Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ,
The Bible proclaims that the One we know as Jesus Christ is going to return, but before He does, humanity will manage to get itself into such a difficult strait that we would destroy all life from our planet—that is, except for His intervention (Matthew 24:21-22). I think all of us share in the confidence that the Bible is correct and sure, but even non-believers would do well to believe what Jesus said, for annihilation looms just over the horizon. Unbelief does not negate God’s plan.
There have been many troubling times in man’s history, but this one is different. Modern weapons of massive destruction, beyond our imagination, can be delivered anywhere in the world, and in a matter of minutes. And, as Isaiah declared regarding the state of mankind, “The way of peace they have not known” (Isaiah 59:8, as well as in Romans 3:17). No, we haven’t figured this out, nor will we. It will take God’s intervention through the returning Christ to bring peace.
Consider our world. Nations on both sides of the English Channel are worried over Brexit. The British Parliament has twice rejected by large margins agreements hammered out between British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The situation is in so much flux that we can only guess where Brexit may be by the time you receive this letter. Clearly, the short-term future of Britain and the European Union is uncertain, and looming over it all is the prospect of Italy (now facing its own “Italeave” movement) and other nations parting ways. Followers of Tomorrow’s World understand that this instability in Europe may very well be the catalyst leading to something shocking: ten kings “will give their power and authority to the beast” for a short time (Revelation 17:12-13). This European power will likely look good at the beginning, but will bring great destruction on earth and will fight Jesus Christ at His return (Revelation 17:12-14). We do not know every twist and turn between now and then, but Bible prophecy certainly appears to be moving forward at a rapid pace.
Then there is the horrendous attack on Muslim worshipers in New Zealand, where an armed gunman killed 50 and wounded nearly as many. And then there is this AFP news report: “Dutch police launched a huge manhunt for a gunman who killed three people and wounded nine others on Monday in a suspected terror attack inside a tram in the city of Utrecht.” And let us not forget the “yellow vest” protests and riots taking place in France.
Meanwhile, in North America, the United States is so divided over moral values that it appears the nation will never again be the same. The American Civil War, as awful as it was, did not destroy the nation, but what we see happening now has that potential. Jesus said, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mark 3:24). How foolish we must look in the eyes of the world! America is becoming hated, not only by our enemies, but even by our historic friends. And when America falls, more aggressive and less benign powers will fill the vacuum.
However, God has given His true servants a job to do. Jesus gave His disciples a great commission to preach the Gospel to all the world and make disciples of all nations (Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:19). There is much more to this commission than meets the eye. People assume they know what the Gospel is, but few do, even among professing Christians. The Gospel Jesus preached was a message about the Kingdom of God being set up on this earth. It is not a message about heaven, nor of “heaven on earth.” This message is much more than what is proclaimed by traditional Christianity. It is a message declaring that those who are Christ’s at His coming will be resurrected to be part of the very family of God, who will reign on this earth (Revelation 5:10) and bring peace to this troubled world. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). (If you have not done so, please order and read our booklet, Do You Believe the True Gospel? And be sure to look up the referenced verses and prove it for yourself.)
Dear Brethren and Co-workers, who is preaching this same message that Jesus, His apostles, and the first century Church of God proclaimed? I am far from the first to ask these pointed questions, but it doesn’t make them any less valid: “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?” Again, we are talking about a very different gospel than is preached in mainstream Christianity. Many very sincere, well-meaning, and dedicated people do not understand, but you can. You can prove it for yourself out of your own Bible, as many of you no doubt have already done.
God’s plan of salvation for mankind is portrayed each year in the Biblical Holy Days and Festivals. Next month, we in the Living Church of God will once again begin a new Festival cycle, beginning with Passover. We understand from 1 Corinthians 5:7 that “Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” Jesus’ first coming was necessary that our sins might be forgiven. He paid the penalty for our lawless deeds by giving His life in exchange for ours. Thank God! Without that sacrifice we would be without hope, but so would mankind be doomed without His Second Coming. How many realize that His return is necessary for human survival?
While traditional Christianity generally understands that Jesus died for our sins, many assume that God’s plan for mankind ends with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yet there is another Festival that follows on the heels of Passover—the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Paul commanded the Gentile Christians to keep this Feast: “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). This seven-day Festival reminds us that our response to Christ’s sacrifice must be to come out of spiritual Egypt, we must repent of our sins. And the last day of this Festival pictures the day when Israel walked through the Red Sea, a type of baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1-2).
This is knowledge the whole world will come to understand following Christ’s return. This is part of the good news that Jesus intended His followers to proclaim even now when He commanded them, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you….” Note that the command was not to His first-century apostles only. Rather, He says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). This commission continues all the way to the end of this age.
You have chosen through your prayers, tithes, and offerings to do your part in that great commission. While it would normally be impossible for such human efforts alone to fulfill such a great task, we can be sure that through Christ who strengthens us, and through His great power working in us, it will be done, as we read in Matthew 24:14. Thank you for your continued generous and heartfelt support!
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston
P.S. We are back again on superstation WGN on Sundays at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time. We also went on another nationwide network—Freeform, on Wednesdays at 6:30 a.m. So far we are pleased with the responses received from both stations. Be sure to check with your television provider to see if one or both of these nationwide stations are available in your area.