Friday, April 24, 2020

The Firstfruits From the Earth




Concerning Exodus 3:18 – “’ Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’” Also, Exodus 5:3 – “So they said, ‘The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.’” – so, this message was so important that they came to realize, ‘If we don’t go out of Egypt three days’ journey into the wilderness, God is going to send a pestilence upon us!”

Where were they going!?

In Exodus 8:27 is another reference – “We will go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as He will command us.”

To me, this is highly interesting. During the Passover season, the Israelites wanted to go ‘three days’ journey into the wilderness to do a sacrifice.’ Are there any other ‘three days’ that come to mind!? Throughout Scripture, there is nowhere mentioned where they sacrificed unto the LORD our God after a three days’ journey.

Numbers 33 records the journey of the children of Israel out of the land of Israel. “Then the children of Israel moved from Rameses and camped at Succoth.” – that’s ONE DAY. “They departed from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.” – that’s at least TWO DAYS. They could have camped at each one of these for longer than one night, but the Bible doesn’t mention that. “They moved from Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth, which is east of Baal Zephon; and they camped near Migdol.”- so at least THREE DAYS.

But God said that they were supposed to leave the land of Egypt and go three days. It took them three days just to get to the border of Egypt.

They “ … passed through the midst of the sea (the Red Sea) into the wilderness, went three days’ journey in the Wilderness of Etham, and camped at Marah.” So, let’s go to that scene here mentioned in Exodus 15. And what is the first place they come to in which they have a problem!? Marah.

“So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.” Verse 24 – “And the people complained against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. …”

See if you can see in this action here any symbolic practice for those Israelites. This is the first time they have ever seen freedom. This is the first time that the water has ever run out.

What is the first thing showed to them!? “So he cried out to the LORD, and LORD showed him a tree.” Interesting language. Which, “When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet.” The word “LORD” here is YHWH-ROPHEKA, ‘the LORD who heals you.’ There is so much significance to what happened to them there at the waters of Marah. It was a foreshadowing of something to come in Israel’s future. I can imagine – although it does not say – that Moses made a sacrifice there at Marah unto the LORD our God.

Now, during the Days of Unleavened Bread, there is always – as it was this year – a Sabbath day. Here is what the children of Israel were to do during the week of the Days of Unleavened Bread –

Leviticus 23:9 – “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest.” 

What was this to symbolize!? What is the meaning!?

“’ He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, … on the day AFTER the Sabbath …” So, which day was the lamb offered!? Obviously AFTER the first Sabbath day during the Days of Unleavened Bread. “’ And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the LORD. 13) Its grain offering … of fine flour mixed with oil, … and its drink offering shall be of wine, …’” – there is no accident of these symbols that it was pointing to something for them for the future.

Verse 15 – “’ And you shall count for yourselves from the day AFTER the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16) Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; …’”

The year 2020 the days fall exactly as they did on the week in which Jesus was crucified.
So, the day AFTER the Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread is not Sunrise Service. The day has actually been hidden to most Protestants of what the true meaning of ‘the day AFTER the Sabbath.’ They believe and teach that ‘the day AFTER the Sabbath’ Jesus was resurrected.

Exodus 13:1 – “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2) ‘Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever open the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.’” – the firstborn of both man and beast are to be sanctified, set apart for the service of God.

Exodus 22:29 – “’ You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me.’” – the firstlings. The first of the crops, the firstborn of your children, the firstborn of the animals.

Again, Exodus 23:16 – “ … ‘the firstfruits of your labors …’”

In the New Testament, there is a great deal of the fulfillment of these symbols from ancient Israel - the days, the weeks, and the months which follow from the exodus of Egypt.

In 1st Corinthians 11, Paul said, in the night in which He was betrayed He took the bread. So we know that it wasn’t the night in which He was crucified – but it was the night before. And, we read these Scriptures on the night of the Passover. And that was on a Tuesday night, just like it was this year. When Judas Iscariot betrayed Him, we know that all that night He was scourged and taken to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. On Wednesday morning – it says, ‘When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people’ had a “council” meeting. And He would later go before Pilate. And Pilate was a coward which sent Him before Herod Antipas, and He would eventually come back from Herod. They released Barabbas, you know, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ Pilate washed his hands in a public ceremony and said, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.’ Mark tells us that about the third hour – which was 9 o’clock in the morning – they went out and crucified Jesus. And about the sixth hour, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour – which was about 3 o’clock in the afternoon – and we know that that was exactly the time when the high priest slit the paschal lamb and spilled its blood. Exactly the time when the Roman soldier jammed that spear into the side of Jesus, and Jesus said, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ And ‘bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.’ He died. And that centurion soldier standing there said, ‘Truly this Man was the Son of God!’ That was a Wednesday.

That evening – before the sun went down – the account in the Book of John tells us that it was a ‘Preparation Day.’ You remember Joseph of Arimathea was in a hurry to get the body down before the Sabbath day. Most people believe that that was the weekly Sabbath. But John’s recording here – the only apostle; the one that Jesus loved – said in John 19:31 “ … (for that Sabbath was a high day), …” Most people don’t understand what that means. We do. We keep the ‘Preparation Day’ before the first day of Unleavened Bread – the ‘high day,’ the ‘holy convocation.’ Jesus died on a Wednesday afternoon – probably right at 3 o’clock. By sunset, on Wednesday He was in the tomb.

Thursday was a ‘high day,’ the first day of Unleavened Bread. There was no work permitted. He was ONE DAY in that tomb on that Thursday.

Friday. Another ‘Preparation Day’ – the preparation for the weekly Sabbath day. “And the women who had come with Him from Galilee … 56) returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. …” He was DAY TWO in that tomb on that Friday.

Saturday. “ … And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.” The weekly Sabbath. There was no work permitted. He was the THIRD DAY in that tomb on that Saturday. And by 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon, the 72 hours would have been complete. As Jesus said, “ … ‘and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40) For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.’” So, sometime AFTER 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon Jesus Christ stood up and walked through solid rock and came out of the tomb! And, Sunday morning comes around.

Let’s turn to Mark 16. There is a tremendous amount of confusion concerning this passage. “Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb …” Now, there will be people who go out and have a Sunday morning sun-rise service, and they believe that’s when Jesus Christ was resurrected. Verse 9 – “Now when He rose, early on the first day of the week …” “Well,” they say, “there it is! Isn’t this what this passage says!?”

But let’s take a time out here and let’s look at the collective evidence of all the “gospel” accounts. Look at verse 2. “Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen 3) And they said among themselves, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’” ‘At the rising of the sun.’ when you go back and read the apostle Matthew’s account, he says, “ … as the first day of the week began to dawn, …” And in John’s account, he says, “ … while it was still dark, …” So, we’re talking BEFORE SUNRISE! When they got there the tomb was already empty. He was already gone – because He had already been resurrected. So, this was BEFORE THE DAWN! The stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty because He had risen late on that Sabbath afternoon sometime AFTER 3 p.m. when the 72 hours were complete.

And here is something I want to focus on – John 20. Verse 16. This was Jesus’ appearance after He had risen. Begin in verse 11 – “But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12) And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13) Then they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’

14) Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.”

Like what we have learned – and I believe that the Bible supports this belief; yet, it’s not important for salvation – that Jesus had the ability to shapeshift.

Now I personally have seen a shapeshifter while traveling through Shreveport, Louisiana back in 2007. I had stopped along Interstate 20 for a hitchhiker which was dressed like a young cheerleader carrying a duffle bag, but when she had climbed up into the cab of the truck, she was an old Cajun witch – without a duffle bag.

Verse 15 – “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, ‘Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’ 16) Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’” – then she recognized Him!

“She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is to say, Teacher).

17) Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’

What is interesting here is – He didn’t allow her, even though she was a close friend, to touch Him. Now, later on in the “gospel” accounts, we see where there are several accounts in which He allowed them to touch Him. Remember Thomas, He said, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.’ So, sometime AFTER this three days and three nights, before He met with His disciples and allowed them to touch Him – something marvelous happened! And I believe that the firstfruits of God were presented before God the Father.

Over in Acts 26:22 – “Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come – 23) that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, …” – obviously Jesus Christ! 

Friends, all of those ancient prophets – the men of God – they are still in their graves – dead. Jesus Christ is the first one!

Romans 8:29 – “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

And, of course, 1st Corinthians 15:20 – “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

And, thinking of a dear friend and brother of mine who just recently died, we continue – verse 21 – “For since by man came death, by Man [Jesus Christ] also came the resurrection of the dead. 22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23) But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

And, on down to verses 51 & 52 – “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [in other words – remain in our graves], but we shall all be changed – 52) in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump [the SEVENTH TRUMP] For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

This glorious firstfruits of many brethren was presented to God the Father as the firstfruits from the dead. And, the closest description within the Bible of this happening is Daniel the 7th chapter.

Daniel saw a great vision of four beasts which represented four world-ruling empires – from the time of King Nebuchadnezzar II down to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Daniel saw in vision a menagerie of wars and of conquering and bloodshed and deceit and deception which has been happening over the history of mankind!

Verse 9 – “’ I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated [God the Father]; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; 10) A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened. …

13) I saw watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14) Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

I believe that was a keyhole glimpse of that glorious moment when Jesus the Christ – the firstfruits from the earth – was presented before God the Father.

God the Father sat Him down at His right hand and gave Him all of this dominion and glory, power, strength, and might, which He is going to exercise once His enemies are destroyed.

In Conclusion

Revelation 5:5 – “But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’ 6) And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirit of God [see Rev. 8:2; Rev. 4:5] sent out into all the earth.

7) Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him [God the Father] who sat on the throne. 8) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9) And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll [a book of end-time events], And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and [language] and people and nation, 10) And [He will make us] kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.’

11) Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12) saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!’

13) And every creature which is in heaven [the atmosphere] and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’

14) Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”

Let us not friends just simply go through the motions on Passover. We – I don’t doubt – are all moved by this ceremony. It is the very ceremony which is the most important of the whole year. And then, immediately, we have the Days of Unleavened Bread. Then – we all go back to work. Let’s acknowledge the significance of this small ceremony, and something it signifies! The very moment in which Jesus Christ was presented before God our Father! He had accomplished all that was commanded of Him, overcoming the current world ruler – Satan the devil. And, having delivered the entire Gospel from our Father – that Heaven, the very throne of God, including God the Father and Jesus Christ, and the host of angelic beings, is coming to the Earth! And we have the opportunity to be resurrected as full-fledged spirit beings and members of the glorious Family of God!


Some Other Items of related interest:

Is Michael Identified as Jesus Christ!?Is the archangel Michael, who is called 'your prince' in Daniel 10:21, the being we know of as Jesus Christ - the Son of God!? [...]
Feast of Trumpets - 'Thy Kingdom Come'Hello everyone! Welcome to Owensboro, Kentucky. Welcome to NOT a weekly church service of the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ [...] 
The Days of Unleavened Bread 2020!The Old and the New Testaments indeed mentions the FEAST of Unleavened Bread. The great spiritual meaning behind the Days of Unleavened Bread can be found in John 6 [...]

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Letter to our Friends - April 22, 2020



Michael C. Garrett
Pastor and Overseer


Greetings dear friends from West Central Florida:

We hope and pray that you were able to grow spiritually and that Christ Himself grew ever-greater within you (cf. Romans 8:10-11) during the Days of Unleavened Bread this year.

Pentecost

While it seems like we barely finished Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost will soon be upon us!

Pentecost is May 30th at sunset to May 31st at sunset.

A two-part article on Pentecost and Healing can be found on our blog page - https://www.owensborocojc.com. Indeed, the awesome meaning is more than just Acts 2!

In my ‘Accumulation of Notes’ I wrote:
Back in Leviticus 23, it goes through a long spiel of what to do at Pentecost. But, with Acts 1 and Acts 2 – Pentecost took on a whole different meaning. The date was the same. Fifty days after the Sabbath in the middle of Unleavened Bread – the date never changed. But the meaning has changed, and the symbols have changed, and the significants have changed! Now Pentecost – 1) Birthday of the Church 2) the day where Jesus Christ pours out His Spirit upon humanity in mass as opposed to just particular. 3) the day where the Apostle Peter stood up and said, ‘Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin and you shall receive the gift of God’s Spirit.’ Pentecost is about having the Spirit of God – the mind of Christ come and be a part of your mind. Which is similar to what the Days of Unleavened Bread are talking about. Every day we need Jesus Christ! Every day we need the Spirit of God! So, the name is the same, the dates are the same, but the meaning is greatly different.
Prayer Request



I humbly ask for your continued prayers for our dear brother Bud Offutt who has been in the hospital for the past month. He is very weak and on a ventilator. Please pray for him. We need God's miracle healing.

World News Items

In Europe, there are ever-growing concerns that this COVID-19 is possibly helping the rise of a final European dictator (see ‘In Global Life-Death Struggle, Democracy Changes Course’ along with ‘As Europe Confronts the Coronavirus, What Shape Will Solidarity Take?’ and also ‘Coronavirus: EU could fail over the outbreak, warns Italy's Giuseppe Conte’). Friends, God’s living Word – the Holy Bible – teaches that Europe will NOT continue as it has been. It shows that it will – in this final end-time – reorganize under a dictator of ‘fierce countenance’ who will implement under the auspices of the Catholic Church a totalitarian police state within a United States of Europe.
“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 is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people” – Daniel 11:21-23; NKJV throughout unless otherwise noted.
Also, notice the following:
Daniel 11:31 – “And forces shall be mustered by him [the king of the North], and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; …” – so, Europe at this point in time has invaded – like a modern-day crusade; the LAST CRUSADE – the Middle East and indeed have gone straight to Jerusalem, to secure it and to acquire it. “…then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.” – we read that phrase quite a few times. Verse 36 – “’ Then the king [the king of the North; the kingdoms of the North] shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, …” – these are the leaders of that European power – which the Bible calls the “beast” and the “false prophet.” One is military and civil government, the other is religious. “…’ shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished [the Day of the LORD]; for what has been determined shall be done.’” – in the end, the false prophet and the beast power will be killed and executed. Verse 40 – “’ At the time of the end the [kingdoms] of the South shall attack him; and the [kingdoms] of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; …’” – talking about military engagement – an invasion and taking over of land! “…’ and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41) He shall also enter the Glorious Land [meaning Jerusalem], and many countries shall be overthrown; but [initially] these countries shall escape from his hand: Edom [Turkey], Moab [Iraq], and the prominent people of Ammon [Jordan]. 42) He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.’” – so that the northern/eastern section of Africa. Verse 43 – “…’ also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. 44) But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45) And he [the king of the North – the false prophet and the beast power] shall plant the [tabernacle] of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain [Jerusalem], yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.’” Just constant warfare! And the whole chapter 11 is this raging warfare antipathy between the kingdoms of the North and the kingdoms of the South. … All the Book of Revelation is talking about is a UNITED EUROPE! … WAKE UP, PEOPLE!
(Garrett, M. Mark of the BEAST, March 2017). 
We are beginning to see a greater increase of totalitarian restrictions, including even being enforced by drones in various parts of the world (see ‘US, European Cities Turn to “Talking Drones” From China to Enforce Social Distancing’). 




Europe, as well as the US, are looking to see how to reopen some aspects of the economy – yet many do not believe life will easily return to pre-COVID-19 ‘normalcy’ (see ‘A new Trump vs. California battle looms over reopening an economy battered by coronavirus’ also ‘Coronavirus: Gov. Newsom details plan for lifting lockdown’ and also ‘Several European countries relax coronavirus restrictions’).

Notice the following:
Now They Are Telling Us That Life In America Will Definitely Not Be Returning To Normal “For The Foreseeable Future”
If you thought that this pandemic would pass quickly and that life in America would soon return to “normal”, I am afraid that you are in for quite a shock. Some of the restrictions currently in place will eventually be lifted, and efforts will be made to get people back to work, but life is still going to be radically different from what we had become accustomed to before COVID-19 started sweeping across the globe. Authorities are telling us that there may be “rolling shutdowns” for up to 18 months, that social distancing guidelines will be necessary for a long time to come, and that this crisis will not ultimately be resolved until they can inject everyone with a vaccine. If all of this greatly alarms you, please be assured that you are not alone. …
Over and over again, a “vaccine” is being touted as the golden ticket that will get us out of this mess.
The head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Neel Kashkari, is another prominent voice that is warning that there won’t be a return to normalcy until a vaccine comes along. And until that time comes, he believes that we are potentially facing “an 18-month strategy of rolling shutdowns”…
Kashkari, while acknowledging the downside of what a prolonged shutdown could mean for the economy, said the U.S., “barring some health-care miracle,” is looking at an 18-month strategy of rolling shutdowns based on what has happened in other countries.
“We could have these waves of flare-ups, controls, flare-ups and controls, until we actually get a therapy or a vaccine,” he said. “We need to find ways of getting the people who are healthy, who are at lower risk, back to work and then providing the assistance to those who are most at risk, who are going to need to be quarantined or isolated for the foreseeable future.”
In other words, Kashkari believes that all or part of the nation will be shut down over and over again whenever the number of coronavirus cases starts to spike too high.
Of course the WHO is eagerly looking forward to global vaccination as well, and the head of the WHO just told the media that he believes that this virus is ten times deadlier than the swine flu pandemic of 2009…
Coronavirus is ten times deadlier than the 2009 swine flu pandemic and a vaccine will be needed to halt it, the World Health Organization has said.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual briefing from Geneva the organization was constantly learning about the bug sweeping the globe.
Over and over again, officials are telling us that we are facing an 18 month timeframe until a vaccine will be ready. …
By the time 18 months goes by, most of the general population will be so desperate to feel safe from this virus that they will race out to get the vaccine as fast as they possibly can.
And until then, we can expect economic conditions to steadily deteriorate.
Yes, hopefully most businesses in the country will be allowed to reopen in a matter of weeks, but that doesn’t mean that the customers will come back. …
My hope is that all of the pain that is ahead will cause a mass awakening and America will turn in a more positive direction.
But to most people, the immediate future looks really bleak right now, and that is not going to change any time soon.
(Read More: http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/now-they-are-telling-us-that-life-in-america-will-definitely-not-be-returning-to-normal-for-the-foreseeable-future).
Friends, this COVID-19, in a sense, is but another sign of ‘the beginning of sorrows’ (Matthew 24:8) for this world!

Our LORD God said, “ … ‘for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.’” – Matthew 24:6b.

Also, many countries, as well as the US states, are under some form of emergency declarations because of this coronavirus (see ‘US coronavirus cases surpass 556,000 while millions of Americans celebrate Easter’ and ‘Whistleblower – How CDC Is Manipulating COVID-19 Death Toll’). Statements and US actions have upset Germany, the European Union, and many others around the world (see ‘WHO, allies lament Trump cut to US funding as virus rages’ and ‘Coronavirus: Trump's WHO de-funding 'as dangerous as it sounds ‘Coronavirus: German easing of lockdown to start with schools on May 4’).

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is a suggested Sabbath service for this week.

● 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 “Are We To Listen To Others?” by Leonard V. Johnson.
● Announcements (if any – it could be this letter) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested is “Dimash in NYC – Faith; Hope; Patience; Tribulation” 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

The Days of Unleavened Bread for 2020 are behind us, but that doesn’t mean that we should not ask Almighty God and Jesus Christ for the renewing daily of the glorious Spirit of God!
“ … put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt, according to the deceitful lusts, 23) and be RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT of your mind, 24) and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11) Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” – Psalm 51:10.
The apostle Paul wrote:
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2) Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4) Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5) For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6) knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7) For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9) knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10) For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11) Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13) And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” – Romans 6:1-13.
Friends, let us strive as true Christians to live by Jesus Christ’s living words:
’ As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he [or she] who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58) This is the BREAD which came down from heaven – not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this BREAD will live forever.’” – John 6:57-58.
Jesus Christ our Lord is that Bread! Let us continue taking daily of this Bread!

In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,

Monday, April 13, 2020

Letter to our Friends - April 10, 2020


Michael C. Garrett
Pastor and Overseer


Greetings dear friends from West Central Florida:

God’s Spring Holy Day season is upon us!

Passover and ‘the night to be much observed’ – ‘a night of watching’ (cf. Exodus 12:41-42) – our Lord’s vigil – went very well here and in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Days of Unleavened Bread

Today as I write this, it’s the SECOND DAY of the Days of Unleavened Bread – which lasts until sunset April 15th.

We Christians understand and recognize that Jesus Christ paid the ultimate penalty for our sins on Passover and was murdered smack dab in the Middle of Unleavened Bread.

Just what is the main meaning of the Days of Unleavened Bread?

Here, is what Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote concerning this:
Many … misconceptions continue to grip many people - many church groups … what I call, ritualistic housecleaning. And for most people … the Days of Unleavened Bread was about a campaign to “find leavening.” And they always said that leaven was an equal synonymous term with sin. So, you would normally hear the following comment – I’m going to copy now what was said hundreds of thousands of times – and you would hear, “YOU MUST PUT SINNNNN OUT OF YOUR LIFE!” And then they would jump from there to say, “Leavening equals sin.” And so they would jump to the next conclusion, “You MUST go around finding every little particle of nine-month-old cookies! Wherever they might be!” And they taught that as one of the main meanings of the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Well, I think they misinterpreted and misrepresented what the Days are supposed to mean. The meaning of the Days of Unleavened Bread is powerful! And, it’s not just one meaning – it’s truly like an onion. I think I compiled one time about EIGHT different major teaching point’s from the Days of Unleavened Bread – from the Passover through the Days of Unleavened Bread. And each has a Powerful Message. And not one of them has to do with – “You MUST find leavening!” …
I’m just telling you – … they missed a lot of things. And they misinterpreted a lot of things. And that’s a long story, … All I have a desire to do is to talk about the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God – and the Plan of God is a quick outline is given to us in the holy days. And the Spring holy days are all about individual personal salvation. For you or me on an individual basis for us to have the promise of eternal life. We must have the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We must have the ideas in the words and the presence of Jesus Christ come into us. That’s what the Days of Unleavened Bread are talking about. Christ In You!
Here are some passages from the living Word of God concerning the Days of Unleavened Bread:
"Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that [life] shall be cut off from Israel. 16) And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 17) And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by AN ORDINANCE FOR EVER. 18) In the first month on the fourteenth day of the month at even [sundown], ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 19) Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that [life] shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 20) Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread" - Exodus 12:15-20; KJV.
And Leviticus 23:6-8 talks about this Feast of Unleavened Bread also. Also, Deuteronomy 16:16, shows us that offerings were expected to be given on the Days of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and the Fall Holy Days.

As we eat a little unleavened bread each day, we are to remember the sacrifices which Jesus Christ has done of all of us, and symbolically take CHRIST IN US!!!

The Days of Unleavened Bread was NOT done away!

Early Christians knew that the Days of Unleavened Bread was not done away. The Apostle Paul endorsed properly keeping the Feast with Unleavened Bread (1 Corinthians 5:7). And, he and others continued to observe it and also to observe it outside of Judea:
"And we sailed away from Philippi AFTER the Days of Unleavened Bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days" - Acts 20:6; KJV.
Indeed, if Christians were not keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread, God's Spirit would not have inspired this to have been recorded in this manner. Philippi was a Gentile city. It was ruled by the Roman Empire - and keeping these days was NOT limited to places such as Jerusalem. In at least two different places in the New Testament, we see that the Days of Unleavened Bread were being kept in Gentile locations (1 Corinthians 5:7; Acts 20:6).

Let us also consider the statement, "it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread" in Acts 12:3. Why would the Apostle Luke mention these days if they were unknown to the Gentile Christians and had been done away!?

We in the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ do not accept that the Council of Laodicea or the Council of Nicaea, or any other council spoke for the true Christian Church - the Body of Christ - the Church of God, and we continue to keep the Days of Unleavened Bread. We eat some unleavened bread for each of the seven days as God has commanded (Exodus 12:15; 13:6; 23:15; 34:18). Now, this bread can be made from different grains and nuts - the use of wheat is not biblically required.

Let us also remember, other foods can indeed be eaten during this Feast of Unleavened Bread, it is just that no leavened BREAD is to be eaten. It is the Days of Unleavened Bread. Also, unlike the Passover, the first day and the last day of the Days of Unleavened Bread are like the weekly Sabbath - no regular work is to be done.

Apostle Paul wrote, through the inspiration of God's Spirit:
27) "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28) But let a man [or woman] examine himself [or herself], and so let him [or her] eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29) For he [or she] who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself [or herself], not discerning the Lord's body" - 1 Corinthians 11:27-29; NKJV.
Apostle Paul is clearly teaching that to take this bread and wine, one must examine oneself.

While there are a great many in this world which like to allegorize away many portions of God's living Word - the Bible, there are a great many spiritual understanding's to God's Holy Days. The physical observance helps us to better understand the spiritual lessons.

The SEVENTH-DAY of the Days of Unleavened Bread

Friends, on the 21st of Nisan, Almighty God caused the Red Sea to be parted so that the children of Israel should cross on dry ground through the midst of the sea (Exodus 14:21). This year, that date is from sunset on the 14th through to sunset on the 15th!

In the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, the LORD [the very God we know of today as Jesus the Christ!] called for the children of Israel to cross on dry-shod going into the ‘midst of the sea’ with a wall of water on their right hand and on their left under a cloud – symbolic of baptism (1 Corinthians 10:1-2) – with their enemies pursuing them. Then, ‘in the morning watch,’ the sea returned to its full depth covering and destroying the Egyptians chariots, horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh (Exodus 14:23-28).

As I retold – the other day – this great historical story of the Bible to my wife, we should understand that it was on the seventh day of the Days of Unleavened Bread that the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea and the army of the Egyptians was utterly destroyed!

A Christian’s sequence of events begins from the acceptance of Jesus Christ, the New Covenant, of the gift of repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38-39). Christians must endure unto the end (Matthew 10:22), and attain to the resurrection of life (John 5:29; Revelation 20:6) and called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).

The crossing of the Red Sea has a great lesson for Christians. At the sounding of the SEVENTH TRUMP – understand, when the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES BEGIN, THE RESURRECTION OF THE SAINTS HAS ALREADY OCCURRED! The Saints are protected! Because they’re not flesh and blood any more. Their eternal spirit beings – members of the Family of God (cf. Revelation 15:2) – “…the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent [which is now cast down to the earth]” – (Revelation 12:14; see also Ezekiel 20:10). 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. Thessalonians 2:1 – “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, …” - by our gathering, remember, we’ll be caught up in the clouds and meet Jesus in the clouds!? Verse 2 – “…the day of Christ had come.” – that’s the Day of the Lord! Remember, all the major prophets talked about it! 75% of the “minor” prophets talked about it!

And, in duality, ONCE AGAIN God will send out His prophets, transport them by His heavenly “taxi-service,” and the two witnesses, I do believe, will have opportunities to speak to the children which are held in captivity. Now, the question is: Who are these people!? A lot of them are the people of Israel – most of which are physical members of the house of Israel. America, Canada, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. The people where the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh settled. However, I do believe, that among some of those people will be groups of people who thought they were members of the Church of God (cf. Revelation 12:17), who thought they were doing what they were supposed to do. But did not understand that over the years their religion had been transformed into not a worship of God, but rather worship of human beings. Verse 17 – “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring [Now if you’re in a group of people or an organization whose leader is ashamed of the name Jesus Christ, where does it leave you!? You’re out in the cold!], who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Terrible things continue to grow worse all around them! They will need to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

And also, in duality, the New Testament announces a fulfillment of the utter annihilation of “pharaoh’s” army in the complete destruction of this world’s armies who will fight against the returning Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:19-21).

Indeed, the Seventh Day of Unleavened Bread helps picture the end of this world’s governmental systems and the establishment of the glorious Kingdom of God!

A Second Passover!?

Now friends, because of the many governmental restrictions because of this dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, many people may not have been able to keep the Passover earlier this week – or, for those who were ill – on the 14th of Nisan (which was the evening of the 7th on the Gregorian calendar). There is– according to the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God – a reference to a second Passover. This is based upon the following Scriptures. Turn over to Numbers chapter 9.
“Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month [the month of Nisan] of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying: 2) ‘Let the children of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. 3) On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight [at sundown], you shall keep it at its appointed time. According to all its rites and ceremonies you shall keep it.’
4) So Moses told the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover. 5) And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month [Nisan], at twilight [at sundown], in the Wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did.
6) Now there were certain men who were defiled by a human corpse, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day; and they came before Moses and Aaron that day. 7) And those men said to him, ‘We became defiled by a human corpse. Why are we kept from presenting the offering of the LORD at its appointed time among the children of Israel?’ 8) And Moses said to them, ‘Stand still, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you.’
9) Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10) ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If anyone of you or your posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the LORD’s Passover. 11) On the fourteenth day of the second month [the month of Iyyar], at twilight [at sundown], they may keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. … 13) But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and ceases to keep the Passover, that same person, because he did not bring the offering of the LORD at its appointed time [the 14th of Nisan at sunset]; that man shall bear his sin’” – Numbers 9:1-13; NKJV.
This is in reference to a second Passover. For those who are sick, or unable to keep the first Passover, a month later, you can keep as a substitute Passover. And, look what it says, “with unleavened bread.” So, how can it be any more simple, how can it be any more plain and straightforward!?

World News Items

I called my barber the other day via the phone, and a recording stated, ‘We will be closed for the next 30 days!’ It’s no longer legal in many parts of the United States of America to get a haircut!? Yet, the World Health Organization (WHO) wants everyone to know that it considers abortion access in this time of crisis to be essential! (See ‘WHO: Abortions Must Continue even at Expense of Containing Coronavirus’). Friends, just as we teach our young children, ‘every action has an equal opposite reaction,’ God – the mighty and awesome CREATOR of His universe – teaches all mankind, “’ But it shall come to pass, IF you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, [for there is but ONE God, and ONE Mediator between God and all men, Jesus Christ; Isa. 44:6], 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: ….’” – Deuteronomy 28:15.

God condemns the shedding of innocent blood:
“These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17) A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood [including metaphorical blood], 18) A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19) A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren” – Proverbs 6:16-19.
“Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. 8) The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice [judgment] in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace” – Isaiah 59:7-8.
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place’ … ‘Yet your eyes and your heart are nothing but your covetousness, For shedding innocent blood, And practicing oppression and violence’” – Jeremiah 22:3, 17.
Babies are innocent. The murdering of innocent babies is part of this ‘shedding of innocent blood’!

Also, most religious services have been banned in many parts of the world and many religious groups are being blamed for the spreading of the virus (See ‘Coronavirus Blood Libel Attempts to Outlaw Religion and Replace it With Spring Break’). And, Europe is disunited in trying to decide how to proceed (See ‘EU fails to agree on coronavirus recovery deal’). Yet, many governmental actions are looking to help pave the way for a totalitarian ‘beast rising up out of the sea’ (Revelation 13:1-10) (e.g. ‘"Immunity Certificates" Are Coming - COVID-Survivors To Get 'Special Passports' Enabling Return To 'Normalcy'’). Friends, God’s Word indeed shows us that totalitarian control, including in relation to religion, is soon coming to E U R O P E:
“Then I [the apostle John saw in a great vision] stood on the sand of the sea [which would be the Mediterranean Sea]. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. [Now this ‘seven heads’ are the seven resurrections of the “Holy” Roman Empire. And those ‘ten horns’ are the ten kings or the ten kingdoms that make up the final installment of the “Holy” Roman Empire. The same thing as we saw back in Daniel – the ‘ten horns.’].
2) Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard [a reference to the Greco/Macedonian Empire under Alexander the Great], his feet were like the feet of a bear [and that’s the Medo-Persian Empire], and his mouth like the mouth of a lion [the ancient Babylonian Empire]. The dragon [Satan the devil] gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” – Revelation 13:1-2.
This is what Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote concerning this:
“Revelation chapter 13 – after the seven heads and ten horns it says in verse 2 – “Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard … feet of a bear, … and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.” … The final installment of the “Holy” Roman Empire, as it were, would be a bit of all of these kingdoms. And then it says Verse 5 – “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months [again, 3 ½ years].” Verse 7 – “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8) All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life …”
(Prophecy Series – The Final Empire, Garrett, M.C., 2019, pg. 20).
“Then I [the apostle John] saw [in this great vision] another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon [a great religious leader].
Verse 12 – “And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, …” Verse 13 – this is so important – this great religious leader – “… performs great signs, so that he even makes fire [or lightning] come down from heaven on the earth by those signs [“miracles”] which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, …” A little later on it talks about Verse 16 – “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, …” – Revelation 13:11-13, 16.
And I know a lot of people have speculated, what is the so-called “Mark of the Beast”! It is the sign of the cross. If you think about it – the world of so-called Christianity, the world of the Catholic faith and the Protestant faith – one is the one identifying sign under which all of them sort-of identify!? It is the sign of the cross. And, if you think about Catholics, they take their right hand, and they start at their forehead, and they make that funny little sign. This is the identifying sign of that great religion that sprang out of the Roman Empire and which is the basis of the “Holy” Roman Empire as they go through their different phases and will be the great power behind the formation of that final “Holy” Roman Empire.
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day [the Day of the LORD] will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, … [this is talking about a future religious leader from the homeland of Europe, practicing the historic religion of Europe, who claims – and notice… THIS IS THE ABOMINATION THAT MAKES DESOLATE!] 4) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God [meaning in Jerusalem], showing himself that he is God” – 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
Also also, government actions in relation to COVID-19 have been adding to the havoc of the world’s economies (See ‘Finns Warned World's Best-Funded Welfare State Collapsing Under Virus-Triggered Mass Unemployment’ along with ‘As the coronavirus triggers a global economic crisis, just how bad could it get?’). Europe is trying to recover (See ‘EU's von der Leyen calls for 'Marshall Plan' for Europe’). In the US, the approach has been to SHUT DOWN many nonessential (government definition) businesses and to INCREASE HER DEBT which stands at approximately $24 TRILLION! (See ‘Trump nominates White House lawyer to oversee coronavirus stimulus plan’ and ‘YouTube; Bloomberg Politics: Pelosi Targets $1 Trillion or More for Next Round of Stimulus’). God is allowing the nations to become weakened!

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is this week’s suggested High 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 “Pray Not For This People” by Minister Michael C. Garrett.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested is “Dimash In NYC – I Will Fear No Evil” 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

As you are aware, my wife and I are adopting and we have been helping him with his homework. His world history teacher is teaching his whole class ‘A New Faith,’ and ‘The Spread of Islam.’ He is required to learn such ‘vocabulary’ words and their definitions, such as shari’ah, mosque, quran, and caliph. I remember when I was his age learning in history class such things as the names of all the US presidents, the history of the United States of America and her constitution, the emancipation proclamation, the history of Ponce de Leon and Christopher Columbus.

Is America becoming more Islamic? Well, notice the following:
The Islamization Of American Schools – Soft Jihad in American Schools
September 8th, 2018
Well, what can I say? The Islamic paradise is playing out live, but not in living color, only in a mono color — black. … In CNN’s translation of the Shahada, they (intentionally) left out a critical part. The Shahada starts by: I testify (meaning I accept, I verify) that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger. … And the school authorities say that there is absolutely no religious scheme in this practice. Well, I would be shocked if these conniving goons would ever speak the truth and when they stop short of deceiving non-Muslims by any and all means to convert them. It is a central doctrine of their religion– taqiyya –to deceive non-Muslims is a meritorious deed when it serves Islam. …
Muslim organizations have been busy and working “stealthily” changing America in what is called “Soft Jihad,” or “Cultural Jihad,” in the United States. Soft Jihad is practiced where the sword of jihad is not advisable, where Muslims are not strong enough to unsheathe their sword, where the true nature of Islam is exposed and when the general public would likely stamp them out.
A critical tool of soft jihad, involves penetration of the American educational system, …
(Read More: https://newswithviews.com/the-islamization-of-americas-schools/).
According to a report by the International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, the Muslim population in North America – a region consisting of three countries and territories: Bermuda, Canada, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and the USA, the total population of this region increased from 44 million in 1870 to 172 million in 1950, to 388 million by 2020!

The growth of North America’s Muslim population can be attributed to immigration, high birth rates (Pew Research Center – ‘New estimates show U.S. Muslim population continues to grow’) and conversions to Islam.

Islam and Islam-related issues, omnipresent in North America in this 21st century, can be categorized into five broad themes: 1) Islamic extremism and security implications of North American jihadists within Syria and Iraq and elsewhere; 2) the continued spread of Islamic Sharia law in the US and other North American countries and territories; 3) the exploitation of US and other North American children by Muslim gangs; 4) Muslim integration into parliamentary democracies, devolved parliamentary dependents, or a constitutional republic; and 5) the utter failure of North America’s multiculturalism.

Indeed, the diminished respect for God’s living Word – the Holy Bible – and God’s standards is also a factor in the increased Islamization of North America.

As the Muslim population increases in the United States, so too will the number of Islamic terror attacks.

Consider some biblical prophecies related to TERRORISM:
“’ But IF you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15) and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16) I also will do this to you: I will even appoint TERROR over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17) I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. THOSE WHO HATE YOU shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you’” – Leviticus 26:16-17.
“’ The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be TERROR within For the young man and virgin, The nursing child with the man of gray hairs’” – Deuteronomy 32:25.
So, what is Islam’s role!? A person from lands that are currently dominated by Islam is prophesied to be involved with deals with a final European ‘king of the North’ – Daniel 11:27; along with Psalm 83:3-8.

God’s living Word specifically WARNS of grave problems from the Arabic peoples in this end-time (which nearly all are Muslim):
“’ They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4) They have said, ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.’ 5) For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: 6) The tents of Edom [the progenitor of the Turkish people] and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; Moab [think Jordan] and the Hagrites [they anciently dwelt in the land known as Syria today]; 7) Gebal [Lebanon], Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [Turks]; Philistia [modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon] 8) Assyria [whose descendants migrated to Germany] also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot [Moab and Ammon in modern Jordan]” – Psalm 83:3-8.
This end-time prophecy is likely to involve TERRORISM!

Why!?

Because ‘they have taken crafty counsel’ indeed sounds as if it could involve some terrorism.

Friends, bringing in Muslim immigrants into North America will very likely result in some of them fulfilling terroristic prophecies (be sure to read ‘How Democrats are using multiculturalism and immigration to destroy America’).

Without national repentance, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and even Bermuda are doomed. Notice that lack of repentance is indeed listed as a reason that the ‘king of Assyria’ – the final ‘king of the North’ – will become Ephraim’s king:
“’ I taught Ephraim to walk, … 5) But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent. 6) And the sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them, Because of their own counsels. 7) My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him’” – Hosea 11:3, 5-7.
In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,

Friday, April 3, 2020

Easter or Passover?

After His brutal beating at the hands of the Roman soldiers, our Lord was marched out to the dreaded
place called Golgotha. Photo by Hal Lindsey from his book Hal Lindsey A Prophetical Walk Through the
Holy Land. The caption beside the photo says, "Even the noisy Arab bus station below Gordon's
Calvary and the Muslim cemetery above it cannot erase the memory of what happened here [nearly]
two thousand years ago."

It's so very sad that so many people - especially among the English-speaking nations of the world - do not understand that the holiday they call Easter is truly supposed to be Passover.

Passover is AFTER sunset on April 7th this year, whereas Easter (also known as the celebration of Ishtar/Inanna) is April 12th - Easter Sunday. Now, in many other languages, some version of the Greek word páscha is often used - like on the Jewish calendar behind me, it says Erev Pesah (Eve of Passover).

Yet, so many are completely confused.

Notice this assertion from a Lutheran source:
The ancient name for Easter is 'Pascha', from the Greek and Hebrew words for Passover, 'for Christ, our paschal lamb [sic], has been sacrificed' (1 Corinthians 5:7).
(The church season of Easter. King of Grace Lutheran Church, April 18, 2019).
What a crock full of gobbledygook! Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His disciples kept PASSOVER - which is the Greek word 'Pascha' that is in the New Testament! Christians kept Passover at night as a memorial of Christ's death. Yet, instead of keeping a memorial for our Savior's death - the Passover - the Greco-Romans (along with the Protestants) began to keep a resurrection holiday. Friends, 'Pascha' is not an ancient name for Easter. The Lutheran's lied to you!

Artists illustration (front and back)
of a life-sized statue of - very probably -
Ishtar/Inanna, holding a vase from Mari,
Syria (18th century BC). illustration from:
The Cosmic Code by Zecharia Sitchin,
Avon Books, © 1998, p. 86
Centuries after changing to Sunday worship, the very name of what was supposed to be the God-ordained observance of Passover was changed - in some Teutonic languages - to Easter. A variation of a Babylonian sex goddess often spelled Ishtar but pronounced roughly the same as Easter. Ishtar was the 'queen of heaven' who was celebrated each Spring by the ancient Sumerians, the Akkadians, the Babylonians and even including the Assyrians. Various non-biblical celebrations were part of the Ishtar celebration that is still being celebrated by Catholics and Protestants alike!

Many also teach that instead of Ishtar, the name 'Easter' came from an Old High Germanic goddess, Ēostre - the namesake of the festival Easter. Ēostre is therefore linguistically cognate with numerous other "dawn" goddesses attested among Indo-European language-speaking peoples. This Anglo-Saxon Ēostre, though some have argued that she is but a figment of the imagination of Bede - though it shouldn't be disregarded - wrote in his The Reckoning of Time, that during that Ēosturmōnaþ (the equivalent of April), pagan's had held feasts in Ēostre's honour.

Now friends, truly, whether originally from the Sumerians, the Akkadians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians or the ancient Teutons - I believe it is but semantics. None of it was for our Mighty and Holy Savior Jesus Christ, but for a pagan goddess - the 'queen of heaven' or even the 'daughter of heaven.'

In all seriousness - and as our dear six-year-old Lily says, "Seriously Uncle Lenny!" - let us consider the 'hot cross buns' of Easter. Do you honestly believe that the early Christians ate these!? - especially since they faithfully obeyed the keeping of God's Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is immediately after Passover. Not to mention, God's Word WARNS against making similar cakes to the 'queen of heaven' (Jeremiah 7:18, 44:16-29)! Seriously, Easter bunnies, chicken eggs - are these biblical!? No, instead they are but a part of pagan worship to Ishtar/Inanna/Easter/Ēostre/'queen of heaven' - whatever name you choose. NO CHRISTIANS SHOULD TAKE PART IN ANY OF THAT (1 Corinthians 10:20-22).

Friends, the early and faithful Christians observed Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.

So, when is Passover!? Is it early in the morning!?

No.

Actually, an early morning celebration during this time of year was observed for Ēostre, the pagan goddess of the "dawn."

Our Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples kept Passover in the evening (cf. John 13).

Now, it should be noted that in the Council of Nicaea of AD 325, not all the churches agreed "that Easter, the Christian Passover, should be celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon (14 Nisan) after the vernal equinox." 1 And the true members of the Body of Christ - the Church of God - did not even attend the Council of Nicaea. Bellarmino Bagatti, a 20th-century Italian archaeologist and Catholic priest writes in his The Church from the gentiles in Palestine; history and archaeology:
…the inhabitants of Syria, of Cilicia and of Mesopotamia were still celebrating Easter {Passover} with the Jews…
The importance of the matters to be discussed and the great division that existed had led Constantine to bring together a big number of bishops, including confessors of the faith, in order to give the impression that the whole of Christendom was represented. 
In fact…the churches of Jewish stock had had no representation…From this we can conclude that no Judaeo-Christian bishop participated in the Council. Either they were not invited or they declined to attend. And so the capitulars had a free hand to establish norms for certain practices without meeting opposition or hearing other view points. 
(Bagatti, Bellarmino. Translated by Eugene Hoade. The Church from the Gentiles in Palestine; history and archaeology. Franciscan Printing Press, © 1971, pp. 47-48).
And of course, over time not only the date but the very practices associated with Passover were changed for the Greco-Roman churches - as did the same with the Protestants.

During God's ordained Passover service in the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ, most of John chapter 6 is read - see my Passover notes below. Most people do not appear to understand that Jesus taught John 13-18 the very night in which He was betrayed. Also, most do not understand that much of the Book of John has to do with two holy day seasons: the final Passover season (chapters 13-21) and the Feast of Tabernacles season (chapters 7-9).

However, early Christians DID NOT ignore them. Most biblical scholars realize that all early Christians kept Passover.

What about you!? □

Also called the Lord's Supper, recorded in Owensboro, Kentucky in 2016. Since so many meetings (very possibly) will be impossible during this spring Holy Day season, services will be made available here on our YouTube channel.

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, p. 332.