Greetings from Charlotte,
Mr. John Meakin, one of our ministers in the UK, recently suffered from a collapsed lung. He is at home and recovering, with the lung continuing to heal and re-inflate. He is very grateful for your prayers for his well-being. Also, Mr. Max Rakotoniaina, our treasurer for France, was hospitalized after a fall. He is now convalescing and recovering well, according to his family. Our prayers for one another in times of trouble are deeply appreciated. Mr. Richard Ames recorded a new telecast, “Will You Escape Armageddon?,” offering Armageddon and Beyond. Dr. Douglas Winnail should be in the Philippines by the time you read this. He will be having meetings and conducting Tomorrow’s World presentations on his way around the world, with stops in New Zealand, several cities in Australia, and South Africa. Your prayers for all of our ministry and for one another are greatly appreciated.—Gerald Weston
Church Administration
Past and Upcoming Tomorrow’s World Presentations
Last weekend, we held eight Tomorrow’s World Presentations: three initial events and five follow-ups. These presentations had a combined total of 94 guests. One especially notable follow-up presentation was in St. Petersburg, Florida. This second follow-up, given by Dr. Wilner Pierre, had a total of 19 guests, 18 of whom were returning guests from the previous two TWPs! This weekend, we have eight events scheduled: seven follow-up presentations and one initial presentation, which will be given by Dr. Douglas Winnail in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Thank you for your continued support and prayers for this effort in the Work.
Feast of Tabernacles
Ministerial Feast Survey—Repeat Announcement
All ministers should have received an email from Headquarters giving you the link and instructions to complete the Ministerial Feast Survey. Please be sure to fill out this form, even if you plan to attend your assigned site. The deadline to do so is Friday, March 24. If you did not receive this email, contact Tyler Wayne at [email protected].
Living Youth Program
Teen Camp Staff Registration Deadline: April 9
If you are contemplating serving at Teen Camp this year, please get your application in soon. Staff registration will close April 9. Camper registration remains open! To register, visit http://camp.livingyouth.org.
Midwest Adventure Camp
We still have room at the Midwest Adventure camp. Sign up for a wonderful canoe trip down the scenic Current River in Southern Missouri, taking in all the sights and enjoying the cool waters. The trip is open to campers ages 13–20. If you want to enjoy a terrific summer adventure, come join us as we navigate the waters and camp under the stars. Register at https://camp.livingyouth.org and get ready for a great time in God’s awesome creation!—Bobby Jacques
Comments
Importance of Forgiveness: As we approach the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, we are reminded of our need to be forgiven—and to forgive others. The Scriptures state that we have all sinned and that Jesus suffered and died so we can be forgiven (John 3:16; Romans 3:23–26; 6:23). To be forgiven also requires that we repent of our sins and change (Acts 2:37–38), and that we must be ready to forgive others who have hurt or offended us (Matthew 6:12–15). This is not always easy when memories, emotions, and personal pride are involved, but this is what we are admonished to do if we want to be followers of Christ—and we want God to forgive us. Forgiveness is an important tool that makes working together with other people possible—and enjoyable. If we remember that Jesus died so we can be forgiven, we should be motivated to forgive others.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
News and Prophecy—March 23, 2023
Where Will China’s Ambitions Lead? China and Russia are growing closer. Last month, China proposed a 12-point plan to end the war in Ukraine. This week, Chinese President Xi was in Russia meeting with President Putin. President Xi commented that his country was prepared to work with Russia “to stand guard over the world order based on international law” (The Guardian, March 20, 2023).
In another part of the world, China recently “brokered a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, in the process upending U.S. calculus in the Gulf and beyond” (CNN, March 15, 2023). Analysts know that as China’s ambitions continue to grow, it will need more oil. Shoring up relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia and building up its own credibility with both nations bodes well for China’s future oil needs. However, the country’s recent diplomatic coup in the Middle East and its pledge to work with Russia as a protector of international norms serves China’s plan to further push the waning United States out of the role of global hegemon. As the U.S. declines and further alienates other nations, it leaves a global leadership vacuum that must be filled. China appears to be working to fill that void. As analyst Nic Robertson noted, what the U.S. has long feared is now happening, regardless of the ultimate result of the war in Ukraine: the creation of an alternative world order that is not centered on the United States.
British and U.S. decline was prophesied long ago in the pages of the Bible, as was the rise of other nations to take their place as the end of the age approaches. Interestingly, the leading international power will ultimately not be China! While China will likely play a major role in end-time events, eyes should be on Germany! To learn more about the future of the world, be sure to read our free resource, Germany in Prophecy.
Historical Record Validates King David: For decades, those opposing the validity of the Bible have claimed that many key biblical characters were little more than fictional characters—including the Israelite King David. However, extrabiblical evidence continues to surface that demonstrates the very real existence of King David or “the House of David.” The Mesha Stele, or Moabite Stone, was discovered in fragments in 1868, about 15 miles east of the Dead Sea (Jerusalem Post, January 12, 2023). The stele now resides in the Louvre Museum in Paris. For decades some researchers have championed the opinion that the stele records the existence of the “House of David,” a position that has been challenged due to some worn and unclear letters in the engraving. In recent years, new technology was used to more definitively decipher the lettering on the stele, and the new research appears to provide incontrovertible proof that David’s house is, indeed, mentioned.
The stone stele tells the tale of a conflict between King Mesha of Moab and Israel, paralleling the account given in the third chapter of 2 Kings. References to YHVH, the name of God in the Old Testament, and to the “House of David” and the “altar of David” appear on the slab, but the references to David were disputed. With this far more accurate imaging technology, scientists are now sure that the stele contains references to King David, providing further evidence supporting the historical accuracy of the Bible.
The Bible claims to be inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). As time passes and scientific and archaeological discoveries continue to be made, more and more evidence surfaces supporting the biblical account. To learn more about the accuracy of the Bible, be sure to read or listen to The Bible: Fact or Fiction?—Scott Winnail, Chris Sookdeo, and Francine Prater