Elders Letter;
James Russell, Elder
Dear Brethren and Co-workers;
I want to share with you a Good News letter, dated February 1939, Volume V, Number 1, written by Mr.
Herbert W. Armstrong entitled, "Did Christ Reorganize the Church". On page one he wrote:
"Careless assumption has led most of us into error, left us open to be deceived!
The Bible cautions us to prove all things! It is profitable for correction as well
as for instruction in righteousness. The true Christian must be willing at all times
to be corrected and chastened and must continually seek to grow in knowledge
as well as in grace!
It is the true remnant people of God who keep the commandments that the devil is
wroth with today. It is us Satan is seeking to deceive. He will deceive even the
very elect if it were possible. And it is possible if we are careless and assume
things without careful study of all sides and ample proof from the scriptures. We must
be continually on our guard, never trusting any man, or even a board or group of
men, but God alone, thru His Holy word! So let us search the scriptures".
There is a lot of wisdom in what Mr. Armstrong wrote in this 1939 December Good News letter.
As God's people we need to be on guard against man made traditions, and follow God regardless of the respect we
may have for a particular person. Some have assumed, because Mr. Armstrong kept the Hebrew calendar for over
50 years, it must be the correct way for keeping God’s annual Sabbath dates. After 40 years of keeping Pentecost
on Monday, Mr. Armstrong came to see it should be kept on Sunday. When Mr. Armstrong made the change, some
of the people questioned this change and said they were going to keep both days as Pentecost. Others said he was
wrong, and they left the Worldwide Church of God.
Change should never be a stumbling block for God's people. God says we are to grow in knowledge and in His
grace. That does not mean we are to water down God's truth and label that as growth. 44 years has now passed since
Mr. Armstrong made the Pentecost changes. There is still more truth yet to come to light. No where in God's word
does it say we are to postpone a Holy Day for a preparation day, or look to the sliver or crescent of the moon for the
starting of a month. Our booklet on the POSTPONEMENTS will help explain why! (If you have not received your
free booklet on Postponements, please write or phone for your copy).
When reading God's word, (not the Talmud) Jesus Christ was in constant clashes with the Pharisees, and Sadducees
over their self - righteous laws.
The Jews during the Roman rule appropriated the name of Moses, as author of their religion. Christ said "Had you
believed Moses, you would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me. But if you would believe not his writings, how
shall you believe My word?" (John 5:46-47). The Pharisees were not practicing the laws that were written in the first
five books of God's inspired word. That is why Christ called them hypocrites in Mark 7:6 and chapter 23 of
Matthew. A hypocrite is defined as a dissembler (an actor) and a liar. Judaism today is a man made religion. Jesus
said the Pharisees were teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. "And in vain they (Pharisees) worship
Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you (Pharisees)
hold the tradition of men, and He said to them,(Pharisees) "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that
you (Pharisees) may keep your tradition" (Mark 7:7-9).
Remember what Mr. Armstrong said at the beginning of this letter. "CARELESS ASSUMPTION HAS LED MOST
OF US INTO ERROR. IT HAS LEFT US OPEN TO BE DECEIVED." IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROVE ALL THINGS.
The Pharisees were responsible for Christ's death. Don't let them take your eternal life also. Take time and prove
to yourself why you should keep the Holy Days the way God's Word says, and not the way the Hebrew calendar
says. God clearly said, "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it, that you
may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you" (Deu 4:2). "Whatever I command you,
be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deu 12: 32).
Pray for one another that God's spirit will lead you into the truth. "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth"
(John 17:17).
CHURCH OF GOD, IN TRUTH;
PO BOX 1120 KIMBERLING CITY MO 65686
Tel: 417-338-0033 E-mail: cogit@flash.net
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.
Martin Martinez, Deacon: Tel: 787-786-5856 E-mail: mmartinez@ucint.com
Philippines.
Romeo Samudio, Rep: Tel: 090-333-3148 E-mail: romesamudio@yahoo.com
The Hebrew calendar was put together by the rules of the
Talmud, called the Mishnah. It is a commentary made up of 34
volumes in the English translation. It is a storehouse of Jewish
laws and commandments. By following their rules 1994, the first day
of the year is going to fallon March 13th. That is one day after
the NEW MOON. Why is it one day late? Because one rule of the
Hebrew calendar is to count backward 177 days from Tishri 1 (Feast
of Trumpets) to find Abib 1. Tishri is the 7th month. No where in
God's word does God tell us to count backwards to find out when His
Holy Day will be. God told Moses, "This month shall be unto you
the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to
you" (Exo. 12: 2). "This month came you out in the month Abib" (Exo.
13:4). Abib means "green ears". This day and time is calculated
from Palestine. The new moon (dark side facing the earth) not the
young moon (crescent) is the first day of the month. The terms
"beginning of the month" and "new moon" are used interchangeably.
The word moon means month. In 1994 the new moon is on March 12th.
That will be the first day of Abib (green ears) in Jerusalem. All
dates are calculated from sunset Jerusalem time. Even the Hebrew
calendar calculates it's days from Jerusalem. Lev. 23:5 says "On
the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's
Passover". It tells us in Deu.16:1 "Observe the month of Abib,
and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of
Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night".
Passover is to be kept on the 14th day of Abib. So if we
count 14 days starting with Abib 1, which on the Roman calendar is
March 12th, you will end up with March 25 as Passover not March 26.
March 26th was counted backward from Tishri 1 (Feast of Trumpets).
Not only will Passover be one day late, but the First and Last day
of Unleavened Bread will be one day late also!!