2012, Reality or Fiction

Much has been written about a supposed Mayan prophecy announcing the end of the world on 21 December 2012. The irrational sceptics posting ridicule and abuse on the various blogs, have dismissed the prophecy as “rubbish.” Many others believe that no one can foretell the future, so all prophecy, whether biblical or Mayan, must be rejected as the ranting either of Jewish “goat herders” or the insanity of “blood thirsty Mayans priests." But should the final date of the Mayan Calendar be dismissed as nonsense because some people are unable to separate fact from fiction? I don’t think so.

It has been reported and verified by the Spanish conquistadors, that the Mayans prophesied hundreds of years in advance, that their empire or civilisation would be overthrown on a specific date, which was fulfilled on that very date in 1533. This prophecy can’t be dismissed as the insane ranting of a “blood thirst Mayan priest,” or be compared with the vague and opaque prophecies of Nostradamus, which are interpreted after events have occurred.

Does the above mean that I believe that the world will end on 21 December 2012? No, I don’t. For Jesus said: "For of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels in heaven, but my Father only" (Matt. 24:36). And there is no clear evidence that any Mayan has prophesied it will, either. But since the Mayan calendar doesn’t go beyond 21 December 2012, one has to ask oneself, why does it end on that date? And since they have prophesied at least one major event that has been fulfilled, I believe it would be very unwise not to expect some significant events to occur on that date or leading up to that date.

Furthermore, when Herbert W. Armstrong started preaching the gospel in South America, it was discovered that many of the people living there were already familiar with the Holy Days, the Sabbath and some other doctrines of the bible. This would indicate that at some time in the past, men of God were preaching and teaching the bible among these people. And these men were able to prophesy the destruction of the Mayan pagan society, which occurred in 1533. And these same Christians were responsible for passing on the knowledge of God’s calendar to the Mayans, which has been corrupted by dishonest men. Just as the wholesome teachings of Mr Armstrong have been corrupted by misguided men, who have developed their own brand of religion for the sake of money.

So, will 2012 usher in a period of unprecedented misery? If the perilous times in which we live is a guide to the future, the answer has to be yes!

The Mystery of Election

I promised to explain the mystery that led the Chosen Vessel to exclaim, “O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways are past finding out”(Romans 11:33).  But I have been very busy going two miles with those who compel me to go one.(Matt.5:41).  But now that I have a few minutes to myself, I will outline the fulfilment of my promise.

The Chosen Vessel began by asking: “what advantage then has the Jew?”(Romans 3:1).  That is, what advantage do the Jews have over the Gentiles?  And he began his answer by saying, “Much every way: Chiefly, because unto them were committed the oracles of God.”(Romans 3:2). 

In contrast to the Jews knowledge of God, there were five things that were true of the Gentiles:

1) they were without Christ

2) Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel

3) Strangers from the covenants of promise

4) Having no hope

5) And without God in world (Eph.2:12).

Their condition was completely wretched!

However, after the elucidation of a few mysteries, the Chosen Vessel was inspired to write: “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek;(Romans 10 :12)  This conclusion is consistent with what Peter reported after the conversion of Cornelius thus: “For as much as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us...(Acts 11:17).  And in Acts 15:7-9), Peter was also inspired to write: “And God, who knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us.”  And please note what follows: “And put no DIFFERENCE between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith”(Acts 15:8-9).

Now, with this revelation of unity and peace between Jews and Gentiles, the burning question is, why did The Worldwide Church of God put a difference between black and white brethren, especially during social events at the various Feasts of Tabernacles? I will answer this question, and the answer will reveal something that was and is very shocking!

However, if God has put no difference between Jews and Gentiles, why does the Chosen Vessel says that the Jews have some advantages?  Is Paul and Peter contradicting themselves, or is this a paradox that leads to a deeper mystery?

To be continued…

The Mysteries of God

It should be clear to anyone who is led by the spirit of truth that most of The Worldwide Church of God ministers were actually hirelings. The hireling may hide himself among faithful ministers, of whom there were very few, and “by good words and fair speeches deceive the heart of the simple”(Romans 16:18).  But when the wolf pack comes over the hill, the true character of the hireling is exposed, because he will run away and abandoned the flock(John 10:12-13).  This is exactly what all the former WCG’s “ministers” did who are now mismanaging GCI, UCG, PCG, LCG, RCG, COG/Hulme and all the other so-called independent churches of god.

But in obedience to Christ, none of God’s faithful children have followed these evil men.  For Jesus affirmed, “a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers(John 10:4-5).  So I have fled from the these evil men!  And I have often stated, “If they are the shepherds, then I am not the sheep, for I don’t recognised their voice,”

However, for the benefit of the hand full of God’s faithful people who read this blog, for the next few weeks, I want to focus on why The Chosen Vessel was moved to exclaim, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out”(Romans 11:33).  What sublime mystery did the chosen vessel elucidated that led him to this exclamation of joy and wonder?  Of course he was a faithful “steward of the mysteries of God”(1 Cor. 4:1).

In contrast, the unfaithful hirelings, leading the above mentioned churches, are completely ignorant of the mysteries of God, which is a clear indication that they are not God’s ministers! 

A HIRELING WAS SNARED BY THE TRUTH

Once again I had a fruitless but extended conversation with a minister in The Worldwide Church of God, UK.  I wanted know how he could justify attending with WCG when he disagrees with the doctrinal changes introduced by Joseph Tkach and his son?  So I began the conversation by stating that all faithful ministers and brethren had a God given responsibility to speak out against all forms of heresy, and to “earnestly contend for the faith”(Jude 3).  I then asked the minister if he spoke out against the false teaching, and warned the brethren that they were being feed spiritual poison.

 

His response to my questions and quotation from Jude was completely irrational.  He stated that “to speak out against Tkach’s teaching amounts to rebellion against God’s servant.”  What nonsense?  One can only rebel against the truth, not against heresy!  However, he unwittingly agreed with me that the reason ministers did not speak out was because they feared being sacked, without the hope of future employment.  After he conceded this fact, I stated that any minister who put any financial consideration before the spiritual welfare of God’s people was a hireling.   But when he realised that I was branding him a hireling, he tried to change the subject.

 

It was then time for me to take my leave, realising that the discussion was fruitless.

The Hirelings Are Licking Their Fingers.

As we run up to the autumn festivals of Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles, the leaders of the heretic churches which have been formed since the break up of The Worldwide Church of God, will be licking their fingers as they prepare to count the extra tithes and offerings that will be coming into their depleted coffers.  These evil, false ministers aptly fulfilled the prophecy of the Apostle Peter, when he says: “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you”(2 Pet.2:1-3).  The Apostle Paul also warned God’s faithful ministers, and prophesied that these evil men would emerged from among God’s faithful people thus: “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciple after them”(Acts 20:28-30).

The ringleader in “speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples” was Garner Ted and Tkach senior, followed by all the other charlatans that are now fleecing the deluded members of UCG, LCG, PCG, RCG, COG/Hulme and all the so-called independent churches of god.

These deceived leaders believe that Christ is divided, and God is author of confusion!  So every time they disagree among themselves over whose opinion should be preeminent, those whose opinions are rejected as rubbish tend to go off and start their own church.  But those that stay behind still regard the departed members as brethren!  Isn’t that astonishing, and baffles comprehension!?

However, as astonishing as it is, I have learned that the irrational malevolence of the devil knows no limits!  But in the end, the abominable hirelings and the devil will be cast into the lake of fire thus(Rev. 21:8).

The Victory Is Not Mine.

I have been very busy wrestling with the devil and his demons!  They have launched a series of multifarious attacks against me, using various people and stratagems.  For as the Chosen Vessel was inspired to write: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places(Eph. 6:12).  So my real enemies are not people, who are flesh and blood.  But Satan uses people to foolishly attack God’s children.

Of course, I don’t fight my own battles.  If I did, I would be defeated by Satan’s assaults.  But instead of defeat, I am assured of victory thus: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”( 1 John 4:4).  Jesus, who lives his life of victory over the devil and his demons (Colossians. 2:15) in God’s children, has clothes them in the armour of God, so that they can withstand all “the wiles of the devil”(Eph. 6:11).

But when the victory is achieved, we must not commend ourselves, for Jesus says: “For without me you can do nothing”(John 15:5).  Internalising the precept, “for without me you can do nothing,” is the basis of humility.  For Christians have no merit of their own!  Their successes, as one might call them, are granted to them by the grace of God, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

However, I well aware that many former members of The worldwide Church of God are experiencing a host of problems!  But these problems are not the result of living a life of obedience to the wholesome teaches of the bible.  In other words, they are not being persecuted for righteousness! On the contrary, they are suffering because they are like dogs that have returned to their own vomit(2 Peter 2:22).

A COMMUNITY OF SAINTS

Most religious people are of the misguided opinion that the church of God is a refuge for sinners.  They believe this opinion is valid, because Catholics and Protestants don’t excommunicate homosexuals, drunkards, adulterers, extortionists or heretics from their fellowship.  This same perverse opinion and indulgence is now shared and practised by every group that has been formed since the break up of the Worldwide Church of God in 1995.

In GCI, UCG, LCG, RCG, PCG, COG/Hulme  and all the other divided groups now operation in cog-land, there are heretics, extortionists, drunkards, adulterers and liars!  And since the leaders of these groups are all rogues, no one among them can take the moral high ground to condemn another’s behaviour, for by so doing he will be condemning himself.

However, in contrast to the wickedness in cog-land, the Chosen Vessel, in all his epistles to God’s elect, was always inspired to address the church members as saints thus: (Rom.1:7); (Eph. 1:1).  A saint is a person who has been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, unto obedience of the truth(1 Pet. 1:1-2), and whose life is devoted to the service of God.