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Page 1: churchofgodworldwide.comchurchofgodworldwide.com/...No.2-JAN-FEB...THE-END …  · Web view2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, ... 2Th 2:2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind,

GOD'S CHURCHThe Very Elect

‘DECLARING THE END FROM THE

BEGINNING’______________________________________________ Vol.1 No. 2 A BI - MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Jan/Feb 2017___________________________________________________________________________________

IS THERE A ‘REMNANT’ ?

Greetings Brethren, In the very 1st issue of this newsletter last time, God’s Church began again to remind God’s people of the awesome significance of what we as called out members of the Body of Christ had received, when God began to proclaim the Gospel no-one knew in the 20th Century!

The very fact that the flocks have been scattered is a testament to how unimportant many have regarded this miracle, and significantly, have fulfilled The Word of God in many of the prophecies, new and old testament, of this major event.

What was that major event that they, we, all knew, and astoundingly, some are still in denial of?

The ‘falling away’ of II Thessalonians 2:3. To get the context, we have to read the previous verses, which foretell of this time just prior to the return of Jesus Christ, giving us the timeframe of that event, and what was ‘it’ foretelling?

That Christ would not return, except there come a falling away first!

This very prophecy points to the fact that a falling away will inevitably create a remnant! What remnant? The remnant Paul prophesied was in existence at that time, which God told Elijah there was in his time also.Then also there is a remnant according to the election of grace now as it was formerly. Paul did not specifically state seven thousand, but that is the number God mentioned during Elijah’s time, and if then, perhaps now too. Also, a very important part of the prophecy in II Thess.2:3 is read over as ‘the-one’ who caused the falling away, but with most prophecies, there is almost always duality. In this prophecy ‘the man of sin’ being ‘revealed’ as the or ‘a’ son of perdition, (destruction) in reality, reveals more than just the one whom many “think” caused it, because the causes were many!

Let’s read the warnings there and then further examine this powerful set of prophetic warnings, given by God via His apostle to the Gentiles.

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2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2Th 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Verse one immediately sets the chronology as the time near the end, as those of God’s people who are “gathering together unto Him”, just as the end of verse two again hits on this same situation, “the day of Christ is at hand”. (Very close!)

Without question however, is the fact that for each and every called member of the body of Christ, ‘that-day’ means every day of our life means ‘that-day’ is closer, and crucially, whether He returns whether we are alive or not, means we have only our lifetime to make sure our calling and election as the apostle Peter said in 2Pet.1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Likewise, Peter also said in 1Pet.4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1Pet.4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Additionally, the warning ‘not to be soon shaken in spirit’, in verse two of II Thess.2 became one of many teachings the people of God clearly ignored, many, most having returned to their former lives, others “thinking” they are “keeping the faith”, .

So, what has changed? Has human-nature suddenly become different? No brethren, very little changes where it concerns mankind, and God’s Truth, and those that obey it have always been under attack by the merciless enemies of the Living God, as led by the ruler of this world, and his wicked Spirits in high places. (Eph.6) But we all must make choices, and those who ‘halt’ in their growth as babes in the womb of the church have been, and will continue to be cast out, as is evidenced in the type of an aborted foetus.

What verse three in II Thess.2 reveals is deeply disturbing, considering the facts already enumerated herein, but now take further the fact that it wasn’t only the one by whom many think this all came about, the destroyer of doctrines, the man of perdition, but amazingly, those who were completely blown away by the deception, and really, the testing of their faith.

Whether the seed sown was to bring forth fruit through ‘good soil’, or whither when trials came in the “heat of the day”. Luke.8:5-15. Without tests, how shall we prove to God our unswerving love for Him and His truth?

What has been proven is that many did not build their foundation right, but on sand rather than on Christ, the only and sure Stone! Eph.2:20

Paul continually encouraged the brethren, as did all the apostles and servants of our God that trials would come to test them, even saying that we MUST through much tribulation, enter the kingdom of God. Acts.14:22

See also I Thess.3:3; Act_2:25, Act_20:24, Act_21:13; Rom_5:3; 1Co_15:58; Eph_3:13; Phi_1:28; Col_1:23; 2Th_1:4; 2Ti_1:8; 1Pe_4:12-14; Rev_2:10; Mat_10:16-18, Mat_24:9-

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10; Luk_21:12; Joh_15:19-21, Joh_16:2, Joh_16:33; Act_9:16; Act_14:22, Act_20:23, Act_21:11, Act_21:13; Rom_8:35-37; 1Co_4:9; 2Ti_3:11-12; 1Pe_2:21, 1Pe_4:12

All those who did not solidly built on the right foundation became lost, antagonistic to the truth, and through the Apostasy became sons of perdition! Even many since the 1980’s have gone away backwards, primarily in the spiritual sense, but also physically, because the scattering, and the flocks have not been able to see that many, if not most of the “leaders” of their respective flocks have also proved they too were not prepared to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, but have halted in their learning, a process they know God will not accept, but they continue on blindly, leading their people into a great ditch. Matt.15:9-14.

With the flocks, unfortunately, they like dumb sheep tend to follow the main herd, instead being prepared to step out in faith, look for the truth and faithful ministers, they prefer to be easy path.

The scattering has obviously sifted and sorted the flocks, and the confusion is of Satan, the ruler of this world, who is being allowed to do so among the people. With the confusion another aspect being serial backbiters and disputers of God’s truth, who are too blinded to see, and or deaf to hear!

Many will reject this assessment, but truth as they say, is stranger than fiction. And the truth is that the ministry refuse to accept the truth that their annual Sabbath observations are in error. That’s fact #1.

The reason is that that is what they were taught by the church, especially through Herman Heogh, who (he apparently attended a Jewish university.) taught the church to follow Judaism, (which was not the religion of God via Moses) & human traditions!!

Now they refuse to accept that they are playing a part in the scattering, because they either cannot see their part, or have become too hardened to the truth to accept it.

Fact #2. During the WCG heyday, the ministry preached that the people must be prepared to forsake all things for Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God, including their jobs, if they were expected to compromise God’s commanded 7th-day Sabbath, but today, they the ministry, refuse to forsake their erroneous annual Sabbaths, because they know the people will leave, and they will have no salary! Of course, they wouldn’t admit this, and rest their “beliefs” on the Jews, over God, and in the process substitute the commands of God by their customs, as they blindly follow the Jews, when Christ clearly condemned this flawed practise in Matt.15:9.

Little wonder, God said in Mal.2:8-9 that Israel had treacherously departed out of the way, while causing many to stumble at the Law, and corrupted the covenant of Levi, and as a result, had been partial in the Law.

Further to this, God said they, Judah, had dealt treacherously who had profaned the holiness of The LORD, and had married the daughter of a strange god, warning them, that all who did this would be cut off, the master, (minister) and the scholar, (highly or university educated perhaps.) and be put out of the “tabernacles” of Jacob, including him that offers an offering to God. See Mal.2:12.

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Paul, a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, encouraged and charged Titus to warn, convict and convince the gainsayers, the unruly, the vain talkers and deceivers, especially of the Jews, to stop their mouths, and rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables that turn form the truth! Tit.1:9-14;

As stated previously, some are still in denial of this falling away, even though the scattering is as plain as the nose on their face, yet they cannot see it, or simply refuse to accept the plain truth.

This, the leaders of Judaism did to Christ and His disciples at that time. Just as their “religious” leaders of blind followers did to the prophets, murdering them, whilst garnishing their grave stones! As such, The Lord completely condemned them, cut off their Priesthood, replaced it with the New Testament Priesthood, under the ever-living High Priest, Melchizedec, who enjoined His sanctified ones through His supreme sacrifice, enabling the few to enter that within the veil, which could not be achieved through the Old covenant system, which the Jews today, and the churches of God mostly still blindly follow.

See Matt.23:27-35; Mat 27:51; Heb.10:19-22;

On the flipside, many DO believe this applied to the falling away in the Worldwide Church of God, and spiritual devastation that has been evolving ever since has sadly laid waste to many. But those spiritually strong enough have come through this great trial in varying degrees of “success”, the remnant according to the election of grace, have remained steadfast in The Faith of Jesus Christ.

This is only part of the background to the heading of this edition of the newsletter, and hopefully, we will all be encouraged as we examine this situation through the prism of God’s truth, because these aspects are important in the broader spiritual framework of today’s spiritually degraded churches.

To what am I referring? The love of God’s Truth!! This has always been a major hurdle for God’s people, because after a period of time, human beings more often than not lose that first glow and love of God’s Truth, and go back to their own lives, thinking or believing perhaps baptism was all they needed, and then begin to become spiritually lukewarm and lose the urgency and the appreciation of the tremendous gift they first received!

This condition was evident in the very first era of God’s church and Christ rebuked them for it, saying;

Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

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Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Back in II Thessalonians. 2:10 we see a similar theme repeated;

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

In today’s spiritually scattered conditions for God’s Church, there is little to take courage from in all that we see, but the fact that the Gospel of the coming kingdom was proclaimed By The LORD and His servants means it will come, and therefore God’s people must now begin to step out of whatever constraints that are preventing them from spiritually entering their incredible God potential, with all that the great God has spoken by all His holy prophets since the world began.

This is very important, because the ‘church’ have been sorted into separate groups all calling themselves church of God this, and church of God that, but the elephant in the room with all of these flocks, is that they can’t ALL be right, but they can ALL be WRONG!

Why? Because God says there is ONE-body, not many, one-faith, not many, one-baptism, not many! When will the ‘leaders’ of the churches wake up to this, and strive to follow and obey The Word of God?

If all the leaders and flocks were unified in following The Word of God, there would be no separation, no scattering, and NO Apostasy! But the fact that it was prophesied to materialize, tells us it had to happen, and that God is in total control.

However we cut and dice this horrific scattering, God foretold that this would happen in the first instance with His own chosen people whom He knew would depart from His Word in Deuteronomy chapter 4.

Deu 4:26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.

Deu 4:27 And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

The results of this departure were about as destructive as they could possibly be, and for all their scattering, Israel still refuse to hear and obey right up to the present time. This ushered in the opportunity for the Gentiles as “spiritual Israel”, because being physically circumcised could not convert anyone, and the references in Ex.12:48-49 were made spiritual in Rom.2:28-29.

Rom 2:28-29. For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is

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that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Relative to unity and the ONE-body, One-Faith, One-baptism, One-hope of your Calling, take for example what God instructed the church to walk worthy of their calling in all lowliness, and meekness, forbearing one another on love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace… (Eph.4:1-3). .only a small remnant today are striving to do this, even though they, we are being rejected. We do not reject them, but they reject us.

TODAY’S WILDERNESS, SPIRITUAL

ALL of the churches of God are saying they are the only ones, and castigating everyone else that is not in their particular ‘fellowship’ as lost at least to the coming time of the Great tribulation! Matt.24:20-22.

I have been told of this from organisations where they condemn all others outside their organisation. If anyone can tell me how that fulfils Eph.4:1-3. I would like to hear from them.

Solomon wrote in the proverbs contrary to the vanity of man’s way, and said the following in Prov.20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

The overriding theme running through every one of these organisations is that they refuse to accept they could be wrong, refuse to hear anyone else, and therefore are diametrically opposite to The Word of God, not just in Eph.4: but also Eph_5:30; Rom_12:4-5; 1Co_10:17, 1Co_12:12-13, 1Co_12:20; Col_3:15 Eph_2:18, Eph_2:22;

Tit_1:2;

Now paint the picture in your minds about another common theme way back in the book of I Samuel. Chapter 8.

What happened in this particular situation, some 100-1100 BC? Let’s read some of the account.

1Sa 8:4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

1Sa 8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

1Sa 8:6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

The background and excuse Israel made for this departure from wanting a man of God rule over them, as Samuels sons who were corrupt before all Israel.

The real reason is much more akin to man’s nature as God told Samuel.

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1Sa 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

1Sa 8:8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

These verses pinpoint man’s desire to be like the world around them, which God knew, having separated them from the pagan nations around them, and still they continually rebelled.

David, The LORD’S anointed said in Psa_78:55-57 . He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:

But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

In today’s spiritual chaos, “spiritual Israel” have also dealt unfaithfully with the greatest blessings the human mind can come to know, The Gift Of God’s Holy Spirit, and have departed into anarchy and division, and the current, Spiritual Wilderness!

To summarize, all of this tells us a number of things;

A. History has repeated itself, 1st type, physical Israel’s rebellion. 2nd type, spiritual Israel’s rebellion.

B. What remains is, a faithful remnant.

THE WILDERNESS YEARS

After the churches implosion, what remained were many people trying to follow different men whom they thought looked good, but, as time proves all men, so have many, not all, but many proven to be blind guides, leading the blind further into spiritual confusion, where they have at least at this time, fallen into the proverbial ditch!

Most, if not all will deny and immediately reject this. But I am not here to argue with them, but to simply tell them the truth, whether accepted or not, that there is also at this time a remnant according to the election of Grace, the few, those persecuted for holding fast the faith once delivered unto the saints, (Jude 3.) Those small, persecuted, rejected, holding fast the faith through separation and trials, many, not focused on riches, nor the ease and comfort the “rich” churches are all too often fixated upon, even though The LORD has shown the ministry that they are to be examples unto the flock, be ready to teach, willing, not for filthy lucre’s sake. See 1Pet.5:2; 1Tim.3:8; Tit.1:7

A purpose of God in this scattering has been to reveal His elect, those willing to truly forsake error over truth because of their love for God, His Son, and The Word of their salvation. How important this has become today under the conditions in which those who are living through them, is important, because, as God points out what trials and great difficulties can and do achieve for those who rise out of them.

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Take for example, Heb_12:27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

As pointed out earlier, those saying we are the only ones are obviously not the only ones, because those who are God’s faithful elect ones today are not spouting off about themselves, but striving to help God’s people see what is lacking, what they cannot yet see, what we must be getting ready for with all fear and haste before God.

The love and concern we are to have for all of God’s people, whether we are castigated by them or not, must remain. But, we must never compromise with God’s Word just for the sake of fellowship, never, but if history is anything to go by, ancient Israel had their wilderness test for forty years, then how long shall “spiritual” Israel have theirs? That’s a good question, as they say, and one we hope to learn without having to undergo the same disciplinary actions, as God told them via Moses in Deut.8:2-5;

And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

THE TRUE CHURCH NOT AN ORGANISATION!

The churches in this last era appear to have become so blinded in their “thinking”, they cannot even see that the ‘remnant’ are those faithful brethren scattered all over the world from every different nation that now form the true body of the Living Christ, not any organisation calling itself Church of God and preaching their church is the only one doing “a work”, or sending out more literature than anyone else, a statement repeated in revolting ad nauseam!

You all remember the warnings Christ gave about the time of the end, in for example, Dan.12:1-10; Zech.13:7-9. Dan.11:33, 35; Jas_1:12; 1Pe_1:7; Trials are headed straight at the churches, because they refuse to accept God’s corrections, His chastening. But some will be allowed to endure the coming great tribulation, the time of Jacobs trouble. Matt.24:29-31; Jer.30:7 in order that those who have not completely corrupted themselves be saved!

Re-read these warnings and prophecies, in the context of this narrative, and thereby hopefully see that God’s little flock though scattered at this time, and under test, must return to their first love, stop believing men, believe God, and PROVE ALL THINGS! I Thess.5:21.

HOW CAN YOU HAVE A PART AS PART OF GOD’S REMNANT?

Any who consider themselves part of this remnant of God’s little flock at this time, need to be focused on warning, helping, supporting, teaching, nurturing and feeding the scattered remnants of the flock of God, NOT saying, “We are the only ones doing a work”.

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A common thread among false leaders and churches fixated on themselves and their own vanities, rather than reaching out to people who can give them no tithe, no “reward” for their “literature” and time.

Any seeing what is so plain in all of this, can personally play a part by getting back to the faith once delivered unto the saints, (Jude 3) This means rejecting traditions of men, and customs of Jewish errors, and requesting our booklets on how you can yourself prove that the calendar being kept by all the churches bar a few, is in ERROR.

There are many, many warnings in The Word of God, but primarily, the people today are spiritually too drunken to see.

For those who are not, who can see that the prophesied falling away has all but destroyed the church, and exposed the hearts of many, whilst revealing a remnant according to the election of grace, we implore you to come out of your ‘organisations’ while there is still time, hold fast and reunite with and as part of God’s elect, the election of grace.

Many still use the scripture of proving the truth as being more noble than those who refuse the truth, and amazingly still refuse to accept the fact that their annual Sabbaths are wrong, and as a result have been sent strong delusion, because they do not love the truth sufficiently enough to be convicted by it, but think they’re ok where they are, and like all mankind, not until after severe trials, even to death, will they then let go of their stubborn and foolish pride..

For any willing to be corrected, now is the time to begin again to be part of the spiritual organism called, The Body of Christ!

Read now the following

Rom 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

Rom 9:28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

Rom 9:29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

If God save not His faithful, making difference between the holy and the profane, why did God promise Abraham that in a city where his people were, He would not destroy it for the righteous sakes?

Gen 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

The account was that Abraham continued to plead for the righteous among the wicked, until he whittled it down to just ten.

Gen 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

The New Testament speaks the same message, that where God’s elect people are, He will not destroy that place, and preserve His righteous people.

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Rom_11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

As most know, the remnant has two sides, a faithful side, and a lukewarm side living together, side by side in the same era.

Take for example, the account in Revelation chapter 3:7-12, 14-22. Many from the Philadelphian era are still today in existence, living alongside the current lukewarm Laodicean era. Even more important, those Philadelphians who have become lukewarm in this Laodicean era will need to repent, heed the warnings, regain their first love, get back to the faith once delivered to the saints, begin again to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, then be, and remain teachable.

SPECIFIC WARNINGS FOR OUR TIME, NOW!

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound , the love of many shall wax cold.

These scriptures have continued to come to life in this 21st century, but how many are trembling before God for the horrors that are soon to be unleashed before the eyes of all ??

The fact that a lukewarm people has become a common theme in this current era, both in desire of God’s ordinances, and of the awesome nature of God’s truth, is a testament that not many are trembling.

Then, put this together with the fact that there has to be a remnant according to the election of grace as mentioned above, then the fact that God has scattered the flocks , the people, and therefore the church, to ‘SIFT & SORT’ them according to the parable of the wise and unwise virgins, and we see a picture emerging that the churches have fallen asleep spiritually and will therefore be caught unawares at His return!! (Luke.21:32-35.)

That parable, as with all of Christ’s parables, are really the prophetic teachings of God, pinpointing this very time , where the lukewarm virgins have in reality become blinded

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through means such as integration in worldly thinking, causing departures from their first-love, God, and His Truth, while becoming oblivious to their own tepid state of spiritual lethargy, and their obvious lack of love and zeal for the Word of God, as Matt.24:12 points to, (Ref above) as well as Rev.2:4-5, & 3:15 show.

Sadly, those deceived cannot see these 3-references for what they are, or they wouldn’t be deceived, but would repent and return to their first love.

Notice the same theme arising in all of the refences today, are running throughout the following scriptures.

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats:

Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (All emphasis mine.)

Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Christ’s warnings are many, but those slumbering refuse to awake out of their stupor to lay hold on life. Many even saying, “We have our Bible”.

How many have forgotten the command NOT to forsake the assembling of themselves together?

This is not always possible in our scattered conditions, but the “assembling of themselves together” today is to be viewed in the context of holding fast together with likeminded lovers of God and His Truth, above everything and everybody else.

That means, where God opens the minds of His called to see, and hear Him, that are prepared to forsake their thoughts, fellowships, even current “church”, where alone, to be with other truly faithful elect ones, then, and only then, whether scattered, or with others, to hold fast to The Truth of God with these people, even though they cannot attend services as in former times, in church halls, or even in other homes, but in their own home with recorded services.

If they considered who is to teach, anoint and expound to them meat in due season? Are these not saying, we have no need of a ministry? And if that is their mind-set, they are not of God, for the scriptures plainly set out God’s design of a ministry feeding the members, as a type of The Father, Son, and wife, the perfect symbiotic relationship.

Does it not seem strange to any that Satan has all sides of the spectrum covered, from blinded ministers blending truth with error, to lukewarm ministers, to no ministers, to members trying to get ministers to agree with their views, instead of all studying to agree with and become approved unto God?

If this isn’t strange to the reader of this newsletter because you already realised this, what have or are you doing about this situation? A good question? Are you allowing someone or something smother your light? Can you serve others by telling them the

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truth, whether they agree or not? Could you not witness to them the truth, even though you know they will not agree?

If you do not see the importance of re-uniting with God’s scattered people, but feel you are ok on your own, think again, for it is impossible to grow as a child of God when disconnected from the mother, the church.

On the other hand, there are those who are in scattered situations, but not spiritually slumbering, who do see the importance of what is written herein, and more, and ARE doing MUCH to make their calling and election sure! To these we commend in the sight of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

To those who reject these warnings, who “believe” they are right and everyone else wrong, if you are not spiritually stirred up by and encouraged to seek us out as part of God’s elect people, and just want to go on, on your own, that is your right and privilege.

But recall to memory, God warned all Israel in the following;

Deu 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

Deu 30:16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Deu 30:17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

Deu 30:18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

Deu 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Deu 30:20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

For any who think they are Gentile, do not know or realise they, if called, are circumcised into the Israel of God, (Rom.2:28-29.) and part of the promises made to the fathers, be reminded;

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

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Whether Jew or Gentile, you, we, are ALL-ONE in Christ! Therefore, take heed my brethren, and humble yourselves under the Mighty Hand of God our LORD and remember….Heb_4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

For the incorrigible, and those who fear not, but feel safe in their current organisations, take for a right example, David, a prophet and man after God’s own heart spoke of Israel in this manner, as Paul recorded also in

Rom 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Rom 11:9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

Rom 11:10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

Rom 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded .

Without question, the spiritual diet of the people as fed to them via false and blinded ministers is a major factor in the deceptions of those spiritually drunken, malnourished and spiritually sick.

Remember, those who do not love the Truth would be sent strong delusion that they should believe a lie? (II Thess.2:10-11.)

WHO ARE THE FAITHFUL REMNANT TODAY?

Is it your church, your group, your fellowship? Does The Word of God say emphatically what they are?My brethren, if you are willing to open your eyes and prove what God says, you will see that today, it is not any one group, church or organization!

It is these ones, that individually and collectively form the true body of The Living ChristThose not being hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Heb.3:13)

God’s faithful remnant, according to the election of grace are all those scattered members of The Body of Christ who are holding fast the faith once delivered unto the saints; (Jude 3) who are proving all things and holding fast that which is good; (I Thess.5:21) Who obey, fear and tremble before God’s Word, not believing the diatribe pouring out from those groups under unfaithful ‘ministers’ who refuse to accept that they are in error.

The faithful are they that love the Truth and are walking in it, over fellowship with false groups who “look good”, but obey not the truth. And because iniquity now abounds now, as it did in former times, we know Satan is on the attack. Particularly when viewed with the current conditions of the churches.

Therefore, we must now, perhaps more than ever, all truly humble ourselves under the Mighty Hand of God, cast all our care upon Him, be sober and vigilant, because our adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour! I Pet.5:6-8.

Now, finally carefully consider the following;

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The time, and the era we are living in PINPOINTS who and what the remnant are today, as it was in former times and eras brethren.

It is my firm belief that God is opening to us, with others, more truth about these times now, the times that are about to EXPLODE with such force and POWER the world CANNOT fathom, nor wants to face, but rest assured, they will!!

But what you and I are now preparing to face, we will face bravely as the servants to whom God has delivered wisdom, and understanding and increased knowledge and FAITH, because we BELIEVE Him, and love His Truth! (II Thess.2:13!)

To further see how the remnants in every generation are the FEW that have ever been whom God has worked with, notice what God shows here in Micah 4;

Mic 4:6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; Mic 4:7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

Even the remnant that halted will have the opportunity to come in to their reward, providing they repent after their affliction.

Mic 4:8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

Mic 4:9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail. Mic 4:10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

In Zephaniah 3; we find great reward for a faithful remnant, a remnant who like us today have accepted their trials, have come through them having overcome the adversities. Let’s read it here;

Zep 3:12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. Zep 3:13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. Zep 3:14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. Zep 3:15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. Zep 3:16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. Zep 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zep 3:18 I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.

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Zep 3:19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. Zep 3:20 At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.

Going to Matthew 22; Christ gives further credence to the fact that God is working with a CHOSEN FEW, a small number who mostly have ever been persecuted. Christ even said to us as His disciples; “If they have persecuted Me, they WILL PERSECUTE you!Why? Because the truth cuts, it hurts, and people don’t like change, correction and difficulty, just the easy smooth way.

Mat 22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, Mat 22:2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, Mat 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Mat 22:4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. Mat 22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

As we know, prophecy is often if not always dual in nature, and as physical Israel did, so have “spiritual Israel” today, in that they too, many have refused the invitation by their works, their own worldly desires to be like the world. Many criticising God’s converted little ones, perhaps because they are not wealthy, or don’t look like the world!

MANY CALLED, FEW CHOSEN

Mat 22:6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. Mat 22:7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Mat 22:8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Mat 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Mat 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

THE FINAL WARNINGS TO COME

The apostle under God’s divine inspiration writes in Romans.11:1-5. that there is a remnant, and has not cast away His people, even at that time, so it is today, as He has not

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fulfilled His purpose and plan to its conclusion, and God will bring His people with Him at the appointed time. Dan. Chapter 12;

Of course there’s a great deal more to this situation than we have time for in this sermon today!

False teachings have deceived the people, some liked it that way and still DO, but as for the timeline, this time is rapidly approaching for the REMNANT ACCORDING TO THE ELECTION OF GRACE MUST BE READY!

If the correct number in this generation is 7000 as we might assume, given prophecies dual nature, then we have a large work to get their attention, to CRY ALOUD & SPARE NOT TO SHOW GOD’S PEOPLE THEIR SINS & WAKE THEM UP OUT OF THEIR SLUMBER!

THE scattering is not yet complete brethren, because I’m sure you know that the ABOMINATION that makes DESOLATE has not yet appeared in the Holy Land, and the 2-witness work will commence at the time this will occur, and the time of the Great Tribulation!

In conclusion, the prophet Daniel pointed any willing to see that at the time of the end what conditions will prevail for God’s people, not a time of ease, as some think, but times of great and sore trials!

Dan 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

Dan 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Dan 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand;

SUMMARY

This 2nd edition of the Newsletter has made plain much regarding the lukewarm church era, the remnant, a spiritually lukewarm era regarding a great lack of love for God’s truth, as well as showing that Christ Himself said, freely you have received, freely give. When we receive a great gift and have to make great sacrifices, we prove by our works our desire for the gift. On a personal note, one lady said to me years ago; I am sorry you had to come into the church under such trying conditions and trials, I never had them! I remember thinking at the time the impression that she thought she was righteous for not having to go through what I did.

What do I believe has a powerful bearing on this situation? The love of The TRUTH!!!

What I have seen personally is a growing disdain for The Truth, some even saying; “We have better knowledge today”; Or the Holy days are just principals, or the letter of the Law, or that the writer of this newsletter is a sincere legalist!

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The fact that these comments really hi-light their complacency and lack of love for the truth, the person who made the comment about me being a sincere legalist won’t accept the word Passover anymore, it’s The “LORD’S SUPPER”, as one man actually apologized to any who had any issues with the word Passover!?

Notice the following in this regard;

Mal 2:1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

Mal 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, says the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.

Mal 2:3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.

Mal 2:4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mal 2:5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him, WHY? for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.

In Christ's name and service,

Mr. Peter J. McGilligan

_____________________________________________________________________

P.O. Box 4222, VIC, Australia 3350 Ph: (+613) 5334 3855 e: [email protected]___________________________________________________________________________________

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