Download PDF Dear Brethren and Friends, We have come once again to that time of year when we hear those most familiar words, “Peace on earth, good will toward men.” Leaders of the free world continually speak of this ideal of peace between nations. And yet, it seems whatever course these well meaning leaders take in this regard, peace continues to elude them. As we examine the conditions in the world, between men and between nations, we find conflict, we find turmoil, and we find a world devoid of the peace which is so keenly desired. But why is that? Why does peace continually elude the nations of the world; with so much effort being put forth in the form of negotiations between nations, and with the religious leaders in much of the world speaking continually of peace? Why is the reality so far removed from the ideal? This particular time of year (the time of Christmas, which is a time when many who do not understand its origins use this occasion to exchange gifts among themselves), the idea of peace seems to be even more prevalent in the minds of men. And yet, this season always seems to be […]

Download PDF Dear Brethren and Friends, Events, long ago foretold by God, are now taking shape in OUR lifetime! Sometimes it is hard to recognize the obvious, but little by little (and sometimes in breath-taking ways), we are witnessing the unrelenting emergence of a new world power in Europe that is destined to change life as we know it, and for the modern nations comprising the British Empire, the United States and Israel, these are indeed ominous times! The Bible warns that the immediate time ahead will usher in a period of national punishment. Jeremiah 30 reveals that there will be dreadful events that will include enslavement, the captivity of the remnants of these now powerful nations! Consider this very specific warning: “Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Verse 7). Why? Why will God bring down the vast power and sweeping influence of America and Great Britain along with the destruction of the Jewish nation of Israel? Jeremiah 30 also answers this question:”For thus says the LORD: Your affliction is incurable, Your wound is severe. There is no one to plead your cause, That you may […]

Download PDF Dear Brethren and Co-workers with Christ: My wife Johanna and I have just returned from Europe, where we kept the Feast in England. Afterwards, we visited with our relatives in Germany. In my last member letter to you, dated July 13, 2004, I wrote this: “I reflected on the awesome job, which God gave His Church ñ the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God in all the world as a witness or testimony ñ so that Jesus Christ can return to this earth. Do we realize how much this world needs to hear the good news or gospel message ñ the same message that Jesus Christ preached, when He was here on the earth?” It may sound like a broken record, but I want to continue with this theme in this letter. There is a reason for doing so. Some have apparently forgotten what the commission of the Church of God is. Over the years, some have even left our fellowship, because they no longer believe that we are to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God into all the world. They allege that the Work is over and done with – all that […]

Download PDF Dear Brethren and Friends, The world of today is becoming more and more filled with hopeless violence. Implacable enemies are arising, committing unspeakable atrocities! On the near horizon of this generation’s future, insurmountable difficulties loom! The societies of this age are selfishly focused on power, on money and on vainly serving the desires of the flesh, all built on the false promises of human governments who are always proclaiming, but never quite able to deliver, a time of peace (compare 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3). We who have been called by God and who have continued to walk in His way of life, look forward to a much different future. We KNOW that God will soon establish His Kingdom on this earth. We KNOW that God will send Jesus Christ, the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), to intervene in great power to actually bring peace to the entire planet, forcing a rebellious mankind to accept God’s peace on His terms. Under His rule, man will not “learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4). As we enter the observance of these Fall Holy Days as commanded by God, we need to carefully consider the awesome GIFT that has been bestowed upon us. We […]

Download PDF Dear Brethren and Friends; As we approach the end of the summer months (I say this with the temperature outside at 96 degrees and just fifty miles to the East of here is Palm Springs with a torrid 106 degrees), we are beginning to move into the period of time of the fall festivals: the Feast of Trumpets, Atonement, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. We are anxiously looking forward, with anticipation, to our gathering together with the brethren, in one of two beautifully millennial settings where God’s name has been placed for us to observe the Feast this year: 1) The Sea Pines Golf resort in Los Osos, California, located on the banks of Morro Bay on the central coast of California or 2) Chatsworth House, this being the wonderful peak district home of the late Duke who died recently and still the home of the Duchess of Devonshire, located in Derbyshire, England. We will assemble ourselves together as admonished in God’s Word in observance of the eight day festival which we all know as The Feast of Tabernacles; which, in fact, is inclusive of the two separate festivals; of the seven day “Feast […]

PDF Dear Brethren, Co-workers and Friends! At the very beginning of this letter, my wife Johanna and I would like to thank all of you, from the very bottom of our hearts, for the generous outpouring of love extended by you to my family and me, in regard to the death of my father. My dad died on June 13, 2004, and I was able to attend the funeral in Germany on June 18. Although my dad lived a long life of 95 years, it is still very difficult to accept his death, especially for my mother who is suffering tremendously because of this loss. She is presently visiting with us at our place in Ramona, until the end of the month, and I know how much she would appreciate your prayers for strength in these difficult times. While in Germany, I reflected on the awesome job, which God gave His Church, the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of God in all the world as a witness or testimony, so that Jesus Christ can return to this earth. Do we realize how much this world needs to hear the good news or gospel message, the same message that […]

PDF Dear Brethren and Friends: I am writing this letter from Canada. Delia and I are looking forward to meeting with our brethren at the Feast of Tabernacles 2004 in California. We are busy, with the help of competent volunteers, with the translation of some of our English booklets into French. At this time, two French booklets plus other French articles have been posted on our Websites (www.eternalgod.org; www.churchofgodacf.ca; and www.globalchurchofgod.co.uk). We are also investigating the possibility of printing hard copies of some of our French booklets for our French readers around the world who don’t have access to the Internet. In Canada we will very shortly have a general election to select the next government for the next three to four years. I find it most interesting that the two major issues that have surfaced are not the economy or health care, but same sex marriages and abortion rights for women. It is really a travesty when governments rise or fall on issues like these. What are our countries coming to? I know similar issues are being faced in the United States and Great Britain, where the legal right to kill unborn children or to marry someone of the […]

PDF  Dear Brethren and Friends, In the very short history of the Church of the Eternal God and its affiliated associates in both Canada and Great Britain (Church of God a Christian Fellowship and The Global Church of God), we have witnessed sweeping changes in the world! Now, East and West Europe are uniting! America has been effectively more and more REMOVED from world dominance in terms of its international prestige! We are beginning to see a more dominant role emerging for the Pope and Catholicism! All of these things – and more – are the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. The unfolding timeframe of Matthew 24 that Jesus Christ gave for His disciples – especially for those faithful to Him at the end of the age – is playing out before our eyes! In Matthew 24 and 25, we are told by Jesus to WATCH and to BE READY! The work that God is leading us to accomplish focuses on these very things. Just as we began with what God had given us faithful men and women and their families who believed in standing firmly in the truth – so we now continue to seek to carry on with the […]

PDF Dear Brethren, Co-workers and Friends: The people of God are truly well blessed. We have been given so many answers to the big questions & answers that even the most brilliant minds of this world today can’t understand. The booklets that we produce are a gold mine of information and truth as they faithfully reflect our understanding of the Bible. However, we can learn positively from some of the ways in which people in the world conduct themselves. Christ encouraged us to learn from the “unjust steward” (Luke 16:1-8), and He told us that the people of this world, in their generation, are even smarter or more shrewd than the children of light. That is why we are to be harmless as doves, but at the same time “wise as serpents” (Matthew 10:16). Recently, the Prime Minister in the United Kingdom as well as the President in the USA have been locked in debate over the validity of the war in Iraq. The term, “Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD),” has become a phrase commonplace in the vocabulary of most people. In the UK, we are to have yet another inquiry, and the Prime Minister and other leading politicians on […]

PDF Dear Brethren and Friends The third annual ministerial conference is now behind us as we approach the upcoming Passover season. The meetings, held in San Diego, began the evening of March 6 and were completed on March 10, 2004. Those attending the conference sessions were: Edwin and Joan Pope; Norbert and Johanna Link; David and Peggy Harris; Rene and Delia Messier; Brian and Jill Gale; Margaret Adair; and Wray and Jule Zehrung. Church representatives were present from the UK, Canada and the US. Our meetings were extremely successful. Following an extensive review of the Church’s Internet activities, plans for new design elements and greater use of Church web pages occupied the first part of this conference. The STANDINGWATCH program, which is currently available at the Church of the Eternal God website (www.eternalgod.org), will soon be available at an additional site now under construction (www.standingwatch.org). These video programs, presented by Norbert Link, highlight news events relating to prophecy along with commentary on Christian living. Increasing the circulation of the weekly news “Update” of the Church, along with recommendations for new booklets received detailed discussion. The plan is to publish and print five (5) new booklets for distribution during 2004, addressing […]