ON WHOSE AUTHORITY?

The LORD God places ALL of our leaders in power, regardless of whether we agree with them. They are in control for the purpose which the LORD God (the Elohim; the family of God which at this present time consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) has for them.

by Guy C LaMar

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” – Romans 13:1.

The LORD God also exhorts us to pray for our leaders. The proper prayer would be for guidance in the Way of God.

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2) for kings [presidents, prime ministers, governors, mayors, etc.] and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” – 1 Timothy 2:1-3.

The Eternal God places them in office ──and out of office, for His purposes. Notice –

“And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. 22) He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.” – Daniel 2:21-22.

Now, many are called ── but, this doesn’t mean all. Only a few are chosen. The few are the ones that are obedient and dedicated to the will of the LORD God.

“’ For many are called, but few are chosen.’” – Matthew 22:14.

Most ── and I do mean, most ── who have lived, and who live now, and those who will live in the future, are not going to have any knowledge of the LORD God’s will. It’s not their time. Their time will come either in the Millennial Reign of our Lord Jesus Christ or immediately after the Great White Throne Judgment!

When one preaches the glorious kingdom of God ── one needs to properly understand what they’re preaching.

Preaching and teaching the kingdom of God is also preaching the Law of God, which is the Way of God.

We should be preaching REPENTANCE. But, we should properly know what we are to repent from. THE BREAKING OF GOD’S LAW ── summed up with the Ten Commandments. See: 1 John 3:4.

It’s not repenting of your own personal and emotional hangups.

It’s repenting of breaking the Law of God ── the righteous Law of God!

It means turning away from your old self, of the one who is breaking the Law of God, and turning to the LORD God, the will of God, and being obedient in following and keeping the Law of God ── correctly. By the examples given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Kingdom Means Government

Government is run by laws.

Laws are the way that one conducts themselves.

And, the kingdom of God is God’s Way.

And, God’s Way is shown to us by the Law of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the perfect example of how to live perfectly in the Law of God. He filled

it up to the max by showing us how to properly conduct ourselves obediently in the Law of God as a mortal human being. So that we can look unto Jesus and have the perfect example of how to conduct ourselves in the Way of God. Again, this is the Law of God.

The LORD God designed the Law of God for mankind ── for the love of mankind. It’s for showing the love that the LORD God has for mankind.

And, mankind, by obeying (and abiding) God’s Law shows the LORD God their love towards “the God of gods.”

But when mankind rejects the Law of God then mankind is rejecting the LORD God! Thus, we earn the tag of “sinner.”

Christian Means Follower of Christ

The majority of all political leaders are placed in power under the rule of so-called Christians ── themselves not being a true Christian.

Now, they may claim this title, but they do not live the life of a true Christian!

Christian means follower ── emulator of Jesus Christ.

So often people get obsessed over their political leaders to the point where they make them idols. In this modern present evil age of political idolatry.

When a “Christian” church makes the emphasis of their messages wrap around political leaders then they have disconnected themselves from our Lord Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God, and the Way of God. They have conformed themselves to the ways of this world. Becoming unknowing servants for Satan the Devil ── who is “the god of this age” – 2 Corinthians 4:4.

Satan the Devil has beguiled the whole world. There’s not a person that lives, or has lived, on planet Earth that at some point or another hasn’t been beguiled by “the wicked one” – 1 John 5:19. See also: Revelation 12:9 and John 8:44.

The “Christian” churches that have embraced political idolatry have become subject matter for Satan the Devil. Now, they may appear as “ministers of righteousness,” but are ── even unbeknownst to themselves ── ”false apostles, deceitful workers” – 2 Corinthians 11:12-15. See also: Galatians 1:6-9.

So, don’t get bent out of shape when you see “Christian” leaders ── or for that matter, political leaders ── that don’t have “Christian values” about them.

They’ve not been allowed to gain the knowledge to properly understand. Now, they might have a portion of understanding in certain areas where leadership is needed in this corrupt and vile world, but not in the LORD God’s will or the Law of God. Now, some may embrace some of the Law of God ── but nearly none have yet to embrace all of the Law of God in this 21st-century world.

Praying Always For Our Leaders

We should be praying always for our leaders that the LORD God will allow them to have a proper portion of knowledge for understanding in the LORD God’s Way ──to help lead us as a nation.

And this goes for whoever is in office ── whether you personally like them or not. No matter what side of the political fence you are on.

Sadly, a great many so-called Christians ── those who say they fear God ── will awaken each day and begin to spew utter vile, disgust, and hatred, for their political leaders ── all because of their political idol worship towards a different political leader. It is truly disheartening. A great many people just live in their tiny box of religiosity. They can’t allow themselves to live outside the box to see the light of their own deeds. They refuse. Because they have built up a haughtiness. They have clouded themselves with self-denial.

They certainly want to focus and pay great attention to any perceived wrongs (past or present) of a political leader ── when their attention is focused wrongly. Their focus should be seeking first and foremost the kingdom of God and His righteousness! – Matthew 6:33. They should not be focused on a world that is decaying around them, they should be focused on the glorious soon-coming kingdom of God! Which is of the Law of God, the will of God, the Way of God!

True Christians, in Romans 13:1-7, are instructed to obey the laws of the land as long as they do not contradict the Law of God; meaning that if a civic law from a government goes against a command of God’s, one should prioritize the LORD God’s Law instead.

As an example: In this modern present evil age of perversion, a time when the U.S. government was trying to claim that there are more than only two genders and that men can give birth to babies ── that is all influenced by Satan the Devil. The LORD God’s begotten children should abhor evil, stand against evil, speak out against wrongdoings, and seek truth and righteousness!

Satan the Devil has his evil hooks fully in our modern Democratic Party far more than our modern Republican Party.

That is why I have personally labeled the modern Democratic Party as the political party of Satan the Devil. Because, more than any other party, they have promoted untold abominations as a way of life. They cause the citizens of the United States of America to commit abominations against the LORD God! Thus, revealing themselves as the political party of Satan the Devil.

Now, that is not to say that the Trump Administration is a “saintly” administration. It is, however, far more on track with the will of the LORD God than the Leftist lunatics! (Have you watched Selena Gomez lately?).

We should vote for and then follow the political leader who is displaying a greater portion of God’s Way – which comes from the Spirit of God.

So, keep this always in mind ── the LORD God places our political leaders in office. The LORD God allows them a portion of knowledge for understanding. 

Don’t ever think any political leader of this present evil age is wrapped around the LORD God ── because they are not. Now, that is not to say that the LORD God won’t work with them to a certain extent, because They have ── and They will continue to do so. □

Personal From... Real Leadership

 by Leonard V Johnson

It’s been a while since I wrote a Personal… And, this is something that I’ve been thinking about for quite some time now. Just this morning I had mentioned to my wife as she got ready for work, “There’s never been a time in my life, when I wanted new leadership for our great nation, greater than I do now.” I’ll try not to get too political in this article, but even during President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential election as the Republican nominee, I knew we needed new leadership ── but the United States of America wasn’t completely burnt to the ground yet. Now it is! I saw a photo on Facebook of Resident Joe Biden standing on a hill as America burned ── and I couldn’t help but think of Emperor Nero fiddling as Rome burned. And, even if that is nothing but a legend, that certainly would have been something his character could have easily done.

Since January 20th, 1989, I have not seen the United States of America in such desperate need of REAL LEADERSHIP as I have these past four years. What is real leadership?

The qualities to be a real leader begin early in life. This real leadership.

Do you remember the movie Twilight Zone from 1983? In segment two it was entitled, “Kick the Can” directed by Steven Spielberg. There was a character played by a young Evan Richards, a Tyrone Powers-type character (an English swashbuckler) with the top of his pajamas tied around his neck using it as a cape. Do you think he played a leader? I always thought so.

When I first saw this movie when I was fourteen, I looked upon young Mr. Agee as a leader. There always has to be a leader. And, there always have to be captains.

In the sermon, “Be Strong In the Lord!” I speak of the fact that in the glorious Kingdom of God──if we become born members of the family of God, God willing──we will still have to take orders. Because there will always be a leader that will be “higher in rank.”

I often wonder how many of our brethren think about the fact that the LORD God wants them to be a leader. A great many appear to only want to just follow “the leader” at church. Many don’t even want to be a leader. Yet, we are told in God’s living word that He wants LEADERS. To be above reproach. Serve with humility, integrity, and a heart for God. Present yourself approved as workers of God. And, the one that again makes us think of the young Mr. Agee, be like the youngest and serve like a leader. While not everyone is a traditional leader, everyone can lead in some way. Leadership skills are taught at a young age, and leadership can occur without words or even a position of authority.

During my adolescent years, I began to hone some leadership skills. I questioned a great many of the Worldwide Church of God’s doctrines. Such as “Older people will be resurrected as a twenty-year-old.” “You cannot get remarried if you’ve been divorced.” “There were no dinosaurs, that’s just something evolutionists peddle.” “We will be taken to Petra before the tribulation begins.” “There are three resurrections.” “Sunday is the ‘mark of the beast.’” “Aborted babies will not be resurrected.” Along with a whole host of others. With this questioning of authority, it benefited me. It helped develop critical thinking skills, it fostered independence, and it allowed me to properly ‘grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Because of my insistence in questioning the ministers on what they were teaching, they threw me out. Unquestioningly──you must believe whatever they teach.

Among our readers are thousands of others who were unceremoniously thrown out of the Worldwide Church of God, or became disillusioned and left. Be sure to read a Personal… from last year, “Armstrong Religion” ── in which I state unequivocally that The religion of Armstrongism is very much alive! It’s a religion of Satan the Devil! Many of its splinter groups – the hundreds that there are – are what our Lord Jesus has called ‘the Nicolaitans.’ It certainly appears that the ‘little flock’ are those that have come out from among the Nicolaitans.

It's Not Easy to LEAD

So often in life, a person never has the chance to develop leadership qualities. However, as in the case of young Mr. Agee – his older version, played by actor Murray Matheson certainly displayed qualities of a leader, with his smooth manner and upper-class English diction. He seemed to have natural leadership qualities from birth. Sadly, a great many of the youngest in the world who do appear to have leadership qualities will not grow up to benefit mankind. And then a great many won’t even grow up to be a leader at all.

Leadership qualities can be developed. But it must be channeled in the proper direction. Because, like Jesse James, the leader of the James-Younger Gang, leadership can go in nefarious directions. It’s like the youth in this generation, they can either grow up being guided in the proper direction as a real leader or grow up becoming a leader of the BLM! Which is a terror group, and a Marxist movement.

There have been many great leaders throughout history who plunged this world into world wars! Don’t be offended if──like President Donald Trump calling Vladimir Putin a great leader──I call Adolf Hitler a leader. He certainly was a leader. I’m not sure if it had anything to do with his name, however. I heard one comedian on stage say that if Adolf Hitler’s last name was Smith ── he wouldn’t have been the evil and ruthless leader he became. Is there an evil connotation to the name Hitler? In fact, the name Hitler wasn’t even popular back then. The surname Hitler is a variation of Hiedler, a surname applied to those who resided near a Hiedl (“ subterranean river ”). I believe──through the power of Satan the Devil, and through his experiences of the Great War (the war to end all wars) ──he was destined to become the evil and vile leader he became. The MURDERER OF MILLIONS!

To understand real leadership and all that it entails is essential in God’s Master Plan… From the Beginning. We, brethren, are to be learning how to properly lead for the World Tomorrow! We are in training. As I said earlier – While not everyone is a traditional leader, everyone can lead in some way. We all have a responsibility to lead in some way today, and to train tomorrow’s leaders.

A Quality of Great Importance

There is no other greater quality of real leadership than that of Wisdom and Understanding.

There are men and women of dynamic personality, and charisma that assume leadership roles ── but are actually terrible leaders. Such as announcing, “Jesus isn’t the only way!” They aren't real leaders, but only a charade.

Yet, when one thinks of leadership, we most often associate leadership with a good personal appearance, a good voice, a good mind, and a dynamic personality.

Back in ancient Israel, the children of Israel wanted to be like the other nations around them ── they wanted a physical king (1st Samuel 8:5). So, the LORD God allowed them to have a physical king. Saul ── a handsome man, taller than any of the people. But, Saul came to lack the MOST IMPORTANT quality of real leadership ── obedience to the LORD God. Saul lacked faith and confidence in the LORD God. The LORD God had anointed him commander over His inheritance – but in the end, he “did not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD” – 1st Samuel 15:22-23.

Then the LORD God selected David ── a young 16-year-old ruddy bright eyed good-looking adolescent ── a young man after God’s own heart (1st Samuel 16:11-13) ── to be king.

King Solomon (King David’s son) is an excellent example to illustrate the importance of right leadership qualities ── Wisdom and Understanding.

At the beginning of his reign, the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “’ Ask! What shall I give you?’” Certainly, the majority of people placed in this position would ask for wealth, power, or long life. But, King Solomon didn’t ask for any of these ── he asked for an understanding heart to judge God’s people. That he may discern between good and evil.

This was the very answer the Lord GOD was looking for! “The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.” – 1st Samuel 3:5-10.

“Then God said to him: ‘Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12) behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a WISE AND UNDERSTANDING HEART, …’” – vs. 11-12.

So, a great leader has to be able to understand people. Including those brethren, we would consider an enemy. I’ve been praying to the LORD God now for a little over a year for the removal of an evil and vile person from my family’s life. “Why?” I ask Father God and our Lord Jesus, “Have You not removed this vile man from our lives?” Often, the LORD God doesn’t completely remove terrible people from our lives. And I’m not speaking of having him removed by way of death or any such manner──but rather him just “living in a van down by the river.”

Often the LORD God tests us and is teaching us. Allowing us to be in strenuous situations to test and temper our faith ── and then in those moments ── forcing us to learn and hone the qualities of spiritual warfare. The LORD God often uses these moments to get us battle-ready through testing and teaching.

We are explicitly told in the Book of Proverbs, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:7.

Again, in the sermon “Be Strong In the Lord!” I speak of another quality of being a right leader ── courage. Even before conversion, the LORD God was teaching me courage. Here’s one such test. In 2006 while I was sitting at the counter of the El Paso, Texas – the Country Market Restaurant | Flying J Travel Plaza. I noticed one seat down from me had a jacket thrown over the back and a bald-headed man with a Russian accent sitting next to that chair. Not long after I sat down, a young Mexican man (maybe mid-20s) sat down in the seat with the jacket thrown over the back. He and the bald-headed man began talking. The young Mexican man began to “wash his laundry in public” to this other man. How his grandmother and his father had both died on the same day. I half expected him to literally cry on this other man’s shoulder. Then, while I continued sitting there a strong feeling came over me, along with a thought in my mind: “They’re going to soon get up and go off together.” Sure enough, about five minutes later, they both got up together, paid their bills, and walked out the door together. Another thought quickly entered my mind, “Say something to that young Mexican man, and stop him from going off with that other man.” The thought became stronger. I began sweating. I began shaking. I said to myself, “Everyone will think I’m a kook!” I was too scared. Instead, I too got up and paid my bill ── never saying anything to that young Mexican man. They both walked out together.

Courage. The ability to do something that frightens one.

It’s true, that those who lead will make mistakes. But a real leader has to have the ability to put aside any mistakes, learn lessons, and press onward and forward. Henry Ford once said, “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” Or as Albert Einstein said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

Our parents of today should well reflect on properly teaching their children the admiral qualities of courage. Surely everyone at one time or another in life has watched the 1939 Wizard of Oz!? With courage, we are immediately reminded of the Cowardly Lion played by actor Bert Lahr. In the movie, he sang a solo song, “If I Only Had the Nerve.” To be able to step out with faith and do ── and to take correction which comes with making mistakes. Then… upon making a mistake... get up, dust ourselves off… and try again.

Now, perhaps the greatest lesson we can learn from is history. The United States of America became “civilized” in 1865. Since that time we, as Americans, have made countless mistakes. Here are but a few ──

Weird Reports Are Said To Support The Iraq War.

A mistake was made when dictator Saddam Hussein was wrongly charged with involvement with the 9/11 attacks, and having weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). …

The Bush Administration Disregarded Warnings About 9/11.

A lot of people think that the administration had a decent heads-up about the attack. According to rumors, the Bush administration ignored multiple intelligence warnings that said Osama bin Laden was preparing an attack on the country. …

Disregard For Native Rights Under Colonialism. *

The disdain for Native American rights was one of the first and most serious mistakes in American history.

Racist Injustice And Slavery.

The institution of slavery in American history was perhaps the most pervasive and destructive mistake. …

Economic Mismanagement And The Great Depression.

The Great Depression of the 1930s, which resulted from some poor economic decisions, was a pivotal period in American history. 1

In 1905 George Santayana wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Understanding Tomorrow

There is another important quality of real leadership. Vision. Who immediately comes to my mind is ── and even though Charles Babbage was the inventor of the first mechanical computer in 1822 ── I’m thinking of Steve Jobs. And, even though he never showed obedience to the LORD God, he was a leader. A true visionary. The Apple II became one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products in the world.

This world certainly looks bleak at times, but a vision of what could be, coupled with the knowledge and ability to bring the vision to life, helps create a leader of tomorrow. This is especially true with the presidency of the United States of America. As President Ronald Reagan once said, “It might be well to ask yourself: Are you better off than you were four years ago?” Now, we have an incoming leader who has promised us a much better world for all of us. THANK ALMIGHTY GOD we already know what President Donald Trump can do ── because he’s done it before. But it’s not uncommon to hear elected government officials promise something and don’t deliver. Or, the promise of fundamentally transforming America! And then doing so. Remember Barack Obama!?

Real leaders with vision will know that the way will be difficult. That the “road to success” will be NARROW, and will be filled with potholes. But, a real leader with vision will be able to ‘finish the race that is set out before them’ (2 Timothy 4:7) when it gets tough. One who can “see the Light at the end of the tunnel.” Sadly, in this present evil age, REAL LEADERS OF VISION are too few and far between. **

There Has To Be Dependability

A real leader must be dependable. And be consistently dependable.

1st Corinthians 1:9 – “God is faithful [He is reliable, trustworthy and ever true to His promise—He can be depended on] by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

There is nothing more disheartening than a fickle leader. If those who rely on and listen to a leader that is not consistently dependable ── trust is quickly broken.

As a real leader, we should ─ and it has been said, “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.” Also, back in 1934, what the Japanese called “Duck diplomacy” meant that you “float along placidly on the surface, but underneath you are paddling like the dickens with your feet.”

In this 21st-century complex world, it is not always easy to maintain consistent dependability. And to maintain strong moral principles. As in abortion, homosexual rights, labor unions, capitalism, expansionism, transgenderism, war. Most of our readers have strong moral principles and opinions on these subjects.

One real leader from Church history ── and one who should inspire all of us, brethren ── was Polycarp.

A Price to Pay For Consistent Strong Moral Principles

Upon the death of the apostle John, then an old man sometime after AD 98, the churches in Asia Minor came under Polycarp's leadership. This was no easy time in world history to be a Christian. The Roman government had begun persecuting and martyring the Church of God in the days of Emperor Nero (54-68 BC), and the following emperors followed──Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian, and Trajan. Emperor Hadrian, like Trajan, became famous for his wall in northern Britain. Hadrian kept Trajan’s persecutions upon the Church of God in place ── there was no more house-to-house hunting for the brethren, but those who had strong moral principles against the norms of the Roman polytheistic belief system were persecuted and martyred. Polycarp, now an old man well past 80, continued to provide spiritual leadership for the oppressed Church of God.

The Roman senate, during the time of Caesar and Cicero, declared atheism (not believing in the Roman gods) punishable. Even though the Roman senators and knights were veritable atheists ── the senate was therefore really just an assemble of atheists. 2 However, they certainly couldn’t allow declared followers of Jesus of Nazareth, whom the Jews wanted crucified ── and the governor of the Roman province of Judaea obliged to continue.

Followers of our Lord Jesus Christ were often brought before magistrates and commanded to renounce Jesus Christ. In the Book of Revelation chapter 2, written during the time of Emperor Domitian, Christian persecution in Smyrna began to greatly increase, due to the city's strong influence of emperor worship, which at that time was REQUIRED BY LAW and punishable by imprisonment or death. Interestingly, there was a significant community of Jews in Smyrna who not only opposed Christianity but also participated in the imperial cult. So, Christians not only faced persecution from the pagans but Jews as well. Polycarp, who had personally known and had been taught by the apostle John, was martyred in Smyrna at the instigation of Jews in about 156 A.D. 3

As Polycarp was being taken into the arena, a voice came to him from heaven: “Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man!” No one saw who had spoken, but our brothers who were there heard the voice. When the crowd heard that Polycarp had been captured, there was an uproar. The Proconsul asked him whether he was Polycarp. On hearing that he was, he tried to persuade him to apostatize, saying, “Have respect for your old age, swear by the fortune of Caesar. Repent, and say, ‘Down with the Atheists!’” Polycarp looked grimly at the wicked heathen multitude in the stadium, and gesturing towards them, he said, “Down with the Atheists!” “Swear,” urged the Proconsul, “reproach Christ, and I will set you free.” “86 years have I have served Him,” Polycarp declared, “and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” 4

“I have wild animals here,” the Proconsul said. “I will throw you to them if you do not repent.” “Call them,” Polycarp replied. … “If you despise the animals, I will have you burned.” … The crowd collected wood and bundles of sticks from the shops and public baths. The Jews, as usual, were keen to help. …

So they simply bound him with his hands behind him, … [and Polycarp] looked up to heaven, and said, “O Lord God Almighty, the Father of Your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of You, the God of angels, powers and every creature, and of all the righteous who live before You, I give You thanks that You count me worthy to be numbered among Your martyrs, sharing the cup of Christ and the resurrection to eternal life, both of soul and body, through the immortality of the Holy Spirit. May I be received this day as an acceptable sacrifice, as You, the true God, … Amen.”

Then the fire was lit, and the flame blazed furiously. … The fire shaped itself into the form of an arch, like the sail of a ship when filled with the wind, and formed a circle around the body of Polycarp. Eventually, when those wicked men saw that his body could not be consumed by the fire, they commanded an executioner to pierce him with a dagger ── ending the life of one of the great leaders of the Church of God.

Let us brethren, ask the LORD God for wisdom and understanding. Let us grow in courage. Let us learn from our mistakes. Let us continue to look into the future for a better World Tomorrow. And, let us always be consistently dependable.

Choose the path of a leader. A real leader. A leader for the Lord our God. □

* Sadly, I once heard a Worldwide Church of God minister say in a sermon, that Native Americans (in which he called Indians) were to be completely annihilated per God's will. 😢

** I speak of this concept often, especially regarding a two-fold prophecy regarding Genesis 18:22-32. That near the end of this present evil age, there will come a time when the LORD God won't even be able to find ten righteous people within the cities of the nations of Israel.

Bibliography

1) Mamchii, O., 9 Major Mistakes That Created Modern America, Best Diplomats, 10 Jan. 2024.

2) https://history.hanover.edu/texts/voltaire/volathe2.html.

3) Kennedy, T., Ancient Smyrna, Drive Thru History Adventures, 24 Dec. 2018.

4) The Martyrdom of Polycarp. Translated by J.B. Lightfoot. Abridged and modernized by Stephen Tomkins. Edited and prepared for the web by Dan Graves. #103: Polycarp’s Martyrdom, Christian History Institute, Retrieved 17 Jan 2025.

Commentary: Voting & Choosing Are the Same

by Guy C LaMar

When the LORD God (the family of God, which now consists of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) admonishes us to choose wise leaders──that is voting.

Voting and choosing are the exact same thing.

I, myself, am an extremely patriotic Right-wing Christian Conservative.

Yet, too many within our Lord Jesus Christ’s Church have completely disconnected themselves from the very government that leads their own lives!

If the LORD God places leaders in office, then we are to respect those leaders. The LORD God knows what is right and wrong──and They are looking at us as to how we will react to what is right and wrong! Whether it be good or evil that is in office.

Brethren, we are to stand up and stand with what is good and right.

It is truth that we are not to conform to this world as true Christians (Romans 12:2; John 15:19; Revelation 18:4). Meaning that this world is full of hypocrisy, vile, evil, and corruption.

However──that has nothing to do with choosing who we believe is the best leader for our own lives as we live in this nation.

The leaders we choose are going to rule over our lives based on their political policies──and this is why it’s extremely important to choose the correct leader for our lives as we live in this nation.

If, as true Christians, we just let everyone run over us, then we are nothing more than worthless cowards.

In this world, we must fight for what is right and stand up for what is right!

The LORD God desires a strong “good soldier of Jesus Christ” ──not a weak and “do nothing” person.

I personally always believed that the numerous splinter churches have been exceedingly wrong in their doctrine of not voting. This doctrine is not of God’s living word – the Holy Bible! I have heard all the arguments──and I do not agree with one of them. It’s just simply their ideology.

After all, our leaders in this world are going to be the very ones who rule over how we live in this nation. If we, as true Christians, are not going to help choose right leaders──leaders that better reflect God’s Way──then we are just setting ourselves up for additional tribulations.

We have to live in this present evil age (cf. John 17:15). It is not conforming to this world by standing up for what is right.

If we, as true Christians, support and stand by a leader who will allow us freedom──then we are making a bold statement concerning our position to the world.

Sadly, some use certain Scriptural passages to try and prove that Christians should not vote── it is “against God” they claim. Yet, they do not study and observe the absolute historical context of what is actually being said. Thus they make Scripture say something that it does not say.

The LORD God’s living immutable word is full of examples of God’s people standing up for a nation. It is full of examples of God’s people being warriors!

And, Christ’s Body – His living Church – should be a glowing example of how His begotten people conduct themselves in this life. The example is there and this example expounds!

Sadly, there are far too many pusillanimous cowards hiding under the umbrella of so-called Christianity! They are nothing more than weak sniveling cowards.

A great many people have made modern Christianity into a religion of compromising pansies.

Truly, the LORD our God tells us to select wise leaders──

“’ Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.’” – Deuteronomy 1:13.

Surely, the LORD God is watching and observing just who you will support and vote for──or if you do at all. Along with the reasons why you support and vote for that leader. It glaringly shows your personal character.

As an example: I vote in every election──and I vote on a moral basis. Because I am making a bold statement that this is the leader with whom I support and stand──based upon true Christian moral standards. I desire to show the LORD God that I am supporting and choosing a leader that best represents good moral character.

And if the person that I voted for wins──good. And if the person that I voted for loses──then surely the LORD God has Their reasons. After all, God’s will be done – cf. Matthew 6:9-10.

But, the LORD our God notes who we support and who we vote for!

And again, we are not conforming to this world because we vote! That is simply hogswallop, taught by people who simply don’t want to vote!

We, brethren, have to live in this world, and this world’s leaders will have a strong bearing on our lives. Their political policies will rule over our lifestyles. And, if we do not have a hand in choosing the right leaders, then we are just simply allowing evil to take control of our lives──without any effort to fight and stop someone who certainly has no reflection whatsoever of God’s Way.

It's a lot like──a person who was shipwrecked and is now floating in a raft on a turbulent sea. The person is praying to God to send help. A rescue helicopter arrives to pick him up, but he refuses to get on board because he says that he’s waiting on God. The rescue helicopter leaves, and sadly he drowns and dies. At his very next moment of consciousness, he is before the LORD God in judgment──and he asks God, “Why didn’t You save me!?” And God replies, “I tried. I sent you a rescue helicopter──but you refused to board.”

That is how it is when true Christians either refuse or simply will not take the time to choose the right leadership. Our future in this world will be based upon what our leaders politically will allow. If you’re just going to sit around on your hands and do nothing──don’t be surprised when you no longer have the freedom to worship God in assembly (as an example).

Personally, I despise liberalism──and will never be friends with it.

A quick checklist of what the LORD God wants us to do is found in Micah──

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8.

Acting justly means that we live with the proper sense of right and wrong and deal honestly and fairly with those around us. Our Lord Jesus says to us, “’ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.’” – John 7:24. And we walk humbly with our God by always seeking His will, blessing, and approval on our life’s decisions. The LORD God does not become merely a part of our lives──the LORD God is our life! – Galatians 2:20.

THE CHURCH GIVES US THE EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'RE TO CONDUCT OURSELVES IN SOCIETY! □

'Least in the KINGDOM FROM HEAVEN'

Acropolis - Pergamon - Turkey. The ruins of the "Great Altar" were probably dedicated to Zeus and Athena. The Apostle John wrote the third letter in the Book of Revealing to the Church of God that was in this once-flourishing city - Pergamos.

by Leonard V Johnson

In prayer, I was asking our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus about a person that I know── a man that does have great knowledge in the living word of God; who is a marvelous teacher of the glorious New Covenant of our Lord Jesus── a man that I love. Yet, is narcissistic and is slipping in many areas concerning the precepts of the LORD God, and the fruits of God’s Spirit are beginning to wane in their illumination. “What,” I asked our Lord Jesus, “will become of him?” As soon as I asked this question – the Spirit reminded me of our Lord Jesus’ words – “’ Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom [from] heaven; …’” – Matthew 5:19.

Last July I did a sermon entitled “You Were Born To Rule!” There is a second part also. And often, brethren, we are allowed to be placed in situations with people── because we need to learn how to handle the situation the LORD God’s Way ── like a future ruler would. I’d like to expound in this article why.

Have you ever thought about what your job or position might be in the glorious kingdom of God? About what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ── the King of kings and the Lord of lords── will have you be doing in His Millennial Reign!? And, how you must qualify for that responsibility?

First and foremost let me say that salvation is a gift from the LORD God── it is a free gift and we can never earn it.

But you can lose it.

As I spoke directly to this man who does have great biblical knowledge recently in a sermon, I said, “You speak of others who grieve the Holy Spirit. Please look at yourself in the mirror, my dear brother! Adhering to the LORD God’s commands, precepts, and teachings is extremely important!” And they are indeed!

So, since eternal salvation is something you can lose, then logically the LORD God has set rules and laws, as well as conditions, that we must adhere to to receive the glorious gift of eternal salvation. Do you know what those rules, laws, and conditions are?

Unfortunately, I mentioned this not long ago when I was speaking about the Nicolaitans, and how it became apparent to me that “the Nicolaitans were the greater Body of Christ that actually was disbanded from our Lord Jesus Christ’s “little flock.” That in fact there was (and are) a great many people being thrust out of the Body of Christ. Our Lord Jesus says of those who perish – “’ … from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30) And cast the UNPROFITABLE SERVANT into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” – Matthew 25:29-30.

What is this ‘outer darkness’ that our Lord Jesus is speaking? In an ethical sense – people thus face a choice of whether to yield allegiance to the LORD God OR TO DARKNESS, meaning ignorance, of the LORD God and of God’s Way.

We need to ask ourselves── what made this servant unprofitable? Wherein had this servant failed?

The very answer begins in verse 21 – “’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” And He repeats it in verse 23.

The unprofitable servant was not faithful in carrying out the few duties that were given to him in this life. He had not learned to master his human nature, had not learned how to properly treat others – like a future ruler would – even though he knew better!

Truly, all the unprofitable servant will be able to say to his Lord is, “Lord, I knew You to be a hard Man, reaping where You have not sown, and gathering where You have not scattered seed. And I was afraid and went and hid Your talent in the ground. Look, there You have what is Yours!’ – see verses 24-25.

In other words, the unprofitable servant might think that it is profitable for him to try and proselytize or spiritually influence a young man that in fact the LORD God isn’t even calling out of this present evil age yet. Becoming obsessed and fixated on this one idea.

This unprofitable servant ── as an example ── might be narcissistic. And he lives with an inflated sense of self-importance and an insatiable drive to be liked and to be at the center of attention. Satan will capitalize on these traits and tempt him to compromise his morals and values. This unprofitable servant became careless about his responsibilities as being an ambassador for Christ ── above reproach. And sadly, this unprofitable servant will be judged – “’ You wicked and lazy servant, …’” – vs. 26.

Different Levels of Responsibility

Just like the responsibilities we hold today within the Body of Christ ── as in “He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” we don’t all hold the same rule or authority. There will be different levels of responsibilities in the kingdom of God. As an example: we will not be rulers of the tribes of Israel (Revelation 21:12), this rulership will go to “the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (See also Matthew 19:28). We will not be the ruler of the reunified House of Israel, that will be the resurrected King David (Jeremiah 30:9). We will not all have the same office. We will not all face the same duties.

Have you considered that our Lord Jesus Christ is speaking to HIS CHURCH – He is speaking to you, brethren!?

Let us notice briefly the letters our Lord Jesus wrote to His Church ── through His servant John ── in the 2nd and 3rd chapters of the Book of Revelation. And, notice at the end of each of the seven churches there is a definite promise for the whole of the Body of Christ.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is saying here, in this Book of prophecy – the Book of Revelation is a Book of prophecy – Notice verse 1 of chapter 1: “The Revelation [the unveiling] of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place.” – talking about the end-time! The Book of Revelation is a Book which was only to be understood in the end-time. And now that we’re in, or rather near, the end-time, it’s starting to be understood. And chapters 2 & 3 – although He’s talking about an earlier group of people, the former. It’s also a prophecy about the latter. About the latter days. This is an end-time prophecy.

Let’s go through them –

“’ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. …’” – now the LORD God said to the prophet Ezekiel, ‘those that will hear, let them hear, and those that refuse let them refuse.’ Once again, we see that principle. “ … ‘To him who OVERCOMES I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.’” – Revelation 2:7.

He talks about another group, Smyrna, verse 10 – “’ Do no fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to THROW SOME OF YOU INTO PRISON, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days [years], BE FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH, and I will give you the crown of life. 11) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who OVERCOMES shall not be hurt by the second death.’”

In verse 12 He begins speaking to another group ── Pergamos. “ …’ These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword …’” – that’s the very words of Jesus Christ! “’ I know your works [‘I know what you’ve gone through, I know what I have assigned you to be doing in this lifetime’], and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. …’” – in other words, our Lord Jesus knows that His servants dwell on the Earth (where Satan’s throne is) !

“ … ‘And you hold fast to My name [‘you’ve not denied My name’], and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.’”

Our Lord Jesus is saying, in essence, ‘I acknowledge and understand that you ── My faithful servants ── are having to live in a world that is falling apart! You’re in a tough place to be called Christian,’ however … “…’ I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, …’”

And Balaam, to make a long story short, it’s the concept of covetousness or greediness. He is saying, ‘There are some among you that are greedy!’

Verse 15 – again, dictatorial power over the laity! Well, look up the word Nicolaitans, in your Bible study help’s. Wycliffe Bible Dictionary on the name NICOLAS states, “The name, meaning ‘conqueror of the people.’”

It says in Verse 16 – “ ’Repent, [CHANGE - get out of there while you still can] or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.’” – again, He will fight against those unprofitable servants with His very words!

Please let this sink in, brethren!

Verse 17 – “’ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit [is attempting to say] to the churches. …’”

Verse 18 talks about another church group ── Thyatira. “ … ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass …’” – turn back to the first chapter, and you see more of how He’s described.

He says in Verse 19 – “’ I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.’”

In other words, with some of His servants ── they have more patience, faith, and service, than love.

“’ Nevertheless,’” Verse 20 – “…’ I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.’”

Verse 21 – “…’ And I gave her time to repent …’” – ‘I gave her a chance to change.’ “…’ of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.’” – ‘she wouldn’t change her ways.’

Verse 22 – “’ Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, …’” – remember, the word adultery, in the Bible – adultery, whoredom, whoring around – if you look at the whole context, 90-95% of the time it’s not talking about physical sexual practices against the Way of God, most of the time, it’s referring to spiritual adultery. The worship of false gods and goddesses.

Chapter 3:1 – “’ And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has seven Spirits of God and the seven stars …’” – meaning the seven angels looking after those churches. “…’ I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.’” – spiritually dead.

Verse 2 – “’ Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, …’” – strengthen whatever capacity God’s Spirit to be within you. “…’ that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.’”

Verse 3 – “’ Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.’”

Sadly, it has come to my understanding that this man who does have great knowledge of the living word of God; who is a marvelous teacher of the glorious New Covenant of our Lord Jesus, that every chance he gets he degrades and verbally berates the Church leaders from whom he originally ‘received and heard’! And just as sad ── he does not accept criticism, even when it is constructive and well-intentioned. He becomes defensive, reacts angrily, and refuses to accept any blame.

Verse 5 – “’ He who OVERCOMES shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.’”

He talks about another group ── Philadelphia. “ … ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true,’ ‘He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.’” – the key of David refers to Jesus Christ and His authority over His kingdom!

Verse 8 – “’ I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.’”

We are a group that has not denied His name! And we have but a little strength, a pretty small group, but we have kept HIS WORD!

Verse 12 – “’ He who OVERCOMES, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, …’” – like an integral part of the internal leadership of the Kingdom of God. “…’ and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven …’”

And then we come to Laodicea. “… ’These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:’”

Verse 15 – “’ I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.’” – it would be easier for Jesus to know what to do with you.

Verse 16 – “’ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit [‘I will spew you, I will reject you from My face!’] you out of My mouth.’”

Verse 21 – “’ To him who OVERCOMES I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.’”

And the last part of this WARNING!

Verse 22 – “’ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the [members of the churches of God].’”

Let us notice that the only ones who have the right to these promises are OVERCOMERS! Those who through the glorious power of God, overcome themselves, overcome this world, and overcome the temptations of wicked spirits in high places.

‘A kingdom of kings and priests to our God’

Our Lord Jesus’ parable in Luke 19 is certainly dual. The “ten servants” represent the TEN TRIBES OF ISRAEL. The “citizens” here represent the HOUSE OF JUDAH – who expressly repudiated our Lord Jesus’ announcement and said, ‘We have no king but Caesar’ – John 19:15. But, this parable has a dual meaning ── true Christians are also now bondservants of our Lord Jesus. Some OVERCOME some things – and others OVERCOME many things. Some develop their spiritual gifts more than others. So, in our Lord Jesus’ Millennial Rule, some will be given rule over many cities, while others will have qualified to rule only over a few – or perhaps only one.

Who exactly will rule over the cities in the Millennium? It will not be His prophets or the apostles. And it won’t be the 144,000. The answer is plain.

The responsibility to guide, control, and develop cities on earth during the Millennium will be those who have not been called to other duties. The glorious responsibility ── the office ── will be open to all those who OVERCOME!

Some of us, brethren, will have grown spiritually (even unto death) immensely ── learning how to properly rule God’s Way. Some us not so much. IT DEPENDS ON YOU! It depends on whether you are willing to let the LORD God make you ‘into His image and likeness’ – or whether you are a ‘wicked and lazy servant’ – and you resist His corrections.

Truly, not every disciple called became an apostle and was an OVERCOMER ── Judas Iscariot departed from the faith. And, sadly, not every one of us will succeed. Yet, the LORD God’s promises stand firm. We CAN ── if we OVERCOME ── stand together in the glorious Kingdom of God! □

The Nicolaitans

Nicolaitans. Our Lord Jesus Christ says to the Church of God – a church group at that time in Ephesus (a city that was in Ancient Greece on the coast of Ionia, just southwest of present-day Selçuk in İzmir Province, Turkey) –

“’ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent [change] and do the first works [go back to the way you use to be], or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place──unless you repent.’” – Revelation 2:5.

‘Remove your lampstand’ – means you will simply cease to be a representative of our Lord Jesus Christ. And, many have asked, “Well, would the LORD God take a church group and disband it!?” Strike it down? Well, we certainly know of a church group that the LORD God allowed to be highly influenced by Satan the Devil and eventually disbanded! The Worldwide Church of God. Indeed, Worldwide at the ‘first works’ was blessed by the LORD God, it flourished for a long time. But eventually, its leaders began to think of themselves as being MORE IMPORTANT than JESUS CHRIST! Its leaders became fascinated with power and control. The Worldwide Church of God had its lampstand yanked out from under it and thrown away!

A great many people have said over the years, “Satan destroyed the Worldwide Church of God!” No, Satan could not touch Worldwide if the LORD God had not allowed him to. Our Lord Jesus Christ had enough of Worldwide’s hubris, arrogance, haughtier-than-Thou attitude, self-righteousness, self-lining of pockets, and the positioning of power!

Our Lord Jesus went on to say, “’ But this you have, …’” – speaking to His “little flock,” His sheep, those who hear His voice and His calling. “ … ‘that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.’” – vs. 6.

Who were the Nicolaitans? Biblical scholars the world over have pondered just who were the Nicolaitans. Many have always imagined that they were a small sect that disbanded from the great worldly Body of Christ. But, rather the Nicolaitanes were the greater Body of Christ that actually was disbanded from our Lord Jesus Christ’s “little flock.”

Let us remember that the Book of Revelation is a Book of prophecy.

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God [God the Father] gave Him to show His servants ──things which must shortly take place.” – Revelation 1:1.

The word Nicolaitans comes from two Greek words – the first part Nicoli or Nicolas means “to rule with authority or power.” The other word is laitans, and this is the same root of the word laity. The word laity means your everyday regular mom-and-pop church people.

So, ‘the deeds of the Nicolaitanes’ are those people who rule with an iron fist with great authority and power, and often with cruelty, over the regular mom-and-pop church people – the laity. And THIS TOOK PLACE within the Worldwide Church of God, and it continues to take place within the many splinter groups of Worldwide!

As we have said over and over – if the LORD God says something more than once, it’s well worth paying attention to. In the living word of God – the Holy Bible – when you see something repeated, you should realize that the LORD God is trying to wake you up and to understand that this thing that is being said IS VERY IMPORTANT! “’ But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.’”

There is no ambiguity in what He is saying. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The Prophet Ezekiel also wrote that our LORD God hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans – the shepherds of Israel (Ezekiel 34:1-11).

I know firsthand many of the despicable characters that were in the leadership of the Worldwide Church of God. And judgment from the LORD God eventually rained down upon the “greater Body of Christ.” The descendants that have flowed from Worldwide (and I wrote up not long ago a Personal From… entitled “Armstrong Religion” in which I speak of this very thing! – you can also listen to the audio version of this article), in that article I call this disbanded “greater Body of Christ” the Church of Armstrong.

Even today – because these churches of Armstrong, basically, do not grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - and are of the same lost flock that is but 'lukewarm'; and one group in particular DOES NOT even acknowledge or speak His great and holy name! – these splinter groups continue to be woefully ignorant of the great meaning of the Day of Atonement. They continue to waste their time talking about, “Well, we must be at-one-ment with God!”

As Minister Michael C. Garrett has often spoken about – the fact that you can take the English word Atonement and divide it up is just a sheer coincidence. The word basically means, “to be reconciled.”

“’ For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.’” – Luke 21:22.

Meaning – all the prophecies may be fulfilled. And we are certainly at the edge of that time.

Our Lord Jesus tells His servants to ‘be the servant, not the master.’ And this has not changed since our Lord Jesus spoke those words! But sadly, in the minds of the leaders of the churches of Armstrong with their various titles, they become drunk with power and with their own self-importance.

Returning again to what our LORD God said to the Prophet Ezekiel – the ‘watchman’ who had a great end-time job. The Watchmen of Revelation 11 – in which in all probability there will be twelve witnesses in the beginning – will carry an end-time gospel message (cf. Matthew 24:14) to the disbanded and now subjugated “greater Body of Christ” – to our Lord Jesus’ ‘lost sheep.’ And, ultimately the last two remaining Witnesses will carry an end-time gospel message lasting 3 ½ years in Jerusalem – to the Gentiles who “tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.” Along with an end-time gospel message to the god of the earth, the end-time ‘beast’ and ‘false prophet’!

One of our great commissions is to ‘go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ We also believe that our Lord Jesus’ phrase, ‘lost sheep,’ as in ‘feed My sheep,’ is not only the physical people of the children of Israel – meaning, the foundational peoples of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations – meaning 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire from which they developed – but in an even more spiritual sense, more heightened, and even more important sense, we believe our Lord Jesus Christ might well have been saying, “Go to the greater Body of Christ – My lost sheep. Go to those who believe they are in a good organization, those who want to show faithfulness to the Armstrongs but don’t realize their leaders are corrupt and are dying.”

We believe strongly – this has a double meaning!

But, they persecute us. They attack us. In an article entitled, “You’re Not Welcome Here!” I speak of this very thing! You can also listen to this article.

Notice Ezekiel chapter 3 –

Verse 25 – “’ And you, O son of man, surely they will put ropes on you and bind you with them, so that you cannot go out among them.’”

They not only persecuted the Prophet Ezekiel – but they continue to persecute anyone who tries to correct them. Our Lord Jesus spoke concerning the same people (the end-time teachers of the living Word of God, Truth of God, and the Plan of God, ‘they’re going to persecute you!’). Eventually, the LORD God will be through trying to reach them. He has been sending His ‘witnesses’ unto them, but they have turned away every time!

Verse 27 – “’ But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ He [or she] who hears, let him hear; and he [or she] who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.’”

My brethren, you are living bound up, worshiping the Old Covenant and the principles of the Old Covenant. LOOK TO JESUS! Are you preparing to rule with Christ, or are you preparing to rule with Moses? – the Armstrongs!? They hated this message so much that the ‘witness’ was persecuted and thrown out of a splinter group of an Armstrong church! LOOK TO THE NEW COVENANT – look to Jesus! Look to our great High Priest, look to the glorious promises of the New Covenant – and you must sever this attraction of “wanting to be Jewish, or Jewish-like!”

The LORD God is telling us in this ‘beginning of sorrows’ – “’ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches [the Church of Jesus Christ]. To him who overcomes [those who overcomes the Nicolaitans] I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.’” – Revelation 2:7. □

Commentary: A Need For Strong Leadersip

by Guy LaMar

I’ve been watching a few messages from various church groups splintered from the Church of God.

And, this is just my personal observation.

I am not too keen on what I am seeing from some.

There are a few of the groups within these same organizations that do have some good strong ministers, and also a few with some weak ministers.

The older ministers appear more strong while the younger ministers appear more liberal.

Some appear too spooked in saying anything that may offend.

Now, I’ll let you know something about me – I DO NOT like weakness. In fact, I frankly HATE it!

And, I’m not talking about being mean here. I’m talking about not standing against what is clearly WRONG!

There are too many people walking around with very fragile feelings.

Leaders in the churches are trying to cater to the more spoiled. I DO NOT like this.

I raised my sons with strict sternness. I NEVER gave them a 2nd warning.

And they turned out just fine and dandy. No matter what – they have always shown me respect.

And to this day I still offer my guidance. They may not always agree with it, but they listen and grant that respect.

If they don’t agree then that just proves that they have a lot more growing to do … hahaha! 😆

But seriously, the point is, some of the churches need to tighten up their belts and STOP being so weak!

Brethren, I can clearly see various Church of God groups falling into a trap of liberalism.

And this problem begins at the top – with the church leadership.

Without giving out any names, I can certainly think of FOUR groups where the church leadership is failing terribly by catering to the spoiled. And, I can think of TWO groups who are like a Cult of Idolatry because of their leadership.

One group comes to mind where the church “head honcho” just loves to brag himself up as an important figure to where he is the “main” guy among this world’s population! And then there’s another group in which its leader speaks more about himself than anything else!

And, I can think of another group that has literally wrapped everything around Right-Wing political views. And they actually believe they are God’s Church! It’s truly insane!

There are TWO groups that come to mind who have very grounded leadership guiding them. The elders of these groups stay very close to the “Trunk of the Tree” – the spiritual tree.

Through the years I have spoken to many within various churches of God and it’s actually becoming much harder to find a more balanced group.

There are also some groups that embrace Hebrew names and believe that they are being righteous for doing so.

Brethren, these so-called “sacred name” groups NEED to block me, I am not going to help promote you. They are people who get off on these crazy calendars or make them up each year. They need not be here! The Independent Christian Church of God and our affiliated churches will not agree with them!

Oh my, how there are so many groups out there completely off course!

Brethren, we NEED to get back to the SOUND and STRONG footing of the living Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God!

We NEED to stay in the living word of God – the Holy Bible – on matters that matter!

Not political junk that comes and goes.

Not the spewing of hatred concerning political leaders.

Not whinny storytellers who only self-glorify.

We NEED strong solid good leadership with common sense and intellectual thinking.

For crying out loud, since the ministry is led by men, the men NEED to be STRONGER and more STERN in making sure that the living truth of God stays solid!

When a person comes into a church and begins to try and get their own agenda going, then that is when the leadership's foot needs to be implemented to that person's derrière!

These fluffy churches which are all dramatic and like to get all showy, they are all based upon taking out intellectual reasoning and replacing it with a bunch of fluffy gobbledygook! □

Additional Commentaries and Items:

Some Food For Thought - If America crumbles from within then there is no defense against other lands from invading the United States because of the super dissension among her people due to the great flood of a disagreeing melting pot of such a huge population of hyphenated people. [...]

Conspiracy Theories - the largest findings in this area are the politically-based forms of conspiracies. [...]

Women in the Church - As we go along in this journey towards the end of this age we are seeing more and more a great weakness within the Church of God. [...]

Many Convincing Proofs - Friends, no one would become a true martyr to what they know to be false! [...]

'Blow the Trumpet'! -  God had given the prophet Jeremiah a specific task that came with his calling. [...]

There Is A Generation - Sometimes there are people who take an initiative, even if it’s a little embarrassing, to prevent something even more embarrassing or even dangerous from occurring. But then, there are those people who try and keep quiet and try not to make waves.

'Why Should You Die, O House of Israel?' - for the past few months, I have been posting dire warnings – not just for America, but also for the little nation in the Middle East known as Israel. [...]