Dear Brethren and Co-workers with Christ,
By the time you receive this letter, the Feast of Trumpets will be just around the corner. That pivotal day is followed ten days later by the Day of Atonement, which precedes the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. These biblical Festivals and Holy Days are little known by nominal Christians, but they will be known shortly after the return of Jesus Christ—the Savior of the world in more ways than one.
Millions understand, at least superficially, Jesus’ coming as Savior to pay the price for our sins. Fewer realize that He will have to return to save us from self-annihilation (Matthew 24:21–22). But how many believe He may very well return in their lifetime to rule as King on earth from Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4, 9) and that He will command the nations of this world to come up to Jerusalem each year to keep the biblically ordained Feast of Tabernacles (vv. 16–19)? Do they really understand that any nation refusing to send representatives will suffer drought and plague? Does that not sound as though He is serious about mankind observing what He commands? Why is this message not taught by those claiming to represent Christ?
How strange it is that biblically ordained days are neglected in mainstream Christianity, even though they were observed by Jesus, His disciples, and the first-century Church. Yet most churches that call themselves Christian have instead substituted days originating in pagan and heathen customs that long predate Jesus’ first coming. Do you not find it strange that days commanded in Scripture and observed by Christ are considered “done away with” and replaced by days nowhere found in Scripture?
Dear brethren and co-workers, this is an important question that each of us would do well to face, for when we look at the chaos in our world today, the return of Christ cannot be far off. Many end-time prophecies must yet take place, and we do not want to get ahead of Bible prophecy, but the stage is clearly being set. We are wise not to set dates, as Jesus tells us that no one knows the day or the hour of His return (Matthew 24:36). However, in the very context of this statement, He tells us, “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors” (vv. 32–33)! Yes, there are signs and events that indicate the time is near.
That this is the end of the age is evident from the book of Daniel. “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4). Knowledge has accumulated gradually over the centuries but has exploded over the last hundred years—even more so with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). The rate at which knowledge is accumulating today is mind-boggling, like nothing the world has ever seen. However, for all this knowledge, how to peacefully get along with one another remains elusive. Tensions continue to grow at a time when unprecedented weapons of mass destruction make it possible to fulfill Matthew 24:21–22 and erase all life from this planet.
This is the world into which we were born. We had no choice in the matter! But every generation has its challenges, its opportunities, its responsibilities. God has given special commissions to all of us whom He is calling as the end of humanity’s misrule approaches. We are to proclaim the true Gospel to the world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18–20), and we are to warn the Israelite nations of what is to come (Ezekiel 33:1–7). This requires us to know who the people of Israel are, and the Jews are only a small portion of the Israelite peoples. Our resource The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy explains this and brings to life biblical prophecies that cannot otherwise be understood.
God has not called an Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or Bill Gates to finish His Work. Instead, Paul explains that “you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:26–29).
No, God has not chosen the great of this world. He has not called the giants of industry and commerce with all their wealth and prestige. Instead He calls the ordinary to work as a team to prepare to shake this world with His message. We occasionally receive larger-than-usual donations and are most grateful for them. However, those large donations, while not minor to us, are small in comparison to what the super-rich give to their causes. For example, “Bill Gates said Wednesday [July 13, 2022] he would donate $20 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to address ‘huge global setbacks’ facing the world” (NBCNews.com).
Wow! Can you imagine the kind of attention we could bring to the true Gospel—and the warning we could give to mankind—with $20 billion? But that is not how God works. He uses ordinary people like you and me. In the end, the great of this world, and we as well, will be humbled by what God will do using us, the weak of the world. Even now, all of us working together are doing a significant Work. Consider just a few of the good works you are helping make possible:
- Tomorrow’s World magazine is sent free of charge to about 535,000 recipients six times a year.
- Last year, 901,578 booklets, Bible Study Courses, DVDs, CDs, and letters were mailed free of charge to all who requested them.
- Tomorrow’s World telecasts are broadcast weekly on scores of television stations around the world.
- The Living Church of God has 426 congregations scattered like salt across the earth.
- Our congregations are served by 261 ministers.
- Our YouTube channels now have more than 750,000 subscribers.
- So far in 2024, our videos have been viewed more than 10 million times in multiple languages.
And this does not tell the whole story. There is much more. It is difficult to list everything you are accomplishing through your prayers and generosity. The point is that God is using a small group of dedicated people to do a Work far in excess of what our numbers would indicate. However, we know that we, by our human efforts alone, can never reach the whole world. God has to do it through us, and He will (Matthew 24:14). He will create circumstances to bring our message to prominence where the world will take notice. And while we look forward to completing the Work He is calling us to do, we know the world will not appreciate it. We will be hated and persecuted, even by those professing to know God, just as was our Savior (John 15:18–20).
True Christianity is not for the cowardly (Revelation 21:8). It is for those, such as you brethren and co-workers, who see the big picture. It is for those who are looking for an eternal reward and who care enough for their fellow man to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God and provide a warning to change while there is time. True Christianity is for the courageous who will not blink when times get tough.
Beloved brethren and co-workers, thank you for what you have done and for what you will do. Whether in your heartfelt prayers, whether by donations large or small, God notes and appreciates your dedication and support. We always appreciate those larger gifts and thank you for your incredible generosity. But please understand; we must see as God does. These letters are sent to thank all of you brethren and co-workers, no matter the size of your donation. God recognizes the heart. He treasures the widow’s mite as much as contributions from those with greater capacity to give. One does not take away from the other in the sight of God. So, thank you to all of you. God will reward you generously in the resurrection (Matthew 6:1–4; John 4:36).
May God bless you as you put Him first in your life.
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston