Letter to our Friends - September 17, 2019

Michael C. Garrett

Pastor and Overseer

Dear Friends:

Greetings from Owensboro, Kentucky.

Facebook, YouTube, Godtube, and BitChute

Breaking Israel News reported September 11th that an advertisement related to the Fall Holy Days - involving a Jewish organization called Ariel Jewish Center – in which Facebook gave a bogus reason for stopping the ad by falsely claiming “This ad isn’t running because it is sexually provocative or overly suggestive.” (See: ‘Facebook Deems Rosh Hashannah “Sexually Provocative”’).

Indeed, in ‘this present evil age’ (cf. Galatians 1:1-5) the news media as well as society at large supports immoralities, where social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube censor (and often down-right shut down) voices which support biblically-based morality. The Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ has determined that it is wise to have several backup platforms for our sermons based on the living Word of God.

So, this last March we began posting our sermons on a platform called Godtube (See: https://www.godtube.com/o'borochurchofjesuschrist/).

We are utilizing Godtube essentially as a backup in the event YouTube one day shuts down our ability to share sermons there. We currently have 219 views with 27 sermons available. While we do not agree with all that Godtube supports, and may decide it is not a correct video platform for us, Godtube is indeed a more religious-based platform than Vimeo or YouTube. Godtube manually reviews every video uploaded to its site, and encourages the user with the instruction – “Be inspired in your walk with Jesus Christ and grow in your knowledge of the Bible with videos highlighting inspirational messages and verses.” At this moment, we see Godtube as a platform that is currently more likely not to try and censor us.

We also have another platform for sermons, August 2nd of this year we added BitChute. (See: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/owensborochurchofjc/).

Again, BitChute is free and appears less likely to censor us or shut us down. Unlike YouTube which has viciously attacked us as far as our view count.

What is interesting about BitChute is how it shows people who go to our main video page our latest videos that were uploaded. This way, people who would normally not find our channel, get an opportunity to see (for a short time) what we just uploaded.

Now, while we are not yet receiving massive views on Godtube or BitChute, we are receiving dozens of views of the videos which we uploaded to these channels (with more at BitChute). Those channels are beginning to reach people that we may not have reached before!

Friends, as this world’s censorship continues to get worse with such social media platforms as Facebook, Google, YouTube, and Vimeo, we will continue to grow on such platforms as Flipboard, Godtube, and BitChute. But even if not, having those additional channels is wise. We – through the grace and blessing of Almighty God and Jesus Christ – are continuing to witness to the people (even if it is in less than massive amounts) that we would not otherwise reach. So, these are ‘doors’ (Revelation 3:7-8) that we have been blessed to continue through as long as they are open.

Feast of Trumpets

Friends, the next Holy Day is the Feast of Trumpets (from sunset September 29th through sunset September 30th this year).

The New Testament indeed mentions the ‘blowing of trumpets’ when prophetic matters of judgment are involved.

Our Lord and Savior taught:

“’ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven [the sky], and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31) And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other [in other words, from all around the world].’” – Matthew 24:30-31; NKJV and hereafter.

The Apostle Paul taught similarly:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven [the sky] with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet [the SEVENTH TRUMPET] of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

So both our Lord and Paul taught that the saints of God would be gathered together when the SEVENTH TRUMPET sound goes forth! And that Jesus would return with a trumpet blast! The last trumpet – THE SEVENTH TRUMPET!

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [not all die], but we shall all be changed – 52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMPET. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” – 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.

So, because this is indeed referring to THE LAST TRUMPET, the Bible does not support the concept of a “rapture,” as many evangelicals teach and believe in.

Now, although his writings are not a part of God’s inspired Words – the Bible – Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John, indeed looked forward to the fulfillment of this prophesied trumpet blast when he wrote:

“Therefore, prepare yourselves for the race and serve the Lord in fear and truth like people who have forsaken the useless, empty talk and the errors of the multitude and believed in the One who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave him glory and a throne at his right hand.

All things in heaven and on earth are subject to Him. Every spirit serves Him. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. God will require justice for His blood from those who do not believe in Him.

But the One who raised Christ from the dead will raise us also, if we do His will, walk in His commandments, love what He loved, and keep ourselves from all unrighteousness, greed, love of money, evil speaking, and lies.”

(Polycarp. The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians. Vol. II. The Ante-Nicene Fathers).

This ‘last trumpet’ in 1st Corinthians is the SEVENTH TRUMPET of Revelation 11:15:

“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven [the sky], saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” – Revelation 11:15.

Will the sounds of God’s trumpets sound like the sounds which have been heard all around the world since 2012!?

The Book of Revelation reveals a whole series of events which will accompany the blowing of trumpets –called the ‘seven angels who had the seven trumpets.’ Now, these angels blowing these seven trumpets are in order, however, the Book of Revelation is not in chronological order.

Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote:

What I’m about to say to you has never been taught – was never – in the churches of God, be it Worldwide, United, Philadelphia, or Intercontinental, or International, or Global, or Living, this concept which I am about to tell you. Most likely if you have a background and history with the remnants of the Worldwide Church of God you have NEVER heard this before. The Day of Atonement is prophetically linked with an event which the Bible calls the Day of the Lord. You were taught as doctrine, and many of you still believe, … but the official teaching of the Worldwide Church of God was that there were the SEVEN SEALS, and then the SEVEN TRUMPETS, and then the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, and THEN JESUS CHRIST would return. … Not an accurate rendition according to the Word of God! … Remember – SEVEN SEALS, SEVEN TRUMPETS – THE SEVENTH TRUMP IS THE RESURRECTION TRUMPET! …

The WRATH OF GOD (the Day of the Lord) is prophetically linked with the Day of Atonement. The single most prophesied event in the Bible – bar none. Not even the Return of Jesus Christ is prophesied as much as the Day of the Lord is prophesied. The Fall Holy Days picture, in a prophetic sense, some of the major events, major stages, major progressions of the end-times. The SEVEN SEALS of the Book of Revelation are the symbolic, prophetically, of the early ‘troubles’ which will befall this world, and in particular, the House of Judah and the House of Israel. And the FIRST SIX of the SEVEN TRUMPETS are a progression of those ‘troubles.’ And the SEVENTH TRUMP of the seven trump’s is indeed, directly related to the concept of the resurrection of the saint’s. The blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP! And following that, in the Book of Revelation – Chapters 15 & 16 – you read about the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES.”

(Notes Regarding the Day of Atonement (Prophetically the Day of the LORD)).

Let us read of that progression of ‘troubles’:

“So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 7) The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. 8) Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea [the Mediterranean Sea], and a third of the sea became blood. 9) And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10) Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven [from the sky or rather space], burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11) The name of the star is Wormwood [meaning bitter]. A third of the waters became [bitter], and many men dies from the water, because it was made bitter. 12) The fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. … 9:1 - Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven [the sky] to the earth [Satan and his demons are about to be thrown into the bottomless pit just before the return of Jesus Christ! cf. Rev. 20:1-2]. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit, 2) And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. … 13) Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God, 14) saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’” – Revelation 8:6-12; 9:1-2, 13-14.

And, of course, the SEVENTH TRUMP of the seven trump’s is indeed, directly related to the concept of the resurrection of the saint’s.

News Around the World

China, the European Union, along with Russia (See: ‘Russia & China stockpiling gold because ‘they can read the writing on the wall’ – Peter Schiff’ along with ‘China’s Trade with US Tumbles as Tariff War Shows Its Teeth’) all continue taking steps to bypass the US dollar and setup even more trade between Asia and Europe. Friends, this is consistent with many biblical prophecies (cf. Ezekiel 27:12-16; Revelation 18), yet, the greater majority of Americans continue to act as if the United States of America will continue being the dominant power in the world – forever. We realize and understand that based upon biblical prophecies such as Daniel 11:39 as well as Habakkuk 2:6-8, the time is soon coming when the United States of America will no longer dominate the world. Other major players in the world, like the EU, Russia, and China are intent on eliminating the U.S. dollar’s dominance.

The United States presidential hopeful and practicing homosexual, Peter Buttigieg says that God will punish people for negatively impacting global climate change (See: ‘Buttigieg: God will punish us for global warming’). Now, friends, while God’s living written Word does say that God will ‘destroy those who destroy the earth’ – Revelation 11:18, God’s Word also very clearly teaches that God will punish those who are practicing sexual immoralities – which include homosexuality, lesbianism, and bestiality (cf. Romans 1:26-27; Revelation 21:8; also Leviticus 18:22-23). As well as those who approve of that “lifestyle” – Romans 1:18-32.

Continuing in the small nation known as Israel is the calling for the construction of another Jewish temple (See: ‘Right After Party Endorses 3rd Temple, Polls Show them Entering Knesset After Elections’). Indeed, God’s Word clearly states that a third temple will be built! One of the last messages our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave in His human life, He talks about the ‘abomination of desolation,’ or the ‘abomination that makes desolate,’ spoken of in the Book of Daniel – several times. And, Jesus said, “’ Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, STANDING IN THE HOLY PLACE’ … ” – talking about a temple – in Jerusalem.

With the United Kingdom due to leave the European Union on October 31st, complications associated with that withdrawal continue (See: ‘Scottish court rules suspension of British Parliament 'unlawful'’). Indeed, the EU does not need to grant the UK Parliament an extension. The EU appears to want any nation which leaves the member states to suffer, along with the French Foreign Minister, who stated that “In the current circumstances, it’s no. … We are not going to go through this every three months.” (See: ‘France says 'non' to Brexit delay’).

As Minister Garrett has said in the past:

“… there is a great concern among EU advocates that other countries may very well follow Britain’s path. That is - other countries may, here within the coming years, also vote to leave the European Union. … [W]hat just happened is very important – highly significant. The UK voting to break away from the European Union directly has implications for future fulfilled prophecy. … [I]t was inevitable that the British people and the European people go down separate paths … the two of them don’t stay together. You have Britain and America on one side of this issue, and you have a soon-coming United Europe – by whatever name they come to call themselves – on another page of prophetic history. America and England are to be together in the same situation in the end-time – basically being mistreated by the European central hub; call it United Europe, call it the United States of Europe, call it whatever they will call it, the Bible just simply calls it the “beast” power. … I know there are people out there – church groups – that in the past would talk about forces from Europe coming across the Atlantic and drive their mechanized vehicles up onto the shores of America and would overtake America. Well folks, I always thought that was a foolish idea. I didn’t know just exactly why, it just didn’t … it just never rang true to me. Just something flawed in that reasoning. But, hey, why do you need a bunch of militant Europeans when you flood our country with maybe a hundred million strangers – a hundred and fifty million illegal strangers!? Two hundred million strangers!? And we cease to be the nation that God Almighty intended us to be. GERMANS coming over the Atlantic to subdue us!? O’ NO! We’re going to do it to ourselves!”

(God’s Promises To Abraham – a seven-part series; Disingenuous Propaganda (sermon)).

Also, Iran – in which the Bible calls Persia – is disappointed that the United States has pulled out of the nuclear deal and that the Europeans has not done more to assist them. So, Iran is openly violating certain aspects of that nuclear deal (See: ‘Iran Using Advanced Centrifuges, Violating Nuclear Deal’). God’s living Word indicates that Iran may very well be involved in damaging Jerusalem in the near future per Isaiah 22:6-9.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is this week's suggested Sabbath service:

● 2-3 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is The Old Time Gospel).
● Opening prayer.
● Sermonette (if you choose). The one suggested is A Great Challenge by Leonard V. Johnson.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested is And That Rock Was Christ - Part 3 by Michael C. Garrett.
(Many more sermons are available at http://www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com/).
● Final hymn.
● Closing prayer.

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. We also – as a reminder – have a BitChute channel.

Concluding Comments

Minister Michael C. Garrett was inspired to write:

“1 John 3:1-2 – the people of the world do not understand what you are about to read – but many of you reading this have heard it before, and you do understand it! I just hope that we always deeply appreciate it! “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He [shall appear], we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” We will be like the resurrected Jesus Christ!

Now, quite frankly, if you have been baptized – you were in the water, you were brought out – you had hands laid upon you and a prayer said over you and in the prayer the minister asked you be granted the Spirit of God. Now when the Spirit of God enters you, it probably starts out as just a very small quantity. It is as it were… it combines with our mind, and it gives our mind an extra level of understanding. Before your baptism, before receiving God’s Spirit, you might have tried to read the Bible, might have been wanting to understand the Word of God, but because of all the incorrect messages which you have heard throughout your life. I mean if you’ve grown up in the Methodist Church or the Baptist Church or the Catholic Church or whatever religious training you had, you might have had a lot of the misconceptions of those denominations clouding your mind. And making it difficult to understand what the Bible was actually saying. There was all this static and interference, like having a radio station and it’s not tuning in very clearly. Sometimes, because of all this noise. The noise being other churches, other teachings, other preachers. Now, back in those old days, as it were, you could have studied your Bible religiously as they say, maybe reading it a half-hour every night or reading it two or three times a day. And you would read it, and your mind would see the words, but I do believe – and I’d be willing to bet – you never saw or understood the overall Plan of God.

Now, with that in mind, turn to 1 Corinthians 2 – Paul was inspired to write, and he was quoting much of this from the Old Testament, Verse 9 – “’Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” And then Paul added to this Old Testament passage, Verse 10 – “But God has revealed them to us [by and] through His Spirit.” – the Spirit of God that combines with our brain, to make our brain special. But, as it says back in 1 John 3:2 – “…it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, …”

With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,