Update 488

On April 23, 2011, Robb Harris will give the sermon, titled, “Building a Foundation on Lies.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

On Monday, April 25, 2011, is the Last Day of Unleavened Bread. Eric Rank will be giving the sermon in the morning, titled, “Seek God Diligently,” and Dave Harris will give the sermon in the afternoon, titled, “This Day.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm Pacific Time, respectively (which is 11:00 am Mountain Time; 12:00 pm Central Time; 1:00 pm Eastern Time for the morning service; and 3:00 pm Mountain Time; 4:00 pm Central Time; 5:00 pm Eastern Time for the afternoon service). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Jesus Christ “…gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4); furthermore, “…He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5).
 
The Son of God died for us! He committed no sin (compare 1 Peter 2:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15).
 
However, the Bible clearly reveals and bluntly states this about the rest of mankind: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Here is the reason: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7-8).
 
A change must occur!
 
For those who have this knowledge; who have been called by God; who have repented of sin; and who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit–conversion is taking place if we are continuing to become more and more like Jesus Christ!
 
Becoming a Christian is not just a single event–something we choose to say we are–it is a process of living just like Christ lived! Note how Paul addresses this:
 
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
 
Now, while we are instructed to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5), we are additionally reminded that we are still battling sin:
 
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 1:8-10; 2:1-2).
 
While we have just once again commemorated the death of Jesus Christ by observing the Passover (compare 1 Corinthians 11:23-26), we now are in the midst of observing the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread–which includes a special Holy Day on both the first and last of these days (compare Leviticus 23:6-8). During this time we are to eat only bread (or other food) that is unleavened, as well as put all leaven out of our homes. In addition, God’s instruction is that some unleavened bread is to be eaten each day of this Feast (compare Exodus 13:3-10).
 
Paul uses this observance to show that we are to also be removing sin from our lives—this is what the true Church of God has continued to practice:
 
“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).
 
As we carefully clean our lives of leaven–a type of sin–let us be even the more diligent to remove and eliminate sin, “…for sin is the transgression of the law” (KJV 1 John 3:4).

We begin with a report on the events in Egypt that are leading to the implementation of Shariah; relay the hopeless involvement NATO now finds itself in with Libya; highlight Europe’s new position as “protector”; address the new constitution of Hungary and the growing movement to “declare” a Palestinian State by the U.N.; and, finally, touch on several aspects of the mounting problems striking the United States.

Egypt’s Revolution Continues

“The Financial Times Deutschland writes:

“‘The announcement of Mubarak’s arrest is not entirely satisfactory. If the military council can decide on its own whim when Mubarak should be turned over to the judiciary, it raises questions about the legal system in place. It certainly makes one doubt the existence of democratic principles such as the separation of powers. That is true even if a trial against Mubarak is a positive development. In other cases too, the legal arbitrariness of the military reminds one of the Mubarak regime.’

“‘The generals should only stay in power until the Egyptians elect a democratic government. But such a change will hardly be successful if the military cement their hold on the country’s leadership. An independent judiciary, press freedoms and freedom of expression must all be part of a democratic transition. Western politicians, who presented themselves as friends of the democracy movement in the days after Mubarak’s fall, need to demand that democratic criteria are met. Egypt’s revolution has not yet been won.’”

From Newsmax.com, April 18, 2011:

“The Muslim Brotherhood’s mask is slipping in Egypt. Small ‘d’ democrats there and elsewhere are alarmed by top Brotherhood officials who now aver openly what has been utterly predictable: Once in power they will impose Shariah — the totalitarian, supremacist politico-military-legal program practiced in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, and increasingly elsewhere.

“The prospect that the most populous Arab nation, one that sits astride the strategic Suez Canal and has a vast American-supplied arsenal, is heading in such an ominous direction is made all the more remarkable since the Obama administration has done nothing to deter the rise of the Ikhwan (as the Muslim Brotherhood is known in Arabic).”

Gadhafi Not So Easy!

SpiegelOnline, April 15, 2011, reports:

“During their summit in Berlin, NATO foreign ministers have failed to make much progress on how to proceed with its mission in Libya. German commentators warn that a lack of resolve against Moammar Gadhafi could reveal the alliance as an impotent Cold War relic.

“A two-day NATO summit in Berlin this week has been hosted, in part, by German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who awkwardly distinguished himself in the UN Security Council’s vote last month on military aid for Libyan rebels by a surprise abstention. Accordingly, when NATO members met on Thursday to decide what to do next, Westerwelle had to choose his words carefully. ‘What unites us is the goal,’ he told his colleagues in Berlin. ‘We want a free and democratic Libya.’”

BILD reported on April 15, 2011:

“If it continues like that, Muammar al-Gadhafi will remain the dictator of Libya long after NATO has ceased to exist as a functioning military alliance. The Americans, French and British could prevent a massacre against the Gadhafi opponents. This is to be applauded.
 
“But then NATO wanted to be in charge. But that was too much. 

“The 28 states of the alliance have no common goal and no common idea as to how much to risk militarily. It is the announcement of capitulation.
 
“When Germany felt it was extremely clever to vote during the UN Security Council meeting against the three main NATO partners, it became clear: A half crazy desert despot can divide the West. Just that.
 
“That should have warned NATO. Now it is paralyzed. It cannot just abandon its military activity. It cannot accept a stalemate with Gadhafi. But what it would need, to get rid of him, for instance ground troops, it cannot achieve.
 
“This way, the alliance is abolishing itself.”
 
BBC, April 20, 2011, adds:

“At the moment, political and diplomatic contacts are not bringing an end to the war any closer. Britain and France are Nato’s hawks on Libya, and aren’t prepared to negotiate with the government here until Col Gaddafi goes.

“That means they do not have an easy or fast exit from the war. Deploying military advisers means they are deepening their involvement.

“And despite what the Libyan foreign minister has said about what could happen after an election, Col Gaddafi shows no signs at all of stepping aside, let alone leaving the scene.”

Soon, NATO will be replaced by a powerful United States of Europe.

Europe: The New Protector?

WorldNetDaily, on April 18, 2011, reported:

“The European Union might intervene militarily to halt violent clashes between protesters and the governments of Syria, Bahrain and Yemen, according to one official, Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin reports.

“Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister Zsolt Nemeth has warned of a Libyan-style military intervention as a “distinct possibility” unless these regimes stop the killings and repression of demonstrators and “[clean] up their acts.”

“Security forces reportedly have killed some 23 people Bahrain, 122 in Syria and 63 in Yemen.

“At a recent European Parliament meeting, Nemeth said that the parliament had been discussing countries ‘where there are authoritarian regimes which are also playing with fire, and where there is a risk of intervention.’

“‘I think we have sent out a very clear and important signal that came from the (EU) high representative (Catherine Ashton) and that is a very crucial message to these three countries,’ Nemeth said. ‘They know that in Libya and also in the Ivory Coast there have been military interventions and that’s always a possibility.’

“Nemeth pointed to an evolving approach by Europeans as shaping a ‘very clear philosophy under the motto of “the responsibility to protect” and that should be a warning sign to Yemen, Bahrain and indeed to all of those countries which maintain authoritarian regimes.’”

Declaring a Palestinian State

WorldNetDaily posted on April18, 2011:

“The Obama administration has asked the Palestinian Authority to halt talks on a unity government with Hamas, according to a senior PA official.

“The official said the White House fears a unity government with the Islamist group would make it difficult for the U.S. and European Union to support the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state in the United Nations.

“The information is the latest indicator Obama will not veto the controversial U.N. resolution, which would recognize a Palestinian state in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip as well as the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem, purportedly including the Temple Mount.

“Like Jerusalem, the West Bank, or Judea and Samaria, is the site of biblical, historically Jewish communities.”

Also, from the EUOBSERVER, 4/14/11:

“The Palestinian Authority has welcomed endorsement of a UN report on institution building as a ‘birth certificate’ for statehood amid Israeli concern over a potential unilateral declaration of independence.

“The Ad-hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) on Palestine at a meeting in the EU capital on Wednesday (13 April) endorsed a UN report which says that in six key areas – rule of law, the economy, education, health, social protection and infrastructure – in the West Bank ‘government functions are now sufficient for a functioning government of a state.’

“The AHLC is an international body comprising the EU, US, Israel, Canada, Norway, Russia, four Arab countries, the UN, the World Bank and the IMF.

“The endorsement comes ahead of a UN meeting in September in which Israel fears the Palestinian side will unilaterally declare independence in territories under its control before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war due to a stalemate in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

“Speaking after the event in Brussels, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said: ‘This very important meeting effectively recognised the reality of a state of Palestine being projected on the territory occupied in 1967, which amounts effectively to a birth certificate for the reality of Palestinian statehood.’

“Asked by press if the move makes a unilateral declaration more likely, he said he would favour a final settlement recognised by Israel: ‘We are not looking for yet another declaration, or for a virtual state.’

“He went on to note that the AHLC-UN decision, plus related decisions to grant the Palestinian Authority observer status in the WTO and tariff-free exports to the EU, are ‘reflective’ of growing support for independence, however.

“‘These are important developments and we see them as reflective. A lot of countries around the world stand ready to offer that recognition. Of course, exactly when they do so precisely is a time for their choosing.’”

These moves are prophetically significant. Indeed, the Bible, in Zechariah 12, verses 2-3, indicates that all nations will gather against the City of Jerusalem. Our free booklet— “The Book of Zechariah, Prophecies for Today!”—gives more details about these momentous occurrences!

Hungary’s Controversial New Constitution

From Deutsche Welle, April 18, 2011:

“Lawmakers from Hungary’s governing majority have approved a controversial new constitution amid a boycott by the opposition. Critics fear a ban on abortion and discrimination against homosexuals and non-Christians.

“With a two-thirds majority in parliament, Hungary’s ruling center-right party effortlessly pushed through a controversial new constitution Monday that the opposition deems an attack on democracy and citizens’ rights…

“Critics say the constitution is the government’s attempt to cement its power beyond its term, alleging that it eliminates the system of checks and balances, prevents Hungary’s eventual adoption of the euro, forces its Christian ideology on the country and limits civil liberties.

“The new constitution’s preamble is laden with references to God, Christianity, the fatherland, the ‘Holy Crown of Hungary,’ and traditional family values, raising opposition fears about the future rights of Hungary’s atheists, homosexuals and single-parent families.

”However, the majority in parliament did not share these fears. Laszlo Kover, a Fidesz parliamentarian and speaker of the house welcomed the new basic law, saying it ‘acknowledges Christianity as the basis of our civilization but it ensures moral freedom.’

The article adds:

“German deputy foreign minister, Werner Hoyer, commented on Monday in Tunis that Hungary’s current course was not in line with European values.

“‘We are observing the developments in Hungary with great attention and not without concern,’ he was quoted as saying on the German Foreign Ministry’s website.”

In its article dated April 20, The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has no problem with the new constitution:

“The preamble may seem antiquated to Western observers. But for the big majority of Hungarians in the country and for the Hungarian minorities abroad, the references to a ‘national statement of faith’ and a ‘holy crown’ are values as worthy of the constitution as are references to God and Christendom and the emphasis on marriage and family as foundations of society and state. There is no evidence in the text that the amendments are not in line with basic European values, as [Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor] Orban’s opponents are claiming.”

S&P Downgrade—U.S. Negative!

The Guardian.co.uk published on April 19, 2011:

“Shares fell heavily on Wall Street on Monday after a leading ratings agency fanned fears of Europe’s debt crisis spreading across the Atlantic by issuing a strong warning about America’s failure to tackle its budget deficit.

“In a move seen by Wall Street as a ‘shot across the bows’ of bickering politicians in Washington, Standard and Poor’s (S&P) said it was cutting the outlook on the US’s long-term rating from stable to negative for the first time since the attack on Pearl Harbor 70 years ago.

“The announcement surprised the financial markets, where attention in recent months has been focused on the problems of the weaker nations of the eurozone. Renewed speculation that Greece will be forced to default on its debts led to a sharp sell-off in the euro, but S&P stressed that the US was not immune from the sovereign debt crisis.”

This bad news for the U.S. comes on the heels of a growing push to replace the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency. However, with the U.S. economy suffering on more and more fronts, the Euro is emerging as the most stable monetary unit—something we have been reporting as a key and decisive fulfillment of prophecies concerning an all-powerful, revived Europe!

Texas Burns!

CNN published on April 20, 2011:

“Texas firefighters Wednesday battled blazes that have scorched more than a million acres and have been burning for more than a week, according to the Texas Forest Service.

“‘We’re actually seeing Texas burn from border to border. We’ve got it in west Texas, in east Texas, in north Texas, in south Texas — it’s all over the state, Forest Service spokeswoman April Saginor told CNN Radio.”

This article also states that the reason for these fires is lack of rainfall; and, as the next article shows, weather problems in the U.S. are widespread—even historic!

Tornadoes Ravage the Southern U.S.

AccuWeather.com wrote on April 17, 2011:

“From Thursday, April 14, 2011 to Saturday, April, 16, 2011, devastating tornadoes rampaged across communities of the southern United States. Cities and towns from Oklahoma to North Carolina were assaulted by the deadly twisters.

“The tornado outbreak led to a total of 241 tornado reports in 14 states over the three-day period. This will likely rank this tornado outbreak among the largest in history.

“Tragically, the death toll has risen to 39 people so far with dozens of others injured. The number of fatalities could rise as investigations continue. This tornado outbreak already ranks as the most deadly outbreak since the 2008 Super Tuesday tornado outbreak.

“In North Carolina alone, close to two dozen eople were killed on Saturday, while seven people were killed in Alabama on Friday…

“This mid-April 2011 tornado outbreak is likely to rank among the largest tornado outbreaks in history with 241 tornado reports.

“‘There has not been a tornado outbreak in history over three days with this many tornadoes spawned by a single storm system,’ according to [Expert Senior Meterorologist Henry] Margusity.”

California’s Newest Curriculum!

The Telegraph reported on April 17, 2011:

“Children would take lessons on issues affecting gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, with schools granted discretion about what age to start the lessons.

“The law was passed by the state’s senate and is likely to pass the assembly easily, which is also controlled by the Democrats, before being signed by Governor Jerry Brown.

“The legislation, sponsored by Democrat Mark Leno of San Francisco, passed on a 23-14 party line vote.

“‘We are second-class citizens and children are listening,’ he said. ‘When they see their teachers don’t step up to the plate when their classmate is being harassed literally to death, they are listening and they get the message that there is something wrong with those people.’

“Republican state Senator Doug La Malfa opposed the bill saying: ‘I’m deeply troubled kids would have to contemplate at a very, very early age, when many of us are teaching abstinence … what is sexuality.’

“California law already requires schools to cover the contributions to the state and nation of women, African Americans, Mexican Americans, entrepreneurs, Asian Americans, European Americans, American Indians and labour activists. The new bill will also add the disabled to the list.”

The Bible also records accounts of “gay history”—specifically, in Genesis 19, where the story of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is told. However, it is doubtful that this history will be a part of California’s newest teaching curriculum!

In Matthew 26:21, Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray Him— much to their sorrow (v 22). In verse 25, we read: “Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, ‘Rabbi, is it I?’ He said to him, ‘You have said it.’”

This betrayal was prophesied in Psalm 41:9: “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.”

We read of this betrayal in Matthew 26:14-16: “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?’ And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.”

In Matthew 26:47-49, we read of this betrayal: “And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.’ Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him.”

So did he commit the unpardonable sin and miss out on salvation?

In our booklet “Do We Have an Immortal Soul?” the following comments are made on pages 29 & 30:

“From other Scriptures we know that there are at least two ways in which the unpardonable sin can be committed.

“Jesus warns us in Mark 3:28–29, not to ‘blaspheme’ the Holy Spirit, regardless of whether we are converted or not. If we do, we reject the only power that can convert and change us. And if we continue with that course of action of resisting God and refusing to repent, then we might reach a point when it will become impossible for us to repent. We will then have made the final, irrevocable decision never to repent and to change. Such an attitude will lead to actual hate and resentment for God and His way. You see, if we don’t want to repent, God will not grant us repentance. And without repentance, there can be no forgiveness. That is why a sin which we refuse to repent of, will not be forgiven.

“In addition, converted people who have received the gift of God’s Holy Spirit, can commit the unpardonable sin, if and when they later fall away and irrevocably reject God’s way of life (cp. Hebrews 6:4–6; Hebrews 10:26–29).

“As long as we have the desire to go God’s way and to change—as long as we hate the wrong things that we do—as long as we want God’s Holy Spirit to enable us to overcome our sinful carnal nature, we have not committed the unpardonable sin. If, on the other hand, we have received understanding and then begin to reject that understanding and God’s way of life, then we are walking on dangerous ground.

“What is our attitude towards sin? Are we indifferent about it? Does it matter to us whether we sin or not? Do we try to justify sin, or to blame others for sin in our lives? This approach will never grant us favor with God—will never allow us to continue repenting of the wrong in our lives.

“On the other hand, if we love God’s way, if we want to go God’s way, if we want God to help us to get rid of what’s wrong with the way we are, then God will help us—and we don’t need to worry whether or not we have committed the unpardonable sin.

“Christ, in His parable as recorded in Luke 16, portrays a rich man who is totally indifferent to sin and to the pain and suffering of others. Although Christ does not give us many details about the wicked life of the rich man (as He does not give us many details about the righteous life of Lazarus, either), it is clear from the context that the rich man has indeed committed the unpardonable sin—he has reached the final point of no return, as he has become unwilling to repent and to change.”

Based on this understanding, Judas could not have committed the unpardonable sin. He realized that he had committed a grave mistake very soon afterwards, as we read in Matthew 27:3-5: “Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ And they said, ‘What is that to us? You see to it!’ Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.”

The record of Judas’ final actions were those not unlike criminals of our day—even those who commit murder and then later on are sorry. However, Judas did not, at that time, repent to God. In fact, Judas killed himself, adding another sin to his previous ones!

In John 20:22, we read the following about Jesus’ actions and His words—all of which happened after His resurrection but before the day of Pentecost: “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit…’” We note that at this point, Judas Iscariot was already dead, and he was, of course, not among these disciples to whom Jesus promised the giving of the Holy Spirit.

In our Q&A in the Update 217, November 11th 2005, the following was written:

“In John 20:22, we read that Christ, after His resurrection, but before His ascension to heaven and the subsequent Day of Pentecost, breathed upon the disciples and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ Some erroneously teach that on that occasion, Christ gave His disciples the Holy Spirit (compare Nelson Study Bible and the Ryrie Study Bible, comments to John 20). Others understand correctly that Christ did not give the Holy Spirit to His disciples at that time. The New Bible Commentary: Revised explains: ‘The breathing upon them of the Spirit is understandable since the Greek “pneuma” means both breath and spirit. This would appear to be in anticipation of Pentecost, although some specific assurance of the conveyance of the gift is clearly given here.

”The Bible makes it very clear that Christ’s early apostles and disciples received the Holy Spirit AFTER Christ’s ascension–on the Day of Pentecost, in 31 AD, as recorded in Acts 2. We read in Acts 2:1-4 that they were in Jerusalem (Acts 1:12; 2:5) and that they were filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. In Acts 2:16-18, Peter, in quoting from the writings of the prophet Joel, emphasizes that the Holy Spirit was poured on them on the Day of Pentecost. He also explains in verse 33: ‘Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He [Jesus Christ] poured out this what you NOW see and hear.’ They saw and heard a rushing wind, divided tongues as of fire, and the speaking with other tongues or languages.

”After Christ’s resurrection, but before His ascension, Christ told His apostles and disciples: ‘Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem UNTIL you are endued with power from on high’ (Luke 24:49). In Acts 1:4-5, 8, the risen Christ reiterated His promise: ‘And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you SHALL BE baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now… you SHALL receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem…”

”We read in Acts 1:9: ‘Now when He had spoken these things [promising them the receipt of the Holy Spirit IN THE FUTURE], while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.’ When Christ was taken up to heaven, His apostles and disciples had not yet received the Holy Spirit; but they were commanded to wait in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4) for the receipt of the Holy Spirit ‘not many days from now’ (Acts 1:5). And as we saw, it was in Jerusalem, on the Day of Pentecost, when they received the Holy Spirit.

”While still in the flesh, Christ had promised His disciples on several occasions that the Holy Spirit would be given to them in the future (compare John 14:17, 26; 16:13). That actual event, and the fulfillment of that promise, occurred when the New Testament Church came into existence–on the Day of Pentecost–not before then.”

Jesus had previously said in John 16:7 “‘Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send it to you.’” The Helper, the Holy Spirit was not given until the Day of Pentecost which we read about in Acts 2:1-4. “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

In John 6:66, even after all of Jesus’ preaching, teaching and healing, we read: “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” And in Acts 1:15, we read that there were only about 120 disciples after the 3½ years ministry of Jesus where He fed 5,000 and did many wonderful things for so many people. None of them had been given the Holy Spirit and, perhaps, were not being called at that time.

Therefore, when Judas betrayed Jesus, the Holy Spirit had not yet been given and he had not received this. Also, the record is that Judas was remorseful when he realized what he had done, but this was human sorrow. It is clear, therefore, that Judas did not commit the unpardonable sin and has not lost his chance for salvation by betraying Jesus. He will be resurrected in the Great White Throne Judgment (the second resurrection) and then will have his opportunity for true godly repentance and for salvation, at that time.

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

Reports from England, Germany, Oregon, California and Colorado concerning the observance of Passover and the First Day of Unleavened Bread were received, and the news was very positive. Further details, especially concerning the visit by Norbert and Johanna Link and family to Germany, will be given following the Days of Unleavened Bread.