Greetings from Charlotte,
Reports coming in from around the world indicate that the Feast of Tabernacles 2014 was a very positive experience for close to 10,000 brethren. We should have complete attendance figures in the next week or so. It was exciting to see hundreds of new people at the Feast this year. Dr. Meredith spent the entire eight days in Gatlinburg, Tennessee where he delivered four inspiring sermons. Mr. Ames spoke at Feast sites in the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Palm Harbor, Florida. I was able to visit sites in Boerne, Texas; Indian Wells, California; and Park City, Utah. A number of ministers also traveled to sites around the world. We have received very positive comments about the powerful and informative messages and the warm fellowship that was evident at the Feast this year. Dr. Meredith is writing a semi-annual letter this week that will be mailed worldwide to more than 480,000 recipients. Our staff here in Charlotte is busy preparing materials for four more TWPs that will be conducted next weekend in Georgia and Texas. Your prayers for these important activities and for God's people are needed and much appreciated.—DSW
Church Administration
Upstate New York—Men's Training Camp
We still have openings for participants in the Second Annual "Men's Training Camp" in Jerusalem, New York from October 31 to November 2. The focus for this three-day program is on becoming better husbands and fathers, becoming better leaders in our congregation and community, and on becoming more dedicated followers of God the Father and Jesus Christ. This intensive "spiritual boot-camp" is not geared toward entertainment, but on wrestling with the challenges facing a Christian man in a culture bent on undermining his character, role, and faithfulness. For more information and registration, e-mail me ([email protected]). We will be conducting the same program in other locations throughout the Northeast in the months to come.—Jonathan McNair
Save the Date! Kansas City Regional Family Weekend—January 2-4
Mark your calendars! The KC Family Weekend will be from Friday, January 2 through Sunday, January 4. Accommodations and services will be at the Hilton Garden Inn, 19677 E. Jackson Dr., Independence, MO 64057.
Join us for a family-focused weekend, including a Bible Study, Sabbath services, dinner and black-tie dance and entertainment. This year's Sunday activities will feature new events including a volleyball clinic, children's basketball clinic, women's and coed volleyball, men's basketball and children's activities. We're also introducing a new event! We can't tell you the name just yet, but let's just say it's Big Teams, Big Competition, Big Fun. All ages, young and old. You won't want to miss this!
More details and registration information to come. We hope to see you there!—Michael Keesee
Internet Department
New iPhone App Released!
We are very pleased to announce our new Tomorrow's World mobile app for Apple iPhone and iPod! You can download the iPhone app directly from the Apple iTunes store. Go to the Google "Play" store for the Android app, or go to the Windows Phone Store for the Windows Phone app. Or you can just visit www.tomorrowsworld.org/mobile-apps for all of the Tomorrow's World apps.—Wyatt Ciesielka
Feast of Tabernacles
Please Complete the Online Survey Form!
Welcome back from the Feast! We hope you all had a wonderful and fulfilling Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day! Before Festival 2014 fades into memory, please fill out the survey form that can be found at: fotsurvey.lcg.org. Your comments and feedback are much appreciated.
Living Youth Program
The online Teen Bible Study on Friday evening, October 31, will be on, "The United States and Britain in Prophecy, Part 1," presented by Mr. Sheldon Monson. If you haven't had the opportunity to join us for one of the online Bible Studies yet, we encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful way to start the Sabbath day.
The Bible Study runs from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. (EDT) and the chat room will be open for a half hour before and after the study. You can access this Bible Study at livingyouth.org. We hope as many of our youth as possible will join us for this wonderful opportunity for godly fellowship and learning. For those of you who are unable to make it to the study, archives of previous Living Youth Bible Studies, including last evening's on "The Middle East in Prophecy," can also be found on the Living Youth Web site.
Comments
Goals for the Coming Year: Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs, "Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your feet from evil" (Proverbs 4:26-27). As we return from the Feast, inspired by the sermons and fellowship, it is a good time to think about setting goals for the coming year. What changes would you like to make or do you need to make to improve your physical or spiritual health? What can you do to improve your relationship with God or with your family? What can you do to serve God and others more effectively? How can you prepare for the Kingdom of God? Now is the time to think and pray about these important aspects of your life! The Apostle Paul urged Christians to "walk circumspectly [carefully, diligently]" and to make the most of the time and opportunities at your disposal (Ephesians 5:15-16). The Apostle Peter exhorted his audience to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). As you plan for the coming year, consider reviewing the Bible Study Course, reading a booklet per week or per month, studying a different book in the Bible each month or taking a Living University course. Make a list of what you want to accomplish in the coming year as you prepare for the future!
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—October 23, 2014
Germany's U.S. Buying Spree: Already this year Germany has spent more on U.S. investments than it did in the previous two decades (Wall Street Journal, September 22, 2014). "The latest deals bring to almost $70 billion the total value of German acquisitions announced in the U.S. so far this year, according to Dealogic" (ibid.). The motive behind these acquisitions is that Europe's economy is still contracting, while the U.S. economy is expanding—making the U.S. a strong place for international investment at the moment—since many German companies are full of cash and the U.S. is a good place to invest (ibid.). However, Bible prophecies mention a time when the U.S. will go into captivity under a German-led Beast power. The prophet Zephaniah foretold that people in Israelite-descended nations like the U.S. will build houses but not inhabit them and plant vineyards but not drink their wine (Zephaniah 1:13). The Scriptures warn that as a result of national sins, "The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar… as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand…. They shall besiege you at all your gates until your high and fortified walls, in which you trust, come down throughout all your land" (Deuteronomy 28:49-52). The prophet Hosea reveals that a remnant of Israelite-descended people will return from Assyria (modern Germany): "They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria" (Hosea 11:11). What on the surface look like wise investments by a shrewd foreign nation could lead to the fulfillment of these ancient Bible prophecies. For more on this sobering topic, read our reprint article, "Resurgent Germany: A Fourth Reich?"
China's New Favorite Leader: "After decades of mutual suspicion—and one short border conflict—Beijing and Moscow are drawing closer as they simultaneously challenge the U.S.-led security architecture that has prevailed since the Soviet collapse" (Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2014). In fact, many in China are taking a keen interest in Vladimir Putin, Russia's strong and decisive President, and devour reading material on this individual who is boldly standing up against the West. In fact, some Chinese even refer to him as "Putin the Great" (ibid.). According to Zhao Huasheng, an expert on China-Russia relations at Shanghai's Fudan University, "Putin's personality is impressive—as a man, as a leader. Chinese people find that attractive. He defends Russia's interests… Russia and China can learn a lot from each other" (ibid.). While the Chinese populace grows in its admiration of Putin, Putin and China's president, Xi Jinping, have apparently developed a fast friendship. Mr. Xi told Mr. Putin in Moscow last year, "I have the impression we always treat each other as friends, with full and open hearts" (ibid.). Bible prophecy has long foretold that a great Eastern alliance of nations will launch a 200-million-man army towards Europe in the last days (Revelation 9:16; 16:12-16; Daniel 11:44-45). Such a force will likely draw on the huge population of China and the military know-how of Russia, and perhaps include a few other nations. For more on this topic be sure to read "Is This China's Century?"
Where Have All the Animals Gone? The World Wildlife Fund recently reported that "The world populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles fell overall by 52 percent between 1970 and 2010, far faster than previously thought" (Reuters, September 29, 2014). Two major reasons cited for the dramatic drop in animal numbers are loss of natural habitat and exploitation from over-hunting and over-fishing (ibid.). When God placed human beings in the Garden of Eden, they were given "dominion" over the earth and told "to dress it and to keep it" (Genesis 1:28; 2:15, KJV). It was God's intent that human beings should be good stewards over His creation. However, mankind has not been a "good steward" but, instead, human beings have exploited and destroyed the environment and its creatures to the point where "the whole creation groans and labors" as it "eagerly waits" for the time when Jesus Christ and His saints will rule and replenish the earth (Romans 8:19-22). Today, the earth and its creatures cry out for godly stewardship and wise management—and a time when exploitation and destruction will cease. This future time is pictured by the annual Feast of Tabernacles described in the Bible (Leviticus 23:34-44)—a time of peace and abundance when even the wild beasts will be tame (Isaiah 11:6-9). For more information on this wonderful time, be sure to read our exciting booklet The World Ahead: What Will It Be Like?—Scott Winnail, Deborah Lincoln-Strange and Chris Sookdeo