The Three Wise Men -- Part 2

Many books and booklets attempt to prove the modern day identity of the lost tribes of the house of Israel. For most people, a more perfect understanding of their identity has little or no meaning; however, for those who understand the scriptural promises of national and spiritual inheritance God made to Abraham, the identity of those who are today the legal heirs of those promises is of vital importance!

Many religious groups have used the modern day identity of these missing tribes to increase the size of their congregations and their incomes. The most successful by far was a booklet written by Herbert W. Armstrong and published by the Worldwide Church of God; it was called “The United States and Britain in Prophecy.” Since the break up of the Worldwide Church and the scattering of its congregations, many of the hundreds of off-shoot groups have published their own version of this booklet.

It is my personal opinion that none of these publications, including the one originally published by the Worldwide Church, provide the comprehensive understanding of the lost tribes as it is recorded in the book written by Mr. J. H. Allen entitled: “Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright.” To my mind, this is the original source of the information; information that was available long before Herbert Armstrong “revealed” it to the world. This book was first published in the year 1901.

J. H. Allen’s “Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright” is far more detailed, and far more informative, than any of the copies produced by any of the Churches that later used this important information so successfully. Even today Mr. Allen’s book is widely available at a very reasonable cost and is easily obtained directly from bookstores or over the internet. For those who are serious about their search for the truths and the mysteries of Almighty God, this book is invaluable!

Last week we tried to determine what the “wise men” were not. This week we must try to understand what they were -- or at least, what they may have been! However, if you have not made the effort to research the modern-day identity of the lost tribes of the house of Israel, the remainder of this work will have little or no meaning for you.

The format of this blogsite does not lend itself well to a full explanation of “the lost tribes,” I must therefore leave it up to you to do most of your own research -- or not! For those who would reject this knowledge without even trying to understand; you have my sympathy, even my pity. Events which are even now beginning to take place upon this Earth, and especially upon our English speaking peoples, will shock you into the realization that the information was there for you to find; yet you chose to ignore it!

For those who would learn more about the modern-day identity of the lost tribes of the house of Israel, I heartily recommend Mr. Allen’s book.

Who were the “Wise Men” that visited the Christ Child?

As mentioned last week, I believe that the birth of the Messiah was the single most important event since the creation of man. To believe that three obscure Oriental astrologers were chosen by Almighty God as the only men worthy to receive the heavenly sign which led them to this Christ child seems ludicrous to me!

The “spiritual purpose” for the birth of Jesus was that he should one day become “the lamb of God.” Jesus was born to become the sacrifice that would make it possible for man to once again be reconciled with God. This discussion concerning the “wise men” gives proof of the “temporal purpose” for the birth of Christ. He was born to rule -- and that rule must begin over the people of Israel! Jesus and His brethren will one day rule over all peoples and nations here upon this Earth; but before expanding the Kingdom of God to include all nations, they must first rule over the nations of Israel! It is therefore my belief that these “wise men” travelled from afar to pay homage to this newborn child -- who would one day be their king!

Jesus said in Matthew 15:24 “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And in Micah 5:2 we are told: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to me the One to be Ruler in Israel.” And Matthew 2:6 repeats the passage from Micah: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”

Until I am given compelling evidence to the contrary, I shall reject the teaching of nominal Christianity concerning the tradition of the three wise men. I shall believe that the identity of the lost sheep of the house of Israel has indeed been proven. I shall believe that at the time of the birth of Jesus these so called “lost tribes” were located in western and north-western Europe and the British Isles. I shall believe that to the leaders of these tribes God sent a messenger, or an angel, or a heavenly sign, letting them know that the birth of their future king would soon take place.

I believe that at least one emissary from each of the ten tribes of the house of Israel travelled to the Holy Land in order to pledge allegiance to their newborn king! But as it is with everything God wants men to do, the journey they undertook did not go without its share of problems. It is my belief that these emissaries travelled by way of Assyria and/or Babylon -- before they went to Jerusalem! In fact, I believe that the star, or the angel, led them there -- and probably left them there -- to be seen again only after their audience with King Herod!

There is so much that the reader should already know! For example, you should have already studied the scriptures which deal with the sins of the house of Israel and their eventual defeat at the hands of the Assyrians. The people of the house of Israel were removed from their homeland and were taken as captives to Assyria. From the land of Assyria, history and the Scriptures tell us they were assimilated into so many other nations that their own individual national identity became lost.

More than one hundred years after the defeat and dispersal of the house of Israel, the house of Judah also sinned against the LORD God of the Bible. The Empire of Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar came against Judah and Jerusalem and defeated them. The people of the house of Judah were taken as captives to Babylon; and among the captives of Judah there was a young boy by the name of Daniel.

Daniel 1:17 “As for these four young men [i.e. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah] God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”

Daniel became great in the household of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. This same Daniel is the author of the Old Testament book which bears his name. In the Book of Daniel there is a prophecy which has become known as: “The Seventy Week Prophecy of Daniel Nine.” It is my understanding that this prophecy gives a timeline which leads to the coming of the Messiah and to the beginning of his ministry. For those who have not yet researched the meaning of this prophecy, I strongly suggest that you do so.

The house of Judah was defeated by King Nebuchadnezzar more than one hundred years after the house of Israel had been taken captive by the Assyrians! The book of Daniel was written many years after the house of Israel had been dispersed from Assyria to the lands which became their new home. Therefore, the dispersed peoples of the house of Israel would have had no opportunity to read the prophecies of Daniel!

IF the “wise men” were emissaries from the lost-tribes of Israel; and IF they travelled from the western parts of Europe; and IF the star led them to the area of Assyria and Babylon; then I believe it was because that is where they would find the writings of the prophet Daniel! That is where they would find the learned men of the house of Judah and the learned men of the Levitical priesthood. That is where those of the house of Israel would find the scriptures God had inspired to be written during the time they were far removed from their spiritual homeland.

I believe that the star which led them to Assyria and/or Babylon left them there. They would then have had to make their own way to Jerusalem according to that which they came to understand from the writings of Daniel. It may even be that a representative from each of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi joined those who had travelled from the western parts of Europe. I believe that these men, accompanied by many attendants, travelled to Jerusalem in search of the child that was born to rule over them. Following their audience with Herod they rejoiced when the star reappeared and they followed it directly to Bethlehem.

The seventy week prophecy of Daniel would have given these men an indication of the expected time for the beginning of the ministry of the Messiah; the learned men of Judah would have been able to explain to them that only when a man reached the age of thirty years could he begin his service in the temple. From these two pieces of information, the “wise men” would have been able to determine the approximate time for the birth of the Messiah.

Numbers 4:46-47 “All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers, from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry…”

Luke 3:21-23 “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, ‘You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.’ And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age...”

When the year marking the beginning of the ministry of the Messiah is known, it becomes an easy matter to figure back thirty years in order to reckon the year for His birth. The problem with this, (if we need another problem in this story) is that the only location mentioned in Daniel’s prophecy with regard to the Messiah is the Temple of God in Jerusalem. IF the “wise men” received this additional information in Assyria or Babylon, then the next place for them to go must be Jerusalem -- and they would arrive in Jerusalem “from the east”!

At this point, our next question might be: “Why did they not know about the scripture in Micah 5:2 ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth unto me someone that is to be a ruler in Israel?’”

When we look at this verse in hindsight we can see that it does indeed refer to the birth of Jesus. But try to look at it from the point of view of someone who knew little or nothing at all about Jesus, or about his birth, or about the place of his birth. This verse from Micah could refer to just about anyone or anything. It could even refer to the place from whence the Messiah would begin his ministry; thirty years after the time of his birth!

We know that when Herod questioned the chief priests and the scribes of the people, they told him that “Messiah” would be born in Bethlehem; but as far as the “wise men” were concerned, when they arrived in Jerusalem the location of his birth was as yet unknown.

We must also remember that the “wise men” had at some point in time lost sight of the star. It was only: “When they had heard the king [Herod], they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”

Finally: I strongly believe the previous verse should read: “When they heard the king [Herod], they departed; and, lo, the star, which they [had seen] in the east, went before them…” It must be understood that in order to follow the star from Jerusalem to Bethlehem it must lead them towards the south, not towards the east!

Note: Recently I have made several references to the “Seventy Week Prophecy of Daniel Nine” without really trying to explain what it means -- or what it may mean. Next week, in keeping with the spirit of this blogsite, I shall try to place before you the way I have come to understand the “Seventy Week Prophecy of Daniel Nine” -- and why I believe it is as important as I do.

The Three Wise Men -- Part 1

It may be that the story of the “wise men” as told to the boy Jesus was as much a mystery to him then as it seems to us today. The modern depiction may contain much truth. It may also be so inaccurate as to be of little or no value to our understanding. I believe it is time to dispel many of the myths surrounding this supposedly “Christian” tradition.

If the story of the “wise men” was a mystery to the boy Jesus, then to whom would he turn for understanding? Would he turn to his mother and father? Of course he would! Would he ask those who had witnessed the events surrounding his birth and the visit of these “wise men”? Yes, certainly, he would want to ask them too! But he would also seek understanding from the Scriptures; and look for help and guidance from the teachers and learned men of his day?

Luke 2:46-47 “And it came to pass, that after three days [his parents] found [Jesus] in the temple [at Jerusalem], sitting in the midst of the doctors; both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers.”

What I would like to do in this week’s blog offering is concentrate on what the boy Jesus may or may not have been able to learn about the visit of these “wise men.”

Ask any professing Christian and they will almost certainly describe for you a scene wherein three dignified personages (believed to be from the Orient), follow a star to the town of Bethlehem. There they find the newborn Christ child lying in a manger, with his mother and father standing beside him and with several adoring shepherds nearby. These three “wise men” arrive riding on the backs of camels, and they enter the area of the stables bearing gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, which they present to the baby Jesus.

This “nativity” scene usually includes a few baby lambs, at least one cow-calf unit, one donkey and (a most touching recent addition) the little drummer-boy. Given time, future adaptations will probably include Frosty the Snowman and the Grinch from Whoville! What bothers me about all this is that as far as I can determine, almost none of it bears any truth whatsoever!

How wonderful it would have been to listen in while Mary and Joseph told the young Jesus what actually took place concerning the visit of these “wise men.” Who were they? Where did they really come from? How many of them actually did arrive to pay homage to this child who was born to be a king? And why, why, were these men the only ones chosen to receive a heavenly sign; a star seen shining in the east, possibly seen by them many months before the Christ child was even born?

Before attempting to determine what the Bible does say, or even what the Bible might say about these “wise men,” let us be quite clear about what the Bible does not say!

1) The Bible does not say the “wise men” found Jesus in a manger. Matthew 2:1 “And when [the wise men] were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother…”

2) Joseph may have been there; but the Bible does not say Joseph was there.

3) No shepherds are mentioned as being in the house; and surely the lambs, the cow-calf, and the donkey would have been left back at the stables.

4) My apologies for even mentioning the little drummer-boy, Frosty, and the Grinch.

5) Were there only three “wise men” or could there have been more; or even less? However many there may have been, let us be quite clear that the Bible does not tell us there were three! Certainly they presented three categories of gifts; there was gold, there was frankincense, and there was myrrh. Was Jesus presented with only one gift from each category? If so, then this would tend to show only three gift givers. Unfortunately we cannot really know because the Bible does not tell us there were only three gifts -- or only three gift givers -- the Bible only tells us there were three categories of gifts!

6) Were the “wise men” from the Orient? Perhaps they were but I doubt this very much! Matthew 2:1 tells us they: “...came from the east to Jerusalem.” That’s nice! However, it’s not much to build a traditional belief on. If you live in Chicago, and a friend from California comes to visit but has business in New York to take care of first, he will arrive in Chicago “from the east.” He lives in the west, and his trip to Chicago began in the west, but he arrived in Chicago “from the east”! The scriptural account does tend to show that the “wise men” travelled for many months; this probably translates into a considerable distance. What the Bible does not tell us is that the distance travelled was always from the east; only that they arrived in Jerusalem “from the east.” Consider for a moment looking up into the night sky and noticing one particular star “shining in the east.” Think about it! Picture it in your mind! Position yourself geographically! If you decide to move towards a star that is shining in the east, then surely you must be travelling from the west! Assyria and Babylon are both located to the east of Jerusalem but neither of these places would require a journey the length of time apparently taken by the “wise men.” However, if their journey originated in the west, and they travelled by way of Assyria and/or Babylon, they would most definitely arrive in Jerusalem “from the east.” But if they were coming from the west, why would they travel first to Assyria and/or Babylon; why would they not go directly to Jerusalem? If they did originate in the west, then from where in the west did they come? Who were these “wise men” anyway?

7) Several modern translations of the Bible tell us that the “wise men” were astrologers. The problem with this is that the original text from which our English Bibles were translated does not say they were astrologers! However, let us consider for a moment the possibility that they might have been astrologers. They saw a star shining in the eastern sky. They determined that it signalled “the birth of the King of the Jews”; and they believed that if they followed this star it would eventually lead them to this newborn king. It certainly sounds as if they could have been astrologers; but the Bible does not say they were astrologers. For three centuries before the birth of Jesus, Babylonian astrology was both a science and a religion. Astrologers studied and worshiped the power of the stars. And yet, the book of Jeremiah 10:2 clearly tells us: “Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the heathen are dismayed at them!” The birth of Jesus was arguably the most important event to take place since the creation of man. The traditions of professing Christianity would have us believe that the only people chosen by God to travel any great distance to worship the Christ child were three obscure Oriental astrologers! Such a belief seems ludicrous to me! It is my belief that we can prove from history and from the Scriptures that the “wise men” were emissaries from each of the lost tribes of Israel. At least ten men (more probably thirteen), almost certainly with many servants in attendance; who came a very great distance -- to worship the newborn child who was born to be their king!

8) How long, and how far, did the “wise men” travel to find the Christ child? A better question might be: “How long before they found the child did the star first appear to them?” Once again the answer must be that the Bible does not tell us! The reaction of Herod, and his subsequent infamous slaughter of the children in and around Bethlehem, points to a time of not more than two years. One modern translation of the Bible quotes this verse as follows: “…for the astrologers had told [Herod] the star first appeared to them two years before.” Why those who produced this version of the Bible have chosen to interpret God’s word in this way must be left to the judgment of Almighty God; but search the original text yourself! Prove to yourself that the Bible does not say “two years before”! So then, what does the Bible say? Matthew 2:7 “Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.” What did the “wise men” tell the noble Herod? Did they tell him six months; or nine months; or perhaps they said fifteen? If so then he must slaughter every boy child up to two years of age -- to justify such infamy he must make absolutely certain this “King of the Jews” must die. But did they say two years? Then to be sure he must also kill every boy-child aged two-and-a-half to three!

9) Astrologers and astronomers study and chart the positions and movements of the sun, the moon, and the stars. There is nothing inherently wrong with this; in fact, God in His wisdom has said in Genesis 1:14 “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years…” The Bible states clearly that this beacon of the “wise men” was a star. In fact, since they were using it to guide them to the “king of the Jews” they referred to it as “his star.” There is also the possibility that the biblical use of the word “star” in this case refers symbolically to an angel. See for example Revelation 1:20 “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches…” Whatever the true explanation, the star of the “wise men” was certainly unique in that they were able to use its light to guide them from their homelands to the general area of the Holy Land. Apparently at some point in time they lost sight of the star, but after their audience with King Herod they saw it once again and they rejoiced. This time it led them directly to the town of Bethlehem, to the very house where Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child were living. Was the star of the “wise men” an actual star; or did an angel from heaven lead them to the house in Bethlehem?

10) Did the “wise men” use the actual words “King of the Jews,” as it has been translated in Matthew 2:2? Jesus is quoted in Matthew 15:24 as saying: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This is neither the time nor the place for an in-depth discussion into the difference between “Jews” and “the house of Israel”; I shall therefore simply state that the people of the “house of Israel” are not, were not, and never have been Jews! If the reader doubts this, then he or she must search the subject for themselves from the pages of the Bible. A good place to begin would be in the King James Version 2nd Book of Kings 16:6 where it is recorded that the house of Israel is at war with the Jews! The word “Jews” (a people) as it is used in Matthew 2:2 could also have been translated “of Judea” (a country). There is a consensus that Micah 5:2 prophesies the birthplace of the Messiah and here it refers to someone: “...that is to be ruler in Israel.” The quotation from Micah is repeated and expanded in Matthew 2:3-6 “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where [the Messiah] should be born. And they said unto him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, ‘And you Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.’” The word “Governor” may be more properly translated as, “have the rule over.” Therefore, Matthew 2:6 may have more properly been translated: “For out of you shall come someone to rule over my people Israel.” If so, then Matthew 2:2 would more properly be translated “King of Judea” rather than “King of the Jews.” Whatever the truth of the matter, each and every one of us must search all things for ourselves from the pages of our own Bible -- we should always remember the scriptural admonition to: “Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.”

Based on everything that has been discussed so far, the following is my personal re-statement of the facts concerning the visit of the “wise men” as it is recorded in the second chapter of Matthew. An effort has been made not to add to, or diminish from, the story as it was presented by the Apostle:

“After the birth of Jesus, when he and his parents had moved from the stable of an inn to a house, Jesus and Mary his mother were visited by certain individuals referred to in the Bible as “wise men.” These men said that some time before, while still in their own homelands, they had seen a star shining in the eastern sky. They came to believe that this star was a sign foretelling the birth of one they referred to as the “King of the Jews”; or as “one who would be ruler over Judea”; or as “one who would rule over Israel.” They followed the star and eventually arrived at Jerusalem from the east. When they arrived in Jerusalem they questioned the people as to where they might find this child. Herod, who ruled over Judea at that time, summoned these “wise men” to come before him where he questioned them privately, and at length, as to when they had first seen the star. After their audience with King Herod, the “wise men” once again saw the star and rejoiced. This time it led them southward, directly to the town of Bethlehem where they found the Christ child and his mother living in a house. The “wise men” bowed down to pay homage before this newborn king and presented him with gifts of gold; and of frankincense; and of myrrh.”

The questions may well be asked: “Does it really matter if there is more to this story?” “Should we look for something other than that which is easily understood from the Scriptures?” I believe the answer to both questions must be: “Yes: of course!” If there is anything we can uncover about the mysteries of God, no matter how minor or seemingly insignificant, it is our duty and our responsibility to find it.

Note: Next week, to complete this discussion of “The Three Wise Men,” I hope to present some additional thoughts which may lead to a more perfect understanding of their identity. Were they nothing more than three obscure Oriental astrologers as the traditions of nominal Christianity would have us believe; or were they specifically chosen emissaries from each of the scattered tribes of Israel, sent by Almighty God to pay homage before their newborn King?

The Incarceration of Satan

Before beginning this week’s message I want to share with you one of the principal reasons for this blogsite. As much as I want to help others come to a more perfect understanding of Scripture, I continue to hope that others will help me perfect my own understanding. To that end, I had someone draw my attention to an error I made in the December 1st 2006 offering “Openly Teaching Error.” I wrote:

Volume 1 -- Chapter 10 -- Page 1: “When Jacob’s family saw that the two brothers had met as close friends, the wives, children and servants came near and bowed. Jacob explained that they were his two wives, his twelve children and his servants.”
Note: On his return from the land of Laban to his father’s home in Canaan, Jacob brought with him his two wives, “his eleven children,” and his servants! Benjamin, Jacob’s second son by his wife Rachel, had not yet been born.

A few days ago someone close to me asked: “What about Dinah?” He then offered the following scripture: Genesis 30:20-21 “And Leah said, ‘God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.’ So she called his name Zebulun. Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.” -- I missed this completely! -- It seems that when Jacob met his brother Esau he did indeed introduce “...his two wives, his twelve children, and his servants.”

Can you understand the pleasure it gives me that someone took the time to correct me in this? Now my understanding of God’s word is a little more perfect today than it was yesterday -- and I hope and pray it will be a little more perfect tomorrow than it is today.

The Incarceration of Satan

I have no doubt that every member of the “church” of God has researched the scriptural account of the Day of Atonement to his or her own satisfaction; but I wonder whether each of us understands it exactly the same way. What causes me some concern is the removal of the “Azazel” goat into the wilderness. Does this refer to the time of Satan’s 1,000 year incarceration during the reign of Jesus and His brethren; or does it refer to his eventual removal and banishment from the face of the Earth at the end of the Millennium?

For those who need to refresh their memories concerning the Day of Atonement, I would recommend that you begin with a study of Leviticus 16:1-22. I would also recommend that you refresh your understanding of God’s annual Holy Days as they are recorded in Leviticus 23:1-44. However, I first want to deal with the 1,000 years of Satan’s imprisonment in the bottomless pit and its relationship to the Millennium.

Revelation 20:1-3 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.”

Q…Do the 1,000 years of Satan’s incarceration run concurrent to the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren; or are they two separate and distinct periods of time?

Revelation 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness [of] Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

This passage refers to the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren. Take time to read each of the verses from Revelation 20:1-4 very carefully. Notice that the imprisonment of Satan and the reign of the Messiah are both of 1,000 years duration; but nowhere does it say that both events are to run concurrently! The belief that each period of time runs exactly parallel to the other is based on an assumption -- an assumption I believe to be incorrect!

The problem, as I see it, has been created by an imperfect understanding of the timing of the annual Holy Days. Many believe that the return of the Messiah, the imprisonment of Satan, and the beginning of the millennial reign of Jesus and His brethren will all take place on one and the same day. I believe this to be a wrong understanding of Scripture!

We have been taught that the Feast of Trumpets will begin a series of trumpet sounds, prophesying a series of climactic events, culminating in the return of Christ at the sounding of “the last trump”! We have also been taught that at the time of Christ’s arrival, the prophecy of the Day of Atonement will be fulfilled by the removal of Satan and his imprisonment in the bottomless pit. Finally, on that same day, Jesus and His brethren will stand on the Mount of Olives and their reign of 1,000 years will begin. What we need to do is take another very hard look at each of these events separately in the light of Scripture.

The Feast of Trumpets is the first of God’s annual “Autumn Holy Days”; it is observed on a separate and distinct calendar day from each of the other annual holy days. I have no doubt that the day of the Feast of Trumpets is prophetic of a series of events as shown by the blowing of a series of trumpet sounds. I also have no doubt that the sounding of the last trump will herald the triumphant appearance of Jesus to begin His reign as King of kings over the peoples and nations of the Earth. But I also believe that the actual day of the Feast of Trumpets, foretells the actual day of the return of Christ -- three-and-a half years before the inception of God’s Kingdom and the beginning of the Millennium!

I want to repeat that! It is my belief that the return of the Messiah will take place at the sounding of the first of a series of trumpet sounds, as prophesied by the actual day of the Feast of Trumpets. This unheralded appearance will be for the specific purpose of assembling His brethren. It is my belief that Jesus must return to gather together His brethren from the four corners of the Earth -- before the time of Satan’s removal -- and several years before the setting up of His Father’s Kingdom!

I could go into a great many reasons to support the previous statement, but at this time I shall mention only one; and I readily admit that one is very controversial. I believe “The Seventy-Week Prophecy” of Daniel Nine has yet to be completed! There is still a period of three-and-a-half days left in the prophecy which has yet to be fulfilled -- and if you will remember, three-and-a-half days in prophecy translates to three-and-a-half years in actual fulfillment.

It is my belief that Jesus will return three-and-a-half years before the inception of the Millennium in order to prepare His brethren for the duties and responsibilities they will be asked to perform during their 1,000 year reign.

One more time -- just to be sure:

The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the annual fall Holy Days of God; as an annual Holy Day it is separate and distinct from the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. I agree with the teaching of the ministry that the Feast of Trumpets is prophetic of a series of events which will culminate in “the triumphant appearance of Jesus” as King of kings, and Lord of lords. However, according to their teaching, this is the initial return of the Messiah and it will not take place until the sounding of “the final trumpet”; while I believe He will have already returned “unheralded,” at the sounding of the first trumpet several years before.

It also bears repeating that the Day of Atonement is observed several calendar days after the Feast of Trumpets, and several calendar days before the Feast of Tabernacles. In fulfillment of this prophetic Day of Atonement, I believe Satan will be chained and incarcerated during the third of the final three-and-a-half years of this present age, and at least one full year before the Millennium begins. It is during the third of the final three-and-a-half years that the entire “church” (including the resurrected “dead in Christ”) will finally be at-one with God!

Hosea 6:1-2 “Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.”

When Satan is Released

Revelation 20:7 “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.”

Q…Is it your understanding that Satan’s imprisonment will end following the completion of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren? If so, then you must believe that the final battle referred to in Revelation 20:7 will take place following the completion of the Millennium? Do you truly believe this final battle between God and Satan can take place beyond the 7,000 year plan of God?

If we can accept that the annual holy days of Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles are prophetic of separate and distinct future events, then we can understand that the 1,000 years of Satan’s imprisonment will begin some time before the inception of the 1,000 year reign of the Saints -- and will end some time before the Millennium is complete.

John 18:36 “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here.’”

Q…Do you believe that the brethren of the Churches of God are ready, at this time, to do battle with Satan and his followers? Perhaps you believe that the very moment you become a spirit-being (if such is our destiny) you will immediately have the ability to defeat those who were created as powerful spirit-beings untold millennia ago? If you do so believe, then once again I must truly wonder at the naiveté of mankind!

It may be that by the end of 1,000 years of service toward God, with 1,000 years of experience, instruction, development, and strengthening of and by the Spirit of God, we may indeed be ready for such a fight -- but certainly not at the beginning!

At the end of this present age, following the incarceration of Satan, God the Father will pour out His wrath upon the peoples and nations of this world. He will prepare the way (as David did for his son Solomon), so that the reign of Jesus and His brethren may begin in an atmosphere of relative peace. In duality, I believe that Jesus and His brethren will fight the final (end of the Millennium) battle against Satan and those whom Satan will gather together from the nations of the Earth. At that time, Satan and all who follow him will be defeated by Jesus and His brethren, preparing the way for the arrival of the New Jerusalem and God the Father.

Revelation 21:1-3 “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’”

It may be that the events recorded in Revelation 21:1-3 will take place immediately following completion of the Millennium. Whether immediately, or after a considerable length of time, the new heaven and the new Earth and the arrival of the New Jerusalem, can only take place following the completion of the 7,000 year plan of God.

John 7:37-39 “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart, rivers of living water will flow.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

Q...At the end of the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles -- what happens next? When everything that has been prophesied up to the end of the Millennium has been fulfilled -- what happens next? At the end of every calendar week -- what happens next? At the end of a prophetic week of 7,000 years -- what happens next?

I apologize for the excessive repetition; but I want to be absolutely sure you grasp what it is I want to say. The annual holy day we refer to as the “Last Great Day” is observed following the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles; and I wonder if the emphasis we have placed on it being “the last day” may not have created some unnecessary confusion.

The “Last Great Day” is indeed the final day of the feast; but as it follows the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles is it not prophetic of a new beginning? We need to remember that the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles is prophetic of the entire 1,000 years of the Millennium -- and at the end of every week, a new week begins!

As we have come to understand the 7,000 year plan of God: it will only be complete at the conclusion of the millennial Sabbath Day. When that first millennial Sabbath is over, and the first 7,000 years since the creation of man has been completed, is it possible that the first day, of the first week, of the first year, of a new millennium in the on-going plan of God will begin?

Note: This is the season when many Christians unknowingly (or knowingly) observe the pagan festival of the Saturnalia; those of the “church” of God are well aware of the many satanic rites and celebrations which accompany this observance. Next week, rather than discuss the non-Christian nature of the keeping of this Xmas festival, I would prefer to discuss the mystery surrounding “The Three Wise Men” who visited the Christ child?

That Man of Sin Revealed

2nd Thessalonians 2:1-4 “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”

This passage from Paul’s letter to the Church in Thessalonica leads into a discussion of “the lawless one” or “the man of sin” or “the son of Perdition.” This “man of sin” is one of the signs many of the Churches of God are watching for; because according to the teaching of some ministers, he is to sit in a newly erected Temple of God in Jerusalem proclaiming that he is God!

Notice carefully that “the day of Christ” will not come until the falling away and the revealing of the man of sin! It is my belief that the day of Christ refers to the actual day of the ascension of Jesus to His throne -- the day when Satan has been removed from his seat of power and Jesus will be anointed to rule over the kingdoms of the Earth.

Paul specifies two events which must precede the day of Christ; they are the falling away; and the revealing of the man of sin! It could be argued that through the dissolution of the Worldwide Church the “falling away” has already taken place. However, I recognize that the lack of accuracy in biblical truth being taught by many of the latter-day Churches of God is setting the brethren up for yet another rude awakening. If an outsider should begin to show them how much of that which they believe is wrong, another great “falling away” would be a distinct possibility.

When the prophesied “falling away” has taken place, the revealing of the “man of sin” becomes of increased importance. However, in order for him to sit in a newly constructed Temple in Jerusalem such a temple must first be built. It is therefore the building of a new Temple that the Churches would be looking for -- not that man of sin!

But what if there is to be no new Temple? Consider the following:

1. Jesus is known as the Son of Man, the Son of God -- who then is this “man of sin” who is also called the “son of perdition”? The phrase “man of sin” uses the Greek word “anthropos” meaning “human” as opposed to a “spirit being” but I want you to consider whether this “man of sin” may still refer (in type) to Satan the Devil.

2. This man of sin, the son of perdition, “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or is worshiped.” Throughout the Scriptures there is only one individual described in this way. The Archangel Lucifer (now referred to as Satan) is the only one who has ever openly opposed God and has tried to “exalt himself above all that is called God or is worshiped.”

3. This man of sin, the son of perdition, wants to “sit as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” Throughout the Scriptures there is only one individual who has openly proclaimed his desire to rival the position and authority of God. In the original rebellion Lucifer led one third of the angels in an attempt, by force, to set up his own throne in heaven. He failed; but he has been steadily gaining confidence in these latter days and will soon be ready to try one more time. God will even allow him to “overcome the saints” in what we have come to refer to as the “Great Tribulation” and in so doing Satan may begin to believe that he finally has the power to complete what he started so very long ago.

2nd Thessalonians 2:5-8 “[The Apostle Paul said:] ‘Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.’”

As difficult as this passage may be to understand grammatically, the familiarity of repetition may help you to better understand. It is God who withholds understanding from mankind. He has even kept many of His truths from the ministers of the Churches of God -- but only because they have chosen not to believe! God is the one who restrains [withholds understanding] and He [God] will continue “to restrain” until he [Satan] is taken out of the way.

Satan is the one who has always been the only true adversary of God. Satan is the one upon whom the sins of mankind will be placed at the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Day of Atonement. Satan is the author of the “lawlessness [which] is already at work” in the world; and God will allow this “spirit of lawlessness” to continue until He decides it should end. This will almost certainly be on the day when Satan is chained and locked away in the “bottomless pit” -- for is this day not referred to in Scripture as the “Day of At-one-ment” with God?

2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan. With all power, signs, and lying wonders; with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie; that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Over the past few years I have tried to get various ministers of the Churches of God to consider the possibility that they may have allowed error to form part of their doctrines -- so far not one of them will even enter into a reasoned discussion of this possibility.

I will be the first to admit that many of our ministers have an excellent understanding of the Scriptures! I will even go so far as to say that some of them come close to having 96% perfection in their understanding and their teaching. Unfortunately, this means that at least 4 % of what they teach is wrong! If that 4% contains information “we could have had, and should have had,” then we may be furthering and nurturing a problem which we ourselves created. If the strength of our faith has been weakened by accepting error where truth should have prevailed, I cannot believe God will honour that faith!

Very few people truly understand and accept the existence of the Almighty Creator God. Scriptural reference to a created being named Lucifer, an Archangel of God, is seen by many as too fantastic to believe. For them to accept that Lucifer, now referred to as Satan the Devil, may be responsible for the vast majority of the sins and horrors in the world today is simply too fanciful for them to accept. Even members of the present-day Churches of God have a less than perfect understanding of the workings of Satan.

When we watched and experienced the dissolution of the Worldwide Church did we not blame the ministry and the executives of the organization? When we see the breakdown of our society, and the political dissention which threatens to destroy our very way of life, do we not blame our politicians and the political process in general?

When we see the spread of terrorism, do we not blame it on an ideology based on a perverted understanding of religion? When we see the fouling of our natural resources; our air, our water, the arable land from which we grow our food, do we not blame it on individual or corporate selfishness, arrogance, and greed?

We need to continually remind ourselves of the meaning of the rites once followed on the annual Holy Day knows as the Day of Atonement. Notice:

Leviticus 16:21 “Aaron [the High Priest] shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man.”

On that future day which shall fulfill (at least in part) the prophecy of the Day of Atonement, God will send an angel to remove Satan to the place known in Scripture as “the bottomless pit,” where he will remain for a period of 1,000 years. On that day, all who are alive and remain upon the Earth will be fully aware that Satan is real -- God will have revealed to all mankind the identity of the “man of sin,” the “son of perdition”!

Actual or Spiritual Temple

Any discussion concerning the prophetic “man of sin” must include an attempt to more perfectly understand the biblical meaning of the end-time Temple of God. As is so often the case, to come to that more perfect understanding we need to return to the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong.

Towards the end of his life and his ministry, Mister Armstrong believed and taught that the Messiah would not return to any physical, material temple, but to a spiritual one:

Ephesians 2:19-22 “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

Those of you, who are aware of the history of the “church” and the Churches of God over the past few decades, will recognize the name Joseph W. Tkach (Sr.). He was the one Herbert Armstrong chose as his successor to lead the Worldwide Church of God; and as such, Mr. Tkach was as much or more responsible for the dissolution of the Church and the scattering of its membership as any one man could be.

At least one of our ministers refers to Mr. Tkach as the one who fulfills the prophecy of “the man of sin” in that he “sat in the Temple of God (i.e. the Church of God) showing himself that he is God.” This minister goes on to say that when the majority of the brethren were cast off from the main body of the Church it fulfilled the prophecy of Jesus in his pronouncement of events concerning the “last days.” Notice:

Matthew 24:1-2 “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’”

Anyone who has followed the weekly messages presented on this blogsite will be well aware of my belief that the Worldwide Church of God (of and by itself) was not at any time the true “church” of God; but that in the days of the strength of the Worldwide Church, the “church” of God (i.e. the “ekklesia” or the “called-out-ones” of God) were a major part of that Worldwide Church. Without endorsing the beliefs and the teachings of this or any other minister, I can readily believe that the actions of Mr. Tkach led to the scattering of those who comprised the “Spiritual Temple of God” and as such could be seen as having fulfilled that part of the prophecy of Jesus where the “stones” of the Temple were thrown down.

Note: For a more definitive discussion on this point I would suggest that you go to the “Archives” of this blogsite and read the essay on “Why God Scattered His Church.”

I want to leave you with the following thoughts:

Q…Do you believe that the Feast of Trumpets presages the return of the Messiah? If you do, then I agree -- for I also believe!

Q…Do you believe that the Day of Atonement presages the incarceration of Satan? If you do, then I agree -- for I also believe!

Q…Do you believe that the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles presages the setting up of the Kingdom of God and the beginning of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren? If you do, then I agree -- for I also believe!

However, what you need to very carefully consider is that these three annual Feast Days are three separate and distinct annual Holy Days presaging three separate and distinct events in fulfillment! Our ministers would have us believe that these three events will all take place on one and the same day, at the sounding of “the last trump”!

It is my fervent belief that these three festivals (Trumpets; Atonement; and Tabernacles) are shadows of events which shall each take place at separate, specific, and distinct times in the great and wonderful plan of Almighty God! To assume that the return of Christ, the removal of Satan, and the beginning of the Millennium will all take place at one and the same time, on one and the same day, is in my opinion a horrendous error of understanding!

Q…If the Feast of Trumpets foretells the blowing of a series of trumpets, can it be that Christ will return to gather together His brethren at the sounding of the first trumpet; at the beginning of a three-and-a-half year period, towards the end of this present age?

Q…The Day of Atonement foretells the incarceration of Satan and the at-one-ment of the “church” with God. Is it possible that this event may take place during the third of the final three-and-a-half years?

Q…When Satan has been removed to the bottomless pit, and the Saints have received their promised salvation, what cataclysmic event must yet take place? Is it possible this event may take more than one full year to complete?

Psalms 110:1 “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.’”

Do we truly understand this statement? I have come to believe that Jesus and His brethren will be made to sit back and wait while God their Heavenly Father puts down all opposition on the Earth. Just as the reign of Solomon began in an atmosphere of relative peace following the victories of his father David over their enemies; so shall the reign of Jesus and His brethren begin in an atmosphere of relative peace following the outpouring of the “Wrath of God.”

Note: Next week I hope to discuss Satan’s imprisonment in the bottomless pit; (as well as a more perfect understanding of each of God’s Autumn Holy Days.) According to your understanding; when can we expect these events to take place? Will Satan be imprisoned for a full 1,000 years; or less than 1,000 years? Will he be released from the pit before, or after, the end of the 1,000 year reign of Jesus and His brethren?

“For the way of peace...”

Isaiah 59:7-8 “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace”

This passage from the Old Testament book of Isaiah could be used to describe the terrorists of Islam whose rabid radicalism is creating such havoc throughout the world; but if you read each verse beginning with Isaiah 59:1 you will see that it could also apply to many other peoples throughout our sin-sick world -- including those of the United States of America.

As a nation, it may be argued that America has lost all moral justification to lead the world: greed; violence; illegal drugs; sexual immorality; and an almost unbridled selfishness run rampant throughout the land. Governmental arrogance, deceit, and corruption have reached levels which are almost beyond belief in the land many still consider to be the home of the brave and the land of the free.

Regardless of the many good intentions being put forward by our national leaders, this may be as good a time as any for those of the “church” and the Churches of God to remember that God’s government will not be a democracy! We need to realize that when America tries to spread democratic thoughts and freedoms to the peoples of the Muslim nations, many of them see it as nothing more than the spreading of Western immorality and licentiousness -- and who among us can say they are wrong?

For decades I have believed the western nations have been protected from a concerted threat of Islamic terrorism by the innate nature of the Arab peoples themselves -- they have been so involved with internal disputes and sectarian divisions they have not had the time, the will, or the ability to mount a sustained attack on Christianity and the Christian world. This truth was even foretold in a prophecy concerning the latter-day descendants of Ishmael, the son of Abraham by Hagar and the father of the Arab nations. Notice:

Genesis 16:11-12 “And the Angel of the Lord said to [Hagar]: ‘Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.’”

To this we can add the comforting thought that throughout the ages we have had the Almighty and Everlasting God as our benefactor and our protector. He has watched over America and the peoples of the British Commonwealth in a way our leaders never could. But that protection is about to end -- and it seems we are determined to do everything in our power to bring this about, and to bring on our own destruction!

Jeremiah 30:12-15 “For thus says the Lord: ‘Your affliction is incurable, your wound is severe. There is no one to plead your cause that you may be bound up; you have no healing medicines. All your lovers have forgotten you; they do not seek you; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased. Why do you cry about your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable. Because of the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you.’”

In the Middle-East, several of the Western powers led by the United States, are engaged in a desperate effort to unite the fractured alliance of the Muslim peoples. During the brief war in Iraq, America and the coalition forces destroyed a weak and ineffectual army; now our leaders are doing all that can be done to create a new Iraqi force capable of waging modern-style warfare. Many nations of Islam who have been mired in the backwardness of the middle-ages are being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. And if all this is not enough to put fear into every one of us, we and our leaders seem intent on arming them with state-of-the-art weaponry enabling them to fight and win a modern-day war! Can it be that we and our leaders are really that stupid?

Bible prophecy suggests that America will finally seal itself off from the rest of the world in a forced or self-imposed isolationism. With Iran seeming to emerge as the leader of a united, reorganized, and re-armed King of the South, we need to remember that it is the King of the South who is prophesied to rise up and threaten the peoples and nations of modern-day Europe -- and for this Europe will blame America!

America has tried to be the policeman to the world, and she has most certainly been the savior of many nations in their times of trouble; but no one will remember any of this when the ravages of worldwide distress truly begin. From now on, no matter what good works America tries to accomplish in the world she will fail. As trials and tribulations increase upon the peoples and nations of the world, they will see the United States of America as the villain and they will react with a spirit of bitterness and blame towards her. If by that time America has been increasingly weakened by continued political, economic, and spiritual foolishness then I must say, “God help us all!”

America has consistently tried to win the support, if not the affection, of other nations. She has shared her strength and her treasure trying to win the approval of peoples and nations who respond to her largess with nothing more than jealousy and contempt.

Ezekiel 16:25-30 “You offered yourself to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your acts of harlotry. You also committed harlotry with the Egyptians, your very fleshly neighbors, and increased your acts of harlotry to provoke me to anger. Behold, therefore, I stretched out my hand against you, diminished your allotment, and gave you up to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd behavior. You also played the harlot with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; indeed you played the harlot with them and still were not satisfied. Moreover you multiplied your acts of harlotry as far as the land of the trader, Chaldea; and even then you were not satisfied. ‘How degenerate is your heart!’ says the Lord God, ‘seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot.’”

The subject of America’s self-inflicted foolishness could be discussed time and again and at length on this blogsite; but I prefer to leave it to those of the Churches who feel that an end-time warning must continue. I have no desire to argue the point; but neither do I have any desire to join them in preaching that which the world no longer wants to hear.

I found the following article concerning America and the Vietnam War fascinating; it was published as part of the May 1968 Plain Truth Magazine. Every time I read the words “Vietnam” and “Vietnamese People” I thought “Iraq” and the “Iraqi People”; I would recommend that you try this for yourself. It will also add to your understanding if every time you read the word “Communism” you think “Radical Islam” and every time you read “Southeast Asia” you think “Middle East.”

I realize this article was written almost 40 years ago, and for a different war, but once you’ve read it I think you will agree that we must have learned very little from the horrors of that war in Vietnam.

The Plain Truth Magazine -- May 1968

...excerpt from an article written by Raymond F. McNair and Wayne Cole

“[The Communists] can see that the U.S. dollar is in a weakened position, and they know the $25 billion which we are pumping annually into Vietnam is enough to seriously weaken the U.S. -- if it is kept up.

“[The Communists] know full well that the U.S. will have to bow out of Southeast Asia, or will have to pour much more into that area if she is to continue to defend it. They [the communist nations] are jockeying for military advantage, and are getting ready to put pressure on the U.S. in as many areas of Southeast Asia as possible. At any time, they can stir up things in Korea and can cause the U.S. to have to put tremendous resources and men into Cambodia, Thailand and other countries -- if they wish.

“Few realize that the Communists (in Russia and China especially) don’t really [want to see] an early victory in Vietnam. They would prefer to have the U.S. continue to pour astronomical sums of money and men into Vietnam for some time to come. This would accomplish the following important objectives:

“Firstly, it would bleed the U.S. white -- would in time so weaken America that she would be forced to pull back her troops from the Orient due to economic necessity -- as Britain [was then] having to do.

“The Communists know that ‘money is the sinews of war.’ They well know that it takes money to build planes, tanks, guns, ships, and other war armaments. If the Communists can get the U.S. so overextended in national commitments that she is led to the brink of international bankruptcy, then they can thereby force America’s hand and make her pull back from treaty obligations in Southeast Asia. This would then give the Communists a free hand to engulf all Southeast Asia.

“Secondly, the war in Vietnam is generating immense anti-Americanism throughout the whole world, as well as plenty of ill-will at home.

“Many people have little or no conception of the tremendous difficulties which the U.S. faces in trying to rout the Communists from South Vietnam.

“The South Vietnamese people are rather backward, semi-illiterate people. Many of them don’t really understand why the war is being fought. Many (if not most) of the Vietnamese people are very apathetic. They aren’t willing to work hard to build up their country. Neither are they able to bear the brunt of the fighting.

“The Vietnamese just want to make sure they get their rice, and have freedom from fear of being attacked and killed by the Communists, the Americans, or anyone else! They don’t want to have to pay too heavy taxes. Beyond these points, they couldn’t care less which government rules over them!

“Another weakening factor in South Vietnam is widespread corruption! Because of it, there is no real foundation on which to build a stable government. Corruption, graft, bribery are commonly reported to be rife throughout South Vietnam -- from the top right down to the bottom of the social strata.

“In other words, the whole society is tired, dispirited -- (and) rotten to the core!

Note: The next four paragraphs of the article contained information specific to Vietnam and had little to add to our discussion of America’s woes in Iraq; they have been deleted from this excerpt. Continue:

“The South Vietnamese have needed to put their shoulder to the wheel and push, doing their bit, without which there is little hope that the U.S. or any other country can ever establish a stable society in South Vietnam.

“In contrast, there is comparatively little corruption among the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong! Communists have as one of their goals the stamping out of corruption!

“America has begun to wage, in Vietnam, a second war (the ‘Other War’ -- a war of pacification) to try and educate the South Vietnamese to the serious responsibilities of running their own affairs. But so far they have gotten virtually nowhere. America’s pacification program has gone very slowly, and could, at best, only be referred to as ‘creeping pacification.’

“The U.S. has the very difficult task of fighting an enemy which she often can’t even identify, since the South Vietnamese look exactly like the Viet Cong (South Vietnamese Communists). Sometimes the Viet Cong even use the same dress as other South Vietnamese. This further confuses American and South Vietnamese troops, since the only way they can really tell who their enemy is, is when he fires at them.

“The terrain of South Vietnam is such that it makes it very difficult for the U.S. troops to find or destroy the Viet Cong. The U.S. hasn’t yet found a way to effectively flush and destroy the furtive Viet Cong from the South Vietnamese countryside.

“Another reason why the U.S. is not winning the war is that the nation has not wholeheartedly entered the Vietnam War. In fact, America has not even officially declared war on the North Vietnamese -- though she has been bombing their cities for a long time.

“Many Americans believe that the only way for America to fight a war is to go in and win! They feel this would cause the North Vietnamese to sue for peace -- and quickly! Such ‘hawks’ believe Russia, China, and other Communist nations would not dare risk having their cities blasted with America’s nuclear might -- merely for the sake of saving Ho Chi Minh’s neck!

“But long ago, God Almighty prophesied that the day would come when we would lose the pride in our power! And that day has arrived! God said: ‘And I will break the pride of your power’ (Leviticus 26:19).

“America still has overwhelming military superiority -- over all of the Communist nations put together. Many ask: ‘Why is [America] afraid to use that power?’ She appears obsessed with a fear of what other nations will think -- is fearful of ‘world public opinion.’ But we are still like the lion among the nations -- if we only knew it!”

Note: The reference made to a “lion among the nations” comes from Micah 5:8-11. Those who do not yet understand the identity of the peoples who colonized the original thirteen States of America owe it to themselves to seek out and find this vital information. Some of the scattered Churches of God have published booklets showing the modern-day identity of the American and British peoples; nevertheless, I still prefer to recommend J. H. Allen’s book “Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright” -- in my opinion, it is by far the best and most comprehensive source available.

Micah 5:8-11 “And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, who, if he passes through, both treads down and tears in pieces, and none can deliver. Your hand shall be lifted against your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off. ‘And it shall be in that day,’ says the Lord, ‘I will cut off your horses from your midst and destroy your chariots. I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds.’”

The previous passage from the Old Testament book of Micah and the following passages from the book of Isaiah are telling us that America’s position of prominence and power must soon come to an end; the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” must soon begin -- God help us all on that day!

Isaiah 59:1-4 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.”

Isaiah 59:7-8 “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” [God help us all!]

Note: As I finalize this week’s message, the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church is visiting the predominantly Muslim nation of Turkey. He seems bent on promoting a doctrine of “reciprocity” wherein the countries of Islam would grant followers of Christianity the same rights and freedoms Muslims enjoy in Christian countries.

I cannot believe the leaders of Islam would ever allow such a thing to happen -- and I wonder whether this Pope knows it cannot happen! A rejection of reciprocity by the leaders of Islam would surely lead to an intense rejection of all things Muslim throughout the lands of Christendom -- and throughout the nations of Europe in particular!

Will the countries of Europe ever demand the dismantling of Muslim Mosques as the leaders of Islam do with Christian Churches within their own lands? Will the laws of Europe ever outlaw all manner of Muslim dress; disallow all outward display of Muslim worship; no longer support any organized state-sponsored Islamic system of education?

I must believe that nothing could widen the division between Christianity and Islam faster than a rejection of “reciprocity” -- and I ask again: “Does this Pope know it?”

Next week: I hope to discuss the revealing of “that man of sin, the son of perdition.” Who is this “man of sin” and when can we expect his identity to be revealed?