Letter to our Friends - October 21, 2022

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES

P.O. Box 6458

Spring Hill, Florida 34606

www.owensborocojc.com

Leonard V Johnson 

Pastor/Overseer

Greetings friends from West Central Florida:

The Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day went well here in Spring Hill, Florida. In case you’re not aware, I had traveled to Owensboro, Kentucky to be with the brethren there at the Logsdon Community Center – having arrived there at 8:30 PM EST the night before – but the reservation I had made with Booking.com for the Wingfield Inn & Suites refused to honor my reservation. I suppose that they can get a higher price for the room on the weekend than the cheaper rate I was going to pay!? Anyhow, they will certainly never get my business again. Also, while staying overnight – having had to pay full price – I received an emergency phone call from my wife saying that her mother had to be rushed to the emergency room – again. Her mother had been having dizzy spells and other issues. My wife wanted me there – if nothing more than comfort – so I returned home that night. After the doctors did what is called a brain angiogram, they detected two ≤12 mm size aneurysms on her brain-please keep her in your prayers. The Feast this year went well in Owensboro, Kentucky. Minister Michael C. Garrett gave sermons for each day – minus two. We have the whole set of sermons available here – Feast of Tabernacles – 2022 (VIDEO SERIES). 

In this Letter, I would like to include a small portion of my latest Personal because I feel that it is relevant here – 

October 20, 2022

As I have written and given sermons about – there is a grave increase in Satan the Devil’s persecutions upon God’s chosen begotten children – worldwide – as we get ever closer to the end of this present evil age! … We here at the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries, and this certainly affects our affiliated churches, have been persecuted for Christ Jesus and His living Word, Truth, and Plan for the redemption of all mankind; and I’m certain that we shall continue to be persecuted until our final breath. The most popular and influential social media platform around the world – Facebook – has silenced our Lord Jesus Christ’s voice. The Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries' Facebook page was “disabled” because they say that we went against their “Community Standards.” Having not been given the chance to challenge their decision, we were told, “We have already reviewed this decision and it can’t be reversed.” I can’t even imagine what it was that we did that was so vile and against their “Community Standards” except boldly and confidently preaching the living word of God, the Truth of God, and the ultimate Plan of God!? This shouldn’t come to us as a shock, brethren, we are told by our Lord Jesus – “’ Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17) But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils [even deliver you up to Facebook’s “council”] and scourge you in their synagogues [their churches]. 18) You will be brought before governors and kings [and in this instance, the self-proclaimed “king of social media”] FOR MY SAKE, as a testimony [a witness] to them and to the Gentiles’” – Matthew 10:16-18.

     And, as I witness to you this day – if you, dear brethren, do not stand up for your fellow brothers and sisters that are being persecuted by this self-proclaimed “king of social media,” when he comes after you there will be no one who will stand up for you! – Amos 8:11-12. We had been boldly and confidently preaching God’s message without fear on our Facebook page – Philippians 1:14. Are other churches preaching so boldly and confidently on their pages without fear!? It’s possible, but like us, they too will eventually be silenced. However, most churches of this world compromise. They compromise with this “council” and its “king” – going only so far as to not be “locked up” or “deleted” from social media! The righteous are to be as “bold as lions” (Proverbs 28:1), yet, prudent in all things. As I said, this world’s churches are compromising with “Babylon the great”! Did we push the envelope!?

     Well, it doesn’t take much “pushing” in this present evil age – does it!? The Apostle Paul writes – “Yes, and all who desire to live godly IN CHRIST JESUS will suffer persecution.” He goes on to warn us brethren that towards the end of this present evil age – that “evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, ….”

And it appears, at least for the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries and our affiliated churches, this evil that is permeating throughout the whole world is growing worse and worse as we get closer to the end of this age. All one truly needs to do is look upon this Administration we have here in America! I ask the question – why aren’t Truth, Justice, and the American Way-loving Americans pounding on the gates of the White House demanding their resignation or impeachment!? Is it because Satan the Devil’s–the ruler of this present evil age (2 Corinthians 4:4) – evil influence has strengthened exponentially as we are entering into the heart of the storm!? – cf. Matthew 24:8, 21-22 – especially the Anglo-Saxon nations! What the LORD our God calls “the time of Jacob’s trouble” – Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:21-22.

Truly, the Apostle Paul has warned that there would be those who would “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” – Romans 1:18. Our Lord Jesus Christ certainly knew that His Message of His coming kingdom would be silenced – cf. Amos 8:11-12. 

As I said in the sermon “The Calm Is Over!” –

Notice again chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation –

Verse 9 – “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”

      Verse 11 – “Then a white robe [will be] given to each of them; …” – meaning signs of immortality and eternal life. “ … and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, …” – to wait, be quiet, be easy for a little season. “ … until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” – speaking of the end-time prophets.

     And as our Lord Jesus Christ spoke privately with His disciples He continued with this end-time prophecy – Matthew chapter 24 – 

      Verse 9 – “’ Then they will deliver you [pertaining to the end-time prophets] up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10) And then many will be offended, will betray one another. 11) Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12) And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13) But he who endures to the end shall be saved.’” 

     They – possibly twelve end-time prophets – will be given power from God Almighty and Jesus Christ to begin prophesying – testifying - to kings, to world rulers, to the captured elect of God, to a great religious leader and political leader – standing before the god of the earth (Satan the devil) – WARNING and proclaiming the kingdom of God soon to come – for 3 ½ years!

     Verse 14 – “‘ And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, AND THEN THE END WILL COME.’”

Well, my friends, I don’t mean to alarm you – you know, Minister Guy LaMar recently wrote up an Opinion piece “Satan the Devil and David Pack” in which he says, that this man and others like him “preach hard on the end of the world scenario – it gets them attention and is a money-maker for them and their immediate families.” Which certainly is a truism. We too preach of the grave trouble which is coming to the nations of Israel and to the world as a whole – “ … ‘there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be’” – Matthew 24:21 – though not to the degree, nor the way in which they preach it! We certainly aren’t making any money-we only receive persecutions – our Lord Jesus Christ Himself WARNED 1,992 years ago, that the only ones that are going to be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are coming – and I might inject, things that are even happening now! – are those that are properly watching world events in relation to biblical prophecy, as well as praying always – Luke 21:36. And sadly, there’s a really good chance that not very many people in this world are doing either. You could know what is coming, and you should be excited about it, and you should be terribly concerned about it! Certainly, with the ever-increasing rise in inflation, most are more concerned about their day-to-day activities – in just surviving for another day! – Matthew 6:33-34. Friends, we have been proclaiming the very words of our Savior for over twenty-five years, “’ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near─at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation [the very generation which will see all these things come to pass] will by no means pass away till all these things take place’” – Matthew 24:33-34. Sadly, the greater majority of this world doesn’t pay us any mind.

But, let me tell you, my friends; as our Lord Jesus Christ tells you, “’ But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For IT WILL COME as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth’” – Luke 21:34-35. And, we certainly are in the preliminary stages of the great tribulation to come, what our Lord has called “’ the beginning of sorrows.’” Very soon the tiny nation in the Middle East called Israel will be viciously and deliberately attacked by the nation of Iran! I warn this with grave WARNING – while these worldly churches compromise with “Babylon the great” – to my chagrin. 

Suggested Sabbath Day Service

Here is this week's suggested Sabbath service:

● 2 hymns. (we have an online The Bible Hymnal, along with many hymns with a Choral Accompaniment on our website www.owensborocojc.com).

● An opening prayer.

● Announcements, if any.

● Suggested sermonette: “The Love of God” delivered by Minister Leonard V Johnson in Athens, Al. 1/16/21.

● Suggested sermon: “Should Christians Keep Halloween?” by Minister Leonard V Johnson.

Additional sermons are available at: 

Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ – YouTube.

The Independent Christian Church of God – YouTube.

The Trevor Koonce YouTube channel. 

● Final hymn.

● A closing prayer.

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ‘LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER WE HAVE OUR CHURCH LETTERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

World News In Relation To Biblical Prophecy

Europe is continuing to increase its military while also training Ukrainian soldiers (See: euronews – ‘EU countries agree to train Ukrainian soldiers as part of new mission’). In the report, Alice Tidey wrote –

17 October 2022

     European Union foreign ministers signed off on Monday on a military assistance mission to train 15,000 Ukrainian personnel in various member states.

     “Today we step up our support to Ukraine to defend itself from Russia’s illegal aggression. The EU Military Assistance Mission will train the Ukrainian Armed Forces so they can continue their courageous fight,” said the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell in a statement.

     The plans would mean both Ukrainian recruits and specialized personnel would receive training on EU soil over the coming two years. 

God’s living word shows us that a Europe will reorganize (as iron mixes with clay; Daniel 2:33) towards the end of this age –

“’ The ten horns which you saw are ten kings [or rather kingdoms – as God views kingdoms] who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13) These are of ONE MIND, and they will give their power and authority to the beast’” – Revelation 17:12-13.

Now, as Europe increases its military, the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz has pledged to spend more than any country, other than the United States of America (and even perhaps China)! And, as far as a German-dominated united Europe, notice this report from ReMix earlier this year –

January 17, 2022

    A German-controlled Europe is coming

   The idea of a German-dominated Europe is taking shape, columnist Péter G. Fehér writes in daily Magyar Hírlap.

   The essence of a federal Europe was perhaps articulated most strongly by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the Polish ruling party.

  “Germany is working to transform the EU into a federal German fourth empire. If we Poles agreed to such a modern-day surrender, we would actually be degraded,” he declared. Let us add that this applies not only to the Poles, but also to all other EU nations, including us Hungarians.

   It is a utopian and dangerous idea — an attempt that will not hold the European Union together but will shatter it. However, more and more sober voices can be heard in the background of the creation of a German-dominated Europe. …

   The new German government must now face the fact that, after the change of regime, Central Europe, which has its own sphere of interest, has achieved a position of economic interdependence to some degree with Germany. At least a third of the supply capacity of German industry is already in this region, a significant part of which is in Poland, which is the biggest part of the region, and a significant proportion is with us, Hungary.

Yes, friends, more control is coming to Germany!

We, in the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries and our affiliated churches, are expecting a reorganized Germany, as well as a reorganized United Europe – which will result in a “beast” power with such strength and power that only Adolf Hitler could dream about!

Also in the news – there is an ever-increasing concern about food shortages, food insecurities, and food price inflation (See: STAT – ‘Ensuring food security and health beyond the Covid-19 public health emergency’). Notice –

October 18, 2022

   Households rarely experience food insecurity, poverty, or poor health in isolation. Instead, they are linked in a cycle … The end of the PHE and the program expansions attached to the declaration will significantly affect millions of Americans who continue to struggle to access medical care and afford food.

   Much has been written about the “unwinding” of Medicaid and SNAP. In brief, when the public health emergency ends, program benefits and access will be affected in myriad ways:

   Medicaid: Access will be restricted as states will discontinue continuous coverage … 

The loss of Medicaid will affect access to other food assistance programs, further increasing food insecurity.

Certainly, droughts in various places around the globe, floods, rising fertilizer costs, rising energy costs, and various governmental policies – along with Russia’s “special military operation” into the sovereign nation of Ukraine, are all factors in this crisis. 

Again, going back to the SOURCE – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – He warns us in both the 24th chapter of the Book of Matthew, as well as in the Book of Revealing in chapter 6 – there is a sequence of events which will eventually lead to the prophesied ‘great tribulation’ at the end of this present evil age – another world war, famine, pestilences, and an ever-greater increase of earthquakes (and certainly volcanoes) in various places! Notice –

“’ Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ [meaning, that many will be preaching that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ] and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  

 

For nation will rise against nation, …’” – here speaking about another world war towards the end of this age! “ …’ and kingdom against kingdom. …’” – and as we teach, we believe He is making a reference here to the Prophet Daniel’s ‘king of the South’ and ‘king of the North’ end-time prophecy – see Daniel 11:40-45. Be sure to read today Minister Michael C. Garrett’s THREE-PART prophecy series: “The Final Empire,” “End-Time Babylon,” and “The Last Crusade.” “ …’ And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows’” – Matthew 24:4-8.

My dear friends, the LORD our God’s true servants “have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star [our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself] rises in your hearts” – 1 Peter 1:19. Sadly, there are a growing number of false prophets which are rising up and are proclaiming false prophetic errors! Such as Jack Hibbs. And this takes us to this Letters concluding comments – 

Concluding Comments

The Protestant Harbingers Daily posted a video with the following title - Why There Must Be a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church. Well, no friends, there MUST NOT BE a pre-tribulation rapture, as those of us brethren that know God’s living truth and accept this truth, understand – there is no such thing!

The rotten fruit of these false prophets – and there are millions – and their false doctrines are not good! As in the case of the false pre-tribulation rapture, it certainly gets people to think that they need not be concerned about our Lord Jesus Christ’s living WARNING because God will pull them out before the great tribulation begins and fly them off to heaven. Yet, this is FALSE ─and our Lord Jesus Christ Himself says to us “’ And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!’” – Mark 13:37; Luke 21:36. And, as I stated earlier, He lists many of the pre-tribulation things to watch for – which, I guess these “Pre-Tribulation Rapturists” mark out with a felt tip marker!?

Harbingers Daily is not a reliable source for the prophecies of our Lord Jesus Christ!

There is no pre-tribulation rapture for the churches of this world! One of the major flaws in Protestantism is their unwavering allegiance to their Mother Church – the Roman Catholic Church. They have long placed their false hope in her – the MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH! Along with her they too shall be destroyed! – for as the mighty angel crying from heaven warns – “’ Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. … Therefore her plagues will come in one day – death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her’” – Revelation 17:5; 18:4, 8.

In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,