James Russell, Elder.
Dear Scattered Brethren and Co-Workers,
It is always exciting to be at God's Feast Of Tabernacles and hear again what the next millennium will be like.
A utopian time of peace! For those who will be living at that time. The Bible clearly states that the redeemed
are going to occupy important places in God's plans and purposes, having positions which will be unique in
relation to His entire creation. "Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off,
and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. For the LORD has
redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Therefore they shall come
and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and
for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall
not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will
turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. And I will satiate
the soul of the priests with fatness, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, saith the LORD" (Jer
31:10-14).
We are informed of a day that is coming when there will be no more sickness, wars, nor untimely deaths. Isaiah
chapter 35 tells us, "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice,
and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon
shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the
excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a
fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; He
will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break
out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water:
in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there,
and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those:
the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up
thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there" (Isa 35:1-9).
We recognize the fact that God, the center of all creation, has His over all plans and purposes for the limitless
universes - not just the earth. But it is very possible that in choosing the dwelling place of man and the size
assigned as the stature of those who are to inherit all things with His Son, God selected the planet at the point
of division, which is the mean between the greatest and the smallest in creation for the abode and development
of the human race. This would account for the earth, a mere speck in the immensity of space, having become
man's habitation, and from the earth as his vantage point, man can look in either direction. Through the telescope,
he inspects the infinity of smallness. But in either direction man has never yet been able to view the farthest
reaches of space.
Solomon, evidently had these extremes in mind when he spoke of the mysteries of God and the honor that comes
to men who are able to search out these secrets. On one occasion he referred to the greatness in the heavens above
and to the minuteness in the depths of the earth below, concluding; that all is a mystery. Man can hinder or
accelerate, but he cannot change this immutable law of God! "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the
honor of kings is to search out a matter " (Prov. 25:2). A ruler must satisfy his subjects that he is concerned
that the humblest receive the justice to which they are entitled. It is his responsibility to convince the people
that he has searched out the full details of questionable subjects and settled them in strict fairness.
Astronomy tells a wonderful story of the alignment of the planets in the heavens at the beginning of the Adamic
period. "And God said, Let there be [the] 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: And let them be for lights in the firmament
of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule
the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also"(Gen 1:14-16).
A rotation cycles began, the orbits of which are marked upon the dial of the heavens as upon a great clock. There
the advancing ages, are shown up to and including the present time and beyond into the future. The movements
of the heavenly bodies would compel the conclusion that such a realignment of the planetary system took place
in the manner presented.
Because the sun and the moon were obscured by the watery expanse above the earth, their illumination was called
"The greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night." This defines the exact result of the
diffusion of light from above as the sun and moon each in turn, illuminated and penetrated the watery canopy
with their light. These heavenly bodies were set in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night,
and for seasons, for days, and for years.
The statement, "He made the stars also" is evidently a reference to a remote period in the past when theses
heavenly bodies were created. The "fourth day" did not mark the creation of the heavenly bodies or the light,
but it was the beginning of cycles in their relation to the earth and its orbit so that they might rule as they were
ordained to do.
CHURCH OF GOD, IN TRUTH
P.O. BOX 1120 Kimberling City, MO 65786
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: Martin Martinez, Deacon: Tel: 787-786-5856 E-Mail: marty@ucint.com
Philippines Romeo Sanudio, Rep: Tel: 090-8536-4415 E-Mail: Romesamudio@yahoo.com