Dear Brethren and Co-workers with Christ,
Another year has come and gone, but this is only as man counts time. Our Western nations use the Gregorian calendar, not the calendar God gave Israel. The two could not be more different, not only in the way they mark time, but even more importantly in their scheduled celebrations.
What we call the sacred calendar begins in the spring of the year. In its first month we celebrate the Passover—the day when death passed over the children of Israel who had placed the blood of a lamb at the entrance to their homes. Any firstborn not “covered” by this blood died on that fateful night. This was a type of a more precious sacrifice that would cover our sins: “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The seven days that follow are known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread—the time that it took Israel to journey out of Egypt and cross the Red Sea. They had no time to let their bread rise, thus the term given to their journey. The Bible uses both Egypt and leavening as symbols of sin and bondage. As with Israel, we too are commanded to put enslaving sin out of our lives (1 Corinthians 5:8).
There are five more Festivals spelled out in the calendar God gave Israel, which Jesus and His disciples observed, as verified in the pages of the New Testament. These days have nothing to do with the popular holidays found in the Gregorian calendar, which begins in the dead of winter with celebrations often accompanied by drunkenness, revelry, and adulterous office parties. A few days earlier, there is the celebration containing inaccurate narrative of our Savior’s birth. Other celebrations throughout the Roman calendar year are also steeped in pagan and sinful traditions and origins: Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, Pride Day, Pride Month, and Halloween. Then there are the endless number of celebrations of so-called saints and prophets, of presidents and lives of celebrities. Only occasionally is there a secular holiday void of these baser influences, such as Canadian and American Thanksgiving.
Nevertheless, we recognize the passage of time today in terms of the Gregorian calendar in order to function with those around us, while avoiding frivolous and sinful celebrations. Jesus prayed for His followers, then and now: “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14-16).
Those three verses contain much of Christ’s Gospel, affirming what is obvious to anyone with eyes to see, that today’s world is at war with God and His Word, the Bible. Those who subscribe to biblical principles are despised, because the god of this world, the one who directs the course of this world, is Satan the devil (Ephesians 2:2; John 12:31; 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Jesus did not commission His followers to reform this world, but to prepare for a coming kingdom, one ruled by the King of kings and Lord of lords—what we refer to as Tomorrow’s World, the Kingdom of God.
Our job is to proclaim His message as a witness unto all nations (Matthew 24:14) and to warn the Israelite people and all the world of what is certainly coming if we fail to amend our ways (Ezekiel 33:1-7). In giving this witness, God will open the minds of a brave few, and if they courageously respond to that call, they will rule with Christ at His return.
Note the richness of Christ’s words in this passage: “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things [the necessities of life] shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:31-34). You, little flock that you are, receive these monthly letters because you have shown that this is where your heart is. Thank you for your part in helping to spread this message.
Australia and New Zealand have changed dramatically in the last ten years. Australia was one of the last English-speaking countries to accept so-called “same-sex marriage” but has now ingested the woke agenda to the point that our Tomorrow’s World telecasts are sometimes rejected. The telecast “What Happens When Nations Forget God?” brought a letter to our Australian office from one of our television stations explaining why the program was rejected. These are the statements that were too over-the-top for their censors:
How can you have “women’s rights” when you cannot determine what is a woman? I’m personally at a loss for words to describe the insanity afflicting our nations. Women—whatever they are—must compete in sports against men—whatever they are—who think they are, well, I think you get the point. And they use the same locker rooms.
Mothers take their toddlers to libraries where drag queens read stories to them. Man, woman, mother, father, husband, wife—all these terms are under attack. Universities and businesses require students and employees to refer to others by a list of preferred pronouns, the length of which is so long that only a memory expert could remember them all.
Cancel culture is reserved for any who refuse to enter a person’s delusions and fantasy world. The insensitive are sometimes required to go to the corporate gulags for sensitivity training. This is America, Canada, and Australia—countries whose citizens are increasingly rejecting the God who created them.
Who would have thought that pointing out the truth would be so offensive? Isn’t it interesting that Drag Queen Story Hour is acceptable to many Aussies, but that the above does not meet the Parental Guidance designation for television? School children are encouraged to use different and bizarre pronouns to describe their self-perceived “gender identity,” but to mention that there is “a list of preferred pronouns” is unacceptable. Can we not connect the dots between the curses coming on our nations and our nations’ rejection of God?
We here at Tomorrow’s World have good news to give about a better world to come, and that message is resonating with many of our followers. Let me share with you a few personal letters from our readers and viewers. A donor from Opelika, Alabama, wrote:
Thank you so much for your very informative magazine! I have kept every issue! It is so much easier to keep “your head up” in these stressing times when [you] can see them through the lens of Bible prophecy. I can’t even imagine the horror that will come upon those who aren’t open to it as Christians. I appreciate that you don’t charge for your products so that they are available to “whosoever will.” I will contribute as I am able.
You, dear members and co-workers, make it possible for hundreds of thousands to receive the Gospel and an end-time warning. A subscriber from New South Wales, Australia, recognizes what is happening in our world and is looking forward to receiving our newest booklet.
I am very grateful for this generous gift, Germany in Prophecy. The signs as written in God’s word are certainly coming to the fore. Looking forward to reading this book and enjoying same, as I enjoy Tomorrow’s World!
Many of you are interested in more frequent updates about God’s Work, such as this co-worker in St. Louis, Missouri.
Just a note to let Mr. Weston know we really appreciate him taking time to keep us updated on how the church is doing, what’s going on in the world, and his appreciation to members and co-workers for their support. Sending thanks and prayers to all.
This lady is talking about the weekly video updates that can be viewed at our Living Church of God website: www.lcg.org. Scroll down to the bottom and you will see a list of links. Click on the “Members Area.” At the top of that page, click on the “Learn More” button for the most recent update.
And one last comment from a subscriber from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Thank you for your subscriptions. I read them all the way. God is good. Can you please send me the address of a church close to me and a contact number? My prayers for you will never stop.
We appreciate his prayers and are delighted that he is interested in learning more about a congregation in his area. I hope he will check us out. I look forward to meeting him sometime in the future. Thank you again for your support during these times of high inflation. I know that many of you are being squeezed by higher bills, but God will not forget you when you put Him first.
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston