April 29, 2011

“A sower went out to sow to sow his seeds. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside . . . some fell on stony places . . . some fell among the thorns . . . but others fell on good ground

(Matthew 13:1-8).

Dear Brethren,

While living in such troubling and trying times as these with so many thousands of people who were once with us, and no longer; while others continue to fall away in smaller numbers, and trying to understand where they all fit in the teachings of the holy Bible has led me once again to the Parable of the Sower.

Often the question arises—were all those who CHOSE to separate themselves from us unconverted? If some of them were really converted – short of godly repentance – where does their falling away place them in the future? Will they be given a further opportunity in the GWTJ -- or will they perish in the Lake of Fire – never to live again?

This writing can only give the answers in part for only God in heaven above knows the heart of each one and whether they will be in the GWTJ or have they gone too far and will perish.

The point of this writing is— I would be terribly afraid of my chances either way, while trying hard to remain planted in the good earth; and I would hope each of you think the same way.

Sadly, members continue to fall away without really thinking deeply with fervent prayers of the decision being formulated in their minds before they do move away from the true Church of God – “. . . doing that which is right in their own eyes and the end thereof is death” (Proverbs 14:12; 12:15).

Searching for Understanding

While searching for Scriptures that possibly will give understanding, I found the logical place to begin is with The Parable of the Sower. At the same time it should be realized that this parable only gives us an OVERVIEW.

From there one has to go to related Scriptures that give more detailed understanding. Putting them altogether aids us in increased understanding. At the same time studying the areas where the SEED fell among stony (or rocky ground) along with the seed sown among the thorns should stir all of us to try harder not to take what God has graced us with for granted lest we fall among these two areas (I Corinthians 10:12; II Corinthians 13:5).

The Parables that Jesus Christ spoke were only intended for God’s true people to have the true understanding (Matthew 13:10-16).

The Parable of the Sower

On the same day Jesus went out of the house (Peter’s house in Capernaum, Lower Galilee, Matthew 17:24), and sat by the sea (Sea of Galilee). And great multitudes were gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, a sower went out to sow . . .” (Matthew 13:1-8; also using Luke 8).

The Wayside

Luke 8:5 “And as he sowed, SOME fell by the wayside, and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.

Luke 8:11-12 “Now the parable is this (meaning): ‘Those by the wayside are the ones who HEAR; then the devil comes and takes away THE WORD out of their hearts, LEST they should believe and be saved (converted, KJV).

Matthew 13:19 “When anyone HEARS the word of the Kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

The side of the hard path through the field was not broken up.

Not Getting It!

Many times we have heard Mr. Armstrong say in his sermons at least 50 percent, and sometimes even 10 Percent, of you are not getting it. Meaning they were not understanding the depth of the truths he had come to understand and was preaching.

Shortly before he died, while urging his personal aide to be faithful, he told him that at least 50 percent of the people who were considered to be members would fall away. They did – and more!

This we have seen take place with the corporate Worldwide Church of God when over 100,000 members walked away from God’s true teachings and embraced Protestant teachings or chose not to be connected with any church.

Many Were Called Few Chosen

Jesus Christ gives understanding about all those thousands of people who appeared to believe as we did until late 1994 and early1995:

Matthew 22:14 “For many are CALLED, but FEW are chosen.”

The many were called to enable Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong through their tithes and offerings to proclaim the Gospel and the Ezekiel warning message to Israel and the world.

When he died Christ temporally CLOSED THE DOOR to the Gospel.

Having no further need for these people Christ enabled an apostate pastor-general to lead them away into Protestantism.

There was no way that Jesus Christ would use an apostate pastor-general to take the Gospel to the world. In actuality, he did not believe the message anyway nor the Ezekiel warning message.

Jesus Christ Reopens the Door

Though Christ reopened the door to the Gospel and the Ezekiel Warning Message during the Passover season in 2006, through the use of modern technology (websites) the same large numbers of people were no longer needed to do the Work.

The REVIVED Work would only require a very few people for Jesus Christ to use while doing His Work.

“O LORD, I have heard Your speech (Habakkuk 1:6-11) and was afraid; O LORD REVIVE YOUR WORK in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy (Habakkuk 3:2).

This little flock would also be used to aid Jesus Christ in fulfilling the very end-time prophecies that is unbelievable to all the other corporate churches (Habakkuk 1:5; Revelation 3:8).

Two Other Groups

Two other groups need to be considered as well, the Tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-42), and the secondary group of the Synagogue of Satan (Revelation 3:9; 2:20); the first— being the Catholic Church (Revelation 17).

There are many Scriptures that relate to this parable of the Sower.

Seed on the Stony (Rocky) Places

Matthew 13:5 “Some on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the SUN was up they were SCORCHED, and BECAUSE they had NO ROOT they withered away.

Luke 8:6 “Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it LACKED MOISTURE.

Five Foolish Virgins

This appears to apply to the five foolish virgins whose lamps had gone out and were told by the five wise virgins to go and buy for themselves the needed oil (God’s Holy Spirit; Water is also a type of God’s Holy Spirit).

Matthew 13:20-21 “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who HEARS THE WORD and immediately receives it with JOY; yet he has NO ROOT in himself, but ENDURES only for a while. For WHEN tribulation or persecution ARISES, BECAUSE of the Word, immediately he stumbles.

“They lacked depth of purpose or capacity to grow spiritually” (Mr. Armstrong).

These people were converted and had God’s Holy Spirit. Are they forever lost because they had no root to endure—and didn’t?

Possibly some have gone too far (Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:26-31), but Scripture implies many if not all will have a renewed opportunity for salvation in the Great White Throne Judgment period of time.

Consider the following Scriptures and note by God’s late apostle Mr. Armstrong.

The Spirit May be Saved

The apostle Paul writing to the Church in Corinth ordered the ministry to put out of the Church a man who was committing sexual immorality with his father’s wife:

I Corinthians 5:4-5 “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power (authority) of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan (Romans 16:17) for the DESTRUCTION of the flesh, THAT HIS SPIRIT MAY BE SAVED IN THE DAY OF THE LORD JESUS.”

NOTE: During a meeting with the ministry in Pasadena in the latter 1950s, the question was raised by one of the ministers about a member who seemed to be going nowhere while continually creating a problem for himself, what should be done with him?

NOTE: Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong stated, “Put him out before it is too late for him. If he is kept in the Church he would go into the lake of fire. By putting him out in time he will come up in the 100-year period (Great White Throne Judgment).

Putting a person out of the Church removes his or her protection from God (Psalm 34:7). Then he or she is left for Satan to work on and lead to physical death. This may not happen for some time or it could be sooner.

Some of them, now deceased, others yet living, will have repented and remaining faithful unto death in the Great Tribulations and then be in the first resurrection.

To also aid our understanding, judgment is a process of time while one is under review by God.

Since God is giving up to 100 years for mankind to prove his or her self it is logical to believe with this in mind that a death-bed repentance is not sufficient nor is a very short period of time to be acceptable to God for a spiritual birth into His Family.

There has to be a sufficient period of time for godly character to be developed in mankind which comes from purifying tests of character.

To be continued

Your servant and friend,
Don Billingsley

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