Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ,
Many of us have just returned from various locations around the world where we kept the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. You might say that we are pioneers for the coming millennial reign of Jesus Christ, for as the prophet Zechariah tells us, Christ the Messiah will command all nations to keep this Feast upon His return. “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9). Why is it, my friends, that the biblical Festivals and Holy Days seem strange, but pagan celebrations covered by a paper façade calling itself “Christian” seem normal? Within a few days of receiving this letter, people in the United States and in some other countries will be celebrating something called Halloween by decorating their homes and bodies with skeletons, spiders, ghosts, and corpses. Why? Because that is the thing to do! It’s tradition. But is it godly?
I think you know the answer.
Zechariah continues, “And it shall come to pass, that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16-19).
Is it not evident from this prophetic passage that Jesus Christ is serious about people keeping the Feasts of the Lord (Leviticus 23:4)? Yet people don’t take God’s word seriously and, instead, find ways to reason around clear scriptures. They often claim these special commanded assemblies are Old Covenant or Jewish and read right over the many references to Jesus and His Apostles observing them.
For example, Jesus kept the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread as a child growing up (Luke 2:41-43). He kept the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day, even under the threat of death (John 7:1-10, 37). He also observed the Passover, including the one on which He was crucified (Luke 22:7-15). The Apostle Paul, who many think did away with these observances, commanded the Gentile Corinthians to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately follows the Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). And the book of Acts demonstrates that the early Church, even in Gentile areas, knew about these days, observed them, and marked time by them (Acts 2:1; 18:21; 20:6, 16; 27:9).
Yet, while the world continues to forsake our Creator’s ways, it also continues to deteriorate. Swords are rattling between the United States and North Korea. Talk of using nuclear weapons is no longer off the table. Japan is talking about changing its pacifist status after having two North Korean missiles fly over its territory. Africa is a new home for terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda. Morality is collapsing at an alarming rate as various politically correct “lifestyles” are promoted, and anyone not getting on the bandwagon is shunned, ridiculed, intimidated, and looked down upon.
Dear brethren and co-workers, what is happening with our world? Through the Tomorrow’s World magazine and television program, we have proclaimed for decades the coming downfall of the American and British-descended peoples. These nations have rejected the God of the Bible and have taken on pagan ways. God is removing His protection and blessings, because they have rejected His law and chosen rather to decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong.
Great Britain is great no more. The United States would like to “be great again.” Canada wants to “zone out” by legalizing recreational marijuana. Australia is debating whether to legalize same-sex marriage. South Africa is mired in corruption.
The question of how long we have left to finish the Work given to us by God is relevant. How long do we have to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to this world? How long do we have to give a warning witness to our peoples? God tells us in Proverbs, “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter” (Proverbs 24:11). Do we see our world stumbling to the slaughter? If so, God goes on to warn us, “If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” (v. 12). Yes, God will hold us accountable. If we understand what is happening, He expects us to do something about it by proclaiming His warning message.
Most of you, if not all, recognize that our world is in trouble, that our very own nations are in trouble, and that is why you have joined with us to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God and to warn this world of the coming Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord.
Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His Work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life. . .” (John 4:34-36). Thank you for what you are doing to help in this effort. God in heaven sees your faithfulness and dedication, and He will reward you for it.
Most people live their lives from day to day with no greater goal than gaining wealth, experiencing as much pleasure as possible, and seeing “their team” win. For far too many, sports is the temple to which they go to worship! The years go by and some eventually wake up to the question, “What’s it all about? What is the purpose of my life?” The very fact that you are involved in this Work of God suggests you want to live for a greater purpose than the temporary pleasures of this life.
The patriarchs of old are dead, but they did not live their lives in vain. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16). God is not ashamed to be called our God if we too live our lives with that greater purpose in mind.
We are rapidly moving toward the climax of the age, what Jeremiah refers to as “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). God has opened your mind in a way that few minds have been opened (John 6:44). You are called to be part of something far bigger than yourself. I pray for God to bless you abundantly as you do your part in this important end-time Work!
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston