic warnings about the end of this age have been given by God throughout the Bible. While what is mentioned is indeed foreboding and fearful, the people of God—“the elect”—have been given reassurances for these times.

Although the statements by Jesus are plainly written down for anyone to read, few do so with understanding. Jesus spoke of “signs” which would take place in fulfillment of end-time prophecies, and among what we should watch for are these:

“Then He said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven’” (Luke 21:10-11).

Continuing…

“‘And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near’” (Luke 21:25-28).

The Church of God will exist during all of these events! That means, we will experience many of these life-changing, phenomenal occurrences! However, unlike the world, which has rebelled against God and rejected His rule, Christians have been given reassurance for help in these and future times. But we will, as David wrote, face trials of faith:

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

In this context, consider what Jesus also said:

“‘For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened’” (Matthew 24:21-22).

Some members of the Church of God will receive extraordinary protection in the very worst of times ahead of us. These are Christians identified in the message written to the “church in Philadelphia,” and here is the promise from Jesus:

“‘Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth’” (Revelation 3:10).

What is meant when Jesus speaks of persevering?

Of course, it involves being obedient to God and faithfully living our lives by following the example of Jesus Christ, but there is more! The great challenge before us is to bring the warnings of God to this world, and those warnings are part of the commission given to preach the gospel—the GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD! (Compare Matthew 24:14).

It is up to God to open doors for us to do this, and it is up to us to go through those doors. Can we do more in this regard? Yes, and we must! This is a daunting challenge, but we know this, “‘“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, Says the LORD of hosts”’” (Zechariah 4:6)—and “‘…with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26)!

Hard to imagine, even unimaginable things are coming! But we know the good news—that God the Father will intervene to put a stop to Satan’s rule and man’s rebellion. He WILL SEND JESUS CHRIST to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth!

Let me close with the words of a twelve-year-old Jesus—the very thing we must be doing: “‘Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’” (Luke 2:49).

In Christ’s Service,

Dave Harris

Download PDF

Dear Members and Friends,

We live in a world of changes. Ever since we were conceived, things have been changing. 

Nothing stays the same, and nothing goes back to the way it was. We live in the present moments that are happening—not in the past and not in the future. Everything is now! 

Solomon reminds us that there is nothing new under the sun. Were there computers or cars in his day? No! What he is trying to convey is that the thoughts of men, the things that are done, “new” things, “new” ideas coming into being, are all but of the same vein. 

When God stopped the building of the tower of Babel, it always interested me that He said in Genesis 11:6:  “And the LORD said, ‘Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.’” The power and ability to learn, grow and create things is something that God placed within mankind. This power has not stopped. 

But at what cost? Man was not allowed to proceed then because otherwise God’s plan would have been moving too fast! He had to slow things down, scatter people about, change languages. Now we are once again moving at a very fast pace, and we are building things like quantum computers to make computers faster, and 5G to move data around quicker. In China, they are building an artificial sun fusion reactor at the cost of a trillion dollars. 

Change is inevitable. We can count on change. People often fear change because it includes an element of the unknown. When we cannot control an outcome or a certain situation, it can feel scary or frustrating.

The older I get, the more I realize that God’s commands pertaining to our lives and what He has in store for us are perfect. How many times though have I fought to have my ways, my wants, my choices and decisions, without truly allowing God to lead? The choice in how to change is up to us. Do we want to change with God leading and showing us the way to go (compare Psalm 18:35-36; Proverbs 4:20-27)—or do we keep banging our heads trying to stop or divert change?

When we read the stories in the Bible and we view them from the standpoint and the idea that life is change, it is interesting to see how things changed throughout people’s lives. Everything depended on how people followed God and how they did not. It is so easy for human beings who can’t see the future or predict what will happen to make plans without including God. But this is NOT what God wants. 

God wants to be involved. In fact, when we allow Him to be involved, our lives will change! And they will change in ways we could not expect. But that initial growth in the mindset of allowing Him to lead us is the hard part! Once we start to grow that mindset, God can start working in our lives more and more. 

Christ did this perfectly! His ability to let God lead Him in all things is evident in the stories that we read and in what He had to say. In John 12:49-50, Christ shows exactly what it means to do this: “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

For Him to be able to say that means that He had learned to be in subjection to the Father in ALL things; that is, how He could be in subjection in every situation, even if this included trials and suffering. He knew exactly what to say, what to do and what to think!

We need to change. We need to deal with change. And we need to learn to do it with God leading us. The apostles learned this and wrote about it, so that we could come to learn the same thing. In 2 Peter 3:17-18 the apostle Peter (who had to learn multiple lessons in allowing God to lead him through change) wrote this to us: “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”

The knowledge of Jesus Christ includes HOW to allow God to lead us perfectly through changes in our lives. We have to be willing to learn how to allow Christ to bring us more in line with God’s Will. I love this Scripture in Romans 8 because if we truly keep it in mind at all times, it shows us that we can have faith at all times, through any and all situations. Verse 28 states: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose…” If we believe this, then we will work to learn how this happens. 

Turning to God and asking Him to lead us is making us free. No longer being frustrated and scared about the future is an incredible feeling. To know that God is for us and is going to take care of everything is life-altering. When we make that change in our thinking and in our minds, we no longer have to be enslaved to this world or anything in it. 

The ultimate change is for us to become God beings. It is going to take a little more time and effort for this to happen. But it is the one thing that we look forward to. 1 Corinthians 15:52 tells us that it will occur “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Without God’s Will and His doing, then our hope and belief would be for nothing. We need this change! Therefore we need God to lead us and to show Him that we are willing to allow Him to lead us now. 

With Christian love, 

Kalon Mitchell