Saturday, May 9, 2020

Letter to our Friends - May 7, 2020



Michael C. Garrett
Pastor and Overseer


Greetings friends from West Central Florida:

Condolences here in Florida

First and foremost our prayers go out for the comfort of Brother Bud’s family.

The following is from The Messenger:
Albert Douglas “Bud” Offutt, 78, of Mortons Gap, passed away on Friday, May 1, 2020, at Baptist Health in Madisonville after a long illness.
Mr. Offutt was born on April 21, 1942, in Madisonville, to the late Albert and Alma Offutt.
He was a member of Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ; was the owner/operator of Machine Masters in Mortons Gap, until 1988, and Adventure Enterprises until 2009 when he retired.
In addition to his parents, he is proceeded in death by two brothers and four sisters.
Mr. Offutt is survived by his loving wife, Alice Offutt of Mortons Gap; sons, Sidney (Kathy) Offutt, Troy (Cathie) Offutt, Daniel (Michelle) Offutt, Shawn (Casey) Rawlins, and Anthony Rawlins; three sisters, Mildred Tyson, Alice Boyd, and Carolyn (Jerry) Bean; two brothers, Ronnie (Joyce) Offutt and Jimmy (Barbara) Offutt; nine grandchildren, Brett Offutt, Katie (Jared) Fuller, Cameron (McKenzie) Offutt, Hunter (Carrie) Offutt, Riley Rawlins, Aston Rawlins, Skyler Rawlins, Chloe Rawlins, and Avery Rawlins; and three great-grandchildren, Layla Rae Offutt, Avery Rose Offutt, and Brady Ray Offutt.
(https://www.the-messenger.com/obituaries/article_a23fde71-e543-5187-be44 c45f10fed056.html. Retrieved 7 May 2020).
Indeed – we cannot wait to see our dear brother again in the glorious kingdom of God!

From everhere:
… We are sad to announce that on May 1, 2020 we had to say goodbye to Albert Offutt
(Mortons Gap, Kentucky), born in Madisonville, Kentucky. …
He was predeceased by: his parents, Albert Offutt and Alma Offutt. He is survived by : his wife Alice Offutt of Mortons Gap, KY; his sons, Sidney Offutt (Kathy), Troy Offutt (Cathie), Daniel Offutt (Michelle), Shawn Rawlins (Casey) and Anthony Rawlins; his siblings, Mildred Tyson, Alice Boyd, Carolyn Bean (Jerry), Ronnie Offutt (Joyce) and Jimmy Offutt (Barbara); his grandchildren, Brett Offutt, Katie Fuller (Jared), Cameron Offutt (McKenzie), Hunter Offutt (Carrie), Riley Rawlins, Aston Rawlins, Skyler Rawlins, Chloe Rawlins and Avery Rawlins; and his great grandchildren, Layla Rae Offutt, Avery Rose Offutt and Brady Ray Offutt.
(https://www.everhere.com/us/obituaries/ky/mortons-gap/albert-offutt-10795653. Retrieved 7 May 2020).
This weeks suggested Sabbath service includes a very special sermon by Minister Michael C. Garrett entitled “Bud Offutt – 1942-2020” which honors our dear brother in Christ – of whom I would love to sit down with someday and have a long conversation about ‘back in the day.’

‘MYSTERIES’ OF GOD Article


On May 1st I posted “’ Mysteries’ of God” which – these mysteries are NOT mystic, or astrological or cultic, but rather the great T R U T H ‘of obtaining eternal life, the hope of eternal life’ – a hidden truth. The truth is hidden from most people.

World News Items

A great many nations, including the United States of America have seen a loss of liberty in relation to COVID-19 (see ‘Tucker Carlson: During coronavirus pandemic, totalitarianism doesn’t shock us anymore’). There have been leaders of nations which have suggested a type of “immunity passport” in order to travel abroad (see ‘Mayor Of Nice Demands "Health Passports" To Enter/Leave France’). Also, notice what ZeroHedge reported last month - '" Immunity Certificates" Are Coming - COVID-Survivors To Get 'Special Passports' Enabling Return To 'Normalcy'.

Friends, this COVID-19 has greatly affected the world and is indeed setting the stage for ever-more governmental controls!

God’s living Word – the Holy Bible – shows us that totalitarian controls, including the control of religion, are coming to a “United States of Europe”!

Minister M.C. Garrett wrote:
Now, early on in Revelation 13, verse 2 we read about a concept which is called “the beast,” … That refers to a reorganized and revitalized concept of the “Holy” Roman Empire. Countries in Europe unifying in the end-times. And Revelation 13:15 – “He [referring to a great religious leader here. It’s not referring to a political leader here] …” Well, look at verse 11 – “Then I saw another beast [speaking of this great religious leader] coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.” This is referring to a great religious leader who has its roots of power in the continent of Europe – and has had for almost two-thousand years. Verse 12 – “And he [this second beast] 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, whose deadly wound was healed.” – now, what’s that “deadly wound”!? Well, the Roman Empire – the greatest world Empire ever in the ancient world – had its height of power and completely controlled most parts of Europe, and the Middle East, and North Africa. And yet, that great Empire eventually struggled and crumbled and disappeared. And then there were revivals of the concept the “Holy” Roman Empire. Up to this point in history, we’ve had six revivals. The last one being Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy. The Bible says there will be seven revivals altogether. We haven’t gotten to the seventh revival yet. But the seventh revitalization of the “Holy” Roman Empire is what chapter 13 is talking about early on. And so this second beast is a great religious movement.
(Garrett, M.C. The Mark of the BEAST, 2019, pp. 11-12).
The apostle Paul also spoke of one in the latter days called ‘the son of perdition’:
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming [the Second Coming] of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, …” – meaning, the resurrection of the saints of God – see 1st Thessalonians 4:17. “ … we ask you, 2) not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the Day of Christ [the Day of the LORD] had come. 3) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition” – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; NIV unless otherwise noted. (see also Matthew 24:23-24).
Mr. Garrett continues:
[T]his is talking about, I believe, 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! Verse 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, showing himself that he is God.” (ibid. p. 9).
In the Middle East, Judah – known today as Israel – wants to go forward with annexing areas called Judea and Samaria. And, of course, the Palestinians as well as the Europeans do not like this (see ‘Abbas Threatens to Dissolve PA If Israel Annexes an Inch of Judea and Samaria’ as well as ‘US Prepared to Recognize Application of Israeli Law to Areas of Judea and Samaria’).

As far as COVID-19 research, a leaked report from the ‘Five-Eyes’ – an “intelligence alliance” comprising of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States (see ‘Coronavirus NSW: Dossier lays out case against China bat virus program’) indicates that China was working with bat viruses at the Wuhan, China laboratory.

Indeed, the human consumption of God-ordained unclean animals – such as bats, cats, dogs, rabbits, possums, and even opossums – is a major factor in this COVID-19 pandemic:

The Word of the Eternal God specifically mentions that humans are NOT to eat bats:
“’ But these you shall NOT eat: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, 13) the red kite, the falcon, and the kite after their kind; 15) the ostrich [and surely that would also be the ostrich egg!?], the short-eared owl, the seagull, and the hawk after their kinds; 16) the little owl, the screech owl, the white owl, 17) the jackdaw, the carrion vulture, the fisher owl, 18) the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe and the bat’” – Deuteronomy 14:12-18.
Friends – especially our friends in the southern parts of the United States – not consuming biblically-unclean meats is something that is wise. Yet, we are not hearing major governments denouncing the eating of these unclean meats!

As you peruse the daily news – and as the world is focused on COVID-19 – did you notice this!? ‘Explained: What is Cinco de Mayo and why is it celebrated?’ Friends, although Cinco de Mayo is indeed a celebration of the defeat of French forces, in Mexico it has become known as a day of Mexican pride – and one where United States acquisition (which my wife calls ‘theft’) of formerly Mexican territories is denounced. And US denouncement is not limited to only Cinco de Mayo. In 2019 protestors in Colorado pulled down the American flag and replaced it with a Mexican flag (see ‘Anti-ICE protesters pull down American flag, raise Mexico flag, vandalize 'Blue Lives Matter' flag’). A great many in Mexico (and apparently even many Americans) want land – including Colorado – given back to Mexico, which they call “reconquista” – reconquering in English.

Again, God’s living Word teaches us that a final seventh resurrection of the “Holy” Roman Empire is rising – also called a final European ‘king of the North’ – will empower and takeover the Sovereignty of the United States of America and will divide her land for gain:
“Thus he [this ‘king of the North’] shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain” – Daniel 11:39.
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). To Note: Again, I will be speaking soon to brother Roger concerning a collection of hymns for the church.
● Opening prayer.
● Sermonette (if you choose). The one suggested is “Through Faith, God Healed Bud” by Michael C. Garrett. An accompanying article by the same title is also available.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested for this week is “Bud Offutt – 1942-2020” by Michael C. Garrett. More sermons available at http://www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com/.
● Final hymn.
● Closing prayer.

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ‘LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER WE HAVE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ website. Also, we have a social network aggregation known as Flipboard with 160 “flips,” and 10 “magazines” at https://flipboard.com/@ocojc2019.

Concluding Comments

Friends, notice this from the prophet Isaiah:
“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2) Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house [the kingdom of God; remember, Jesus Christ said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’] Shall be established on the top of the mountains [shall be established and crush all human governments], and shall be exalted above the hills; And ALL NATIONS shall flow to it. 3) Many people …” – and, there will be some nations in Christ’s Millennial rule which will not go up to New Jerusalem and will not keep God’s holy feasts – cf. Zechariah 14:16-19. “ … shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His Ways, And we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion [New Jerusalem; see Revelation 21:1-8] shall go forth the Law, And the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem” – Isaiah 2:1-3.
Indeed, ‘this world’ is changing rapidly! But, the glorious kingdom of God is coming!

And, as the LORD our God taught, let us pray for it soon to come –
’ Our Father in heaven, Hallowed by Your name. 10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven.’” – Matthew 6:9-10.
In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,

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