All of you brethren know, I’m sure, that I am a very positive person. I try to look on the bright side of any situation. I have always tried to project growth and progress in the Work in most of my preaching and writing. That is as it should be.
For God’s Word tells us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). And the Apostle Paul stated, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). And again, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (v. 19).
Yet, it is important to realize that Paul was a PRISONER when he wrote these last two verses. For he had stated earlier in his letter to the Philippians, “I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my CHAINS and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace” (Philippians 1:7). In fact, Paul mentions his “chains” three times in this first chapter of Philippians!
None of us, to my knowledge, has had to shuffle around with manacles between our legs and a Roman soldier guarding us day and night. Not yet, at least. But I hope and pray that all of you will be really studying the Bible regularly—“feeding on Christ”—so that you will not be shocked or dismayed when some of us have to go through these kinds of trials. For the Bible is literally FILLED with examples of the true servants of God being persecuted, imprisoned, tortured and even martyred. All the way from Joseph being sold into slavery and Daniel being thrown into “the lion’s den” to Jesus Himself being beaten, ridiculed and finally crucified (Matthew 27:26–35), we find that God’s servants were often vilified and persecuted. That was not unusual. That was, in fact, the “norm” in times past.
From time to time it is helpful to review Paul’s “defense” against the false ministers of his day who were constantly accusing him: “Are they ministers of Christ?; I speak as a fool; I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleepless-ness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness; besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:23–28).
So I want all of you brethren to prepare, mentally, for this kind of assault against God’s ministers and also against some of you brethren. God and His Word must be “real” to us. A deep and continuous personal relationship with the Living Jesus Christ is vital. Then we can have the faith and the courage to see us through the trying times, which are undoubtedly coming.
When I was first ordained to the ministry over 47 years ago, I deeply felt that I might not even be able to get married. I felt that a number of us older students— and younger ministers—would almost continually have to travel here and there on baptizing and visiting tours, assisting Mr. Armstrong. Reading the book of Acts again and again, it appeared to me that the Church would go through similar trials and troubles to what the Apostles experienced in their day.
As time went on and we were able to raise up increasing numbers of local congregations, the need to be married and to give advice on married life, on child rearing and on “normal” situations gradually dawned on me. And so I was able to be married, I was able to rent and later buy a home and have a somewhat “steady” existence—although I’ve had to change my place of residence about 20 times in the last 47 years!
But God has been very good to me, and to most of you, in that we have very seldom experienced beatings, imprisonments and harsh physical persecution. Most of us have been able to live in some of the wealthiest and most blessed nations of the world. Our father, Abraham, made it all possible by his living FAITH and by his obedience to God (Genesis 26:3–5).
How much longer will this time of relative peace and tranquility last?
Practically no one in the political or media world had any idea how FAST the Eastern European nations would brake away from the Soviet Union, how quickly the two Germanys would be re-united and how fast the Berlin Wall would come down! Neither did they dream— only a few years ago—of the speed with which the Soviet Union split apart.
Sometimes, world conditions CHANGE with astonishing swiftness!
So as we preach the Gospel of the soon-coming Kingdom of God with increasing power, the political and religious leaders of the world may attempt to CRUSH the Work of God. Just as the religious “authorities” began to harass the Apostolic Church after the death Stephen, so it may be with us within the next several years. Notice what happened back then: “Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a GREAT PERSECUTION arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:1–4).
If a number of the leaders of the Living Church of God are beaten or imprisoned, some of you now reading this may be called on to help carry on the Work! But you—and all of us—will have to be truly close to God. We will all have to exercise a degree of FAITH and COURAGE above and beyond what we have ever done before. We will need to know and to “know that we know” that our God is REAL. That Jesus Christ our active Head and High Priest is ALIVE at the Father’s right hand.
In the trials and persecutions to come, we will all have to BELIEVE the Apostle Paul’s inspired statement: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). And we will need to constantly be filled with hope as we realize that God really does cause even unpleasant things to turn out, in the end, for GOOD. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Brethren, I am NOT necessarily expecting unusual trials or persecutions to befall us within the next year or two. But NEITHER did I expect the former Soviet Union to crack up so quickly—though Herbert W. Armstrong had, indeed, predicted that this would eventually occur.
So we do need to “be prepared.” We do need to understand that trials and persecutions will not always be somewhere “over there.” We must realize that the United States and British-descended peoples will bear the brunt of the GREATEST national punishment in human history (Matthew 24:21–22).
We must also realize that just as ancient Israel had to “suffer through” the first three of the ten plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7 and 8), so today God’s people may indeed have to suffer to a degree during the early stages of the Great Tribulation. Even then, when the final attack and captivity on the “whole house of Israel” (Ezekiel 39:25–29) takes place, only those who are truly “Philadelphian” in spirit will be taken to a place of safety!
In the next several years, God will truly “refine” His people and “purge” His people to make them spiritually “white” (Daniel 11:35). The years ahead are NOT a time for complacency. They are NOT a time for continued dwelling in “comfortable” homes, with “comfortable” jobs and carrying on a “comfortable” lifestyle. Those years are probably coming to an END for most of God’s faithful and zealous people.
Therefore, beloved brethren, study again the book of Acts. Understand what God has allowed in the past, and be prepared for the future. And be determined NEVER to give up! For our Head and Savior promises: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:10-11).