James Russell, Elder
Dear Brethren and Co-workers,
We are fast approaching God’s autumnal Holy Day season with the Feast of Trumpets on September 23rd
the Day of Atonement on October 2nd and five days later starts God’s Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day,
October 7th to the 14th All God’s Holy Days are biblically commanded periods of time! But asking the question,
as many have asked in the past, how many who kept the Feast last year will be absent this year?
It appears to be a constant question within the Churches of God, that there will be absentees for all sorts
of reasons: death, illness, injury, disability, family or work-related problems, maybe even loss of faith, or
interest, or just plan general apathy. It is always sad to hear of those faltering in their Christian calling,
particularly at a time when prophecy is being fulfilled before our very eyes. We must, however, be aware of the
warning given in Matthew 24:12, where Jesus talks about the time when the “love of many will grow cold.”This
describes an indifference or even hostility to the truth once embraced, as well as these same traits being aimed
at faithful Church members.” “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left your first
love”(Rev 2:4).
There is also a warning about those who do not follow God’s word as their authority. In 2 Timothy 4:3
we read the following prophecy: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine......”. And
so, we have been warned not to be deceived. We must heed the warning, lest we fall away from God's Church
and God's truth.
We should understand that there are many reasons or even a combination of reasons why some may be
absent from God’s Feast this year. If we know of someone who falls into this category, we should try to help
and encourage them if at all possible. We can certainly pray for them to overcome any barriers that may, at least
to them, seem impossible to overcome, but, “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Unfortunately,
many of God’s called out ones who could attend but simply don't make the effort for reasons which only they
may understand.
This evidence proves Satan is increasing his attack on those faithful to their true Christian calling and
their first love. We are shown in I Peter 5 to be “sober and vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about
like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). While this had an application to the 1st century
church, it has an even greater application as we approach Christ's Second Coming. Satan accomplishes this
through many strategies, including stirring up strife between brethren and through the subtlety of erroneous
teachings being introduced which can, and does, create controversy and arguments because people want to ignore
God’s inspired word, that says, “Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar”
(Prov 30: 6). This is especially tragic as the prophetic times ahead of us are drawing nearer, culminating in the
return of Jesus the Christ.
Watching and reading the daily news, we are finding Matthew, chapter 24 come alive. “ And ye shall hear
of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is
not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and
pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matt 24:6-8).
Apart from the tensions in the Middle East, and elsewhere, economic problems are deep rooted and
persist, not only in the United States of America but, it seems, in all nations around the globe. Everywhere we
see problems. A recent newspaper report said that “the Middle East is separating into many factions of Islam.
Some looking for the Mahdi to return and set up Islam as the world religion.”
Add to that the moral decay which is usually viewed as "progress" and for those who have eyes to see,
are able to discern, what state the world is in. The blessings and cursings of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28
have been ignored and dismissed by an “enlightened” society which thinks that they know better than God.
Time, and decisive action by God, will prove otherwise. Winston Churchill said in his address to the
Congress of the United States on December 26,1941: “I will say that he must indeed have a blind soul who cannot
see that some great purpose and design is being worked out here below.” Unfortunately, all the current world
leadership fit into this unfortunate category of not being able to see God's purpose being worked out here below.
This world has very little hope. There is only temporary and brief solutions to the insurmountable
problems that are engulfing the whole world. What is needed is a new type of government that has the answers,
and we know that, that time cannot be too far away. However, it will not be brought about by the intellect,
abilities and actions of fallible man but by the supernatural intervention of Jesus the Christ our Lord .
As we approach the upcoming Holy Days which foreshadow the return of Christ, and the putting away
of Satan for a 1,000 years, replacing him with the utopian Millennial rule of Christ. Church members who stay
faithful can have hope for the future that the world at large can only dream of. Attending the Feast of
Tabernacles gives us the opportunity of being with other “called out ones”— those of like mind and with the
same first love goals and aspirations. How blessed we are to have been called at this time to be a part of the first
and “better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35).
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
Martin Martinez, Deacon. Tel: 787-786-5856 E-mail: marty@ucsint.com
Phillippines
Romeo Samudio, Rep. Tel: 090-8536-4415 E-mail: romesamudio@yahoo.com