CHURCHES OF GOD
The book of Revelation unfolds great events
that the Apostle John saw and heard while on the isle of Patmos. Notice when reading John’s vision, frequent
shifts of location from earth to heaven and back to earth again. Studying John’s vision we should bear in mind
two passages of scripture, 1 Peter 1:13 and 2 Peter 1:20-21. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober,
and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).
As we see each day pass, the life and work of Christ will be increasingly revealed to His elect -- first
fruits, until the final revelation occurs at His second coming.
Now the second familiar scripture. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: But holy men of God spake as they
were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Locking on to this understanding, lets now look at the last book in the Bible, Chapter one. “The
revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come
to pass; And He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John” (Rev. 1:1). Two things we need to
note: One is the context seems to imply that the former interpretation is the primary one here. For it is the
revelation which God the Father gave unto Him Christ], to show unto His servants.But the second meaning
must not be overlooked.
Revelation reveals Jesus Christ in His heavenly work, after His ascension. In this sense, Revelation is
in fact complementary to the Gospels that record Jesus ministry on earth.
The book of Revelation reveals His work in the final acts in the plan of redemption. Two will be in the
field, one will be taken----and one will be left! (Matt. 24:40). This time and event is to shortly come to pass
Reading verse one again, with verses two and three of Revelation. “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which
God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; And He sent and
signified it by His angel unto His servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of
Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:1-3).
Let’s ask two important questions. 1). Can you keep the 10 commandments and the testimony of Jesus
Christ and not be taken to a place of safety? 2). Which Church of God in Revelation 12, do you identify
yourself with ?
Before looking for an answer to these questions, let’s pull out of our memory bank of scriptures, the ones
that tell us:
1). We are to “Prove all things” (1 Thes.5:21).
2). “We are sanctified through truth : God’s word is truth” (John 17:17).
3). “Judgment begins with the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17).
“Does Christ shed blood have any thing to do with His true Church today? Asking again the first
question. “Can we keep the 10 commandments and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and not be taken to a place
of protection?” Adding to that question, how important are the 10 commandments?
In the book of Exodus, God in a burning bush spoke the 10 commandments to Moses after Israel’s
captivity in Egypt.
Deuteronomy, chapter 5, the younger Israelite generation was taught the importance of obeying the 10
commandments. “And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments
which I speak in your ears this day, that you may learn them, and keep, and do them. The Lord our God made
a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are
all of us here alive this day. The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, (I
stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the word of the Lord: for you were afraid by reason
of the fire, And went not up into the mount;)” (Deu. 5:1-5). Verses 6 through 21, the 10 commandments are
given. Chapter 6, expresses their importance and the command to teach them to our children. “Now these are
the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that you
might do them in the land whither you go to possess it: that you might fear the Lord your God, to keep all His
statutes and His commandments, which I command you, you, and your son, and your son’s son, all the days of
your life; and that your days may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well
with you, and that you may increase mightily, as the Lord God of your fathers hath promised you, in the land that
floweth with milk and honey. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in thine heart: and you
shalt teach them diligently unto your children, and shalt talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you
walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shalt bind them for a sign upon your
hand, and they shall be as frontlet’s between your eyes. and you shalt write them upon the posts of your house,
and on your gates” (Deu. 6:1-3,6-9).
The 10 commandments are the foundation that is built under the straight and narrow path that leads us
into God’s kingdom. Revelation 12 of John’s vision, begins a new line of prophecy which continues to the end
of the book. Chapter 12 sets forth the Church of God in conflict with the powers of evil, and the Churches
ultimate triumph over them. This chapter speaks of two separate Church of God groups. One goes to a place
of safety, the second church does not!
The second church group gives us the answer to our first question! Can you keep the 10 commandments
and the testimony of Jesus Christ and not be taken to a place of safety? “And when the dragon saw that he
was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were
given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished
for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water
as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the
woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep
the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:13-17).
Woman in these verses is a metaphor for a church, this we will see later. Remnant is Strong’s number
3062 meaning: 1. Remaining ones; 2. Remaining part; 3. Surplus. This remnant Church of God will go
through a struggle with the powers of Satan’s wrath and not be taken to a place of protection even though they
keep the 10 commandments of God and have the testimony or witness of Jesus Christ!
The testimony or witness of Jesus Christ, originates with Christ and is revealed to His Church through
the prophets. We read earlier in Revelation 1: verses 2 and 3. “[John] Who bare record of the word of God,
and of the Testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear
the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:2-3).
Question two: “Which Church of God in Revelation 12 do you identify with?” Looking again at
Revelation 12, we see one Church of God went to a place of protection and the second Church of God group
did not go to a place of protection. These two Churches of God groups are also identified by another vision of
Apostle John. “And I looked, and, lo, a lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four
thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads. and I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of
many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and
they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four creatures, and the elders: and no man could
learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they
which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb [trail behind]
whithersoever He goes [or does]. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to
the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God” (Rev.
14:1-5). Verse 4 said, “These are they who were not defiled with women [other church’s]. Defiled is Strong’s
number 3435 meaning: 1). Stain or spot; 2). Contaminate; 3). be polluted; 4). Such as practicing syncretism
--- mixing religions! Most Churches of God today are mixing Judaism with God’s true religion and thus are
keeping the Holy Days on the wrong day! Jeremiah uses this word [pollute] to describe what the children of
Judah did by setting their abomination in the house of God back then and it is still going on in the house of God
today. “For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the Lord: they have set their abominations
in the house which is called by My name, to pollute it” (Jer. 7:30). Virgins, in verse 4 of Revelation 14
is Strong’s number 3933 meaning: 1). A marriageable maiden; 2). A young bride.
In Revelation 7 we read of the second group that Revelation 12:17 calls the remnant. The remnant “who
keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, do not go to the place of protection.
The story begins during Satan’s sixth seal anarchy. This setting is at the end of Satan’s wrath and the starting
wrath of the Lamb, called the day of the Lord. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men,
and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens
and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of
Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who
shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6: 15-17). “And after these things [Satan’s wrath] I saw four angels standing on
the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor
on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God
[Christ’s wrath is about to begin]: And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to
hurt the earth and the sea, saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants
of our God in their foreheads. and I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an
hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Verses 5--8 names the 12 tribes.
Verse 9, [after this== the words “after this” does not imply any time between the closing events of the
preceding vision and the one about to be revealed]. “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man
could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the
Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, salvation to our
God which sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about
the elders and the four creatures, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, amen:
blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever
and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white
robes? And whence came they? and I said unto him, sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which
came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”
(Rev. 7:1-14).
This makes clear which group of 144,000 are taken to a place of protection and which group of 144,000
and the great multitude go through the tribulation. Both of these groups are spoken of in Revelation 12.
The question arises, “Why is this group we just read about going to go through the tribulation? What did
they miscalculate, that those going to a place of safety did not miscalculate? The answer to this is found in
Revelation 12:10-11. “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the
kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused
them before our God day and night. And they [those going to a place of safety] over came him [Satan] by the
blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev.
12:10-11).
Christ knows and sees our trials and hardships. He knows we do not overcome Satan by our own
strength. We can only overcome Satan and this world’s way “by [being under] the blood of the lamb.” Christ
victory over sin!
Our forefathers in Egypt was saved and protected by putting the blood from the lamb on the door post
of their houses at the appointed time prescribed!! Not a day early or a day late, but on the exact day they were
told to do it! They did not pollute the Lord’s orders given to Moses and Aaron for the protection of God’s
people. It was the blood on the door post that was the [token] sign for their protection! “And the Lord
spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months:
it shall be the first month of the year to you” (Exo. 12:1). [Side note -- this part of Egypt is in the same time zone
as Jerusalem]. “Speak you unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, in the tenth day of this month they shall
take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: and you shall keep
it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill
it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post
of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all
the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment:
I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token [a sign] upon the houses where you are: and when
I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land
of Egypt” (Exo. 12:7,12-13).
Moses and Aaron called the elders to instructed them on what the Lord had just revealed to them. “And you
shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side
posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood upon the lintel, and on the
two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the Destroyer to come in unto your houses
to smite you. That you shall say, it is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the
children of Israel In Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. [protected our houses] and
the people bowed the head and worshipped. And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had
commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn
in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was
in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle “ (Exo.12:22-23,27-29).
Israel’s sign of protection from the death angel was by the blood of the lamb. The lambs blood was a
token or sign which showed that the house was under the protection of the sacrificed blood!
So it is for us today. Those who come under the blood of Christ, “Our Passover” lamb, at the commanded
appointed time, are protected from the penalty of death and are taken to a place of safety during the Tribulation.
“And they [meaning the church that fly’s into the wilderness] overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the
lamb, and by the word of their testimony.
The Church of God, In Truth’s testimony is: 1). Stop polluting God’s church by postponing God’s appointed
times for His Holy Day Sabbaths.
2). Stop mixing God’s laws and ways with other religions and traditions.
3). Stop confusing God’s created harmony with mans confusing traditions and doctrines.
4). Stop ordaining men to the ministry who practice Jewish fables.
5). Stop taking up offerings that are not commanded [only three are commanded].
6). Stop using the wrong phase of the moon for starting the beginning of God’s month [using the mean or
middle conjunction which is man made time and also the crescent moon which is a pagan way!].
7). Stop refusing to keep the beginning of the Fourteenth for Passover night! [If you refuse to keep the beginning
of the 14th for Passover, you will not come under the protection of the blood of Christ]. These testimonies put
those who believe and practice such things eligible to go through the tribulation! Many today don’t believe you
should follow God’s assigned calendar from His word for keeping His Holy Days.
God’s calendar [tools of heaven ] shows the great wonder in heaven that identifies the true Church of
God today.
The Church of God is at times represented by being called a woman metaphorically. To find evidence
of this we will let the Bible interpret the Bible. “For the maker is your husband; the Lord of hosts is His name;
And the redeemer the holy one of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called. For the Lord hath called
you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when you was refused, saith God” (Isa. 54:5-6).
When the church apostatized, it was compared with a corrupt woman. “Surely as a wife treacherously departs
from her husband, so have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord” (Jer. 3:20). The
same analogy appear in the New Testament. “For I am jealous over you with Godly jealousy: for I have espoused
you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2). We find another clear
acknowledgment of the true church being called a woman in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. “Husbands, love
your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse
it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot,
or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be Holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives
as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes
and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be
one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:25-32).. Paul
is applying this mystery to the union of Christ and His true church. While human marriage
can be understood, the mystery union of Christ and God’s true church is revealed through His Holy Spirit and
His truth! “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
The truth is, when we read of a woman [Strong’s # 1135] from Revelation 12 to Revelation 22, it is
speaking about a church. When we read Revelation 21:9, we find the word “bride” used. “Come hither, I will
shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” This word “bride” is Strong’s number 1135, and it is also used in
Revelation 12:1,6,12,14 and 17. “And the woman [#1135] fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place
prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And when the
dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman [1135] which brought forth the man Child.
And to the woman [#1135 ] were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into
her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent” (Rev. 12:
6, 13-14).
These verses indicate and point out that the true church, that we read of in verse one of this chapter, is
the true church that goes to a place of protection. “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman
[#1135] clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev.
12:1). Reading that verse with some mystery removed. “And their appeared a great [in size] wonder in heaven
[meaning a “Sign” a significant momentous truth] a woman [God’s true Church] clothed with the sun and the
moon [having on the tools to understand God’s universal calendar] under her feet [meaning a sign of
responsibility and authority] and on her head a crown of twelve stars [understanding who spiritual Israel is].
The question I asked at the beginning of this article. “Can you keep the 10 commandments and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ and still not be taken to a place of safety??” The answer is found in Revelation
12:17. The remnant church will not go to the place of safety until Satan wrath is over. “And the dragon was
wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the Commandments
of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:17).
Question 2, “Which church of God in Revelations 12 do we identify ourselves with?” Revelation 12
speaks of two groups as we have seen. One goes to a place of safety and the other will go through the tribulation.
Those that go to a place of protection are those who are not defiled [contaminated] with polluted beliefs.
“These are they which were not defiled with women; [churches that mix religions] for they are virgins. These
are they which follow the Lamb where so ever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first
fruits unto God and to the Lamb” (Rev. 14:4).
The Apostle Paul was inspired to write, “Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: For what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Cor.
6:14). The 144,000 that will not go to a place of protection are yoked with the tradition of men, not God’s truth!
They have not yet made their robes white, by being washed in the blood of Christ. They did not have Christ’s
blood on the door post of their mind, at His appointed time. “And one of the elders answered, saying unto
me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, sir, you
know. And he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation” (Rev. 7:13-14). They had to make
their robes white through the tribulation [Satan’s wrath] by learning to keep God’s appointed time for Passover,
not mans traditional time for Passover!
Question 3: “Does Christ shed blood, have any thing to do with His true Church ??” Answer, YES!
Revelation 12:11 states: “They overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb.” “And they [the church that fly’s
to safety] overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb [Christ], and by the word of their testimony; and they
loved not their lives unto the death.”
We find the church groups who are going to go through the tribulation, had to have their spotted robes
washed in the blood of the Lamb [Christ] at His appointed time! “And I said unto him, sir, you know. And he
said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, [Satan’s wrath] and have washed their robes,
and made them white in the blood of the lamb [Christ]” (Rev. 7:14). This is only going to take place when
they stop following the traditions of man and man made calenders for God’s Holy Days.
Is Christ’s bride, the true Church of God’s first fruits, identified in Revelation 12 ? YES! No other
Church uses only the sun and moon in their true conjunction to count days and months from. God’s true Church
does not follow mans traditions or postpone God’s Holy Days!
Write or phone for your free “Special Calender Edition” and “Postponement Another Mystery of the ages”
booklet.
The Church of God, In Truth, follows God’s true new moon at the beginning of the dark moon phase [sun
and moon in the beginning conjunction].
As a side note, God said “In the beginning” Gen. 1:1, He did not say in the middle!
The new moon is a precise instant event which is perfectly predictable. The event can occur on different
days and dates because of the rotation of the earth. The determination of the new moon, therefore, must be
determined from the time in which it occurs in Jerusalem to ensure the uniformity and harmony of religious
worship throughout the world.
The Church of God, In Truth does not want to keep a Holy Day, day and date, before Jesus Christ would
in Jerusalem. This is why we use Jerusalem time zone for establishing God’s Holy Days and dates. The
references for our belief comes from God’s word. “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for
peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Rom. 14:19). “And He said to them all, [His disciples]
if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9: 23).
“For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should
follow His steps” (1 Pet. 2:21).
The determination of the new moon in Jerusalem, is based upon the scriptures that place Jerusalem as
the throne of the Lord. “At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall
be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination
of their evil heart” (Jer. 3:17). Jerusalem is the center of the law and the point from which all rules will be given
and taken from, during the millennium. Jerusalem is God’s capital of this earth! “And many people shall go
and say, come you, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; And He will
teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of
the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:3).
God has place His name in Jerusalem for ever. “Also he built altars in the house of the Lord, where of
the Lord had said, in Jerusalem shall My name be for ever” (2 Chronicles 33:4). Christ said, “He is the same
yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).
Revelation 12:1 clearly identifies God’s true spiritual Church. “And there appeared a great [in size]
wonder in heaven; [a sign, a significant momentous truth]) a woman [God’s true Church] clothed with the sun,
and the moon [using the tools of heaven to understand God’s calender] under her feet [sign of responsibility and
authority], and upon her head a crown of Twelve stars [understanding who spiritual Israel is].
The Apostle Paul encourages us by saying, “For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise
men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the
world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are
mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which
are not, to bring to nought things that are” (1 Cor. 1: 26-28).
James Russell