Letter to our Friends - February 11, 2020

Michael C. Garrett

Pastor and Overseer

Greetings from West Central Florida:

This morning as I shared many world news reports @AfjcMinistries, I couldn’t help but notice the overwhelming number of Wuhan Coronavirus reports which the internet is inundated with! From the 15th case in the US to the first known confirmed death related to the virus in Japan, to the belief that North Korea is lying about any deaths caused by the coronavirus (not that it should surprise any of us – am I right!?), to the country of Vietnam quarantining thousands, and even a report on how a global city helped spread this possible future pandemic!

Wuhan Coronavirus – ‘pestilences’

Friends, this world, surely, has yet to see the last of WIDESPREAD diseases and viruses! That was what Jesus Christ told His disciples within the “Olivet prophecy” which has been recorded for us in Matthew 24 and Luke 21.

Along with wars and famine came pestilences. His grave WARNING of the prophecy recorded for us in Daniel, He says, “’ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. …’” – a direct reference to Daniel 11:40 – “ … the king of the South [an end-time final Islamic confederation of nations] shall attack him; and the king of the North [an end-time final Catholicentric European confederation of nations] shall come against him like a whirlwind, …” “ … ‘And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places’” – Matthew 24:7; NKJV throughout. 

Now, these are indeed some grave prophetic signs that the Messiah listed in answering their questions, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming [His Second Coming], and of the end of the age?” – verse 3.

Now, pestilences, famine, war, earthquakes (surely the massive earthquake which destroyed 13 cities in Asia Minor AD 17, recorded for us by Tacitus and Pliny the Elder, was “apocalyptic” at that time) have been ongoing since the world began. But the main thrust of Jesus Christ’s Message from Father is meant for this end-time – this generation. How do we know that it’s for this generation? Because Jesus said, “’ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation [meaning, the generation which witnesses ‘all these things’ – the very signs He had mentioned] will by no means pass away till all these things take place’” – verse 34. In verses 21 and 22 of Matthew 24, our Savior referred to a period in time when complete annihilation of the human race would be a possibility. Now, does this mean nuclear warfare!? Or, does it mean a massive asteroid impact – what they call a “global killer”? (Just to note: a massive asteroid is due to shave close to Earth this Sabbath at 6:05! But scientists are reassuring us that it won’t strike the Earth). It could indeed be a combination of both some asteroids and nuclear/EMP explosions (cf. Revelation 8:10)!?

The Seven Last Plagues

The Book of Revealing – the Book of Revelation – also WARNS of the fact of such tribulation that is yet in our future. The Apostle John’s great vision from God centers around events that will occur on the Day of the Lord. (Be sure to read our two-part article “The Day of the LORD” which covers these soon-coming end-time events). In the sixth chapter, we see war, famine, and diseases and death (the last three of the so-called Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse) all riding together at this critical time in world history.

The passages concerning this fourth horse and its rider:

“When He [Jesus Christ] opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come and see.’ 8) So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades [meaning, the grave] followed him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth” – Revelation 6:7-8.

Minister Michael C. Garrett has written:

“A group of people which I call the end-time prophets (and this is not a biblical phrase) – the New Testament Church began with twelve apostles. And I believe the New Testament era will end with twelve individuals, hand-picked by Jesus Christ, to carry an end-time warning to this nation and other nations - taking that Message before legislative branches, leaders, presidents. And, there’s a good chance that there will be twelve of them. Now, I can’t say one way or the other – but let’s just say there are twelve. Six groups of two – apparently working in tandem. Because that’s what Jesus did earlier in the “gospel” accounts. He sent them out two by two. And five of these groups will be martyred. Ten people – probably. Two will be left alive until the very end – and they will be called the Two Witnesses. They will end up in Jerusalem – directly opposing the great false leader of Europe and the great false religious leader of Europe. Just like Moses and Aaron did as they went into the court of the pharaoh. And they will curse the world with different plagues. And eventually, these two people will be martyred. But three-and-a-half days later they will rise again.”

(Day of Atonement = End-Time Trauma).

So, this fourth horsemen’s ride begins just prior to the Day of the LORD – what Jesus Christ called ‘great tribulation’ (Matt. 24:21) and what the prophet Jeremiah has called ‘Jacob’s trouble’ (Jer. 30:7). The majority of the Anglo-Saxon dominated nations will be effected – which are the end-time descendants of Israel, also prophetically referred to as Israel (cf. Genesis 48). (Be sure to read our seven-part series “God’s Promises To Abraham”). And indeed, they will be greatly affected AFTERWARDS!

The prophet Ezekiel was inspired to write:

“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because you have multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around you, have not walked in My statutes nor kept My judgments, nor even done according to the judgments of the nations that are all around you’ – 8) therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Indeed I, even I, am against you and will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations. 9) And I will do among you what I HAVE NEVER DONE, AND THE LIKE OF WHICH I WILL NEVER DO AGAIN, because of all your abominations’” – Ezekiel 5:7-9.

“’ And you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: ‘An end! The end has come upon the FOUR CORNERS of the land. 3) Now the end has come upon you, And I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways, And I will repay you for all your abominations. … 15) The sword is outside, And THE PESTILENCE and FAMINE within. Whoever is in the field will die by the sword; And whoever is in the city, Famine and pestilence will devour him’” – Ezekiel 7:2-3, 15.

Notice that the Lord GOD’s WARNING that the end will come to the land of Israel (cf. Genesis 48 & 49) – the “four corners of the land.” Now, while many claims that this only referred (past-tense) to the tiny nation called Israel in the Middle East, understand that the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa are indeed all across the “four corners” of the earth.

Indeed, with every grave terrorist attack, with every disease outbreak, with every devastating earthquake and hurricane or tornado the United States and her Anglo-Saxon allies are becoming weaker and weaker (Rebuilding costs increase following a catastrophe; take our national debt as an example). And I say, just as Greece needed to be bailed out in 2010, who will come to our aid when the US dollar finally and completely collapses!? – Europe!? (cf. Daniel 11:39; 8:24-25).

A Prophetic Dream?

Friends, several years ago now – November 6th, 2016 to be precise; just before I would be fit, spiritually speaking – I had a dream, and I believe it was from God. In my dream – a most vivid dream – I was looking into the clearest night sky I have ever seen, crystal clear bright shining stars. And then suddenly I heard a booming voice – what appeared to be a tail-end of a conversation. And the voice said, “They only have 10 years left.” At the time it was not clear to me what the dream was saying I had not had any anointing of God’s Spirit beyond baptism. Millions have supposedly been baptized, but few have ever had hands laid on them for the receipt of the Holy Spirit during the baptism and then even AFTER baptism. And fewer still have had hands laid on them by a servant of Christ who has authority from Jesus Christ. On August 10th, 2019 I had hands laid upon me by OCOJC minister Michael C. Garrett.

Related to dreams:

“’ And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh [the preliminary part happened roughly 1,989 years ago – AD 31]; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29) And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days’” – Joel 2:28-29.

“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, … 17) ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18) And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy’” – Acts 2:14, 17-18.

Now, despite what God shows us within His living Word, most churches (even including many churches of God descended from the WCG) do not seemingly accept that God actually sometimes speaks in dreams in the 21st century – and some, seem indignant of the very idea. Both the Apostle Peter as well as the prophet Joel mentioned that there would be some with prophetic dreams in the end-time.

Please understand friends the end-time prophets – I don’t know who they are and you don’t either. They could be forty-years-old right now, they could be sixty-years-old right now, or they could be eight-years-old right now. I don’t know – and nobody knows. Because nobody knows when the end of the age is coming. And if anyone tells you they do – WARNING, WARNING, WARNING! They are attempting to manipulate you. Jesus Christ says, “’ But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.’” And at that time when He said it, He didn’t even know. Now I have to surmise that at this point in time God the Father has shared that with Jesus Christ. But again, we don’t know. Is the Kingdom of God three years away!? Probably not. Is it ten years away!? Possibly. That being said, there is a possibility that 2026 could be the beginning year of the Day of the LORD – but NOT the return of Jesus Christ.

Recall what Jesus said happens during and even after the gospel of Christ – the gospel of the kingdom of God – is preached in all the world as a witness to all nations by these end-time prophets, culminating with the Two Witnesses spoke of in Revelation 11:

“’ Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place’ (whoever reads, let him understand), 16) then let those who are in Judea [in Judea, not in the US, not in the UK, not even in Europe] flee to the mountains. 17) Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18) And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19) But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20) And pray that your flight may not be in the winter or on the Sabbath. 21) For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22) And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake [the physical people descended from Jacob/Israel] those days will be shortened’” – Matthew 24:15-22.

In the end-time when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ get out of Judah, flee, and when a lot of the Jewish people see their torment coming, are going to attempt to leave what we call ‘Israel’ today. Many are going to head north and try and cross Turkey over into Europe. And the Turks will NOT allow them. The Turks will round them up and sell them or kill them. Horrible end-time trauma comes upon the nation of Judah; modern-day Israel. (Again, be sure to read our two-part article “The Day of the LORD” in which more can be found concerning this ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Jesus Christ).

Concerning WHEN our King of kings and LORD of lords return, notice what He said:

“’ For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered TOGETHER.’ - Meaning wherever Jesus is – eventually – the saints of God (living and dead) will be brought to Him. “’ Immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light [possibly because the atmosphere will be thick with volcanic ash]; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ [meaning Satan and his demons will be expunged from the atmosphere of the earth]. 30) Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, …’” - Matthew 24:29, 30a.

There’s a term which has developed basically within the last century among some fundamentalist type churches of the Christian ilk talking about the rapture. And this is simply not correct theological teaching. And many times when people use the words, they say, “the secret rapture.” Well, there won’t be any secrets when Jesus is returning! Because, as Jesus says in verse 27 – “’ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man.’” - When the throne of God, when New Jerusalem, begins to return to this earth, at some point, it will be a little small light in the night sky. And the next night it will be a little brighter – like the star Sirius. And then, it becomes more and more obvious – and people will look up and go, “What is that!?” Now, most of the people of the world will think it’s – and they really will – an invading alien force!

There is nothing secret about it!

“ … ‘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. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, … ’” - Matthew 24:30, 31a.

The very throne of GOD, Jesus Christ and God the Father and the resurrected saints! Keep in mind, the resurrection occurs on the SEVENTH TRUMP. The seven last plagues follow that. So, we will already be in “low earth orbit” in the clouds, being with Jesus Christ, in preparation for the time He, Jesus Christ, directly engages humankind.

“ … ‘and they will gather together His elect [in other words, His saints will be gathered together] from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other’” – Matthew 24:31b.

However, in the meantime friends, we NEED to watch world events in relation to biblical prophecy to see other things that Jesus pointed out.

As far as watching, Jesus taught:

“’ Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is’” – Mark 13:33.

Also, let us notice this:

“ … ‘WORSHIP GOD! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy’” – Revelation 19:10b.

Understanding biblical prophecy is important.

Our Lord and Savior WARNED:

"' Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of man'" —Luke 21:36.

The living Head of this Work—who has drafted you and me as His Co-Workers—commanded us to WATCH and PRAY ALWAYS that we may be accounted worthy to escape all the terrifying conditions now very quickly coming on this world.

He was talking about world conditions—world happenings—world NEWS (Luke 21; Matthew 24; Mark 13). He was talking about a very soon-coming ‘great tribulation.’ – cf. Matthew 24:21. And, He offered us a chance to ESCAPE this tribulation — not have to go through it. To take advantage of this GREAT ESCAPE-opportunity. He said we must 'WATCH' as well as PRAY always. He meant watch world happenings that are in connection with His revealed prophesies — events that are leading to the 11:59 hour so very quickly, in this generation!

For thirty-nine years I have been mindful of this warning, and more and more so as I have seen world happenings fulfilling prophecies. We can't ALL of us travel around the world to all parts to WATCH world affairs—but then again, we have television and the internet which brings world happenings directly to us. Through the prophecy of Ezekiel, GOD explains that when this time was to come, GOD would call watchmen. And, Isaiah 21:6 says, "' Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees!'" The watchman was the first line of defense of a fortified city. They stood on the watchtower and were trained to spot the enemies of the children Israel and would WARN of an approaching enemy. Today the House of Israel is primarily the United States of America and the United Kingdom – were founded by the people who were descended from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim, and Manasseh. And how we as Christians – as followers of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant – are also related to Abraham. GOD raises up men with ministries to 'dig in the walls' and WATCH for our enemies and WARN this world as never before. Proclaiming with a strong and bold voice Jesus Christ, His gospel Message and His NEW COVENANT!

I send you thanks! And, WE should THANK JESUS CHRIST for the great privilege of having a part in His Work—of being a Co-Worker WITH Him in the very Work of GOD which He heads and directs! I know that I am very grateful—I hope you are, too!

World News Items

Well, here we go again – in the US, her presidential primary is beginning to gear up with the New Hampshire primary (See: ‘Sanders wins New Hampshire primary’ along with ‘The 2020 New Hampshire primary’). I have been praying for President Donald Trump and I recommend that all do so. Can that help the United States of America!? Certainly. As I have been saying, I believe we are in the eye of the storm. What this nation as a whole truly needs is national repentance and the glorious kingdom of God!

In the Middle East, Israel’s Defense Minister said that Israel was targeting Iranian military targets and not just Iranian proxy forces (See: ‘Israel Reveals it is Now Targeting Iranian Forces Militarily’). Indeed, Iran will not like that and it appears prophesied that one day will cause grave damage to Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:6-9). Israeli statements and actions surely are hastening that time.

In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has announced he wants out of a security agreement with the US (See: ‘Philippines Duterte deals blow to the U.S. by terminating troop pact’ also ‘Top US commander warns Philippines rift could hurt terrorism fight’). This move on his part could – just as US commanders warn – strengthen the radical Islamic armies that could ultimately be tied in with ‘the kings from the east’ (Islamic armies) of Revelation 16:12-16.

Hamas – a terrorist organization – as well as many African leaders, have rejected the Trump’s Administration’s peace deal (See: ‘African leaders reject Trump’s Mideast peace plan’ and ‘Fatah: “Trump… Shove [the Deal] up your [A–]”’) As I tweeted on @AfjcMinistries, In my opinion, there can be no 'deal' with known #Terrorists, other than complete annihilation! (Isa. 48:22; Ex. 14:14).

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 “Jacob’s Trouble” by Michael C. Garrett.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested is “Dimash in NYC – A Story Of Faith” 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, friends, be to SUBSCRIBE to our BitChute channel.

Concluding Comments

Brother John was inspired by the Lord our God to write the following:

5) "This is the Message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that GOD is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" - 1 John 1:5-7.

Friends, let us always walk in the light of truth. Let us NEVER practice darkness. Believe that our Lord Jesus can cleanse us from all sin.

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31) Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" - Ephesians 4:29-32.

As far as fellowship with one another goes, let us meet with other brethren when we can. And do NOT neglect to try to attend the Feast of Tabernacles.

In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,