If any one word describes the awe some universe in which we live, it is  probably  “design.”  Since the dawn of history, man has marveled at the beauty, the order, and the systematic planning that seem to permeate all creation—from the smallest atom to the greatest galaxy. The specialized abilities and  characteristics of    living    things    are    especially dumbfounding. From the marvelous metamorphosis of a butterfly to the uncanny clock of the 17-year locust, our  earth   is  literally  teeming   with countless  millions  of  remarkable creatures—each with its own unique and intricately designed forms of behavior.   Actually,   the   more  science discovers, the more utterly amazing life becomes.

So wondrous are the works of nature that the evidence for a Master Designer  seems  overwhelming.   Indeed, of all the proofs of God’s existence, the “argument from design” is perhaps the most cogent.

The “design proof” -of God simply states that there must be a Great Creator  because  the   likelihood   of chance and randomness producing the apparent order and design of the universe is infinitesimally small. The argument from design does not gain its cogency from the fact that the particular arrangement of the universe is unlikely per se, but rather from the fact that it is unlikely that it would appear planned and  designed  if it were solely the result of chance. Think of a deck of cards. If you examined a well-shuffled deck, you would expect the order of the cards to be quite random. You would not expect to find the cards in an order that   would   indicate   an   intelligent being had arranged them according to a special design or for a unique Durpose.  The  likelihood  that you would  ever see that  particular  ar-rangement again might be extremely remote; yet if you found the deck to-tally randomized, it would be obvious that thie cards were not specially arranged by an intelligent being.

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And what was it, and how organized, in 1933, and from A.D. 31-70?

The Work of God, and the organization and government of the Church of God, underwent radical changes from A.D. 31-70 to 1933, and also from 1933 to the present.
We need now to stop and get our perspective. Was it as it should have been in 1933? Is it TODAY?

Radical and significant changes have occurred in the world during these intervals. Yet the same Church of God has continued — not, in the years 1927-33, as it should have been. Yet it was the only body of believers on earth that had the true name — the “commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12).

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From time to time, sad to say, we all hear of cases in which true Christians burn out, sour on God’s Work or are caught up in some problem or movement that takes them out of God’s true Church.

Many of us probably even know people — perhaps former close friends — to whom it has happened.

When it occurs, we are shocked and disheartened. In disbelief, we ask ourselves, Why?

But it would, perhaps, be more appropriate if we asked ourselves, Can this ever happen to me?

Can it, really? Is there any possibility that you, too, would one day turn away from the Christian way of life — reject the calling God has
given you? What assurance do you have that you are firmly rooted in God’s true Church? How can you be sure — absolutely sure — that you are immune to such tragedy?

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I
was sitting at the main hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, with three of our
African ministers. And I looked over and saw a group of Nigerian men
dressed in their extremely colorful native garb. Each wore a long robe
with baggy trousers embroidered in fancy colors and gold, shining in
the sunlight, and a little pillbox hat. There were five of them sitting
in a circle in the late afternoon after working hours, just talking and
gesturing. They appeared to have known each other for years.

They displayed a very pleasant, beautiful kind of relationship.

Their
companionship was striking. No one was left out. Everybody was a part
of the group, everybody was accepted, everybody shared — and everybody
was enjoying it. I saw the courtesy they extended to each other. I saw
the joy they shared at each other’s comments, the laughter they had at
various remarks. They really enjoyed each other. I saw a real
brotherhood in those men.

I said to myself: “That’s it! That is what is pleasing to God — this fellowship. That’s what His plan is all about.”

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Many sincere people believe God’s Law is “done away.” “It was nailed to the cross,” they say. The Law of God, they will tell you, was a harsh, stern Law—but Christ came to free us from the “curse of the law”! Christians, they will feelingly tell you, are not “under the Law.” True Christians are under grace, and grace does away with the need for law! Often they will quote Romans 10:4 to show you that “Christ is the end of the law.” They may go on to cite Romans 7:4 to show that Christians are “dead to the law.”

Did Christ Know?

But what are you going to do with Jesus’ words?

Jesus Christ Himself said:   “If thou wilt enter into life,  keep  the  Commandments”! (Mat. 19:17.) Did not Christ know? Was Jesus mistaken about the Law?
Now read what the apostle Paul told the Romans: “Do we then make void the law through faith? God FORBID: yea, we establish the law” (Rom. 3:31).
Did Paul know what he was talking about? In one verse he says that Christians are “dead to the law.” Yet he turns right around and says they “establish the law”!

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Was the Feast of Tabernacles a part of the “law of Moses”?  It is commanded in the New Testament?  Did the apostle Paul observe it after everything was “nailed to the cross?”

You are now a part of the true NEW TESTAMENT Church of God, if you have been baptized and have received the Spirit of God.  You have become a follower of Christ — and of the apostles in so far as they followed Christ.

What was Christ’s example?  Did He observe the Feast of Tabernacles?  Was He merely following Old Testament practice, or did He come to set the New Testament example?

New Testament Teaching

You have probably heard that Jesus merely followed the customs of Moses — that He set only an Old Testament example.  That it was left to Paul to set up New Testament theology and practice.

Many today have accepted without question the idea that Paul, not Jesus, really founded New Testament teaching.  Yet nothing could be farther from the truth!

Consider!  MOSES set the true Old Testament example.  He was the one called of God to establish the practice of the Old Testament Church.  He gave the “law of Moses” to the Old Testament Church.  The Jews had MOSES’ example for their church.

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MINI-STUDIES OF GOD’S WORD

God’s Word warns us, prophetically, that Satan the devil will be extremely active in this end time.

As
the conclusion of Satan’s rule over this earth rapidly approaches, the
arch deceiver and his demon henchmen know that only a short time
remains before they will be completely restrained by God. Soon they
will no longer be able to deceive the world and work to thwart God’s
plan for mankind. Therefore, Satan is pulling out all stops in a
last-ditch effort to destroy God’s spiritual Church!

Forewarned
is forearmed. Though no human is a match for the powerful, cunning
Satan, this study will show you how to be victorious in your battle
with Satan s kingdom. But first, let’s review a few basic facts about
Satan’s origin and why he is determined to destroy all Spirit begotten
Christians.

The Bible reveals that God created multitudes of angels before bringing the earth into existence (Job 38:4-7). Among these was a powerful, wise and beautiful cherub — the great archangel Lucifer, who was perfect in all his ways.

Later,
the earth was created and became the home or abode of angels. And God
set Lucifer over the angels to administer God’s government on earth (Ezek. 28:13-17, Isa. 14:12-14).

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Bible prophecy reveals events of our time and world-shaking events soon to change your life. A major world-shaking event is foretold in the symbolic language of a mysterious, world-dominating, wild beast.

The Good News is publishing, serially, Editor-in-Chief Herbert W. Armstrong’s newest booklet Who or What Is the Prophetic Beast?

The entire beast of Revelation 17—the revivals of the Roman Empire—is a part of the seven heads of Revelation 13 and Daniel 7 because it comprises the last seven horns.

Yet this revived Roman Empire is “the eighth” system, differing from the seven before it (Revelation 17:11).

Where shall we find that mysterious number 666? Does the pope, as some claim, wear it on his crown, identifying him as the beast of Revelation 13? Or must we look for it elsewhere?

Here are all the Bible scriptures speaking directly of this number: “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:17-18).

“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God” (Revelation 15:2).

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Church of God Faithful Flock

Part One

Bible prophecy reveals events of our time and world-shaking events soon to change your life. A major world-shaking event is foretold in the symbolic language of a mysterious, world-dominating, wild beast.

Beginning this issue, The Good News is publishing, serially, Editor-in-Chief Herbert W. Armstrong’s newest booklet Who or What Is the Prophetic Beast?

Who or what is the wild “beast” of the Apocalypse, or book of Revelation, chapters 13 and 17? What does Bible prophecy reveal about world events now leading to Armageddon and the end of this age?

This series of articles deals with governments and wars that will bring this world to its final end.

The Bible is God’s book of history, prophecy and revealed knowledge of God’s purpose and master plan for humanity from its beginning on into eternity.

But the Bible is primarily a book about the chosen nation of Israel, and other nations that have come into direct contact with Israel.

We know little concerning nations, or whether there were nations on earth, prior to the great Flood. But soon after the Flood, Nimrod founded the city-states of Babylon, Nineveh and others. In due time such nations as Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, the Aramean states, Israel, Phoenicia and others developed in the Middle East, By the end of the seventh century B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar had founded the first world empire or union of nations.

The Bible does reveal the history, and prophecy from now of the system of gentile world empires starting with Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon on to the Second Coming of Christ, as well as the history and yet future prophecy concerning Israel. This series of articles will cover the true significance of these two systems of nations, and what it means to us today, as well as what is prophesied for the imminent future.

First, then, who or what is the mysterious wild beast of Revelation 13 and 17? If you have his mark, you must suffer the seven last PLAGUES! Is he a mysterious superman world dictator yet to appear? Is he the antichrist—or a government—or a church?

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Church of God Faithful Flock