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:
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:
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:
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.
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:
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:
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 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:
God’s living Word specifically WARNS of grave problems from the Arabic peoples in this end-time (which nearly all are Muslim):
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:
"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,
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