DISCERNING THE TRUTH !
Ask yourselves? Do we periodically examine our practices and beliefs? Has the Church of God, In Truth
challenged your physical and spiritual habits of thinking, without thinking negative thoughts?
Here is an important question —have I, we, or you, discarded error to follow truth? Do we find 2 Pet
3:18, in the Apostle Peter's letter encouraging when he tells us to: "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be, glory both now and for ever."
The word knowledge is God's unveiled truth. Information that has been spiritually revealed. Having this
knowledge of truth like the postponements,.we must be constantly on guard against the perils of error. It is this
peril of error— like syncretism, which-is mixing of religion, that separates us on God's Sabbaths and Holy Days
from many we have fellow-shipped with in the past.
We have found to be in the Church of God, In Truth, you can not be afraid to stand alone, nor be fearful
of what others think!!
My wife and I have been asked, "Why don't we visit other Churches of God?" Knowing there are
hundreds to choose from. Our answer is: “Because we feel knowledge and new truth did not stop when Mr. H.
W. Armstrong died in 1986. We feel most of God's
Churches are just teaching from rote. If Ambassador College did not teach it, it should not be taught.”
Many of these other churches of God encourage uniting and want to get back to their Jewish roots!
[request re-print articles "Judaism is Not the Religion. of Moses"].
We feel God is responsible for the churches scattering as Daniel, a major prophet said. “.....it shall be for
a time, times, and an half; and when He [God] shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the Holy people,
all these things shall be finished” (Dan 12:7). We have to ask who is in charge, God or man? The Church of God,
In Truth, believes God is in total charge. Now to share with you some of our practices and beliefs that differ
from other churches of God. It's these beliefs that separate us!!
We believe that only three commanded holy day offering a year are to be taken up as taught in God's
word. 1). Days of Unleavened Bread; 2). Pentecost; 3). And the Feast of Tabernacles. All these are harvest dates.
These are the three commanded offerings we take up once a year according to the famous verse of Deu 16:16.
“Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord your God in the place which He shall choose;
in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles: and they shall not
appear before the Lord empty” (Deut 16:16).
We believe we are commanded to tithe and give free will offering through out the year. God tells us in
Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." A person that truly
is considered a first fruit of God will show, that their real interests lie where his or her treasure is banked!
We believe you should NOT be buying or selling on God's annual Sabbaths or God's weekly Sabbaths.
Doing business, going out to restaurants, and so forth are breaking God's 4'" Commandment, “Remember the
Sabbath to keep it Holy.”
We believe that the beginning of the dark moon phase is when to begin a new month. NOT the full moon,
the astronomical moon or crescent moon are to be used. We believe Genesis 1:1-3-5 clearly reveals what phase
the moon was in on the first day of the creation week and the first day of the creation month! Write for our
Postponement Another Mystery of the ages - if you are not sure about when to start a new month, or a new year.
We do not believe Wednesday, the 4th day of God's recreation week found in Gen 1: 14, is the starting
point for a calendar, as the Hebrew calendar teaches. The Hebrew calendar is the "postponement" calendar most
churches of God count their holy days from.
We do not believe in postponing any of God's annual Holy Days as those who keep the Hebrew calendar
do! We do not believe Mr. H. W. Armstrong was the Elijah to come or feel he restored all things. We believe
more truth is yet to be restored and learned. We do not believe in voting, or keeping birthdays! We do not
believe man has the authority to bind and loose what God has bound and loosed in heaven.
We do not believe oil represents God's Holy Spirit! The Apostle Peter told us plainly that the Holy Spirit
can not be purchased with money! “But Peter' said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast
thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money" (Acts 8:20).
We do not practice a weekly Bible study— that is your daily responsibility. Speaking of Bible study,
there are some things we need to recognize. We need to search out all the forensic evidence on any subject we
are studying, like we hear detectives and lawyers do in any serious trials. They look for finger prints, D.N.A.,
foot prints, check cell phone calls, they search out the time the crime occurred. They back track the persons
activities — computers— friends and so forth, all this is to link the person with the crime committed.
Our Bible study should be handled in the same manner. God informs us to search the scriptures! “For precept
must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isa
28:10) and also, "But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line
upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken,
and snared, and taken" (Isa 28:13). God shows us we must look for evidence to prove a subject. All the pieces
of a puzzle must fit together! That is what the Church of God, In Truth is to do and the called of God are to do
also!! That was how we proved the error of "postponing" God's Holy Days that the Jewish Hebrew Calendar
follows was discovered! It takes time and patience looking, searching and proving all things! Our studies have
taken us in a variety of directions. Just like the study of the two baked loaves of leavened bread for the wave
offering at Pentecost!!
We feel that the barley wave sheaves represents to God our father, the bride of Christ and the two wheat
loaf is considered the guest at the marriage supper, yet both are called "The first fruits unto the Lord.”
We find those who are the bride written in Rev 14: 4-5. "These are they which were not defiled with
women; For they are virgins. [ meaning these 144,000 refuse to submit to mixing religions or listen to false
doctrine ] these are they which follow the Lamb whither so ever He goes. These were redeemed from among
men, being the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: [deceitfulness] for
they are without fault before the throne of God." These virgins that are to become the bride will not have to go
through a three and a half year tribulation. The other 144,000 and mixed multitude of Rev. 7, will have to go
through the tribulation in order to make their robes white with the blood of the Lamb. Rev 12:11.
In Revelation 19, we read of these two groups meeting together. One is to be the bride at the marriage
and the other is invited to the marriage supper. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the
marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be
arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints”( Rev 19:7-8). Now in verse
9, we are introduced to the guest at the wedding; “And He saith unto me, write, blessed are they which are Called
unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his
feet to worship him. And he said unto me, see you do it not: I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren that
have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:9-10).
This study and teachings are not set in granite, but God's word is!
Another study we have looked at, took us to where the place of safety might be, in our house, in the
wilderness, death, or in heaven at the marriage!
A new further study we have been looking into lately has to do with the wheat first fruits of Christ being
taken at Pentecost to the marriage supper This speculation again revolves around the 144,000 that are mentioned
in Rev 14 that was mentioned earlier.
The Worldwide Church of God has always taught that Revelation 7 and Revelation chapter 14, are the
same identical group of 144,000 people. Most scattered churches of God today feel the same way. The
Church of God, In Truth, study so far is not convinced of that being true. Why? Our study shows Revelation
chapter 12, introduces us to two separate God thinking churches. One could be thought of as a Philadelphia era
group that is kept from going through the tribulation as recorded in Rev. 3:10. And the other a Laodicean era
group that is tried in the fire– Rev.3:17. One keeps the postponement of God's Holy Day dates as prescribed in
the Hebrew calendar. The other Philadelphia group keeps their Holy Day appointed dates from God's word—no
postponements—and is protected by the redeeming blood of the Lamb [Passover at its appointed time] each
year. Rev 12:11.
Rev 12 verse 14, reveals this Philadelphia era church group who fly to the wilderness for protection and
possibly to become the bride of Christ on a day that represents God's barley first fruits. We read of this protected
church or bride of Christ. “And to the woman [church] 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 12:14). This church or bride of Christ group is sent away and protected from Satan for three
and a half years before the fifth seal tribulation begins.
The question is, is this the church group that is going to hear God's voice like Daniel and apostle Paul
did when He came to work with them? 1 Thessaloians 5:2, brings our attention to Christ coming as a thief in the
night, meaning unexpected, and un-noticed, not knowing what the hour He might appear. “But of the times and
the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the
Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [unexpected, un-noticed]. For when they shall say, peace and safety; then
sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you,
brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of light, and
the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let
us watch and be sober” (1 Thess 5: 1-6).
This warning is for us to be ready for Christ' secret coming! “But of that day and hour knows no man,
no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the
other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left” (Matt
24:36,40-41). This could be at any time and if we heed His words we need not be taken unaware. Its going to
be only those that are ready, as the five wise lead virgins were that is going to be with the bridegroom.
The parable of the 10 virgins reminds us of that! “And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came;
and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut” (Matt 25:10). That door
remained shut until Christ returned from the wedding. “And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord,
when He will return from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocks, they may open unto Him
immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto
you, that He shall gird Himself; and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And
if He shall come in the second watch, or conic in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants”
(Luke 12:36-38).
Now lets go back and continue reading in I Thcss 4, where we read of a resurrection that we were told
to not be ignorant about. This is followed by what we just read in chapter 5, that said, “For yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief [un-expected, un-noticed ] in the night” (1 Thess 5:2).”
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even
as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep
in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and
remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep” (1 Thess. 4:13). Verse 16, “For
the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump
of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” This is not just any angel, this archangel is a chief of the angels!
With the trump of God!! This archangel is the angel that we read of in Jude 9, that disputed with Satan over
Moses body. Vs. 17-18, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with
these words.”
Christ's un-noticed appearance with power and great glory will be preceded some years earlier by His
coming secretly and unexpected through the air of this planet to catch away His bride, the firstfruits that hears
His voice like a archangel and with the trump of God, while the rest of earth's population lives on through a
period marked by a tribulation under the rule of the antichrist.
The remnant church group,—who Satan is wroth with in verse 17 of Rev 12, keep the commandments
of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. “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.” This remnant group that Satan was angry at and went to make war with for keeping the commandments
of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, shows up with the two witness in Rev 11, with Satan overcoming
them and killing them.
God's protection for the two witness and the remnant church ends after their going through the tribulation
of three an a half years of testimony of Jesus Christ. How do we know it was three and a half years time? When
reading verse 3 and 4 in Rev 11, it informs us of that: “And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they
shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees,
and the two candlesticks [Laodicean churches] standing before the God of the earth.” In verse 7 it says, “And
when they [ speaking of a third party] shall have Finished their testimony, [what testimony ? The one we just
read of in Rev 12:17, the testimony of Jesus Christ] The beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make
war against them, [we are told also of that war event in Rev 12:17] and shall overcome them, and kill them.”
Verses 11 to 14, tell us what happened next. “And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered
into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great
voice from heaven saying unto them, come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their
enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in
the earthquake were slain of men
seven thousand: and the remnant [rest] were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe
is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly” (Rev 11:11-14).
The third woe is when the 7th angel [not the archangel ] but the instructed 7th angels trumpet was blown
the two witnesses and remnant church will be resurrected just prior to the 7th and last trumpet plague, introduced
as the third woe.
We are reminded in I Cor. 15:23 that there is an order to the resurrections of the first fruits. “But every
man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming.” The apostle Paul now
reveals a mystery by telling us of the resurrection for the second group of Revelation 12:17. These are the
remnant group or what we would call the Loadiceans who had to go through the three and one half year
tribulation. “Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in
the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed. For this corruptible [ meaning unreliable by errors or alterations] must put on
incorruption, and this̊mortal must put on immortality" (I Cor. 15:51-53).
This group is resurrected before the angel [not an archangel] that sounded the 7th trumpet. All these
scriptures support the actions, place, and time-of the remnant group.
Now another question to ask is, "How many of them were involved with the two witnesses?" And
were they able to help others in their prophecy-to learn of God laws and ways? We find those answers and we
get a better picture of them in Rev 7. Revelation 7, enlightens us of the 144,000 Israelites that apparently are
keeping the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, who's commission it was to be a light
to the world during the tribulation. What evidence identifies these people with the time of Satan's wrath, called
the tribulation period? We read in Revelation 7 they were sealed just prior to the time of God's
Read what that first trumpet event was to-do. “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire
mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green
grass was burnt Up” (Rev.8:7). Now read Rev 7, and see if this same event took place while the 144000 and
mixed multitude were going through a period of tribulation. “And after these things 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: and he cried with aloud 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” (Rev 7:1-4). They were just now sealed at the first trumpet
plague of the Lord, not taken to a place of safety. Continuing, we read that the 144,000 and mixed multitude all
came through the tribulation and made their robes white. How? “With the blood of the Lamb.” “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 7:13-14).
This is the same redeeming blood protection given those who went to a place of safety for three and one
half years before them. These verse show us a lot of evidence that the two witnesses and remnant church groups
accomplished the task God assigned them to do during the tribulation. They finally come to understand the
importance of coming under the redeemed blood of the Lamb and they stopped postponing Gods memorial
Passover, and quit postponing all of God's annual Holy Day Sabbaths, that are appointed times of worship.
If the Israelites had not put the lambs blood on their door posts in Egypt at the right appointed time, many of us
might not be here today.
In a letter to Timothy, Paul encourages him and us, “to study to show yourself
approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word
of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). There is a vast difference when dividing the word of truth from
error. This separates winners from losers and front runners from runner–ups! ☜
James Russell