Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ,
Greetings from Charlotte, NC! Amidst all the gloom of the greatest financial crisis in decades, there is real reason for encouragement and hope!
For we who are called by God do see the Big Picture. We know that the present trials will ultimately end with the very literal return of the Jesus Christ of the Bible to this earth. We understand that the divine Personality who many of us truly know, communicate with and walk with is the One who died for us and who is able to live His life within us through the Holy Spirit. He will never leave us or forsake us. For we are called to be full sons of God and God is now fashioning and molding us and teaching us lessons for all eternity. Many of us in this Work have directly “warned”—decades ahead of time—of the scenario now beginning to unfold on the world scene. So we are not shocked by this, and we are able to look beyond the horizon and see the final outcome in Tomorrow’s World—the soon-coming Kingdom of God! Thousands of you longtime brethren and co-workers also know this.
It will not end in grief and in tragedy. For, in the end, we win! We who are willing to put our trust in God will have His divine protection during the months and years ahead. Then, only a matter of a relatively few years from now, the ears of billions of people may be nearly shattered by the powerful sound of the Last Trumpet—and Christ Himself will descend to this earth and set His feet once again on the Mount of Olives. Then, voices in heaven will be proclaiming: “The kingdoms of this world [not up in heaven!] have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”(Rev. 11:15).
Dear friends and brethren, the real “key” to positive thinking and genuine peace of mind in the years ahead is to actually believe what the Bible clearly says. For there will soon be a glorious World Government under the direct supervision of the true Jesus Christ of the Bible—the Jesus Christ who very few on this earth today know about or believe in. For, soon after the death of the original apostles, a massive apostasy took over the name of “Christianity” and perverted almost every vestige of the true Christian way of life. Even earlier, the Apostle Paul was forced to warn the brethren in Corinth about the preparatory things that were happening in his time, before the final wave of false teachers took over. Paul warned, “For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it” (2 Cor. 11:4). My friends, I warn you in Jesus’ name that we must not “put up” with a false Jesus or false gospel or any other such thing! We must humbly learn to “search the scriptures” and actually be willing to do what God clearly says. We try with all our hearts to help you understand this in clear language, and give you the keys to be able to do this in your life today. Frankly, that is the only hope you have to really receive God’s blessings and protection in the years ahead.
Today, those of us being “called” by God to true understanding have the wonderful privilege and priceless opportunity to be part of the most important Work on the earth today. So if we are willing, we can be part of the Crusade that is now underway to reach “all the nations” with the Good News of the soon-coming Kingdom of God or Government of God (Matt. 24:14). I want you dear brethren and co-workers to know that even in the midst of the present terrific financial upheaval, this Work of the living Christ continues to grow and to prosper!
Even now, we are adding additional stations to carry the Tomorrow’s World telecast to the world. This next Sunday, December 14, the Tomorrow’s World telecast moves to primetime on the powerful WORD Network. From now on, our program will air every Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time! Be sure to view it then if you can—and tell your friends. Also, our new stations in Dallas, in Houston and in Los Angeles are beginning to bring in excellent responses each week! For the first time ever, we have now had two consecutive weeks when our television responses for Tomorrow’s World here in North America have totaled more than 6,000 each week. Thank God!
For this Work is now beginning to have an impact across North America and around the world more than ever before. And no other Work of preaching the actual Truth of the Bible even approaches the volume of responses we are now receiving from the Tomorrow’s World telecast. So God is blessing this Work, and it will continue to grow in power and effectiveness if we truly humble ourselves, yield to God with all our hearts and try to do things God’s way!
My friends, at this “X-mas” season, millions of people get their minds off the true Christ of the Bible and sentimentally think about a “little Lord Jesus”—not about the real Jesus Christ who now sits at God’s right hand and is busily preparing to intervene and soon return to this earth as King of kings! Of course—as most of you know—Jesus Christ was not born anywhere near December 25. And we are never told in the Bible to observe His birthday. Rather, “X-mas,” with all its pagan and commercial trappings, came directly out of paganism—as you can read in about any secular or religious encyclopedia. And God commands, “Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” (Jer. 10:2-4, KJV).
However, as many of you know, the God of the Bible has given God’s true people seven annual religious festivals to observe. As we have documented repeatedly, these festivals—from the Passover in the Spring to the Feast of Tabernacles in the Autumn—were observed for hundreds of years by the early apostles and the true Church of God before they were stamped out by the pagan leaders who took over the name of Christianity. If you have not done so, please call us or write us today and request our encouraging and eye-opening booklet entitled, The Holy Days—God’s Master Plan. It will be sent to you absolutely free upon your request.
For your convenience, we are enclosing with this letter an attractive “year-at-a-glance” calendar pointing out the Holy Days of God and giving you, also, a list of God’s true Holy Days as set forth in your own Bible. We hope that you will find this useful and that each of you will be sure to act on this precious Truth. Remember, the entire world will soon be observing these Holy Days after Christ’s return—as clearly described in Zechariah 14! But now, in this confused world, it takes faith and courage to step out and obey God. But with God’s help, we can restore true Christianity and follow the genuine example of Jesus Christ and the early apostles.
We will be blessed if we do this even in these traumatic times. For as the people of this confused world gradually descend into fear and frustration, we can know what actually lies ahead! We can and should have a depth of hope and faith—far surpassing those around us. As Jesus said, “When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Luke 21:31-33).
May God encourage, strengthen and inspire all of us to give our lives more fully to Him, and to be zealous in the very Work which Christ is performing through His Church at the end of this age! Although millions of people are now very anxious about losing their jobs, losing large amounts of their life savings, etc., the very real God we serve will always take care of us if we seek His Kingdom above all else! We must learn to have faith in this literal fact and do our part! Always remember these inspired words of the living Jesus Christ, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).
We, dear brethren and co-workers, are on the “winning team”! So let’s go all out to do our part in Christ’s Work and know that God willtake care of us if we truly serve Him—now and forever.
With Christian love,
Roderick C. Meredith
P.S. Please remember that any contributions dated in December that are postmarked on or before 12/31/08 will be counted as year 2008 donations, and may be tax-deductible in 2008, even if we receive them in January 2009. So be sure any December donation is postmarked no later than December 31.