Letter to our Friends - January 21, 2020

Michael C. Garrett

Pastor and Overseer

Greetings from Central Florida:

It’s been another full week. We hope you had an enjoyable Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States of America. I thought it appropriate to mention this concerning the late Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mithraism

Now, he was a Baptist minister who became best known for his civil rights activism, but in the middle of the 20th century, he wrote about many things – including Mithraism. Mithraism was a Roman mystery religion centered on the god Mithras. A religion that observed Sunday and had followers such as the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century.

Historian Paul Johnson has this to say concerning Constantine, “Constantine never abandoned sun-worship and kept the sun on his coins.” 1 And, Joseph Wheless wrote, “Constantine showed equal favor to both religions. As pontifex maximus, he watched over the heathen worship and protected its rights.” 2

Here is something Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote dated November 23, 1949:

In Avesta, Mithra was the genius of celestial light … The doctrine of the immortality of the soul was another view which was very prominent in Mithraism …

Women were compelled to seek salvation in some other cult, for Mithraism excluded them entirely …

When Mithraism is compared to Christianity, there are surprisingly many points of similarity. Of all the mystery cults, Mithraism was the greatest competitor of Christianity …

That Christians did copy and borrow from Mithraism cannot be denied.

(Read More: https://originalpeople.org/martin-luther-king-jr-1949-paper-on-the-influence-of-mithraism-on-christianity/; retrieved January 21, 2020).

This was also written by him in February 15, 1950:

… the Church made a sacred day out of Sunday partially because … of the resurrection. But when we observe a little further we find that as a solar festival, Sunday was the sacred day of Mithra: it is also interesting to notice that since Mithra was addressed as Lord, Sunday must have been “the Lord’s Day” long before Christian use. It is also to be noticed that our Christmas, December 25th, was the birthday of Mithra, and was only taken over in the Fourth Century as the date, actually unknown, of the birth of Jesus.

(Read More: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/influence-mystery-religions-christianity; retrieved January 21, 2020).

Indeed, Martin Luther King, Jr. clearly understood that the Sunday churches dropped the Sabbath, and that ‘the Lord’s Day’ essentially first meant the day of Mithra. Much of what is now called “Christianity” is a compromise with the religion of Mithraism.

So, while Dr. King was most known for his civil rights protests, he discovered through study that much of what passes for Christianity – even today - is really just an adopted form of Mithraism.

Is Matthew 24:14 being fulfilled – now!?

Friends, I find that so many of the descendants of the WCG continue to practice the misappropriation of Matthew 24:14. They continue to teach it as, “And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a WARNING and a WITNESS unto all nations, …” It does NOT say that! Jesus Christ said – quoting from the Authorized Version – “’And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’” The word witness is from the Greek word marturion, meaning testimony. And, testimony is almost always rendered “witness” in the Revised Version (RV). The New American Standard Bible (NASB) renders it, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Jesus Christ just said the TRUTH OF GOD will be preached. But human beings have incorrectly came up with the idea that THEY are going to be the ones doing the preaching!

Now, back in 2018, I received a message via Facebook from a man which stated, “The gospel that should be preached now is the gospel of the grace of God.” And he used Acts 20:24 to prove this. Well, he was partially correct.

The apostle Mark, under great inspiration of the Spirit of God, wrote in Mark 1:14-15, “Now after John [the Baptist] was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe [believe this great announcement] …’” Also, in Luke 4:43 – “but He [Jesus Christ] said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God …’” And then, after His human death and His glorious resurrection, Acts 1:3 – “to whom He [Jesus Christ] also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days …” and what was He talking about!? “…and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”

The apostle Paul, also, when he was under house arrest, fearing that he might die, Acts 28:23 – ““… he explained and solemnly testified of the Kingdom of God, …” Also in Acts 28:31 we read, “preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”

Indeed, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of the kingdom of God, the good news of Jesus Christ our Savior, the good news that Jesus died for our sins and that after three days and nights walked out of the tomb – establishing a pattern. And, it’s the good news of the New Covenant. A new contract, an agreement between Jesus Christ – our Elder Brother – and us. And, it’s the good news of God’s grace – the promise of eternal life.

O my! The kingdom of God – a beautiful and powerful soon-coming kingdom! And, that’s what all of us should be focused upon! The kingdom of God! Jesus said, “’But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [all our physical needs] shall be added to you’” – Matthew 6:33.

Now, Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. …’” The word kingdom in Greek is basileia, meaning “the realm in which a king sovereignly rules.”

Yet sadly, like the man who wrote me back in 2018, so many people about the highways and byways of these worldly churches it’s not always clear that the people of God – those individuals whom Jesus Christ and God the Father has called and chosen to understand the Truth of God – are indeed to seek first and foremost the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Again, many of the descendants of the WCG continues to teach that they are the ones doing this great testimony – this witnessing. And in T R U T H – in the end-time – that TESTIMONY will come from Jesus Christ through His chosen ‘witnesses’ (possibly 12) – the “end-time prophets.” Friends, it is not referring to printing presses, or radio stations, or TV and all of that – as they taught their members, “Hey, we’ve got to pump out all this information. So send more money, send more money!”

Jesus Christ isn’t going to rely upon sometimes half-hearted efforts of human beings! He’s going to take care of that job Himself! The Two Witnesses for 3 ½ years will have the power from God and Jesus to do untold miracles that this world has never seen or imagined! Jesus said, “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, … the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, …’” – John 14:12.

The man via Facebook also wrote, “The gospel of the kingdom will be preached again after the rapture to Israel before the second coming.” And again, he is partially correct. (Be sure to watch our sermon: Is There A ‘Secret Rapture’?).

Friends, the possibly twelve witnesses, which are martyred (cf. Matthew 24:9) down to what the Bible calls ‘two witnesses’ (See: Revelation 11:3), are basically patterned after the historic work of Moses and Aaron. There were times when Moses and Aaron went to the house of pharaoh and pronounced a decree. ‘Thus says the Eternal God!’ The end-time prophets will do that also! But these end-time prophets will also say just like Moses and Aaron said to pharaoh, ‘Let my people go!’ ‘Let the people of Israel go!’ And so the end-time prophets – in this modern end-time – will be demanding the leaders of this soon-coming ‘beast’ power – this ten nation combine – ‘Let loose, let free, the captives which came from the house of Israel!’ (Be sure to read our three-part series entitled Prophecy Series).

Turn with me if you will to Revelation 11:4-7, concerning these end-time prophets which are martyred, leaving but the ‘two witnesses,’ which will also be martyred. These two are a modern-day type of Moses and Aaron when Israel was taken out of Egypt. That happened earlier, and it will happen again. As in the physical people of the children of Israel were brought out of slavery and bondage, so too will the ‘elect’ (See: Matthew 24:22). A great many of the Gentile nations rise up against the nations of Israel, and greatly wound them, damaging them, destroying a great many people – and cause a state of captivity over the nations of Israel.

So, as I had written in May 2019 - Matthew 28:19-20, though preaching as a witness is included within the scope of the commission – it is actually placing MORE emphasis upon the ENTIRE PROCESS OF CONVERSION, of feeding, of growing, and of overcoming – than merely witnessing. The key word being “process.”

The word “teaching” in verse 19 is the key to this understanding. The New King James English more accurately translates the word “teaching” to “make disciples.” And, this is not that teach is wrong as long as you understand that teach means a process. All the teaching required to make a disciples doesn’t take place merely in making a witness. There are huge differences between the two. At best, preaching the gospel of the coming Kingdom begins the process of teaching. Disciples are created through steady ‘feeding,’ a believing response in those who hear, combined with overcoming sin.

Let us also notice in verse 20, where it says: “’Teaching them [the disciples that had been made] to observe all things that I have commanded you.’” The key phrase being “all things.” Now, that cannot be done by merely ‘preaching in all the world as a witness.’ As we are learning – a life-long project requiring the structure of the Church of God. This, friends, is the reason why the Church of God – the Body of Christ – exists.

We focus on what Jesus admonished us to do, ‘FEED THE FLOCK!’ And, though witnessing is included in it – it’s the feeding of the flock, because it is the called, the elect – God’s children – who are God’s greatest concern. These are the ones who are being prepared for the Kingdom of God. And, it takes a lot of feeding and experiences with Almighty God and Jesus Christ, for Them to be formed in us.

YouTube

Many “partner’s” of YouTube received the following in an email:

Well, the above is but a general email from YouTube to their content creators, as opposed to any specific warning that we have published something that it is complaining about. We have received those types of emails before – however. The reality is that this is but another dangerous step from YouTube, which appears to try and stop people from holding to biblical standards of sexual morality, and it appears to stop allowing people to denounce any aspect of sexual immorality as defined by the Bible.

YouTube is not interested in “more inclusive content” in the biblical sense. They want content that they can agree with – even if it goes against Almighty God and our Savior Jesus Christ as written in the Bible.

YouTube claims that they are doing this to make an improvement, while truthfully they are embarking on ever-more censorship!

This is the main reason we have added BitChute and Godtube. They appear to be more tolerant of religious morality speech than YouTube.

Witches and Demons

Friends, there’s a book for children that has been published teaching children to ask demons for help! (See: SGT Report). Also, Disney has a new television program on how to become a witch (See: ‘Disney Introduces: ‘Demon’ who Trains Children to be Witches’). Demons are consistent with the following biblical prophecy:

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times [this end-time] some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2) speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3) forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth” – 1 Timothy 4:1-3; NKJV.

Indeed, the conscience is our God-given moral consciousness within each one of us. If ones conscience is “seared” – literally “cauterized” – then it has been rendered insensitive to things like animal cruelty – as an example. It has been dulled to the sense of right and wrong.

We are forbidden by God to call out to demons or want to be witches or wizards, or sorcerers – as in the Harry Potter franchise. Demons are “angels who sinned” (2 Peter 2:4) Now, while demons certainly have a desire to be worshiped or called a god, Almighty God and Jesus Christ WARNS us against ever doing that:

“Let NO ONE cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels [including, of course, demons], intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19) and not holding fast to the Head [JESUS CHRIST], from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase THAT IS FROM GOD” – Colossians 2:18-19; KJV.

The LORD our God – Jesus the Christ – emphatically stated, “’For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve’” – Luke 4:8; see also Deuteronomy 6:13.

And also, one of God’s holy angels said to the apostle John (and subsequently to us, because it’s in the Holy Bible), “ … ‘See that you do not do that [fall down and worship angels]. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this Book [the Holy Bible]. Worship God’” – Revelation 22:9.

World News Items

A program has been announced within the European Union to try and fight climate change (See: ‘EU lays out 1 trillion-euro plan to support Green Deal’ and ‘European Green Deal: Brussels unveils €1 trillion plan to make EU carbon neutral by 2050’). Like the universal truth that for every effect there is a definite cause, without repentance there is a definite wrath from God. The Bible shows that even worse heat is prophesied to strike the earth – cf. Revelation 16:8-9. These SEVEN LAST PLAGUES ARE EQUIVALENT TO THE DAY OF THE LORD.

CHINA – A newly discovered respiratory virus is causing deadly pneumonia in China, and is making it’s way to other parts of the world (See: ‘Cases of new viral respiratory illness rise sharply in China’ along with ‘Washington man is 1st in US to catch deadly new virus from China’).

Friends, there are parallel biblical prophecies which clearly indicate why mankind will continue to suffer from the ravages of viruses and diseases. Notice Deuteronomy, the 28th chapter, beginning in verse 15: “’But it shall come to pass, IF you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you TODAY, that all these CURSES will come upon you and overtake you: … 21) The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. 22) The LORD will strike you with consumption [wasting, degenerative disease], with fever, with inflammation [possibly infectious contagions] … 27) … with tumors, with scab [scurvy; deficiency disease], and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. 28) The LORD will strike you with madness [mental disorders] and blindness and confusion of heart [emotional trauma]” – verses 15, 21-22, 27-18; NKJV.

It’s interesting to note that the Bible appears to indicate man’s proclivity to crowd themselves into disease-prone cities: “ … ‘when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you’” – Leviticus 26:25; NKJV.

In 2020, there is reported 8.3 million people living in Wuhan City, China, where this new Wuhan Coronavirus first was reported. On January 20th, the Express wrote, “there are 200 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, … suggesting as many as 1,700 people could be carrying the virus. … with six people known to have died from the pneumonia-like illness.” (Read More: ‘China Coronavirus outbreak: How many people have REALLY been infected? Latest death toll’).

Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote:

He [Jesus Christ] goes on to say, “…’See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.’” … blocs of nations, group of nations – the European combine and the Islamic confederation, or, caliphate, however you wanna call it – yet to fully develop! … And here we see, ‘nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.’ And, I’m willing to accept the possibility that this is Jesus Christ suggesting about the prophecy of Daniel 11. The king of the North vs the king of the South. The European combine and the Islamic confederation – whatever they will call themselves in the future. I think this is an indication of that growing tension between these two groups of people. “…’And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.’” So in all of this, it’s a step by step progress – over here something happens, over there something happens. And as you read the Bible and you sort-of get the feeling that it grows in intensity!

(Read More: https://www.owensborocojc.com/2019/02/the-day-of-lord-part-1.html).

The debt of the federal government of the United States of America continues to rise!

In July 2019, I had reported it at $22,547,313,786,884.

The prophet Habakkuk – around 605-625 BC – wrote a short book which has great implications for this end-time:

“The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.

2) O LORD, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ And You will not save. 3) Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. 4) Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

5) ‘Look among the nations and watch – Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. 6) For indeed I AM raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs. 7) They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. 8) Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. 9) ‘They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand. 10) They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. 11) Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god’” – Habakkuk 1:11; NKJV.

So, notice friends that the above states that in this end-time the work which God works will not be believed, even though God reveals it – which He is doing through His servants. While most claim that this was only for the past and mock me for quoting this in regards to the soon-coming end-time trauma, they appear to forget that this is in the New Testament. The apostle Paul, speaking in a synagogue at Antioch to the sons of the family of Abraham, and all who fear God:

“’Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

41) ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you’” – Acts 13:40-41; NKJV.

Continuing with Habakkuk:

“Are You not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction. 13) You are purer eyes then to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he? 14) Why do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them? 15) They take up all of them with a hook, They catch them in their net, And gather them in their dragnet. Therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16) Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful. 17) Shall they therefore empty their net, And continue to slay nations without pity?” – Habakkuk 1:12-17; NKJV.

As Minister Michael C. Garrett has said regarding World War I & II, “If it hadn’t been for the United States of America and the British people the bad guys would have won those wars!” Indeed, many believe – and I believe it’s factual – that in certain ways the United States of America and her Anglo-allies were “more righteous” than those nations at that time. However, the reality is – the tides are turning for the USA and her Anglo-allies.

“I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected. 2) Then the LORD answered me and said: ‘Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. 3) For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.

4) ‘Behold the proud, His [life] is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith’” – Habakkuk 2:1-4; NKJV.

Notice this end-time prophecy is for an appointed time – the time of the end. It is a prophecy for our time – and it will affect the proud. And, sadly, many will “run who reads it.”

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 It Is A Sign by Leonard V. Johnson.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested for this week is: Dimash in NYC - Let Your Light So Shine by Michael C. Garrett. (More sermons 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.

Concluding Comments

The prophet Isaiah was inspired to write the following:

“’Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21) Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!’” – Isaiah 5:20-21; NKJV.

Indeed, like YouTube, they have everything backwards. What is truly important, mankind does not cherish. What is absolutely worthless junk – in the long run – people prize!

However, this is to be expected. We will see even more of this (cf. Revelation 13) as we get closer to the return of God the Father and Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Millennial kingdom of God!

With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,

Bibliography

1)  A History of Christianity, Johnson, P., Simon & Schuster; 1976, 87.
2)  Forgery in Christianity, Wheless, J., FQ Classics, 2007, 30.