Matthew 13:44

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During the Feast of Tabernacles that we just finished observing, there were many “meaty” messages. One of the themes that emerged during this time was that the Kingdom of God should be the most important priority in our life. We have all heard this at one time or another in our lives, but it was particularly poignant at the feast this year and rightly so.

There is NOTHING that is more critical, outstanding, pressing, essential, pre-eminent, foremost, grave, imperative, prominent, meaningful, momentous, substantial, remarkable, paramount, relevant, serious, crucial, significant, urgent and vital. This is and should be our number one motivation.

When we weigh the differences between a physical temporal life and an eternal spiritual life the latter wins hands down. This life that we are living here and now on this earth cannot be compared with what awaits us as
part of the God Family. What would we do that we might attain such a great reward? What wouldn’t we do?

Spending eternity in the God Family is a gift that God has offered to us if we do as He has commanded. Though it cannot be earned there are still many things He asks of us. These are the things that we are to be doing NOW. Let’s take the spiritual rejuvenation and impetus gained at the feast and refocus our efforts on our first love, the Kingdom of God.

To learn more about these subjects we suggest our booklets: God’s Commanded Holy Days, God is a Family and The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Your Relationship With God

On Saturday, October 16, 2004, Edwin Pope will be giving the sermon.titled: “Your Relationship With God.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Preaching the Gospel & Feeding the Flock

Mr. Rene Messier picked up our new book on the Mystery of Christ from the printer in Canada. Copies were sent to England and should arrive in time for distribution at the Feast site. Free copies will also be distributed at the Feast site in California. Those who will not attend at our Feast sites will receive their copies after the Feast.

In your new book, "Jesus Christ — A Mystery," as well as in your booklet, "Don't Keep Christmas," you state that Christ was not born on December 25th. Does the Bible give any indication as to when He was born?

When considering the relevant Scriptures and some external sources, we can, indeed, find out the approximate time of Christ’s birth, but it is impossible to find out the exact date.

King David had divided the priests into several “courses” or divisions — that is, each group or “course” of priests was to serve God for a specific period of time. David had established 24 of those priestly courses. Luke 1:5-9 shows that Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was of the course of Abijah (which courses are listed in 1 Chronicles 24) and that he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course or division. Each course lasted eight days — from Sabbath to Sabbath.

The account in Luke 1 records that Zacharias was serving God in the order of his division (verse 8); that he burnt incense (verse 9); and that his prayer was heard (verse 13). The angel Gabriel told him that his wife, Elizabeth, was to bear a son and his name was to be John (verse 13). Luke 1:23 clearly indicates that this event did not take place at the end of his course but sometime during his course or division, because it states that Zacharias, after he had received the vision, completed the days of his service, before he went home.

The courses started at the beginning of the sacred year. The first Hebrew month of the sacred year was called Nisan. Zacharias’ course, the course of Abijah, was eighth in order.

However, there were two sets of courses. The New Bible Commentary explains: “The course of Abijah to which Zacharias belonged, was one of twenty four courses into which David organised the priests. Each course was on duty in the temple for a week every six months.” This means, that every course ministered TWICE throughout a year.

When did the angel Gabriel appear to Zacharias? Did he appear to him during the first or the second course? As we will see, the angel appeared to Zacharias during the first course at the beginning of the year and not six months later in the autumn, when the courses started again.

To establish this point, we need to consider the time of the Messiah’s birth, and compare it then with the time of John’s conception and birth. We note that Joseph was going to be taxed (compare Luke 2:1-5). Taxation would come just after the fall harvest. The time of the fall Festivals (or annual Holy Days, such as the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles) was just after the fall harvest, when tithes were paid to the priests. History records that these taxations always took place at the end of the fall harvest, which was sometime in September or October, a logical time for taxation and travel.

In addition, we read that at that time of the year, shepherds were in the fields with their flocks (Luke 2:8), pointing again at the time of late summer or early fall. That is the time of year when Palestinian shepherds take their flocks into the field to graze at night (compare Wynne Progress, December 21, 1967, “The Christmas Story.”). However, Christ could not have been born at the end of December, the coldest month of the year, with hail and snow. Shepherds would not have been out in the fields in December.

We also read that Mary and Joseph stayed in an inn, when they arrived in Bethlehem. The word for “inn” is better translated as “guestchamber” or “guest room” (compare “Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible,” as well as Mark 14:14 and Luke 22:11, where the same Greek word, “kataluma,” is used). These guest rooms housed people in Jerusalem during the Holy Days. Christ’s birth then, based on the evidence presented herein, occurred during the FALL Holy Day season.

Based on the fact that Christ was born in early fall, we can determine that John the Baptist was conceived during the FIRST course of Zacharias’ ministry — and not the second. Note the following:

In Luke 1:26-35, Christ’s forthcoming birth was announced to Mary. The sixth month referred to in verse 36 is the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. When Mary conceived, Elizabeth was six months pregnant. Christ was born in the autumn, in late September or early October. John was born six months earlier, in March or April. This means, based on approximately nine months or 280 days of human gestation, John must have been conceived in June — during the first course of Zacharias’ ministry.

This conclusion is also supported by the established fact that the Messiah was crucified in the spring of the year, at the time of the Passover, being 33 years and six months old. He began His public ministry, when He was about 30 years old (Luke 3:23), and His ministry lasted 3 1/2 years (compare Daniel 9:27, speaking about a prophetic week of seven prophetic days. In prophecy, a day counts as a year, compare Numbers 14:34. Christ would be killed “in the middle of the week,” bringing the sacrificial system to an end, that is, after 3 1/2 years.). The Passover occurred each year on the 14th of the first Biblical moon, or month — in the latter part of March to the first part of April. If we count back six months to His 33rd birthday, we can see that His birth must have been in the autumn, in late September or the beginning of October.

We might also note that Zacharias ministered in the ninth week of the new year, because during the third week of the Passover season, all the priests were ministering. He could not have returned home immediately because he would have to minister for the course when a Holy Day, Pentecost, began, and in which his course, along with the other 23 courses, would minister. As soon as he finished his course — the eighth one — he went home and his wife conceived (Luke 1:23-24). This would have been in the middle of June. As explained above, knowing when Elizabeth conceived, we can compute the time of birth for John the Baptist. Since the human gestation period is 280 days, we can go forward this amount of time to arrive somewhere at the beginning of Nisan (late March/early April), when John the Baptist would have been born. Six months later brings us to late September, or early October, when Christ would have been born.

When we summarize all the facts stated herein, it is clear that Jesus was born in the autumn — not on December 25. However, the exact date of His birth has been hidden from man. We have seen that:

(1) The courses (or divisions) of the priests started at the beginning of the sacred year
(2) The Sacred year begins on the first of Nisan, about April
(3) Zacharias served on the eighth course (ten weeks later, because of the Passover and Pentecost)
(4) Zacharias returned home about mid-June when his wife conceived
(5) John the Baptist was born about 40 weeks or 280 days later, i.e., in about late March of the following year
(6) Mary conceived when Zacharias’s wife, Elizabeth, was six months pregnant. John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus
(7) Since John the Baptist was born about late March, Jesus, six months younger, was born probably around late September
(8) The course (or division) referred to, when the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias, was the first course of the year because:

(a) The guest chambers were made available around the time of the annual Holy Days
(b) Taxation came just after the autumnal (fall) festival season, and
(c) Christ’s ministry lasted for 3½ years, and He began His ministry, when He was about 30 years old. As He was crucified at Passover, He must have been born 33½ years earlier, which would take us back to the autumn.

The evidence that Jesus Christ was born in the autumn, during the time of the annual autumn Holy Days, is compelling. God has, however, not revealed Christ’s exact day of birth, so as to prevent that the same be observed. We are told to observe Christ’s death — not His birth — until He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26; compare, too, Psalm 116:15; Ecclesiastes 7:1).

Unpardonable Sin

On Saturday, September 25, 2004, the Day of Atonement, Norbert Link will be giving the sermon, discussing the greatly misunderstood concept of the “unpardonable sin.” Mr. Link gave this sermon last week, while in Madison, Wisconsin, but due to technical difficulties, most of the sermon was not broadcast over Internet. Due to these difficulties, Mr. Link will give the sermon again this Sabbath.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 2:30 pm Central Time, which is 12:30 pm Pacific Time. Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

This will be the last Update before the Feast of Tabernacles, which will begin in the evening of Wednesday, September 29, 2004. The next Update will be published for the week ending Friday, October 15, 2004.

We wish all of our readers a spiritually rewarding, joyful and profitable annual Holy Days season.

What Parts of Clean Animals are We Forbidden to eat?

The Bible says specifically which animals we may eat, and which we must not eat. A list of those “clean” and “unclean” animals can be found in several places, including in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. According to the Bible, such “popular” animals as pigs or swine, hares, rabbits, lobsters, shellfish, shark, or clams, are labeled “unclean” and are not to be eaten — even today.

In addition, the Bible specifically points out that we are not to eat blood or fat, even from clean animals. Leviticus 7:23-27 states:

“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘You shall not eat any fat, of ox or sheep or goat. And the fat of an animal that dies naturally, and the fat of what is torn by wild beasts, may be used in any other way; but you shall by no means eat it. For whoever eats the fat of the animals of which men offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, the person who eats it shall be cut off from his people. Moreover you shall not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, whether of bird or beast. Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.”

Beyond this, the Bible does not contain a specific prohibition to eat any parts of clean animals, including liver, kidney, heart, tongue, or stomach.

The Church of the Eternal God and its corporate affiliates in Great Britain and Canada have concluded, after a careful study of the pertinent Scriptures, that it is up to individual choice whether someone wants to eat, or abstain from the consumption of certain parts of clean animals. At the last ministerial conference, the following was included in our minutes:

“The Bible plainly says that we should not eat blood, fat or unclean meat. Apart from that, it is up to individual choice. It must never defile conscience.”

Some have concluded that liver or heart can be eaten, but not kidneys, as the priests did sacrifice the kidneys to God. However, the Bible does not tell us why this was done, and to conclude, from Scripture, that it therefore constitutes a prohibition to eat kidneys stretches the Biblical account. We must note that while God specifically states that we are not to eat fat or blood, He does not give us such a prohibition for other parts of clean animals. Notice carefully God’s prohibition in Leviticus 3:14-17:

“Then he shall offer from it his offering, as an offering made by fire to the LORD. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the LORD’s. This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood.”

The above-quoted passage refers to the peace offerings — “the only offering in which the offeror shared by eating a portion of the sacrifice… The animal could be an unblemished male or female ox (3:1), lamb, or goat (vv. 7, 12)… No mention is made of a peace offering of birds” (Ryrie Study Bible). The above-quoted passage pointed out that kidneys were to be burnt as a sacrifice, but when God gave the prohibition as to what not to eat, He only mentioned fat and blood, not kidneys (compare verse 17).

In Leviticus 7:1-10, the trespass offering is mentioned, which was to be made from a ram, as Leviticus 5:15 establishes. The priests were to eat from the meat, after doing the following: “… all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver [the fatty membrane surrounding the liver], with the kidneys, it shall he take away: And the priest shall burn them on the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a trespass offering (AV).” This passage does not include at all a prohibition to eat kidneys in general — apart from the context of a trespass offering — and even the trespass offering itself refers specifically only to a ram.

We are therefore not compelled to conclude that kidneys must not be eaten. Some feel that the definition of fat in the passages above includes kidneys, but this interpretation has been rejected by others, as going beyond the clearly revealed Word of God. If, however, somebody would eat kidneys and thereby defile his or her conscience, believing that they should not be eaten for religious or health reasons, then, of course, consumption of such food must be avoided (compare Romans 14:23).

Recently, we were asked the question whether chicken gizzards are fit to eat. According to the dictionary, a gizzard is “the second stomach of a bird, where food is broken up with the help of small stones the bird has swallowed.”

Since chicken is a permissible food, there is no reason to prohibit eating gizzards. The Bible does not say one way or the other, specifically, so it boils down to an individual decision. Some cut up gizzards and put them in Giblet Gravy for use with turkey and dressing at Thanksgiving. Others don’t eat them mainly because they are really tough to chew and one can certainly understand why, since they are used by the chicken in its digestive process. On the other hand, some like to eat them — or the stomach of the chicken — in chicken soup, and there is no Biblical prohibition — barring individual conscience — against doing so.

Unpardonable Sin

On Saturday, September 18, 2004, Norbert Link will be giving the sermon from Madison, Wisconsin. He will be discussing the greatly misunderstood concept of the “unpardonable sin.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 2:30 pm Central Time. Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

Were There "Christians" in Old Testament Times?

Not in name, of course, but yes, if we understand properly what the word “Christians” stands for. Prior to New Testament times, nobody was called a “Christian,” per se. We read, in Acts 11:26, that “the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Subsequently, the term became known as a description for Christ’s followers, and was used both by unconverted people (Acts 26:28) and by converted disciples (1 Peter 4:16).

A Christian, in the true sense of the word, is one in whom Jesus Christ lives — through the Holy Spirit. Paul said that Christ was living in him (Galatians 2:20), and that we are only true Christians, if His Spirit dwells in us: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Romans 8:9). Paul even adds the thought that we will only enter the kingdom of God by a resurrection from the dead, if the Holy Spirit dwells in us at the time of our death (Romans 8:11).

The substantial conditions based upon which we enter the Kingdom of God and inherit the promise of eternal life, are the same for every human being — regardless of whether he or she lived and died before or after Christ’s First Coming.

We know that Old Testament followers of God will be in the Kingdom of God. Christ said in Matthew 8:11: “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” We read that king David will be ruling, as king, in the Kingdom of God. Jeremiah 30:9 points out: “But they shall serve the LORD their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up for them.” Hosea 3:5 states: “Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king.” We also read: “My servant David shall be their prince forever” (Ezekiel 37:25).

We also read about a vision of the Kingdom of God, which was given to some of Christ’s disciples. In that vision, Moses and Elijah appeared in a glorified state, showing that they, too, will be in the Kingdom, once Christ establishes it here on earth (Matthew 16:28-17:9; Luke 9:27-36).

In addition, we find a rather long list of God’s Old Testament servants in the 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews. The list includes people like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Verses 39-40 explicitly state: “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise [of eternal life and of entering the Kingdom of God], God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect APART FROM us.”

So, they will be made perfect, in the first or better resurrection (compare verse 35), TOGETHER with us. In order to be resurrected, they must, however, “sleep in Jesus” (Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:14). That is, they must have believed in, and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, as there is none other than Jesus, through Whom we can be saved (compare Acts 4:12).

The Bible reveals that Christ was the Personage within the Family of God Who actually dealt directly with mankind. God the Father created everything, including man, through Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:16). Christ talked with Abraham (John 8:56-58). He was the God being Who led Israel out of Egypt (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). It was Christ Who was tried by disobedient Israel (verse 9). And, most importantly, it was the Spirit of CHRIST which dwelled in the prophets of old, as 1 Peter 1:10-11 clearly proves: “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST [WHICH] WAS IN THEM was indicating when [it] testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”

We also read that, after Samuel anointed David, “the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:13). Later, David prayed to God not to take His Holy Spirit away from him (Psalm 51: 11). Moses, too, had received God’s Holy Spirit. God took a portion of the Holy Spirit, dwelling in Moses, and gave it to seventy elders (compare Numbers 11:16-17, 25, 29). Later, Moses laid his hands on Joshua, In whom was already the Spirit of God (compare Numbers 27:18), and then “Joshua the son of Nun was FULL of the spirit of wisdom”
(Deuteronomy 34:9), that is, he received an extra portion of the wisdom of God, through God’s Spirit. Elisha asked for and received “a double portion” of Elijah’s Holy Spirit — which was, of course, IN Elijah (compare 2 Kings 2:9).

We read, too, that king Saul received the Holy Spirit, but he subsequently lost it again — showing that it IS possible to lose the gift of the Holy Spirit.

There is, however, one difference in regard to the receipt of the Holy Spirit in New Testament times, after the New Testament Church was founded. That is, that we receive the Holy Spirit today, after we are properly baptized. Today, baptism as an adult, after repentance and belief, is commanded and is the only guarantee that we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (barring extraordinary circumstances). Our free booklet, “Baptism – A Requirement for Salvation?,” explains this truth in detail. When reviewing the Old Testament record, we don’t read that the ancients, in Old Testament times, were baptized prior to the receipt of the Holy Spirit, but we DO read that some had, within them, the Holy Sprit of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

We also read that the gospel of the Kingdom was preached to Abraham (Galatians 3:8) and to ancient Israel (Hebrews 4:2). This message included the announcement of man’s potential for his entrance in the Kingdom of God, through Christ, and the rule of Christ, as King of kings, over all the earth, in the future (compare Isaiah 8:6-7).

In order to be able to enter the Kingdom of God, we must repent of our sins and obtain forgiveness, by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We do so, today, by looking to the past — what Christ did for us, when He died for us. The ancients of old, who had been called by God, looked forward to this event, believing that Christ would accomplish it. In a sense, this even required more faith, and we can understand why Abraham, for example, is called “the father of all those who believe” (Romans 4:11). Paul gives a remarkable testimony about Abraham’s faith, in Romans 4:13-21. Abraham believed God who “calls those things which do not exist [yet] as though they did” (verse 17). Abraham was “fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (verse 21). God had promised that Christ would become the Savior of mankind (compare Matthew 1:21; John 1:29). He was the One “slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). Although it was certainly possible for Christ, when He was in the flesh, to sin, God the Father and Jesus Christ had the utmost confidence that Christ would not sin.

The ancients of old had to have that same faith, as well, believing in Christ as their Savior, BEFORE He had even died for them. Only the Spirit of Christ within them could have given them that kind of faith.

In conclusion, although the holy saints of God, living in Old Testament times, were not specifically referred to as “Christians,” they were, indeed, Christians, as we understand this expression today.

Such Great Faith

On Saturday, September 11, 2004, Dave Harris will be giving the sermon, titled, “Such Great Faith.”

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at 12:30 pm Pacific Time (which is 2:30 pm Central Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

The Feast of Trumpets is next week – from Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset. Date – September 16.

Please note that there will be two services that day:

Norbert Link will be speaking from Madison, Wisconsin at 11:00am CT; and Edwin Pope will be speaking from San Diego, CA. at 4:30pm CT. Norbert Link will also conduct Sabbath Services in Madison on September 18, 2004 2:30pm CT.

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