Letter to our Friends - June 25, 2019

Dear Friends:

Another busy and exciting week here in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Indeed, the Truth of the Eternal God can be a little shocking – and illuminating!

There is nothing so astonishing as the Truth of God, the Word of God, and the Plan of God! It is often stranger than fiction. However, most people who attend church regularly, or even occasionally, would really be surprised if they should probe into their own minds far enough to ask WHY they go, and to ask themselves – “Is my belief biblical?” Could you prove your belief comes from the Bible? Why not read our free online booklet, Is Your Belief Biblical? Or, if English is not comfortable for you, Google Translate on our blog page can translate the article for you in 103 different languages. Is Your Belief Biblical? …and can you prove it?

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We have set up our FeedBurner generated with PodSync to convert the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ sermons at the Leonard V. Johnson channel into podcasts for your convenience. So, be sure to subscribe to our podcast to be updated with our current feed.

Friends, we are going through the doors that Almighty God and Jesus Christ are opening (Revelation 3:7-9).

Brexit

Minister Michael C. Garrett mentioned a soon coming Brexit in his sermon “The Song of Moses.” A vote for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union is called Brexit – BRitish EXIT from the EU. And if the UK decides to REMAIN in the EU it means that the end-time trauma – the Day of the LORD – would arrive much later.

Why?

Because biblically, the UK is not prophesied to be part of the final “beast” power. So, at some time a change would need to take place. And indeed it has.

Another vote - the Government invoked Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, starting a two-year process which was due to conclude with the UK's exit on 29 March 2019 – a deadline which has since been extended to 31 October 2019 – that the parliament of the UK has to approve, and presuming it does, the UK will be, in time, out of the EU – though it would like to remain as part of the European Economic Area (EEA), as Norway is, or perhaps a different arrangement with the EU.

Now, as Mr. Garrett stated in “The Song of Moses":

“And it appears that – according to the polling – the majority of the Britons will vote to leave the EU. … If England votes to leave the European Union … what will happen after that!? Nobody knows. … It really is a coin toss as to what will happen. Many people say there will be financial problems. Many people say there will be great confusion. Others imply that the entire European Union will begin to fracture.”

Will a vengeful EU try to decide how to handle them – it does not want the UK to be successful outside of the EU.

This parting of ways is something that those associated with the churches of God have long expected.

Sadly, this world does not believe the living Word of God – the Bible – and because of that cannot know what will happen.

But you, friends, can know how this fits with God’s prophetic picture. We in the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ “have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Day Star arise in your hearts” – 2 Peter 1:19; KJV.

Because God’s Word is accurate, His prophecies can be counted on.

Karl zu Guttenberg - former German Defense and Economics Minister - spoke recently at a Crypto Finance convention, in which he stated:

don’t see the necessary leadership in Europe at the moment. …
We have to come to a new structure … 

             (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q38Rr8-hF44).

So, because of the Brexit, various ones are now very publicly calling for a reorganization in Europe.

And, according to Bible prophecy, Europe will once again reorganize:

“The Ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13) These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast” – Revelation 17:12-13.

How?

Minister Garrett wrote:

“Well, two factors are going to cause this seventh resurrection of the “Holy” Roman Empire.

1) I think it’s the threat of Islamic militarism.

Make no mistake my friends, the leaders of that Islamic strain of Islam, their greatest goal is to conquer you or to kill you! Don’t be confused about that! I have to say I’m embarrassed by some of our political leaders in this country that wanna make nice. “O’ these are nice people!” they say. “It’s a religion of love!” And every time I hear it I wanna say, “It twernt Lutherans that flew the planes into the Towers!” It was Islamic terrorist’s! And that movement is growing!

2) A revitalized Roman Catholic Church and a pope of magnificent stature.

These two factors will be the tipping point that causes Europe to say, “We must have strong leaders again! We must have a strong military again! We must protect our borders! We must protect ourselves! We must unite! Even though we have differences!”

(Prophecy Series – The Final Empire).

 Notice what Daniel 11 teaches about the King of the North:

“And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22) With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. 23) And after the league [a peace plan] is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24) He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time” – Daniel 11:21-24.

So, this leader from the heartland of a United Europe will promise peace and prosperity. He will make a deal with a small number of people and will gain power (cf. Rev. 17:12-13). He will promise peace at a time of crisis.

This very same vile leader, who appears at the “appointed time” of “the end” is described without the King of the North title in Daniel 8:

“And he said, ‘Look I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be. … And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. 24) His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully. And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also destroy the holy people.

25) Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes [Jesus Christ]; But he shall be broken without human means.

26) And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future’” – Daniel 8:19, 23-26.

This King is also the “beast” that the ten kings give their power to in Revelation 17:12-13.

Now, notice the portion I bolded above. This fierce king rises up when “the transgressors have reached their fullness,” which suggests that this is about when Almighty God and Jesus Christ has had enough of the increasing immorality in nations like the United States of America, as well as in the United Kingdom, including Europe. Indeed immorality is ever increasing in the Western lands.

Could this final “beast” be Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg!? We don’t know. However, he is a person of great interest.

The Brexit matter is of major importance and will ultimately result in the prophesied reorganization of Europe. This will lead to the end-time trauma, and the end of the United Kingdom, as well as allies such as the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, as well as New Zealand.

World News Items

A three-day conference between the Catholics of Rome and many Islamic leaders in Jordan ended the 20th of June. The stated intent to have dialogue and not hate is a good thing, however, it appears to be another step towards bringing Islam and Catholicism closer together (See: ‘INTERVIEW: Andrea Tornielli on the Islam That Wants to Dialogue; Never Respond to Hatred with Hatred’). Indeed, a ‘one-world religion’ is coming and we are expecting that, for a short time. And followers of Islam will support it temporarily – cf. Revelation 13; Daniel 11:27, 40-43.

In Hong Kong, protesters of a proposed extradition law gained some government concessions, yet they still want more (See: ‘Hong Kong to Pause Extradition Bill’ also ‘Activists push Sunday protest despite Hong Kong bill delay’). We shall see Hong Kong controlled more by China in the immediate future, despite protests.

Also, the United States of America and Iran continues to spar against each other since the supertanker attacks last week (See: ‘Trump blames Iran for tanker attacks but calls for talks’). We have learned that Iran has shot down a US spy-drone (See: ‘Iran Shoots Down US Drone’). The USA is not pleased in the least. Before the drone incident, the US has increased her military presence in the region and we may very well see conflict. If so, it could lead the Iranians to decide it’s time to cause great damage to the State of Israel – cf. Isaiah 22:9. Then, perhaps, this could lead to the peace deal of Daniel 9:27?

God’s prophecies march on.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is a suggested Sabbath service for this week.

● 2-3 hymns. (another free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is The Old Time Gospel).

● Opening prayer.

● Sermonette (if you choose). The one suggested is The Power of Thanksgiving p1

● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.

● Sermon. The one suggested is The 144,000 by Michael C. Garrett. (Many more sermons are

   available at http://www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com/.

● Final hymn.

● Closing prayer.

To Note: We also have a most eye-opening article entitled Who Are the 144,000?

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ‘LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER WE HAVE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ website. Also, there are audio sermons on our Soundcloud Radio channel.

Concluding Comments

The prophet Jeremiah wrote the following:

“Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: ‘You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings, ‘ says the LORD. … 10) For the land is full of adulterers” – Jeremiah 23:2, 10.

Minister Garrett wrote:

“God says He will repay them the way they deserve to be repaid. Now, people can say, “To whom is He speaking!?” Is He talking about the physical people of Israel, who have been misled by their false religions!? It’s possible. I think that is part of the implication. But I think it is also referring to the Churches of God – the Body of Christ – and there are in these different organizations pastors who seem more concerned about their own needs, their own sense of power, their own sense of control, than worrying about the spiritual health of people who are a part of their organization. And I do believe every human being who thinks he is a leader in the Body of Christ – you need to read these words very soberly, because if you’re not careful you might be on the receiving end. … “For the land is full of adulterers; …” – Now, I’ve tried pointing out before that the word “adultery,” it might, in part, refer to the physical sin of adultery. Sex outside of marriage. Breaking those bonds of loyalty. But, most of the time, not all of the time, when you see words in the Bible such as fornication, adultery, whoring, those types of words, if you read the whole passage, it is God’s pronouncement against people who are engaged in false religion. You see, at one time God married Israel. And when Israel, the people of Israel, leave God and go – in His own terminology – a whoring after other gods and other religions, God looks upon that as the highest form of adultery. Of the betrayal of wedding vows.”
(Notes Regarding The Day of Atonement (Prophetically the Day of the LORD)).

Now, you might very well say to yourself, we don’t have to worry about “adultery” or any false religion. Yet, friends, we are in a world that often promotes evil as good and good as evil. Their “false gods” (as Mr. Garrett teaches in the sermon series “Toxic Philosophy”) are distorted worldly philosophy and public opinion which continues to rapidly sway further away from Almighty God and Jesus Christ.

 In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,