untitled
Elders Letter
James Russell, Elder
Dear Brethren and Co-workers,
“The LORD spake unto Moses, saying, speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, concerning the
feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be Holy Convocations, even these are My feasts. Six days shall
work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, an Holy Convocation; you shall do no work therein: it is
the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. These are the Feasts of the LORD, even Holy Convocations, which
you shall proclaim in their seasons” (Lev 23:1-4).
It has been said, there is no inspired calendar in the Bible. If that be the case, why call the Bible an
instruction Book for mankind’s action? Why would we be commanded by God to keep His weekly Sabbaths and
annual Holy Days, if He has not given us a calendar to know when they are to be kept?
The definition of a calendar in Webster New Collegiate Dictionary; reports 1). "A tabular register of days
according to a system covering one year and referring the days of each month to the days of the week." 2). "A system
for fixing the beginning length and division of time [as week and month] in a definite order." 3). "An orderly list."
The question is, what is in this definition that constitutes a calendar, that's not found in God's Word? We can read
in Genesis 1, how God divided the days and nights, weeks, months and years! "And God said, Let there be lights
in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for
days, and years" (Gen. 1:14). Then in Leviticus 23 the LORD commands us to keep certain days for Holy rest and
certain days for laboring. Again, why would God command us to keep Holy certain days and not show us in His
Word [not from Judaism’s tradition of men’s Mishnah or Talmud] when and how to keep them. The Jewish Scribes
claim the Talmud is partly a collection of traditions Moses gave them in oral form. These had not yet been written
down in Jesus' time. Christ condemned the traditions of the Mishnah (early Talmud) and those who taught it
(Scribes and Pharisees), because the Talmud nullifies the teachings of His word, the Holy Bible.
The Pharisees and scribes were inspired by their intercalated Hebrew Talmud calendar. Intercalate means:
1).to insert [as a day or month] into a calendar, 2).a synonym for intercalate is introduce. Webster's definition of
introduce: 1). "To lead or bring in for the first time." 2). "To bring into play or bring into practice." Have you ever
read in God's Word where we are to intercalate or insert, calendar dates, into His inspired, pure Holy Word? We
do find in Deuteronomy 4 and verse 2, “You shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall you
diminish ought from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” You
might notice also, Deut. 12:3; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19.
The Pharisee, Hillel II, wrote the intercalated POSTPONEMENTS Rules into the Hebrew calendar. The
churches that follow the Hebrew calendar are representing and supporting the traditions of men, which Christ
condemns. [Read the article “Tradition is the enemy of Truth,” in the Jan / Feb “Prove All Things” magazine].
If our SAVIOR condemns it, it must be wrong. "Jesus walked in the Temple in Solomon's porch. Then came
the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell
us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear
witness of Me. BUT YOU BELIEVE NOT, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT OF MY SHEEP, AS I SAID UNTO YOU.
MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME" (John 10:23-27).
There are many ordained servants and teachers in this world, watering down God's Truth, telling their
followers that the scripture do not really mean what they say, they need interpretation. Naturally, they are the ones
who do the interpreting of the scriptures. An example of this is the new moon. They (those who keep Holy Days)
say the waxing crescent of the moon is the first day of the month. The term crescent, silver, first sighting after
conjunction, is not found in God's Word with it's connection to the beginning of a month. The crescent moon is only
identified with pagan idol worship (See Isa. 3-.18; Judges 8:21 and 26).
How do you know a true ordained servant of Christ from one influenced by Jewish fables? By their
conforming to God’s Word after having hands laid on them. The Apostle Paul gave Titus instructions to follow
when ordaining elders. “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou should set in order the things that are wanting,
and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful
children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not
soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre. (Loving God’s tithes and offerings). Not giving
heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, (traditions of men) that turn from the truth”(Titus 1:5-7, 14).
Notice II Timothy 4: 2 - 4. Remember, the difference between a true and false ordained servant is that the true
servant of God sees their mistakes and errors, like following the tradition of men, and repents of it!! When people
become obsessed over something, they find it hard to change, even when they are shown to be in error.
The postponed Holy Days have become a good example of this! The Hebrew Calendar is of a PRIVATE
interpretation, taken from the Talmud and practiced ! The apostle Peter was inspired to write, "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 Pet 1:20-21). The Jews never
accepted Christ as their Messiah, therefore they did not receive God's Holy Spirit! Knowing this, why would you
want to keep their postponed dates for God's Holy Days?" Their intercalated postponement holiday dates most
churches of God use are of their own private interpretation.
The Hebrew calendar being used today, uses the light of the waxing pagan crescent moon for counting from
for the first day of the first month and for the first day of the seventh month. These two dates are very important.
The first day of the first month is counted for counting to Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. The first day
of the seventh month is the Feast Of Trumpets. The first days of those two months are to appear looking like
Genesis 1:3-5 described! “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was
good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.
And the evening and the morning were the first day”(Gen 1:3-5). The beginning of the dark moon phase, is day one
of a seven day week. Each first day of a month is to begins with this same dark moon phase!
When counting the first day of the month from Gen 1:14, the fourth day of God’s creation week, as the
Hebrew Calendar recommends, destroys God’s numbering of His creation week and created months!
What is our Lord of lords answer to those who do not take His word seriously? “He answered and said unto
them, Well hath Esaias (Isaiah) prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written in, [Isa 1:13-14]. This people
honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men, (Traditions of men). For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the
tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And He said unto them,
Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition” ( Mark 7:6-9).
CHURCH OF GOD, IN TRUTH
P.O. Box 1120 Kimberling City, MO 65686 Tel: 417-338-0033 Fax: 417-338-0031
James Russell, Elder Tel: 417-338-0033 E-mail: cogit@flash.net
Pete Fleming, Elder Tel: 830-885-5502 E-mail: pmf06@gvtc.com
Spanish
M Martinez, Deacon Tel: 787-786-5856 E-mail: marty@ucsint.com
Phillippines
Romeo Samudio Tel: 090-8536-4415 E-mail: romesamudio@yahoo.com
.