We have just completed the observance of God’s fall festivals and in so doing have now for another year kept God’s Annual Holy Days in accordance with His instructions (Lev. 23, Numbers 28 & 29, Deut. 16).

Upon returning home we now must immediately face the holidays of this world’s religions, which have been established by men in the keeping of their religious ideas. These days have been set aside by men for the intended purpose of honoring God. Yet, He admonishes us not to do such things! (Deut 12: 29-32).

Just today, I read an article in The Californian, an edition of The North County Times, in which author Caryl Krueger, in an effort to “focus on fun” in the observance of Halloween, suggests that youngsters be educated in the tradition of Halloween.

Quoting from this article, Ms. Krueger writes, ” What can we do to reinvent this celebration, formerly beloved by families?

“Well, Halloween can be saved. First, let’s consider how the word is pronounced since that has something to do with how it is celebrated. It is not hollow-een, as many say. Hollow means empty or worthless. It is Hallow-een. To hallow means to make holy or blessed. Halloween means holy evening, the night before All Saints’ Day.

“Share with your youngsters the way some Halloween traditions started. The Irish contributed jack-o’-lanterns. These commemorated a miserly person named Jack who was unable to enter heaven because of his sins, nor could he go to hell since he had played pranks on the devil. So he was doomed to walk the earth with his lantern.”

She goes on to write of, “… the ancient Druids, who thought that witches, ghosts, fairies, and spirits roamed about trying to harm people. They also thought that cats were sacred and they were formerly human beings being punished for evil deeds.

“These same Druids held a festival each autumn called Samhain (pronounced SOW-en, with the first syllable rhyming with plow) to honor the end of summer. Other Europeans had a similar harvest celebration.

“Then in the year 700 when the Roman Catholic Church established November 1st as All Saints Day, all the old pagan customs and the Christian feast day were combined into one grand festival for October 31, the night before All Saints Day.”

What has God continually told His people concerning such pagan practices and the combining of His truth with the teachings of this world, which we know as syncretism?

“You shall not worship the Lord your God that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods” (Deut. 12:31).

God tells us in Amos 5:21 – “I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies.”

Yes, God hates the traditions that have been established by men in the worship of their gods and he forbids us to have a part in such doings, especially in our worship of Him. They are anathema to God and to His Way and we must not have anything to do with those ways.

Let’s be aware now, more than ever before, as the evils of this world and their leader, Satan the devil, try to beguile God’s chosen people away from the One True God and His Truth – For we must be diligent to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4: 23-24).

Anything contrary to His teachings is unacceptable to God!

Growing up we used to play a game called “That’s Good, That’s Bad”. One person would start a scenario and then everyone would chime in accordingly and say, “That’s good!”, except for the next person in the circle who would say, “No, that’s bad because…” and then everyone would say in unison, “Oh, that’s bad!”, except for the next person in the circle who would say, “No, that’s good because…” and so on and so forth.

For example:
A young man went riding on his favorite horse one day.
That’s good.
No, that’s bad because he fell off and broke his leg.
Oh, that’s bad
No, that’s good because a war broke out and he wasn’t able to be recruited.
Oh, that’s good.
No, that’s bad because…

It was a good opportunity to teach us as children that not everything that seemed good was good nor was everything that seemed bad,bad.

The same is true for us today as adults in God’s Church. We are enduring many trials and sometimes we may wonder to what end. We may ask ourselves how anything good could possibly come out of what I am going through now. We can rest assured knowing that God is working out a purpose in our lives, one in which He is refining us and shaping us into His image.

There is a reason for what we are going through now and many times when we say, “Oh, that’s bad”, God is saying, “No, that’s good!”. During these times of hardship it is our part to be happy with whatever state that find ourselves in and to be thankful in all things as God does a GOOD work in us.
 

This title is from a song by the same name. It was recorded by Bing
Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1944. The opening lyrics are:

You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between

A good message for that time of
World War II-likewise, this is a theme we could all embrace in our
dealings with each other. In a time when we have such staggering
material abundance, we find ourselves woefully in need of satisfying,
productive and lasting human relationships. One key for improvement is
found in HOW we approach our various relationships-whether family,
friend, neighbor, co-worker and, yes, even strangers.

In the
Bible, in Philippians 4:8, note the approach that Christians are taught
to have: “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.”

This teaching will become more than lofty platitudes IF we put it to practice!

For
example, a coach may watch a youngster shoot a basketball time after
time and miss. But when he makes the shot, he reinforces it with a
short compliment, a nod or smile. That positive, correct action is the
building block for making more shots. Life is not so different. We all
need to watch for opportunities to find the good in our dealings with
others.

All of us need positive examples to look to. Those who
follow Christ have that kind of example-and that without parallel! We
also need positive feedback. This is a responsibility we can fulfill
with each other by adopting an approach filled with the positive.

Too
much of the substance of our lives in this generation is fueled by what
is wrong. It is rather easy to get swept along with this pattern of
behavior-even for those who now know better!

Let’s all take
inventory of our relationships, and let each of us, individually, work
on how we relate to everyone – it’s not so hard, just “accentuate the
positive!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How closely are we duplicating our Christianity from the Original?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Penticton is a medium size city, by Canadian standards, of less than 30,000 nestled between two mountains and two lakes — Okanagan Lake to the north and Skaha Lake to the south. It is a semi arid fruit-growing region. There are orchards of apples, peaches, pears, apricots, and cherries. Scattered throughout the region within half an hour from town, there are nine wineries, some offering tours. The weather in late September should be in the seventies.

The town has three shopping malls plus the downtown center. There are plenty of good restaurants from fast food to four course meals at a few selective restaurants either in town or within thirty minutes drive. There is an airport at the south end of town for those flying. There are places to walk, bike and drive if one wishes. There are three golf courses within 30 minutes, one right in town. Horseback riding within 30 minutes and an amusement park, I hope, will still be open.

The current exchange rate is 1.56, which means for every $100.00 US you get $156.00 Canadian. You are better off waiting to get here and exchange your money at a local bank. There are several pubs that offer good menus, two bowling alleys and a theatre. God’s people have used Penticton as a Feast site for some 34 years and we are confident you will really enjoy Penticton.

We are planning a bike trip from Summerland to Penticton on the Kettle Valley right of way, coming back along Hwy 97. This should take about two and a half hours. For those not so inclined there is a tour on a steam locomotive in Summerland that should take about two hours. After this, there will be a barbecue and talent night at my house in Summerland. All of these activities will occur on Monday, Sept.23rd. The train ride costs $17.00; bikes can be rented for $20.00.

On Wednesday, Sept 25th, from 4-6 PM, we are planning a dinner boat cruise on Okanagan Lake. Included in the price of $27.00 per person will be a chicken dinner meal with bar service. Since the boat has capacity of only 48, we must operate on a first come first serve basis. Tickets will be sold at the information booth starting on Sunday, Sept. 22nd. On Thursday, Sept. 26th, we will have a dinner dance. Music will be supplied from our personal selection. The meal will be served with a choice of meat (beef) or fish (salmon) with all the trimmings, and will include tea, coffee and desert. Wine is available but is extra. The cost is $22.00, which includes taxes and tip. We will need those attending the dinner dance to sign up on Sunday for this also. Senior luncheon will be on Friday the 27th at 1:30, people, age 60 or over, are free. Those wishing to attend the senior luncheon, who are under the age of 60, are welcome for a price just under $11.00. Please sign up for the senior luncheon on Sunday also, as we need to get the numbers to the caterers for the meal preparation. There will be a farewell luncheon provided at 2:00 PM on the Last Great Day, Sept. 28th. There will be no cost to the brethren for this meal, but we do need to know how many will be attending, so please sign up for this also.

We will have sign up lists at the information booth and tickets available for all activities, beginning September 22nd.

Please plan to attend as many activities as possible, and as fits your budget. We would like to ask you to sign up as early as possible at the information booth for the activities, which you plan to participate in, so we can properly prepare for each activity. Thanks for your co-operation and we are looking forward to seeing you in Penticton.
 

(Editor’s Note: This editorial is written in response to questions and comments we have received in recent weeks. We feel this information is vital and timely and are providing our answer in this week’s Editorial Section of the Update).

Sometimes, we are asked whether we believe that Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong was an apostle and the “Elijah to come,” who “restored all things.”

We clearly believe that Mr. Armstrong was an apostle. We also believe that Mr. Armstrong was the late leader of the Church of God, to which God gave the commission to fulfill the role of the end-time Elijah. We therefore continue in the preaching and teaching of the doctrines, which we all learned under Mr. Armstrong.

We differ, however, from those who state that nothing can be changed since the death of Mr. Armstrong in 1986, as God revealed all of His knowledge to Mr. Armstrong and the Church at that time, and everything had been restored by the time of Mr. Armstrong’s death.

Our Statement of Beliefs addresses this question in the following way:

“The major doctrines of the Church are those, which were taught by Herbert W. Armstrong, derived from the biblical teachings as followed by God’s faithful servants, and originally established by Jesus Christ through the founding of His Church in the time of His chosen early apostles. Since we are to increase in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, we are committed to review and alter any of our teachings, if and when proven to be wrong by the Bible.”

Our position is exactly the same, as taught by Mr. Armstrong. He admonished us to follow him, as he followed Jesus Christ. He said time and time again, “Don’t believe me. Believe the Bible.” He also admonished us to change, when proven wrong by the bible.

Please note the following excerpts from a member letter, written by Mr. Armstrong on August 24, 1982 (emphasis in the original and added):

“What about the prophet Elijah? The original Scriptures, prior to Christ’s first coming, close with these words: ‘Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come [second coming] and smite the earth with a curse [total destruction]’ (Mal.4:5-6).

“Was John the Baptist the Elijah that was to come? When asked that question he said, ‘No.’ Jesus explained that John had come ‘in the power and spirit of Elijah’ – a different man, but carrying out the mission preparing for Jesus’ first coming…

“Now why, then, was Elijah YET, in the future, to come – just before the ‘day of the Lord?’ Verse 11 [of Matthew 17], Jesus said ‘to restore all things.’ John the Baptist DID NOT do that! Even Jesus did not come the first time to ‘restore all things.’ He came over 1,900 years ago to announce the KINGDOM OF GOD, which will restore all things. He came to set up his CHURCH – but not then to set up the KINGDOM. The Church was merely the embryo that shall BECOME the Kingdom of God WHEN RESURRECTED – when changed to immortal SPIRIT – at Christ’s second coming.

“Now notice where Jesus is NOW! He (God) ‘shall send Jesus Christ…’ back to earth, ‘whom the heaven must receive UNTIL THE TIMES OF RESTITUTION [RESTORATION] OF ALL THINGS…’ (Acts 3:20-21).

“Jesus shall come, SOON NOW, to RESTORE ALL THINGS. He did NOT restore all things when he first came. John the Baptist did not ‘restore all things.’ But the one who was to ‘restore all things’ just before the ‘day of the Lord’ and preparing the way for Christ’s second coming, was YET to come, in the future, as Jesus said.

“Now what are the ‘all things’ to be RESTORED? ‘Restitution’ means restore to a former state or condition…

“Jesus QUALIFIED to restore God’s government – to set up the KINGDOM OF GOD, ruling over the earth, administered by the GOVERNMENT OF GOD. Jesus’ Gospel Message was the GOOD NEWS that he would (at his second coming) RESTORE the government of God through the KINGDOM OF GOD…

“Have WE, through this Work, RESTORED anything? Indeed we have! We have RESTORED the TRUE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRST! Through us, JESUS CHRIST has already begun RESTORING the KNOWLEDGE of what had been taken away the GOVERNMENT OF GOD. Through us the living Christ has been preparing for his SECOND COMING for the PURPOSE of RESTORING ALL THINGS!

“NONE OTHER has RESTORED the knowledge of the fact GOD’S GOVERNMENT was established on earth, and then DESTROYED and taken away by the Cherub Lucifer (Satan) and his demons….

“[Christ has been] OUR HIGH PRIEST, preparing us to RULE in his KINGDOM when he comes to RESTORE ALL THINGS!

“It is the living JESUS CHRIST who had been ACTUALLY DOING the Work. He has used YOU and me as his INSTRUMENTS!

“Do we realize HOW NEAR we now are to Christ’s coming and the final restoration of all things…?”

Mr. Armstrong emphasized time and time again that Christ gave His Church (of which Mr. Armstrong was the human leader until his death in 1986) the end-time Elijah commission of preparing the world for Christ’s Second Coming, and of turning the heart of the fathers to their children, and vice versa. This commission did not stop when Mr. Armstrong died. It has to continue, and it is the purpose of the Church of the Eternal God to do so.

We read in Isaiah 49:8 that it is Jesus Christ who will restore the earth. But the Church (as the Kingdom of God in embryo) has the commission to prepare for, and announce that restoration, and (as born-again members in the Kingdom or Family of God) to rule and serve with and under Christ to bring about the restoration of all things.

Please note, too, that Jesus said, in Matthew 17:11, that Elijah “is coming.” This correct translation indicates the continuing coming of Elijah – i.e., of the end-time Church, which is in the process of helping to restore all things. Mr. Armstrong certainly BEGAN this process. But, the task of the Church, under Christ, did not stop, when Mr. Armstrong died.

Please consider that even the original Elijah did not personally carry out and finish all of the aspects of the commission given to him by God. He was commissioned to anoint Jehu as king over Israel (1 Kings 19:16), but he did not do that. Rather, Elisha did carry out that aspect of Elijah’s commission, through one of the prophets, after Elijah had been taken away by God (2 Kings 9:1-10). We see, then, the continuing commission of the original Elijah, which did not stop, when God took him away. The same is true today.
 

This week we all had something to be thankful for. A seemingly hopeless mining disaster in the State of Pennsylvania turned out really well — first for the nine miners, their families and friends; and then for the rescuers and those of us who watched this heroic rescue.

The nine men trapped in darkness some 240 feet underground prepared themselves to die. Yet, they, too, (as did all of us) hoped for the best — even with the looming reality of the possibility that this could be the end of their lives.

Notable examples in the Bible relate similar stories: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego along with Daniel faced the end of their lives. The reason they did is because they obeyed God. Against all odds and even human ability, they were delivered alive. Important to note in their experiences is the fact that they were reconciled to undergo this fate regardless of whether they were delivered at that time.

Peter, Paul and many of the original Apostles ultimately came to the end of their lives because of their obedience to God — they died at the hands of those who despised and hated the truth they proclaimed. Jesus Christ, Who died for our sins, declares that at the end of this age, Christians will be killed for their belief in and obedience to God.

Undoubtedly, there will be miraculous deliverance for some — just as those remarkable nine miners experienced. Yet, Matthew 24:9 plainly reveals that some will be tortured and killed. As we consider the truth of this warning, let us also remember that our deliverance is also certain.

Matthew 24:13 explains what we must do in order to be saved — whether we live or whether we die! Regardless of what we ultimately face, we are told that we must endure. Exactly how long we endure until our rescue occurs is much like that of the miners. We won’t know exactly, but this we do know — we must be prepared to endure just as Jesus Christ admonished us — to the end!