Elders
Letter:
James Russell; Elder.
Dear Brethren and Co Workers;
When reading
Revelation 1, verse 1 we see, "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."
The book of Revelation is a record of what the Apostle John visioned and heard.
John was commanded to write down what he was shown. He was to: "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 :23). John foretold that God's Churches would be
influenced by Satan's tactics. One the these tactics is the indoctrination of
man's traditions into God's Church. "I know the blasphemy of them which
say they are Jews (mixing Judaism in with God's teachings), and are not, but
are the synagogue of Satan" (Rev. 2:9). John visualized the same influence
in the message to the Philadelphia Church. "Behold, I will make them of
the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie;
behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that
I have loved thee" (Rev. 3:9).
In Paul's
letter to Titus, Paul advises Titus regarding the qualifications to look for
when ordaining Elders. Paul stressed sound doctrine, warned against false
teaching and the practicing of Judaism!! "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: This witness is true. Wherefore
rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to
Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure
all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing
pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they
know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and
unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:5, 1316).
We see a
double standard being practiced today. It's called Syncretism (blending
religions)! Many today have turned from God's truth just as Jeroboam did in his
reign around 900 B.C. Many are turning from God's true Holy Days to follow
error! They are obeying Jewish traditions, not God's Word. "And he made an
house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were
not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on
the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he
offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that
he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he
had made. So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the
fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of
his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered
upon the altar, and burnt incense" (I Kings 12:3133). "And he set
the one in Bethel,
and
the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to
worship before the one, even unto Dan" (I Kings 12:2930).
When reading
the Pentateuch, the first five books of God's law, there is no eighth month
recorded for keeping God's Holy Day Sabbaths. Yet these Jewish traditions that
Jeroboam kept are still being practiced today. Next year 2016 is an outstanding
example of what the Apostle Paul warned Titus to watch for when ordaining
Elders. "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may
be sound in the faith; not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men
, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them
that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and
conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny
Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work
reprobate" (Titus 1: 13 16) .
God used Jeremiah to
prophesy of judgment against Judah for their teachings at the temple gate.
"But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be
your God, and ye shall be My people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have
commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor
inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their
evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. Vs.30, "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. Vs.3334
And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and
for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away. Then will I cause
to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice
of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice
of the bride: for the land shall be desolate" (Jeremiah 7:2324,30,3334).
I would
like to share with you an article found in "Quite Hour Echos, June 1951.
Bishop Enright delivered a message to the Catholic Church at Harlan, Iowa, on
the subject "The power and authority of the Catholic Church," Bishop
Enright said, "My Brethren, look about you upon the various wrangling
sects and denominations. Show me one that claims to possess the power to make
laws binding upon the conscience. There is but one on the face of the earth,
The Catholic Church that has power to bind on the conscience, binding before
God, binding under pain of hellfire. Take, for instance, the day we celebrate
Sunday. What right have protestant Churches to observe that day? None,
whatever!! You say it is to obey the commandment, "Remember the Sabbath
day to keep it holy." But Sunday is not the Sabbath according to the
Bible, and the record of time. Everyone knows that Sunday is the first day of
the week, while Saturday is the seventh day and the SABBATH, the day
consecrated as a day of rest. I have repeatedly offered $1,000.00 to anyone who
will furnish any proof from the Bible that Sunday is the day we are bound to
keep, and no one has called for the money. If anyone in this town will show me
any scripture for it, I will tomorrow evening publicly acknowledge it and thank
him.
It was
the holy Catholic Church that changed the day of rest from Saturday to Sunday.
And it not only compelled all to keep Sunday, but at the Council of Laodicia,
A.D. 364, anathematized those who kept the Sabbath, urging all to labor on the
seventh day under penalty of anathema.
Which
Church does the whole civilized world obey? Protestants call us every horrible
name they can think of – AntiChrist," "The scarlet colored
Beast," "Babylon," etc. And profess Great reverence for the
Bible and yet by their solemn act of keeping Sunday they acknowledge the
power of the Catholic church. The Bible says, "Remember the Sabbath day to
keep it Holy," but the Catholic Church says, "No keep the first day
of the week" and the whole world bows in obedience."
The Bible is
very clear regarding teaching a double standard and teaching rebellion against
God's authority. These false doctrines will not go unpunished!
CHURCH OF GOD, IN TRUTH
P.O. Box 1120 Kimberling
City, MO 65686. Tel: 417338 0033
James Russell, Elder; Tel:
4173380033:
Email; cogit@flash.net
Pete Fleming; Elder; Tel:
8308855502:
E mail; pmfo6@gvte.com
Spanish
Martin Martinez, Deacon Tel:
7877865856:
Email; marty@ucsint.com
Phillippines
Romeo Samudio, Rep Tel:
09085364415:
Email; romesamudio@yahoo.com