Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ,
Greetings again, from beautiful Charlotte, NC! I recently viewed an excellent DVD presentation by Ben Stein entitled “Expelled.” It described in intimate detail—with several noted college professors and others giving personal video testimony—how almost any reference to God as Creator, or even to the idea of “Intelligent Design” in classes or research papers, would result in these dedicated professors being expelled from the institutions involved. Truly, my friends, there is an all-out assault on almost everything connected with the true Creator God, His Word and His entire way of life. This assault on our Creator is already beginning to destroy the social fabric of our Western nations. It is already beginning to destroy the family as we have known it, morality as we have known it—and even decent government as we have known it. An invisible Satan the Devil is truly attacking—in a very powerful way—especially the peoples of the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Almost two thousand years ago the Apostle Paul was inspired to foresee how this type of deception develops and how it absolutely cuts men off from their Creator. Paul was inspired to write: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:18-22).
Then, Paul goes on to describe how God gave these people “up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves…. gave them up to vile passions” (vv. 24-26). Today, we see the family and everything our nation used to stand for truly “under assault.” The handwriting is on the wall! Unless we wake up and repent there will be a soon-coming national punishment—the Great Tribulation—such as has never occurred since the world began (Matthew 24:21-22). This anti-God, anti-Bible assault is being driven powerfully in our institutions of higher learning and it is now coming quickly down even into our primary schools. It is also being abetted, unfortunately, by many thousands of very deceived ministers and so-called “Christian” leaders.
As if to underline the growing assault on the true God and His inspired Word, President Barack Obama punctuated his first 100 days in office with a proclamation honoring Gay Pride Month (June in the United States). He noted, “LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender] Americans have made, and continue to make, great and lasting contributions that continue to strengthen the fabric of American society… I am proud to be the first President to appoint openly LGBT candidates to Senate-confirmed positions in the first 100 days of an Administration" (USAToday.com, June 1, 2009). Yet, God commands, “Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1). God is not pleased with our increasing rejection of His ways (Isaiah 59:1-9). Although we must never harbor hatred or hostile feelings toward sinners themselves, as Christ gave the example (John 8:1-11), we must never forget how God views sin—and we must flee from that sin (1 Corinthians 6:18, Revelation 21:8). If we do not, God promises there will be serious consequences!
Even after starting this letter, the following news came from the Associated Press in today’s local paper: “Episcopalians on Tuesday declared gays and lesbians eligible for ‘any ordained ministry’ in a vote expected to upset world Anglican leaders who had sought a clear moratorium on consecrating another gay bishop. Episcopal leaders insisted they were still committed to membership in the Anglican Communion. Some Anglican leaders, however, predicted the vote would break their fellowship…. The 77 million member Anglican Communion is the third-largest grouping of churches worldwide, behind Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian churches” (Charlotte Observer, July 15, 2009).
What is God’s response to a world turning increasingly away from Him and His righteous laws? One among many “clues” is the recent headline from our local newspaper, The Charlotte Observer (June 20, 2009). The banner headline is entitled “One billion people hungry”! “Rome—The global financial meltdown has pushed the ranks of the world’s hungry to a record 1 billion, a dire figure that poses a threat to peace and security, U.N. food officials said Friday. Because of war, drought, political instability, high food prices and poverty, hunger now affects one in six people, by the U.N. estimate. The financial meltdown has compounded the crisis in what the head of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization called a ‘devastating combination for the world’s most vulnerable.’ Compared with last year, 100 million more people are hungry, meaning they consume fewer than 1,800 calories a day, the agency said. ‘No part of the world is immune,’ FAO’s Director-General Jacques Diouf said. ‘All world regions have been affected by the rise of food insecurity.’”
God is not mocked! As most of the world turns increasingly away from the true God—the Creator God and His laws—more and more such headlines will come with increasing frequency.
In particular, the descendents of the “Lost Ten Tribes”—the modern descendents of the House of Israel are specifically promised to be the primary focus of the Great Tribulation. As we have explained to you many times, God promised millennia ago that He would “break the pride of your power” (Leviticus 26:19). He is now doing this by bringing down our military strength—we are being stretched far too thin all over the world in often useless and misguided wars. In addition, He is certainly breaking the other pillar of American strength and prestige—the financial power and the “American way of life” which we have enjoyed for so long. The Germans were crushed in World War I and again in World War II. But they are quietly watching America’s demise and are strengthening themselves. From one of the major German newspapers—in this case Spiegel Online—Gabor Steingart writes, “Ex-President Bush was nothing if not zealous in his worldwide campaign against terror, transgressing human rights and breaking international law along the way. Now, Obama is displaying the same zeal in his own war against the financial crisis—and his weapon of choice is the money-printing machine. The rules the new American president is breaking are those which govern the economy. Nobody is being killed. But the strategy comes at a price—and that price might be America's position as a global power” (June 25, 2009, emphasis ours).
Dear brethren and co-workers, literally scores of articles have come out in magazines and papers all over the world powerfully warning about this “money-printing machine” that the Americans are misusing. The “price” for this confused effort will indeed be “America’s position as a global power” as the above article clearly indicates. May God help all of us wake up and realize that we are truly near the end of the American way of life as we have known it. Our circumstances—and even our governmental institutions—are being changed dramatically. True religion is also under assault. God is under assault. Satan the Devil, of course, is behind all of this—and often uses misguided human beings who sometimes “think” they are doing good while they continue to break His laws and bring down America and the British people as has been prophesied for so long.
Jesus Christ has commissioned His Church for a special Work to fully prepare all who will listen for the Kingdom of God. For we are not only warning our peoples about the coming Great Tribulation, and carrying out the “Ezekiel commission” (Ezekiel 33:1-7); we are also preaching the full Gospel—or Good News—of the coming Kingdom or Government of God, soon to take over this earth (Matthew 24:14). In addition, we are proclaiming the full name of Jesus Christ—the vital importance of our surrendering to Him and His ways, and of Him living His life within us through the Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20). Also, we are following the biblical pattern of government within this Work, looking to the living Christ to set His servants in positions of leadership since He is the living Head of the Church (Ephesians 1:20-23).
Jesus Christ warned: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:15-16).
Even among God’s people, there are those who exalt themselves, preach part of the Truth—and then go on to mislead their followers about many details about prophecy, of the purpose of life and of the way of life in Christ’s teachings in the New Testament. They will often reject basic truths from the Bible—even though they claim to follow it. And they will often harass, disfellowship or even crush those who oppose or even question their wrong teachings and their harsh, unchristian practices.
Now, at the end of the age, God specifically warns us that the final “era” or “age” of His Church will be dominated by the “Laodicean attitude.” Here we have a group of people who are not condemned for wrong doctrines or immoral practices. Rather, God simply describes how these seemingly “nice” people who practice and believe part of the Truth are nevertheless to be spewed out of Christ’s mouth because of one huge problem: lukewarmness. Jesus said, “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:16-19).
Dear friends and brethren, as we see the final events of this age begin to get underway, it certainly behooves us to try to get completely “right” with our God! Please carefully think over and pray about the above points. Please do everything you can to get closer to the true God and the Work He is using at this end time. Try with all your heart to do your best in serving Jesus Christ and involving yourself in His Work so that you may be part of the “team” Christ is already using and preparing to join with Him in ruling this entire earth in a few years.
Meanwhile, this Work continues to move ahead and proclaim the Truth to much of the world with increasing power. From January through June, the Tomorrow’s World telecast brought in 108,729 responses—16% more than the first six months last year. On an annualized basis, the response to the telecast has grown at an amazing 18.8% rate for the past 10 years! May God help all of you to want to “get involved” in the very Work Jesus Christ is doing right now! During this summer season, your tithes and generous offerings will be especially appreciated and will be used directly in the Work to preach Christ’s Gospel and His warning message in a powerful way to increasing millions of people around this earth. They truly need the message we have to give! And Christ is waiting on all of us to do our part to warn these people, to encourage and strengthen these people in the knowledge of His Truth. Then, we must all truly surrender to let Christ live His life within us through the Holy Spirit so that we may soon be in His everlasting Kingdom.
With Christian love,
Roderick C. Meredith