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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers,

Here we are at the time of year when we make the last big push before the Fall Holy Days begin. The Feast of Trumpets is on Monday, September 30th. The Day of Atonement is on Wednesday, October 9th. The Feast of Tabernacles begins Monday, October 14th, lasting for 7 days, culminating with the Last Great Day on Monday, October 21st. All of these days begin, of course, with the previous evening, at sunset. With only a few short weeks away, now is the time when we make sure all of our arrangements are in order. We inform employers and teachers, finalize our travel plans, and prepare hundreds of other details so we can observe these Holy Days with the fullness of our hearts and minds. There is always a lot to do during this time of year.

As busy as we are with our preparations, Satan is just as busy with his discouragements. His desire is to steal the joy of keeping the Feast days away from us, intending to harden our hearts, enticing us to turn away from God. If Satan is successful in convincing us that all of the work it takes to keep the Holy Days is not worth the effort, he will pull us further away from the Truth and from our love of God. His evil efforts have a purpose, and they are not for our benefit. Satan wants to draw our attention away from God, away from righteousness, away from obedience, luring us into the trap of death.

I suppose that’s a very grim way of putting it, but the fact is that we cannot allow ourselves to be convinced that God’s Way of Life is too hard, so that we begin to make compromises. It is no exaggeration to say that our salvation is at stake when we choose how we demonstrate our obedience. We cannot forget that Satan’s desire is for our destruction. It may not seem that our very lives are threatened in our day-to-day experiences as we encounter difficulties. However, his most effective methods involve deceiving us to believe that our lives will be “just fine” if we choose to do something for our own convenience, rather than adhere to God’s Way. The deception that the observance of the Feast days in God’s Way is too hard, and that we can choose not to keep them to suit our convenience can lead us irrevocably down the path to destruction.

Our best defense against Satan’s attack is to make sure we understand why we’re keeping the Feast days in the first place. We can learn from the parable of the sower, in which the seeds sown by the wayside were devoured. Jesus Christ explained the meaning, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside” (Matthew 13:19). If we hear the instruction of God, but fail to develop our understanding of why it is important for us to obey, the Truth becomes vulnerable to being taken away from us. Our understanding of why we keep the Feast days will strengthen our defenses against the onslaught of Satan’s temptations to compromise.

For this reason, we ask the perennial question, “Why are we here?” Our answer illuminates our understanding of the Truth and its meaning for us. Are we keeping the Feast this year because our friends or family are going? Are we keeping the Feast because we need a social vacation? Are we keeping the Feast for any other reasons that are exclusively motivated by worldly delight? If so, it will be beneficial for us to think a little harder about the meaning of the Feast days that God commands. If we don’t understand the importance of keeping the Feast according to God’s commandments, we are vulnerable to losing the Truth and falling away.

But rather, if we choose to keep the Feast because we love learning about God’s plan and dedicating our lives to living in Christian righteousness, we’re on a much more promising path. Our understanding of why we love the Truth protects us against deception and discouragement. The Truth must have meaning in our lives if we intend to keep it. Staying close to God begins by loving the Truth He gives us.

The inevitable obstacles that we will encounter over the next month as we make preparations to observe the Fall Holy Days do not need to trip us up. By solidifying our understanding of why we care to obey God, we fortify our defenses against Satan’s deceptions. The stronger our convictions are to uphold righteousness, the more powerful we become to endure adversity. The love of the Truth strengthens us to prevent us from falling away.

While we commit to the hard work ahead of us, we also need to remember that our efforts are not in vain. We have a great deal of joy that we have to look forward to! Indeed, God makes the commandment to rejoice during the Feast days we observe. Recall the instruction from Deuteronomy 16:15, “Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.” It is so encouraging to know that God wants us to be joyful in our observance. Satan would have us believe that these observances are burdensome, but we know much better. We have a tremendous amount of happiness awaiting us in the weeks ahead while we draw close to God and our brethren, to worship together in one spirit.

In Christ’s Service,

Eric Rank

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Dear Members, Co-Workers and Friends,

In 1961, I was partaking of a track meet in Langley, British Columbia, as the second leg of a four-by-one-hundred-yard relay. The race started off well and by the time the first runner reached me, we were in second place. After the passing of the baton, I had to put all my effort into catching up to the first runner, and about halfway, I actually passed him. The pass-off to the third runner went smoothly and now being in first place, I thought we would come in first, and it looked like a sure victory. Unfortunately, the final pass-off went poorly, and we were overtaken and came in second.

Even though we finished the race in a disappointing second place, we did finish, which is the important thing.

I watched on TV a runner in a quarter-mile race, and about three-quarters of the way through, he suffered an injury of some kind—a pulled muscle or tendon. He had been in a good position to win the race, but was slowed down to a walk, which he continued to the finish line with a standing ovation from the crowd, applauding him for not quitting in spite of his injury.

The apostle Paul talks about the race we are in as Christians. 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 says: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.”

The admonition is to run in a manner to receive the prize of eternal life. From a spiritual standpoint, this does not mean that we have to come in first; only, that we have to finish the race without quitting.

Quitting or dropping out gives us nothing in a way of reward. Notice Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”

Notice the admonition here which is to run with endurance and to keep our eyes on the crown to be given to us, and not to be sidetracked by the cares of this world’s distractions of everyday life which amount to frivolous things in comparison.

Our race and purpose is to be engaged in the preaching of the gospel which is the real reason all of us have been called at this time. We are to stay focused and to endure to the finish line in order to obtain the crown of salvation as our prize.

In the scope of enduring to the end, our reward can increase—the more we repent and overcome and utilize the talents God gives us, the more we can achieve a higher position of rulership in the Kingdom of God.

Let us look at David’s attitude towards his reward:

Psalm 84:10 states: “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

He would be happy to be the doorkeeper as long as he was there in the Kingdom. We know of course that he will be king over the nation of Israel in the future, as Jeremiah 30:9 tells us: “But they shall serve the LORD their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up for them.” Ezekiel 37:23-24 adds: “They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God. David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.”

Remember the parable of the minas (Luke 19:11-27)? The ten servants started each with one mina. One servant gained ten minas. He was given authority over ten cities. (If he had put in less effort, he may have been given rule over perhaps nine cities instead.) But another one who had also received one mina gained nothing, and so even the mina which he had received was taken away from him. This is tantamount to our not running the race of supporting the Work; to our not continuously serving, repenting and overcoming, while thinking instead that just holding on to the truth in a little corner, without using and applying it, is good enough.

Rulership positions will be given as rewards for our efforts in supporting the Work of God and overcoming.

Certain positions have already been assigned. Notice what Christ said to John and his brother, in Matthew 20:23: “So He said to them, ‘You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.’”

As potential rulers, we should strive to go the distance to achieve the best possible position available to us, which Christ is anxious to give us. For instance, we read in Matthew 19:28 that Christ told His early apostles: “… ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’”

The first resurrection is the better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35) because we cannot die anymore and also because we will already be part of the management team under Christ in the Millennium. As the human family grows in the Millennium, so will our responsibilities grow as managers and rulers, working with and directing potential children of God.

God has placed an awesome future before every member of His Church. We need to look to that future with joy and anticipation. We need to run with endurance and to finish the race, so that we will receive our full reward as rulers and the gift of eternal life as our crown for being victorious winners.

With Christian love,

Rene Messier (Canada)

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Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends,

With the plethora of man’s differing beliefs, there doesn’t seem to be an end to the growing polarization of ideologies. We see impassioned speeches, peaceful gatherings and civil unrest—all to further particular points of view. But mankind only grows further apart because the efforts to sustain beliefs are based upon false wisdom. Paul warned Timothy of such reasoning, “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith” (1 Timothy 6:20-21).

It is easy to become passionate about worldly viewpoints, such as politics and science, because we are surrounded by our unconverted friends, neighbors and even family that espouse those beliefs. Once we start bending our ears to that kind of knowledge, we are in jeopardy of straying from our faith. And once our reliance on the foundation of Christ begins to crumble, the roots of sin will dig deep and become entrenched. We cannot be friends with this world! “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

We don’t begin our day with the intention of sinning—sin comes as we drift away from God. We must preface any new thoughts or actions with the question, “Does this bring glory to God?” We know this world is not ruled by God, thus we cannot sustain ourselves by any of the “truths” created in it. We read in Proverbs, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25). All that Satan has built is finite and will come to an end. We must focus on that which is eternal.

The time is not far off when the divide between the world’s inhabitants will no longer be only between themselves but will turn against the true followers of Christ. “But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows” (Mark 13:7-8). If we continue to try and please the ungodly around us instead of God, we will be let down, “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (Luke 21:16-17).

We can only rely on God to remain on the right side of the Truth. The Commandments handed down by countless generations are still valid and poignant for the world today. Christ, who gave these commandments to Moses, reiterated their importance for man today, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14). 

Let us strive to have the Mind of God in the smallest of our daily decisions. If we do so, God will give us the greatest of all rewards, a place in His eternal Family.

With Christian love,

Robb Harris

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Dear Members, Co-Workers and Friends,

Even those who are not familiar with or interested in biblical prophecy begin to realize that this world, as we know it, won’t be able to survive much longer. Scientists moved their doomsday clock to 2 minutes to midnight, with midnight designating a global catastrophe and potentially the end of mankind. 

Among the many threats to human survival, nuclear war and a bioengineered pandemic are listed as leading candidates. The growing threat to wildlife and millions of species is mentioned as well. We also hear about the real possibility of huge earthquakes striking many parts of the world, accompanied by tremendous tsunamis.

The eruption of the Supervolcano in the Yellowstone National Park with horrible consequences for large parts of continental America is also considered to be a real possibility. Even a devastating collision of the earth with a huge asteroid must not be dismissed outright, as such events have taken place in the past. 

Bible scholars know that God predicts many frightening events as a prelude to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. But there have always been frightful occurrences in the past. Still, Christ has not returned. And so, we say in the introduction of our new free booklet, “How Can We Know that Jesus Christ’s Return Is Near?”: 

“Based on the upheaval at the time of Martin Luther, he believed that Christ would return soon, as did those who were plagued by the devastating Black Death. Strong earthquakes, heavenly occurrences, devastating natural disasters, famine, pestilences and great wars prompted many to believe that they would experience the soon-coming return of Christ. They all looked at certain signs and predictions, which were startling and frightening, but they did not look at the entire picture.”

We continue to ask these pertinent questions:

“Why do we feel that it is any different today? What specific world developments lead us to believe that Christ’s return is indeed near, and why are we confident that we are right at this point in time?”

The answers to these most important questions are fully explained in our new booklet, which we are enclosing with this letter. As we observe the fulfillment of major prophetic end-time events as described in our booklet, we KNOW that Christ’s Return is indeed very near. 

Let us face reality: The Return of Jesus Christ is the ONLY HOPE for this dying world and the survival of mankind. Otherwise, we would all be doomed. If Christ were not to return in OUR lifetime, no human being and no animal would survive! While terrible events are ahead of us, the GOOD NEWS is that Christ WILL return VERY SOON to end this present Satan-ruled evil civilization, and usher in God’s rule over and on this earth. 

Thanks be to God for that.

With Christian love,

Norbert Link
Evangelist

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Dear Brethren, Co-Workers and Friends,

The subject of sustainability is being used a lot when talking about saving natural resources or referring to business practices. The word “sustainability” has the following connotations: “The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level, such as: ‘the sustainability of economic growth’”; or “the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance: ‘the pursuit of global environmental sustainability.’”

In essence, when something is sustainable, it means there is no fluctuation, but rather stability. In gardening, there is a concept such as sustainable gardening. This means, the food grown is not harming the earth, so no harmful pesticides are used or methods that will destroy anything in the long run. In a business sense, a business that maintains sustainable growth does more good than harm. Unfortunately in the United States and in many other countries around the world, we see absolute greed and corruption in order to obtain money and wealth. There doesn’t seem to be a care for sustainability in most areas. Some, however, have begun to realize now that things are starting to break down because of the practices that have been employed. But “too little, too late”, as the saying goes.

As Christians, we too have to have the concept of sustainability firmly in mind and rooted in our lives. We have to live our lives as if we had a lifetime ahead of us, while concentrating on being ready now for God’s Kingdom. And we must continue to learn how to sustain what we have, and apply the idea of growth as well.

Unfortunately, as human beings, we often fear change. It is easy to ignore what is uncomfortable and to wish to maintain our comfortable status quo. Obstructionist attitudes range from the denial of problems to indifference; to nonchalant resignation or to blind confidence in continuing to do the wrong things. We cannot fall into these types of mindsets.

Christ very clearly commands us to count the cost before we sign up to become Christians—before we commit to becoming baptized and walking God’s Way of Life. In Luke 14:28–33, Christ tells us: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

But this is also a warning for us to continue, no matter what. Yes, we sin; yes, we fail; but even though we should not sin, when we do and repent and turn to God, we can appreciate God’s great mercy and forgiveness, encouraging us not to give up; not to walk away because all appears to be too hard. We may be tempted to do just that, rather than digging in and working things out.

We cannot live this Way of Life without acknowledging that it takes constant effort and foresight. It is not easy to have a sustainable Christian life. It requires being willing to look at ourselves and to change. It requires being willing to stand out and be different in this world. It requires sacrifice and courage. It requires constant study, application of what we learn in the Bible, and prayer. It seems that these things would be easy to sustain, but when one has a full-time job, 40+ hours of work a week, children, and all the other issues that pop up in life, it can be VERY challenging sometimes. And it is then that it becomes even more important to focus on God.

There are so many warnings about this in the Bible. Notice for example Revelation 3:11: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” And 1 Corinthians 9:25: “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

We must “hold fast,” “compete,” do everything possible to win. This is why we have warnings (2 Corinthians 4:8-11; Matthew 5:10-12; 2 Timothy 3:12; Philippians 1:29). But we also have much encouragement (Philippians 1:6; 2:13; Psalm 138:8; 1 Corinthians 1:8; Hebrews 12:2). There is no end to encouraging Scriptures, but they can be hard to appreciate in times of trials. We need to remember that trials are there to test us. We are to become purified and stronger, and God wants to see where we will turn. Will we turn to despair and sorrow? Will we wallow in self-pity and doubt, thinking maybe we are not good enough, maybe we can’t overcome our problems and deal with our issues? Maybe God really doesn’t care about us?

In order to sustain ourselves in this Christian walk, we must continue to study the Bible and to pray about all things. Philippians 4:6-7 says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 6:18 adds that we are to pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

Do we truly see and understand that there is nothing which ought to hold us back from sustainability and growth? Do we believe that? It takes a lot of faith and courage. We have come so far. Why would we want to quit now? When we look at the pain and suffering we have endured, we can become encouraged and draw strength from the fact that God has helped us in arriving where we are now. Yes, we will have much more to go through and to accomplish, but with God’s power in us, we can do this.

We have observed and celebrated the Feast of Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, and we are now looking forward to the Feast of Pentecost. Let us continue in strength and find the sustainability in our lives to concentrate deeply on the meaning of that next Holy Day, and then onward to the other Holy Days that follow. We are encouraged to push on, and we can do this with God’s help by remaining faithful, while our hearts and minds are fully rooted in the Truth. Then, we can pray with utter conviction: May God’s Kingdom come soon!

With Christian love,

Kalon Mitchell

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

The past several weeks have been a very busy and productive time. The annual Church Conference (2019) was conducted during the first week of April. Norbert Link, Dave Harris, Rene Messier, Brian Gale, Michael Link, Eric Rank, Robb Harris and Kalon Mitchell were the ministers who were able to attend. Meetings were conducted in Escondido, California.

Following a review of the Minutes for the 2018 Conference, summaries for activities in the USA, Canada, the UK, continental Europe, Australia and Africa were presented.

Many details were discussed regarding the various Church websites. We especially focused on upcoming promotions for our literature and how to improve our responses to the public. The past year has seen growth in responses to booklets being offered during Norbert Link’s English-language StandingWatch programs. Europe, in the German language, continues to see steady interest for the sermonette, sermon and AufPostenStehen postings and the offered literature. In fact, we have found it necessary to reprint several booklets.

We explored needs for further work on our French website—especially French translations of our English material. The need for Spanish translations and even websites was considered. Right now, German members translate our English booklets into German and also part of the Update each week to use for announcements during Sabbath services.

We had roundtable discussions regarding general questions pertaining to the prerequisites and requirements of ordinations; how to respond to baptism requests by either meeting the person at their location or having them come to a Church area; improving our administrative communications with one another; and plans for new booklets and Spring and Fall Feast arrangements for 2020. Additionally, we examined our overall approach to presenting our services over the Internet, with a reminder that especially in the English-speaking world, we are indeed standing in front of a potentially very diverse audience; and we reiterated our determination to preach the full counsel of God in a bold and unapologetic manner irrespective of whether others, including imagined or real splinter groups of the Church of God, like or reject what we teach.

Some of the topics we covered will become the source of future articles, sermonettes and sermons, and we all felt that there was depth and openness during our meetings. These annual Conferences really do serve to deepen our unity and to help in fulfilling God’s calling and the Work He has given us to complete.

Board Meetings for the Church of the Eternal God in the USA; the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada; and the Global Church of God in the UK were conducted in separate sessions. In these meetings, the annual income and expenses, including salaries, are being reviewed and approved by all Board members. Apart from constituting legal requirements by the respective governments, these Board meetings establish and confirm the way our organizations function in legal and administrative matters to meet governmental scrutiny and review.

This year, Brian and Jill Gale arrived from the UK a few days before the Conference and stayed in the US until after the Days of Unleavened Bread. Mr. Gale carried the responsibility for Passover in California and delivered a sermonette and several sermons during that time. He also recorded two sermonettes and two sermons in our studio to be played in future Church services. Rene and Delia Messier drove to the Conference from Canada; Rene gave the sermon on the weekly Sabbath; and the couple were able to visit some of the brethren on their return trip before conducting Passover services in Canada. Also, Kalon and Manuela Mitchell, along with their two sons, traveled to Oregon to conduct Passover, and Kalon presented the morning services on the First Day of Unleavened Bread.

Following the Conference, Norbert Link and Michael Link flew to Germany to conduct Passover services and observe the Days of Unleavened Bread with the brethren there. They gave sermons and other messages in German, while the local German ministry also delivered messages during those days. Along with conducting a wedding and counseling sessions, the ministry baptized two people during this time.

Following many months of legal challenges, we are pleased to announce that our Church organization was registered in Germany and that it has obtained tax-exempt status, effective January 1, 2020.

Brethren, thank you for your continued support in this Work—into which God has placed us all! Your prayers for the success of this Conference have been vital. Remember to stay strong and committed to God and His Church, because the time is short. In his last address in Germany before his return to the USA, Norbert Link mentioned that he hopes to see everyone again at the Feast of Tabernacles 2019 and that no one will leave before then. This kind of admonition has been given repeatedly over the years, and as far as we know, since the last Feast, only one person decided to leave the Church and return to the world… but even one person is one too many. Remember too, “we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5).

In Christ’s Service,
(On Behalf of the Ministry)

Dave Harris
Director of US Church Administration

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Dear Members:

The time is approaching once again as we move towards an occasion and a decision that is the most important in our personal lives. Those of us who are baptized and became begotten Children of God—those of us who made at that time the lifelong commitment to be obedient to Him—will make the decision to take the Passover in a worthy manner. Yes, it is a choice, just as it was a choice we made to become baptized in the first place—just as God chose US to come out of this world, by revealing to us His perfect knowledge and His plan. That is why we are all here, because we have answered His calling (compare Ephesians 1:4-5; Romans 8:28-30).

Has our life been easier since last year or has it been difficult at times? Have we encountered trials? Have we thought about giving up? For some of us, this may be our first Passover and for others, this could be our 10th or 20th or 30th and more. But the number of Passovers we have participated in doesn’t matter. What matters is what we do right now and how we prepare for the Passover evening of Thursday, April 18, 2019.

We should put it into this perspective with the mindset that the Passover coming up should be the most important one we take, for we move forward in our goal to perfection. We are to improve ourselves, and when we take the Passover, we are given a clean slate in that we should live righteously, as God expects of us. We need to have the conviction in our hearts and our minds that we will improve, that we will live better lives. 

NOT taking the Passover would be a grave mistake. Finding excuses and reasons not to take it, based on personal problems, grudges that we may have with one another, which we find difficult letting go of, or whatever the case may be, shows that we aren’t strong enough to overcome. Not to partake of the Passover would be devastating for our eternal salvation. We would have no part with Christ (John 6:48-58). When we were baptized, we chose to overcome. We made that choice and were convinced that this is what we HAD to do. 

Do we really long for and pray for God’s soon-coming Kingdom or do we still doubt that it will come soon, in our lifetime? Our perspective on prayer, in what we pray for, should be just as important. We all want a better future, a future without pain, suffering, sorrow and worry, but rather one of happiness, joy and righteousness. That result begins with living a sinless life the best that we can. Although we are not perfect, we should be heading towards perfection in how we live. 

Removing sin in our lives is pictured in the days that immediately follow the Passover. For seven days we are focused on what we are not to eat during that time—that is anything leavened, as part of our God-given duty to keep the Days of Unleavened Bread as described, for example, in Exodus 12:14-20; 23:15; Leviticus 23:6-8; Numbers 28:17-25; and Deuteronomy 16:3-8. Rather, we are to eat unleavened bread during that time which pictures sincerity, truth and lack of hypocrisy (1 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 12:1). 

Before that, we make the effort to clean our households, cars and belongings by removing all leavened products, as during the Days of Unleavened Bread, leaven pictures sin for us. This goes to show us just how much effort it takes to remove sin out of our lives, and to do this on a continuous basis. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). That is why we need to be focused and prepared and pray always to God for strength so that we can overcome until Christ comes back to establish His Kingdom here on earth.  

The most important decision we have made in our lives is to follow God and to live HIS Way of Life until the very end, by DOING what He expects of us to do, what He has predestined for us before time began. We can’t even comprehend how incredible it will be in His future Kingdom; and what we observe today, by keeping the Sabbath and His Holy Days, gives us a foretaste of what is to come.  

But we have a job to do first, a choice to make, to continue to fulfill His perfect plan for us, and to hold on to our crown (Revelation 2:10; 3:11; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4). We must not throw our crown away or do anything which will cause it to be lost!  

With all of that in mind, we are wishing you a meaningful and spiritually rewarding Passover and seven Days of Unleavened Bread.

With Christian love,

Michael Link

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

As I write this letter, the UK is consumed with Brexit, with a country, families and politicians split on where their loyalties should lie. There has been, and still is, antagonism at all levels of society where even the politicians of all parties are not united within their own group. This all follows the result of the referendum on 23rd June 2016 where the result to leave the European Union was 52% against 48% who wanted to remain.

Since that time, negotiations have been ongoing between the UK and the EU with a withdrawal scheduled to occur on 29th March 2019.  Many who have been following these events may now be tired of the wrangling, disputing, arguments, bickering, squabbling, in-fighting and general all round disagreeable altercations that have, and still are, taking place.

It would be a waste of everyone’s time in this brief letter to try and re-hash the main arguments of both sides of the divide but, suffice to say, it is the biggest political development for many decades in the UK. Many are genuinely concerned about staying in the EU—or leaving it, as the people voted. Whatever happens, the UK will be on a downward slope towards unprecedented times of great difficulty that is not understood by the British people nor by its politicians.

The Church of God has long warned that the nations descending from the ancient nation of Israel will be attacked by the European Union. In our free booklet The Fall and Rise of Britain and America (published in 2005), we read the following on page 40:

“The United States, Great Britain and the State of Israel in the Middle East will suffer at the hands of the rising superpower which is now developing in Europe. Scripture identifies the superpower as the prophesied seventh and last revival of the Holy Roman Empire in the form of ten nations or groups of nations. Europe will be led by an Assyrian king (‘King Jareb’), that is, by a powerful German-speaking leader. God will use Europe and especially the modern Assyrian ‘king’ to punish modern Israel and Judah for their spiritual treachery toward Him. Hosea 6:7 states: ‘… they (Ephraim and the modern house of Israel, as well as modern Judah, compare verse 4) transgressed the covenant… they dealt treacherously with Me.’ Notice, too, Hosea 8:7: ‘They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind.’”

Our politicians are oblivious to anything other than the material; never it seems for a moment that they consider why the nation is experiencing such chaos. These same politicians are the ones who push through ungodly laws to satisfy some minority groups, and others, under the guise of equality; not, it seems, even for a moment realising the damage they are doing. God promised blessings or cursings (retribution) for the behaviour of the ancient Israelites as can be read in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, and history shows us that they failed miserably. These same blessings and cursings are applicable to the descendants of Israel and Judah today as God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6), but this is not understood by our current leaders nor by the mainstream churches.

The political system in the UK is to have a government and an opposition. Being opposed to something denotes disagreement which it turns out to be in practice most of the time. Wouldn’t it be a real step forward if the word “opposition” was replaced by “the co-operation”? So many don’t want to co-operate as this would probably reduce their chances of high office for the politically ambitious, but it could work well for the country.

In God’s Kingdom, democracy will be a thing of the past. Sir Winston Churchill observed that “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others”, and that is probably correct as long as man is in charge. When Christ returns, He will govern with love and perfection. We read in the book of Isaiah a prophecy that should thrill all of us who long for God’s Kingdom to come: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

“The government will be upon His shoulder” tells us who will be in charge, and this verse looks to a time, still future, when Christ will reign over a literal, earthly, kingdom that will encompass the whole earth.  In Daniel 2:44 we read: “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” In Zechariah 14:9 we read: “And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—‘The LORD is one,’ And His name one.”

When Jesus Christ does return to this earth, Godly government will be the order of the day and “Brexit” and all of the other political manoeuverings and machinations of man, in every country around the world, will be history, and a glorious new world will begin. And it will last forever!

When we hear of all that is going on in the world, we can become downcast and discouraged, and Satan will be somewhere there in the mix. Let us think about, and pray for, God’s Kingdom to come as we are instructed to do (see Matthew 6:10) and make sure that we make it into God’s Kingdom for eternity, with Jesus Christ in charge, not man, and that will be perfect, just perfect!

With Christian love,

Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

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Dear Members, Co-Workers and Friends,

“Expect the unexpected” is a saying commonly used as preparation advice for unpredictable circumstances and situations. Traveling to new places or beginning a new commitment in life that disrupts our current patterns are examples of events for which we might apply such advice. By expecting the unexpected, we can theoretically prepare ourselves to adapt when we need to change direction at short notice.

However, in this age, applying the tenet of expecting the unexpected is exercised less and less. When life is going along according to normal routine without any plans for change or impending threat of disruption, are we in a position where we can adapt to the unexpected when we don’t expect it?

Today, an increasing amount of action is based upon decisions rooted in predictability. The recent advent of artificial intelligence inherently involves predictability. From automobiles that can predict when a car in front of it is slowing down, to suggestions of what videos we might want to watch next, information about expected results in controlled contexts drive decisions that affect our lives. Surprisingly, a lot of this actually works! To an increasing degree, many of the circumstances in our lives are proving to be predictable. But not everything can be predictable!

The problem with the effectiveness of predictability is that it creates a false sense of security. If we can trust that automobiles will drive themselves safely, we don’t have to dedicate any effort thinking about driving ourselves, which might seem great. However, when we rely on expected behavior in so much of our lives; when we rely on the rules being followed, we leave ourselves exposed to the risk of the unexpected happening when the rules of behavior are not adhered to.

We know from the teachings of the Bible that most in the world will be caught off-guard when certain disaster takes place on the earth. “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, also compare Matthew 24:43-44, Luke 21:34, Revelation 3:3). The pride of man in our present society has lulled such a delusional slumber that it is generally believed that problems can be predicted and prevented without the help, or even existence, of God. The Bible explains that this is foolishness. We know that the knowledge of man himself is diminutive in comparison with the glorious knowledge and power of God. Mankind cannot possibly predict the terrible ways that institutions and nations will collapse. As we read, destruction will be sudden.

The thing that’s most shocking about the fact that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night is that it is not a secret! The warnings written in this letter come from the Bible, which has been printed billions of times and been made available to people all over the world. The teachings have been presented for thousands of years, by millions of people. Yet, as we can see, the completeness of the warning to expect the unexpected will not be understood by most. What we know and can expect with all certainty, is that the events that Jesus Christ describes in Matthew 24 about the beginning of sorrows and the tribulation will absolutely take place. Even though the signs of the times clearly indicate that Christ’s return cannot be far off, we don’t know yet—and cannot predict with specificity—exactly how and when the details of those events described in Matthew 24 will become manifest. Those details are the ones that affect our lives most directly. Tragic as it may seem, there is absolutely nothing that anyone can do to prevent doom and destruction prophesied in the Bible from taking place. The only thing that anyone can do is prepare for it.

Preparation for the unexpected can take many forms. The greatest risk is to prepare in the wrong way. As humans, that means falling back on the pride of expectation, and making preparations that involve events occurring in a predictable way. Such preparation will be doomed to failure, because it places trust in man’s abilities, rather than God’s protection. Contingency plans for hiding out in remote locations and building up stockpiles might preserve physical life in the short term, but can do nothing in the long term. We remember, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” (Luke 9:24-25). Therefore, the most effective preparation involves acknowledging that God is in control, and preparing ourselves spiritually by drawing close to Him.

Drawing close to God involves dedicating our time, energy, hearts, and minds to living His Way. As simple as it sounds, taking this approach is our only hope for protection. In expecting the unexpected to take place, putting our faith in God to see us through those unpredictable circumstances provides us with relief from having to rely upon ourselves for protection. There’s no possible way that we can protect ourselves without His help. We have to remember that while our situations in life might not be under our direct control, they are under God’s control. Because of that, we can trust in Him to lead us through the most impossible circumstances when we follow Him above all else.

As God’s children, we have a responsibility to take action right now that will transform our lives to please God so we can be found pleasing in His sight. We are to be found doing the Work of God when Jesus Christ returns. This involves continually learning about the Truth and applying what we learn. Becoming righteous, which is the goal of all Christians, takes practice. And practice requires increasing in our knowledge and understanding of the Truth.

As you are undoubtedly aware, the Church of the Eternal God and its international affiliates in Canada, the U.K., and Germany work tirelessly to provide you with the raw materials that you need to transform your life and draw near to God. We encourage you to take advantage of it! We share this knowledge with you because we know that you need it for your own protection. The Word of God and the understanding of it provides you with a double-edged sword to fight the spiritual fight and emerge victoriously. By using the materials that we produce, and by supporting the Work of the Church through your prayers, tithes, and offerings, you take an active role in preserving your eternal life, protecting yourself against the unexpected, and providing others with the means to do the same.

In Christ’s Service,

Eric Rank

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Dear Brethren and Friends,

There is a glaring difference between those who are faithful to Jesus Christ and those who merely appropriate Him. That difference is Truth! However, in this world, falsehood reigns, and it is the enemy of Truth. This has been prophesied about our time:

“Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey…” (Isaiah 59:14-15).

Have we come to the point where Truth is so powerful in our lives that we are able to completely reject unrighteousness? Are we in any way being subtly compromised to let down our guard? Tragically, some who received God’s calling, His Holy Spirit and fellowship in the Church of God have forsaken God to return to the world.

Old family ties to Christmas, Easter, Halloween or Sunday worship have proven more important to them than the Truth of God. Do we regard these practices as God does, who says, “‘I hate, I despise your feast days, And I do not savor your sacred assemblies’” (Amos 5:21). Also, becoming political advocates and military supporters rather than ambassadors for Jesus Christ has pulled former brethren into the hopeless mire of this age and back under Satan’s deceptive power, as the apostle Paul warned, writing, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Do we understand that all of these practices provoke God, and that He, in great burning wrath, will judge those who thus rebel against Him? Yet, if we are filled with zeal and deeply involved in the Work of God, it can be said of us, “But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:39).

There is a vital reason we write monthly letters to those of you who have been led to be a part of this Work. It is to continually strengthen our unity in the job God has set before us. Never underestimate the impact your faithfulness to the Truth has in helping all of us to accomplish the goals of the Church.

With the new year upon us, as man counts years, we can report that initial plans have been made for our Ministerial Conference to be held in California during the month of April. We have signed contracts with hotels for US and German Feast sites. Also, brethren will be meeting together in Australia for the Feast (as they did last year).

Norbert Link is writing a series of Q&A’s, which will be published next year as one of our booklets (“How Can We Know that Christ’s Return is Near?”). Other booklets are also planned to be published next year.

The effectiveness of our StandingWatch and AufPostenStehen video programs has grown over the past months. One program, “Netanyahu’s Announcement of a Third Temple?” now has over 163,000 views in the English presentation. Three of our booklets are offered in this program, which we had to reprint, and we continue to receive requests for these from various countries.

Each week, Norbert Link prepares a German language sermon which, together with live or pre-recorded sermonettes by our various German-speaking ministers, deacons and others, are played in services for our brethren in Germany (as well as being posted on our website). We also post every week the sermonettes and sermons which are being given during our services in the United States, as well as short video presentations from our ministers in the UK and Canada. You might like to take the opportunity to look at the various websites we support, and these can be found at www.eternalgod.org.

Our weekly Update (now at number 856) continues to bring truly unique coverage of news as it applies to biblical fulfillment. We also feature Editorials, Q&A’s and news of the Work.

Brethren, the seriousness of the times in which we live must not be ignored. As never before, we must strengthen our commitment to God’s Truth. In so doing, we will draw closer to God. Let’s never lose sight of the life of eternal glory which God has promised to us—let’s continue to fight the good fight, finish our race and keep the faith!

In Christ’s Service,

Dave Harris