January 7, 2011

“For I know this, that after my departure savage (Greek: Oppressive) wolves will come in AMONG YOU, not sparing the flock. Also FROM AMONG YOURSELVES men will RISE UP, speaking perverse (Greek: Misleading) things, to DRAW AWAY (Greek: Apospao) the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:29-30).

Dear Brethren,

Can you be deceived by Satan the devil through his instruments -- led away – from God and His way of life that leads the enduring faithful to eternal life and awesome glory?

Most of you would probably answer – “No Way!” Are you sure? Scriptures and recent history make known it can indeed happen with you or me! And it will unless we have on the armor of God while watching with great diligence and praying always! I Corinthians 10:12; Ephesians 6:10-20; Luke 21:36.

Forgetting so Soon!

Have we forgotten so soon that most of us lived through the years between 1986 and the end of 1994 of DECEPTION that crept upon us over that period of time until it fully exposed itself for what it was?

It was somewhat like the proverbial frog placed in a pan of warm water and so gradually heated that the frog never realized what was happening to it until it was too late!

We have seen better than 100,000 people who were once of us who were so completely deceived during that period of time by the Pied Pipers they walked away from God’s late apostle and the doctrinal teachings he was used by Christ to RESTORE WITHIN His Church.

They were moved away by personalities and hearing new teachings that tickled their ears – pleased to hear

The Forewarning of Jesus Christ

Matthew 24:3-5, 11, 23-24 It is very important that we take serious thought to what Jesus Christ said to the disciples after having been asked about the end of this age— the first thing He cautioned them about was the very real danger of Deception!

These verses in Matthew 24 connect with the symbolic White Horse in the book of Revelation (the first seal).

Revelation 6:1-2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse (a counterfeit – a look-alike). He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”

Some think of this white horse as the white horse Jesus Christ will be riding when He returns to this earth (Revelation 19:11-16).

The apostle Paul clearly makes known the counterfeit for what it really is:

II Corinthians 11:13-15 “. . . Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light . . .”

Example: David Hulme – an evangelist – made the effort of doing away with the meaning of the white horse that connects with Matthew 24:3-5, saying this is not what the Scripture really means. Mr. Hulme is an unconverted man – I should know, having judged him by his fruits, after having been with him for some time.

The Power of Deception

“He (God)) has delivered us from the POWER of darkness, and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1:13).

From Satan’s ruling kingdom to God’s through knowledge and understanding due to being begotten by God.

The power of deception is so great that it is the very first thing Jesus Christ warned His people to be very careful of in Matthew 24. We live in a deceived world that belongs to Satan. And he has many ministers working for him as his instruments:

II John 7-11 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world . . . look to yourselves that we do NOT lose those things we worked for but that we may receive a full reward. For whoever transgresses (margin: goes ahead) and does NOT ABIDE in the doctrine of Christ (the fullness) does NOT have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does NOT bring this doctrine (the fullness – Jude 2), do NOT receive him into your house nor greet him. For he who greets him SHARES in his evil deeds” (II John 7-11).

If you think you cannot be overwhelmed then consider what Christ had the apostle Paul to write: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (I Corinthians 10:20).

The only way to combat this power is though a very close and abiding relationship with God and Jesus Christ.

Never Let Down our Guard

We MUST NEVER let down our guard with whoever Satan might begin using to subtly begin working with our minds to turn us away from this awesome future God holds forth before us!

Remember Satan is the Master Deceiver with 6,000 years of experience and success with humankind -- always broadcasting with attitudes as the prince of the power of the air trying to affect and infect us in one way or another with negative thinking toward the leadership of the Church or other members that would lead us out of the Church (Ephesians 2:2).

Sadly, this sometimes takes place with people we would never suspect -- working through people that are close to you in one way or another—people we would never consider— it could be long time ministers, elders, deacons, husbands, wives, relatives, friends!

One can know by judging them by their fruits in light of the true teachings of God (Matthew 4:4; John 17:17; Matthew 7:15-23).

Baptized but Unconverted

Church history reveals that Satan will use those who are regarded as members of God’s Church – people who have been baptized -- but never received God’s Holy Spirit; even though hands were laid on them for that blessing! As examples: think about the apostates who were given the leadership after the death of Mr. Armstrong! Even truly converted ministers make mistakes but God never does!

In reality they are mostly Tares or of the Synagogue of Satan the devil!

Based on past history, unless you have a close and abiding relationship with God and Jesus Christ, some of you will be moved away from the truth of God and His Church before much longer joining those who have already left along with those who have been disfellowshipped.

I, as a true minister of God, say on the authority of God and Jesus Christ all those who have left us for whatever reason are on their way to experience the agonizing horrors of the Great Tribulation -- unless they see their error and repent – and seeking counsel to come back to us.

Sadly, offenses caused by other members are another reason why some people leave the Church. It is terribly sad that we do not take our calling more seriously and not let another person’s problem come to be ours and possibly cause them to be left behind when God’s Church flees for protection—and worse—this could cause them to lose their salvation.

“Great peace have those who LOVE Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalm 119:165).

A Life and Death Struggle for Life

Hardly anyone really understands all of us are in a life and death struggle to remain faithful to our God while remaining free from the cunning, subtle, deceptive ways of Satan who is far more powerful in every way than we (Ezekiel 28:12).

Though the apostle Paul wrote the Scriptures above (Acts 20:29-30), it could just as well have been Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. When looking back over the years that followed his death in 1986, we can see how the wolves had entered the Church of God and then began ravaging the Worldwide Church of God after his death.

Deceitful Wolves in Sheep’ Clothing

It is very sad that we do not take the written warnings of Jesus Christ seriously regarding deception and because of it many have fallen away. Over and over again in Scripture we are warned about the gravity of the danger we face from these wolves that appear to be righteous when they are not! Yet Jesus said we should know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-23).

“For such are false apostles, DECEITFUL workers, TRANSFORMING themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself TRANSFORMS himself INTO an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing IF his ministers also TRANSFORMS themselves INTO ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (II Corinthians 11:13-15).

The POWER of deception can be witnessed by viewing the world around us, and also the corporate Churches of God who have gone off-track – a world wandering blindly in spiritual darkness.

Revelation 12:8 “. . . Satan who deceives the whole world . . .”

We need to recognize our weaknesses and be careful that Satan does not take advantage in those areas. The truth is we are naive and trusting people. We want to help the underdog even when he or she is not right. This is contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Ponder seriously the following Scriptures that relate to this end-time:

II Peter 2:1 “But [in addition to the holy men of God] there were also false teachers (450 plus) among you, who will SECRETLY (Mr. Tkach, plus) bring in destructive heresies, even denying the LORD who bought them and bring on themselves swift destruction.”

Verse 2 > “And MANY will follow their destructive ways, because of whom (false teachers) THE WAY OF TRUTH will be blasphemed.”

Verse 3 > “By covetousness (fame and gain) they will EXPLOIT you with DECEPTIVE words (speaking and writing).

Jude 12 “These are spots in your love-feasts, while they feast with you WITHOUT FEAR, serving only themselves”

Their ulterior purpose being used by Satan

Jude 16-19 “These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts, and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to GAIN advantage. But you, beloved, REMEMBER the words which were spoken before BY THE APOSTLES. How that they TOLD YOU that there would be MOCKERS in the last time who would walk according to their ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who CAUSE DIVISIONS not having the Spirit . . .”

Those who have left the Church

Though many who have left us have not been disfellowshipped by me; they have disfellowshipped themselves from us!

By their departure they have made known they no longer want to be in our fellowship – meaning God and His true Church. The apostle John wrote about the true fellowship:

“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly OUR FELLOWSHIP is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. . . . If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not PRACTICE the truth” (I John1:3, 6)

Those who leave us are no longer a part of our fellowship because they have moved away from fellowship with Christ and His Church:

“They went out from us but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us (I John 2:9).”

It seems very difficult for some to believe what was said here by God’s apostle.

Family Members

Some of these people are close family members, and if religion can be left out of our visiting with each other, there seems to be no real problem.

Mr. Armstrong disfellowshipped his daughter Beverly in early years; and he and Mrs. Armstrong would not visit with her. Later, they determined by her fruits that she had never been converted and the relationship was re-established.

The Disfellowshipped

For those who have been disfellowshipped the apostle Paul gives specific instructions in regard to any contact with them:

Romans 16:17 “Now I urge you, brethren NOTE those who cause divisions and offenses, CONTRARY to the doctrine which you learned, and AVOID them.” (Romans 16:17).

Personal Animosity

We have lost many people over time. A few of them have great anger toward me – actually hate me! I have seen it in the eyes of a few. WHY? Because they were fed lies about me – not willing to face the TRUTH by asking me about what they have been told (Matthew 18:15-17).

I do not hate them. In fact I pray for my enemies. They hated Christ and He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” The same is true with these people. They hate Mr. Armstrong! Why? Because in reality who he was and what he preached.

We Represent the Remnant of the Philadelphia Era of God’s True Church – as far as I now know -- the only Congregation of it.

By belief in the fullness of the true doctrinal teachings, acceptance of Mr. Armstrong as God’s apostle, and the Promised Elijah, and obedience to God’s government with a true minister of God at the head of it, while doing the Work of God, make known we are the remnant of the Philadelphia Era that Jesus Christ is now using.

“We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us, by this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (I John 4:6).

“For we are not as so many, peddling (Margin: adulterating for gain) the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ” (II Corinthians 2:17).

We are not seeking fame and gain as are the others.

The Holy Scriptures

There is great need to realize as God’s people we are to live by every word of God as Jesus said we must (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4):

II Peter 1:1-4, 10-21 “. . . holy men of God spoke as they were MOVED by the Holy Spirit.

Who were these holy men? Prophets of old and apostles – used to place the true teachings, both prophecies and the doctrinal teachings within the Church of God.

Doctrinal teachings for the most part lost over the many centuries and restored by God’s late apostle, Mr. Armstrong in this end-time.

And with that restoration came along Satan with his false ministers to try and destroy them again – along with the membership. We must do all we can to keep the same thing happening to us as has many others.

Jude 20-25 “. . . keep yourselves in the LOVE of God . . .”

To aid us the apostle Paul wrote the following to Timothy and it applies to each of us:

“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them for in so doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (I Timothy 4:16).

We MUST keep ourselves fully clothed with the armor of God to endure unto the end and be accepted by Jesus Christ when He returns to this earth (Ephesians 6:10-20).

Keep the faith my brethren; because of it there is hope.

Your servant and brother in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Don Billingsley

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