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Dear Members and Co-workers,
It is truly remarkable how fast times goes by, and how quickly prophesied end-time events are
developing. I just reread our member letter to you, dated November 30, 2001. I canít help but
wonder at how much has happened since then. In that letter, we wrote:
“More terrible things will have to happen first, before the end is here… Imagine that! The terror
attack on New York and the subsequent war in Afghanistan, for example, are only the
‘beginning’ Terror and wars will increase!”

The Bible forewarns that Christ must return to save man from himself and ensure his very
survival (Matthew 24: 21-22). By then, most people will have died. We read in Is. 24:5-6: ‘The
earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the
ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earthÖ and few
men are left.’ “God will destroy those who destroy the earth (Rev. 11:18).”
Consider, what all has occurred since then. The increasingly violent hostilities in the Middle
East have now been correctly described as “war.” The keepers of the “doomsday clock” advanced
its hands, on February 27, to seven minutes to midnight (“midnight” meaning “doomsday”). This
is the closest since 1953, when the United States tested the first hydrogen bomb.
At the same time, the friendship between the United States and Europe has somewhat cooled
off. President Bushís signing a measure in early March to impose tariffs of up to 30% on imports
of foreign steel for three years, has prompted sharp protests from the European Union, and
Great Britain and Germany in particular. European newspapers were quick to ask whether the
United States will have to be held responsible for another trade war.
And now, the world learned of a secret report by the Bush administration, directing the U.S.
military to prepare contingency plans to use nuclear weapons against at least seven countries.
As the Los Angeles Times revealed on March 9, the classified report, called the ìNuclear Posture
Review,î (NRP), was signed by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and delivered to
Congress in early January. It points out, ìThe Pentagon needs to be prepared to use nuclear
weapons against China, Russia, Iraq, North Korea, Iran, Libya and Syria. It says the weapons
could be used in three types of situations: against targets able to withstand nonnuclear attack;
in retaliation for attack with nuclear, biological or chemical weapons; or “in the event of
surprising military developments.”” The report goes on to say that “the Pentagon should be
prepared to use nuclear weapons in an Arab-Israeli conflict, in a war between China and
Taiwan, or in an attack from North Korea on the south. They might also become necessary in an
attack by Iraq on Israel or another neighbor.” Although Russia is no longer regarded an enemy,
according to the report, the huge Russian arsenal, including about 6,000 deployed warheads and
perhaps 10,000 smaller “theater” nuclear weapons, remain a concern.
Reactions to the report were mixed. Some conservative analysts, according to the L.A. Times,
insisted that the Pentagon must prepare for all possible contingencies, and that the report
outlines the right way to develop a nuclear posture for a post-Cold War world. Others
disagreed. One nuclear arms expert was quoted, stating, “”This clearly makes nuclear weapons a
tool for fighting a war, rather than deterring them.””
Much of the European press responded with fear and anger. The German weekly magazine, Der
Spiegel, pointed out in its Online editions of March 10 and 11, that China, Russia, Syria, France
and South Korea reacted with “deep shock,” “concern,” and “puzzlement.” Germany’s foreign
minister, Joschka Fischer, reemphasized the absolute need for reduction of nuclear weapons.
Der Spiegel quoted a member of the Russian Parliament as saying that a large arsenal of U.S.
nuclear weapons is directed against Russia, ìëforcing us to draw our own strategic conclusions.íî ó 2 ó
This world is indeed facing nuclear war. John Isaacs, President of the Council for a Livable World,
was quoted by the L.A. Times as saying, “They’re trying desperately to find new uses for nuclear
weapons, when their uses should be limited to deterrence. This is very, very dangerous talk.”
God’s Church has long understood that, according to Biblical prophecy, worldwide nuclear war
is coming. At the same time, we must make sure that God will not hold us, in any way,
responsible for the destruction of this world. We must do what we need to do, to be counted
very worthy to be called Godís people (cp. Luke 20:35-36; 2 Thessalonians 1:5. The Greek word
“kataxio,” translated as “counted worthy,” literally means, “reckoned very worthy.”).
God tells us that, if it were not for His people, this earth would be stricken with utter destruction
(cp. Malachi 4:6). If Christ would not intervene and stop impending cosmocide, no flesh would
be saved alive (cp. Matthew 24:22). Nobody would survive! But Christ will intervene – for the sake
of His elect people!
Can we see the tremendous responsibility that God has placed on the shoulders of His children
who are living in this last generation? If we were to fail in our Christian tasks and duties, this
world would be obliterated from existence!
If we want to be Godís children, we must be pure in His sight. When we sin, we must repent of
it. Christ died for us so that we donít need to perish (cp. John 3:16); provided, however, that we
repent and accept His sacrifice for the payment of our sins. The annual memorial of Christís death, as
commemorated by us at the Feast of Passover, reminds us of the Father’s and Christ’s awesome
love for us. We will be keeping Passover this year on the evening of March 26, 2002, reflecting on
our need for Christís sacrifice and the forgiveness of our sins (cp. 1 John 1:8-10).
But, in order to receive God’s forgiveness, we must forgive others (cp. Matthew 6:12, 14-15). At the
same time, we are not oblivious to the fact that we, too, have sinned against our fellow man. In
dealing with one another, being human as we are, we all make mistakes. We all need to repent of
wrong conduct, of wrong actions or reactions. God forgives us only when we repent!
We all need God’s forgiveness of our sins against God and man. How thankful we must be that
God is ready and willing to forgive us. Let us not hold grudges against others, and letís be equally
ready to forgive those who have wronged us.
Our commitment to God must be ongoing. We must strive not to sin. And so, following the
Passover, we will observe, for seven days, the Feast of Unleavened Bread from the sunset of
March 27 until the sunset of April 3. These seven days teach us that we must not remain in, or
return to sin, once we have received Godís forgiveness, but that we must strive to come out of sin,
and to live a sinless life. When God lives in us, we will become more and more perfect, as our
Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48), and we will be counted “very worthy,” [” kataxioî in the
Greek]“, ‘to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.’ (Luke 21:36).

We wish you all a meaningful and spiritually rewarding Passover season.
With brotherly love,
Norbert Link

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers,

The Church of the Eternal God is entering its seventh month of existence.  Month after month, God has continued to bless our unified efforts.  We, also, have all had individual roles in sustaining our small work.  Many have rallied mightily in so many ways to faithfully serve God.  Thank YOU!

Now, we are looking forward to our upcoming ministerial conference in early February.  Our goal is to broaden the efforts of the work we have before us while continuing to meet the needs of our brethren.  In both of these areas, we are mindful of the need for God’s continual help and your encouraging participation.

Brethren, although we have begun well, our task is nothing short of awesome as we seek to follow the clear Biblical challenges set before us.  The hard part is yet ahead of us—we must FINISH that part of the work God has committed to each one of us.

Christ did just that during His lifetime. Note what Christ said to the Father in John chapter 17 and verse 4: “ ‘I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.’ ”  We, brethren, who are called “Christians” face this same challenge.

How can you and I glorify God?  How can we finish what God has given us to do?

Again, we find the answer in the teachings of Christ in John 15:8, “ ‘By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.’ ”  We know that Christ and the disciples He taught individually and worked with were very fruitful—they, indeed, did glorify God.  In turn, if WE are to like- wise glorify God, WE must also be very fruitful.

That kind of productivity comes from first getting ourselves acceptable in God’s sight.  We must set our own house in order (CP Mat 7:1-5).  But we are not to stop there!

For us to “bear much fruit,” we must be actively involved in the ONGOING WORK OF JESUS CHRIST—preaching the good news of God’s imminent Kingdom and its establishment on this earth.  Let us all remember that Christ is alive and now actively guiding His Church in His office as High Priest over the spiritual household of God.

Returning to John 17, notice what Christ said to the Father about His disciples in verse 18, “ ‘As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.’ ” In verse 20, He further shows that His prayer included all of us who would later follow in the calling to God’s way:  “ ‘I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.’ ”

Considering what is here stated in the book of John, we should be ever vigilant of the opportunity that we have.  It seems that people who lose sight of their responsibility to finish the job are soon filled with confusion and lack of discernment.

In the face of our trials, are we able to stay focused on the goal that God has established for us?  Jesus did!  We find this interesting statement that He made against the backdrop of their physical hunger in John 4:34, “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.’ ”

In the difficult times in which we find ourselves—both in this trouble filled world and in the scattered remnants of the Church—we must be careful stewards of that which God has committed to us.  Many of us remember the final letter from Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong that was dated January 10, 1986, in which he stated: “It may be that the Work God has given me to do is complete, but not the Work of God’s Church, which will be faithfully doing God’s Work till Christ, the True Head of this Church, returns… The greatest work lies ahead..”  Although he died six days later, his words ring loud and true for all of us.

In Matthew 25, we find the parable of the talents.  Christ here praises and rewards those who were faithful in, as He puts it, “…a few things.”  What is implied is an important lesson for us.  These who were given their individual talents took care of what they had been given.  They didn’t dilute their efforts by focusing on the amount of talents that others might have been given.  They didn’t make excuses—unlike the faithless and fearful individual with the one talent.  They simply took care of their master’s goods until he returned.

Brethren, the first two servants finished their jobs.  They were fruitful with those things entrusted to them.

What are our talents?

From the standpoint of the work ahead of us, our talents involve you, the converted Christians who live their lives dedicated to God.  It is you, the elect of God, whose prayers God hears.  It is you with whom we are joined to the Father and Christ by one Spirit—called brethren with Christ!

In 2 Timothy 4 and verse 7, Paul states: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  He participated in the same task that has been placed before all Christians—finishing their individual part in the work of God!

We have MUCH AHEAD  of us—as individuals and as a Church.  We have begun to produce booklets that are carefully prepared.  Right now, this is material that each of us can use, personally.  However, these publications are destined to go beyond the borders of our membership.  They will serve as very important tools in reaching people with the truth of God.

Our Web site has valuable information to assist both the Church and those drawn by God to His way.  In addition, we have continued to organize the administration of the Church to fulfill God’s instructions in caring for as many of His people as He gives us opportunity.  The ministry is endeavoring to visit local groups as resources permit.

But this is all preliminary to those things God may have in store for us.

Brethren, let each one of us continue to zealously commit ourselves to our calling from God.  He has placed us in His spiritual body—His Church.  It is God who has given us of His Spirit along with an important job that we must be prepared and dedicated to finishing—His WORK!

In Christ’s Service,

David J. Harris

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Dear Brethren and Co-workers,

As we begin to take stock of where we are after the Feast of Tabernacles, the first thing we want to do is to give thanks and credit where it is due. What a peaceful, rewarding and joyful feast we have just experienced! God has blessed us richly in every way. Our hope and our strength have been renewed, and we are continuously being encouraged to go forward. As the dust settles, more and more brethren who have remained steadfast in the faith have been coming together in this common effort.

Once again, God has given us the opportunity and a voice to be able to declare His words. Therefore, our thanks are twofold – first of all to God, and then to all the brethren. Your prayers, your encouragement, your willing offerings, your tithes, your voluntary service and your gifts to God make it all possible.

We find an example of this kind of “thanks” when King David was inspired to pour out his gratitude to  God, and to all the brethren for their very generous freewill gifts:

“Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory

and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;

Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all.

Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In

Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And

to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, We thank You And

praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people,

That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?

For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.

For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers;

Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope.” (1 Ch 29:10-15)

What a blessing it is for us, not only to be a part of God’s great plan, but also to be able to continue to actively serve Him. Less than four months ago, we did not know if it would be possible for all of us to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles together this year. There was no assurance we would be able to continue the full time preaching and publishing of the whole uncompromised gospel. We asked ourselves, “How long will we be able to boldly stand for the Truth and uphold the moral high ground?”

As brethren, scattered geographically, but together in spirit, we can only thank God when we consider what He has done for all of us. He has been richly blessing us as it says in Luke 6, “in giving us good measure, pressed down and running over.” Because of the blessings of God, and the very generous nature of His people, we have come away from the Fall Holy Days, not only with a renewed vigor to continue His work, but also with the financial resources to do so. We are not ashamed to express our generosity just as King David did. For this, we give You, O Lord, the thanks and the glory.

Our brethren have come away from this feast having been fed with the undistorted meaning of the Holy Days. All of us are invigorated and stirred to action. Many are saying, “This was the best feast ever – or he best feast in a long, long time.” Let’s not let down. We must hold fast, be zealous, and remain uncompromising as we continue to do God’s will.

During these Fall Holy Days, whether in Great Britain, USA, Belgium, Canada, Philippines, at home or wherever our brethren were observing the feast days, there was a renewed awareness of end time events and an increased expectancy for the return of Jesus Christ. These are dangerous times. Never before have there been so many “winds of doctrine and prophetic speculations” clouding men’s minds, to draw away God’s people.

Because conditions are dangerous and changing rapidly, we must speak and write with a renewed clarity and fervor. Never before, on the way to and from the feast, have we seen armed military men patrolling air terminals in the United States. The fear of terrorism is beginning to take its toll, not only on the peaceful environment that we had in America, but terrorism’s impact is affecting the economy in a way that has the financial experts dismayed. Worse yet, world geopolitics are being rewritten. The real danger for us, however, is of a spiritual nature. Time is short, and there is much to be done.

How will God continue to call some “at the last hour” as in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard? God’s work is not yet complete – we must be “so doing” when Christ returns. If God’s work is not over, then our work is not over. For our little group, this is the essence of our existence – we must continue – it is not our strength, but God who does the Work. But, brethren, we do have our part in it.

God is pleased with our standing up, not seeking security or status, and continuing in His uncompromised Truth. He would not be pleased with haughtiness and arrogance. So, we say thank you, humbly, to our Father for sustaining us and allowing us to go forward.

As much as we are being blessed, we must always remember then, that it is not by our might, power, or any such thing. Let us continue to pray for a humble attitude, recognizing that anything we give to God already belongs to Him. Or, as David so eloquently put it, “For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You.” (1 Ch 29:14)

We must always remember that God’s plan is sure, and right on His schedule. We can be happy, and rest assured for that. Success will be His, and He wants us to share in that ultimate success with Him and his Son, Jesus Christ. Yes, we have much to be thankful for, brethren.

It is only our Father’s appreciation that any of us truly desire. Let’s recognize that He is the one who says to us, “Thank you.” And, as we jointly thank God, let me also say to you, thank you brethren, most of all for standing strong in God’s Truth.

Your brother, in Christian love,

Warren M. Zehrun

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Dear Brethren,

God’s festival season is almost upon us, though it seems we just completed the observance of the Feast of Pentecost. Time seems to move so rapidly, yet we are definitely looking forward to the upcoming feast days with great anticipation and excitement.

God tells us we are to keep His feast days in their seasons. God has a definite timetable He is working on, brethren. We must stay in tune with that timetable. We are about to enter the fall festival season, which has tremendous significance for the people of God, as well as for the whole world. Yet, most in the world are totally unaware of the awesome events that will soon overtake this society we are living in.

The four festivals that we will be observing within the next five weeks picture the return of Christ to this earth; the placing of the legitimate blame for the sins of this world squarely on the head of Satan the devil, where they belong; the establishment of the Government of God on this earth under Jesus Christ to rule the earth in righteousness for 1,000 years; and the time of the second resurrection and the opportunity for all of mankind who never heard the real truths of God, to come to an understanding, and to decide for themselves if they will have a part in God’s ultimate plan for all of mankind for all eternity.

These are awesome times we live in, brethren. Holy men have written of these things over the past 6,000 years as they were inspired by Almighty God, to show His great purpose to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. The time is now just before us when all of these things are about to be fulfilled.

Two weeks from today we will observe the Feast of Trumpets and just nine days later, the Day of Atonement. Four evenings later we begin the eight-day festival, which includes the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day. Why do we do this from year to year? God gives us the answer in Leviticus 23, where He outlines His feasts. Notice in verse four where He says, “These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.”

These festivals have been ordained by Almighty God to be kept in their seasons, forever. They were kept by the Prophets and by Holy Men in the days covered by the Old Testament writings and even before. They were kept by Jesus Christ and the Apostles during the time of the New Testament Church. God will require His people to keep them during the Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment period and beyond. God requires that we observe these days, today.

It is God’s desire that we not forget, that when He brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt, they dwelt in booths (temporary dwellings) (Lev. 23: 39-43). It is, in fact a time of rejoicing for God’s people. It is a time for us to stop and reflect on God’s great plan and what He has in store for those who love His Ways(Deut. 16: 13-15) (Lev. 23: 40).

In the account written in the book of Nehemiah, we see that when the Jews came out from under the captivity of the Babylonians, “ …Ezra the priest brought the Law before the congregation of men and women and all could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month” {Feast of Trumpets} (Nehemiah 8: 2). “And they found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month” {Feast of Tabernacles} (Verse 14).

Notice now, (Verses 17-18). “So the whole congregation of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner.” These people were rejoicing because they were able to understand what God desired of them and they were obedient in this command.

We are told by the prophet Isaiah that, in that day “… the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing” (Isaiah 35: 1-2). “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing. With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness. And sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35: 10).

This festival season pictures a time of joy, brethren. And happiness will be the order of the day. It is God’s desire that we observe the meaning of these festival days by rejoicing together at the various places He has chosen to place His name. In that regard, we need to be certain we are each willing to invest what it takes to have joy in our lives and to give joy to others.

God tells us (Deut 16: 15) that when we obey His command to keep this sacred feast as He has prescribed, “…the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.” Of course, we are not to appear before our God at His festival empty-handed (Deut 16: 16).

He requires an offering based on the blessing He has given us. He requires, also, that we come before Him to eat, and to enjoy the tithe we have saved for this purpose, as we are to appear before Him to learn to fear Him, always (Deut 14: 22-27). And finally, we are to come to hear and to learn to keep the Law of God (Deut31: 11-13).

So, brethren, this is a time God has provided for His people to really come to know one another and to come to learn more of Him. We will have this opportunity to be together, to set a right example for one another, to learn to hold fast the truths we have been given and to make these days a real blessing for all of God’s people.

Let us attend this festival season together, brethren. Let us rejoice in the fact that God is a merciful God, easy to be entreated, willing to forgive our sins if we have a repentant attitude. And let us be thankful for God’s Spirit dwelling within us, which allows us to have a mind receptive to God and all His Ways. It is through that Spirit that God will raise us up in that day and we will be changed, and will be like the Father and the Son.

Yes, we have much to be thankful for, brethren. But the real happiness and joy and prosperity pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles will come upon this earth when the righteous rule of Jesus Christ under the Father is established. When that happens, the entire universe will shout for joy!

In Christian love,

Edwin Pope