Dear Brethren and Co-workers with Christ,
Greetings from Charlotte, North Carolina! Thousands of us in this Work have just returned from the annual Church festival entitled the “Feast of Tabernacles.” Jesus kept this commanded religious festival—setting us an example (John 7:1-14). The original Church of God kept the biblical festivals or “holy days” for several generations before the observance of those days was gradually stamped out by the Catholic Church. Even “mainstream” Protestant historian, Jesse Lyman Hurlbut acknowledges, “The forms and ceremonies of paganism gradually crept into worship. Some of the old heathen feasts became church festivals with change of name and of worship. About 405 A.D. images of saints and martyrs began to appear in the churches, at first as memorials, then in succession revered, adored, and worshiped” (The Story of the Christian Church, p. 79).
However, as the Bible clearly indicates again and again, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). So God reveals in His Word that the Feast of Tabernacles will again be kept by “all the nations.” Describing the time after Christ’s second coming, Zechariah 14:16 states, “And it came to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.” And what if Egypt or some of the Arab nations refuse to keep what they derisively call a “Jewish” religious festival? Verses 18-19 state, “If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”
Those who are now given the correct understanding—and who have the faith and courage to act on that understanding—are true religious “pioneers.” For we are simply pioneering the “way” by which all nations will soon be worshiping the God of the Bible! The soon-coming Kingdom of God is very real. I pray that all of you dear co-workers learn to fully understand that fact. And I hope that all of you who have the love and commitment to back this Work of Christ will learn to act on the Truth so you may be an active part of that coming kingdom.
Somehow God—in his mercy—has been opening the minds and hearts of increasing thousands of men and women to understand His Truth. Gradually, as you really study the Bible with an open mind, you are beginning to realize more and more that God’s Word is inspired, and that the Bible says what it means and means what it says!
During our recent Feast of Tabernacles meetings—conducted simultaneously at dozens of places all over the world—our attendees heard inspiring and specific sermons, talks and Bible studies on how to prepare themselves to be those kings and priests in Christ’s Government which the Bible repeatedly describes. Remember, as Jesus speaks in the first person in Revelation 2:26-27, He tells us, “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the potter’s vessels shall be broken to pieces’—as I also received from
My Father…” These powerful words should inspire us to fully “get with it” and start doing what the Bible says!
Again, in Revelation 5:9-10, we read the “song” of the saints, saying to Christ, “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” As we read all these clear biblical descriptions of the real future for true Christians, the idea of “floating off to heaven” with nothing to do becomes irrelevant. For it is not only irrelevant, it is totally unbiblical!
Even the Apostle Paul specifically revealed this same future for all Christians when he was inspired to write the Corinthians, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?” (1 Cor. 6:2-3).
No wonder we need to be “overcomers!” No wonder we all need to fully surrender to God and ask Him to fill us with His Spirit—His very Nature— “till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…” (Eph. 4:13). As we learn through Christ in us (Gal. 2:20) to live by the Ten Commandments, the very way of life all the world will soon be learning and living in Christ’s Kingdom (Micah 4:2), then we will truly be preparing ourselves to teach that way of life and to properly assist Jesus Christ in teaching and ruling the confused nations of this world—and to help bring them a degree of peace and joy they have never before experienced. This genuine world government and this awesome opportunity for you and me is very “real.” It is coming much sooner than many believe! “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Rev. 22:12).
My friends, this Work is the only religious organization which genuinely emphasizes this awesome future for your life. With increasing power over television, radio, the printing press and the Internet, we clearly explain to you the real meaning of life and the awesome purpose of the great God who inspired the Bible. Our God is now beginning to intervene powerfully in world affairs! May God help you to really understand and to act upon His precious Truth. And may God inspire you and all of us to do our part in this end-time Work as we proclaim Christ’s true message to a very confused and chaotic world.
With Christian love,
Roderick C. Meredith