Pastor’s Comments December 1, 2006

“We are Commanded to Watch”

Dear Brethren,    

I seriously wonder if we really grasp the seriousness of the times in which we now live?  THINK ABOUT IT! World News is now reporting in headlines what God's endtime apostle and the Elijah to come preached and wrote for over 50 years concerning the endtime prophecies being perilously close to being fulfilled!

Few Church members seem to really be able to comprehend this fact!  On the other hand there are the well known syndicated writers of newspapers and magazines who periodically write and speak about the closeness of the end of civilization by using the feared word, Armageddonl.

Consider the headings and excerpts from the following articles:

THE RECORD (Newspaper -- Stockton, California), Thursday, November 16, 2006, B7  OPINION

Visions of Armageddon by Cal Thomas

The biggest winners in the November 7 elections were the enemies of the United States, who sees the results as confirmation of one of their doctrines. ... America's enemies are gloating more than the Democrats.  Unlike Democrats, their intentions are evil. ... Terrorists are imported and recruited from prisons.  Leaders of al-Quida announce weapons of mass destruction have been placed in American and European cities.  They demand the United States withdraw its protection of Israel.  If we refuse, they threaten to detonate their weapons, killing millions of people.  What president or prime minister would reject that demand?  After capitulating on the installment plan, who will have the political or moral capital (or military capacity) to stop Armageddon?"

THE RECORD  Sunday, January 16, 2006, B9  OPINION

Facing the apocalypse, My Voice -- Arianna Huffington

"America has morphed into a nation that's dismissing its future. ..."

San Francisco Chronicle  Sunday November 21, 2004, INSIGHT

Unthinkable?

"An attack on an American city by terrorists armed with a small nuclear device is an even bet within a decade, some experts say"...

Are We Watching World News?

Jesus Christ has told all of His people to be watching and praying that we might be counted worthy to escape what is fast coming on the Church, all of us individually, as well as coming on this country, Britain and the other nations of Israel!  (Luke 21:36).

Once the WARNING by Christ is completed, we can well expect possibly two or three American cities along with the same in Britain to be blown up with the deaths of millions of people taking place

God’s Chief Human Shepherd                 

We were warned for over 50 years by God's late apostle and it can now be seen that what Christ used him to speak and write about the prophecies of Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; Matthew 24, as well and many other prophecies, are virtually at our doorsteps!

Brethren, these things are very serious and we are in real danger unless we are keeping watch and trying hard to have a close and abiding relationship with our Father and His beloved Son Jesus Christ.

In closing this letter to all of you, I am attaching a letter I received from one of our astute and dedicated members that bring us up to date with the ongoing news of late that further point to the endtime.

Let us continue to pray for one another and all of God's people whoever and wherever they may be in this world.

With love and concern for each of you,
Don Billingsley

Nov. 29, 2006 Dear Mr. Billingsley, I thought I would quickly pen or type this letter to you before turning in for the night. I will try to be as brief as I can. In keeping with Christ command to WATCH (world events) I thought it important that we not overlook the pope’s visit to Turkey and his meeting with the so, called spiritual leader of the Orthodox Church. Clearly, that meeting is for the purpose of healing a rift that existed since the sixth century. If we recall a little history, this rift between east and west was further heightened in 1504, when the Pope at Rome and the patriarch or leader of the Orthodox Church at Constantinople excommunicated each other. This has been a longstanding problem between east and west. In a 1982 letter to the Church, Mr. Armstrong pointed out that this rift has been one of the factors causing a delay in European unification. In that same letter he wrote that he felt sure “SOME COMPROMISE OR AGREEMENT” would be reached between these two factions. The point of all this is that this healing between the two parties could possibly set the stage for bringing the world more speedily to its prophesied end. Mr. Armstrong seemed to believe that. I thought the real meaning behind this visit to Turkey should be understood by our Brethren. On another note, I am sure you are aware that King of Jordan made the recent comment that the Middle East could spin out of control. Sounding like a prophet, king Abdullah said “WE COULD POSSIBLY IMAGINE GOING INTO 2007 AND HAVING THREE CIVIL WARS ON OUR HANDS.” He went on to say that its time we take strong step and make sure “WE AVERT THE MIDDLE EAST FROM A TREMENDOUS CRISIS THAT I FEAR AND I SEE COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN IN 2007.” Pretty frightening words from a Middle Eastern leader. Also note the President of the United States, as some say, was snubbed by his scheduled meeting with the Iraqi Prime minister of Iraq. The pride of our power is certainly being broken – to the extent that there are talks about looking to Syria and Iran to solve the Iraqi situation. This crisis in Iraq presents grave problem to our nation. One analyst said America’s failure in Iraq, has served to elevate the status of Iran as a power to be reckoned with. Our military is failing because we have forgotten God. We live in a nation where our leader and men of influence blatantly set the example of rejecting God. Recently Larry King made the statement that he hated the God of the Old Testament and Ted Turner said that Christianity was for losers. As God’s people, we should be offended by these remarks, because they are speaking against God and our husband to be – Jesus Christ. What bride would not take offence to her husband being insulted? This is just a thought, but in keeping abreast of world events, it might prove to be a good thing to even read a few of the headline news of world events during the announcement from time to time.  [It does] serve a good purpose in alerting the brethren as to the condition of the world and how those events fits with prophecy; It maybe something to consider. I do know that Mr. Armstrong did mention that those men who watched the news and reported it to him and in their writings at headquarters were considered by him to be “WATCHMEN.”... Your Friend in Christ,  Garfield Gregoire