Some may feel that more posts should be written, but I count it as a great blessing that I have not had the need to write, since the world has not yet been thrust into great devastation and suffering which will begin once the Second Trumpet sounds. Only a few understand this current period of grace and mercy that God has granted this world, as He is holding back the sounding of that trumpet.

As I am starting to write this post, I think of the date today and its symbolic importance, since this is day 666 to the return of Jesus Christ on Pentecost of 2012. For me personally, this is now a countdown from evil and the evil one. The time of dwelling with evil in this world is nearing its end. For God’s Church, this year’s Feast of Tabernacles (now only a few weeks away) will be focusing on the end of evil and the beginning of real peace on this earth; something that mankind has never truly experienced. Yet that message of peace has been the gospel (God’s good news) given to mankind for the past 6,000 years, and now it is almost here.

Yes, God is revealing to this world (although it does not yet know it) that He is filled with infinite mercy and He loves His creation. Not only is God going to intervene and prevent mankind from annihilating himself on May 27th of 2012, but He is holding back the traumatic suffering that will begin once that Second Trumpet sounds. This constraint on the sounding of the remaining trumpets is also being done in order to grant the “potential” for more people being saved. Ultimately, however, it is each individual’s choice to humble his or herself in order to be saved.

Worldwide devastation and massive suffering would already be here if it were not for God’s purpose to “manifest” the depths of His mercy and to grant His Church answers to their prayers to save more people.

The consequences of the normal sequence of events for this 21st Century world are being constrained by God. Due to the condition that man has brought to this world through the misuse of modern technology, the corruption of governments, and the Babylonian economic system that exists worldwide, the world would have already been thrust into traumatic tribulation if not for God’s intervention. With such selfish human nature, mankind is his own worst enemy.

God moved His Church to observe a two-day fast (Jan. 31, 2009) shortly after the Seventh Seal had been opened and the First Trumpet had sounded. It would be good once more to read part of what was posted nearly a year and a half ago concerning that fast.

FROM AN EARLIER POST (March 6, 2009):
Bold bracketed “[ ]” text indicates added comments:
“This “holding back” is in large part due to the result of God answering the prayers of His people who set aside a time of fasting, similar to that of Esther, whose results are remembered to this day in what is called the Feast of Purim.

On January 31 [2009], the Church of God entered a prolonged fast (a fast that lasts beyond the normal one day), and God’s people petitioned God, humbling themselves in the process, seeking that God would humble more people, and thereby deliver many more than He initially revealed would be saved [by a normal sequence of end-time events due to what man has brought this world to at this stage after 6,000 years]. This is all the result of God’s will and His purpose that is being worked out for this world, and although God has granted to offer mercy to more people in this end-time by bringing more to humility [more can be brought to humility through such a process as being explained in this post], the choice of repentance is still in the hands of those whom God humbles and grants mercy. It is sad that there will be many who will still refuse God’s mercy and His offer to save them physically through this final end-time.

The petitions that went up before God were not for the purpose that the destructive power be lessened (as this cannot be changed), but that the period of time of the actual physical suffering from it will be lessened [the actual duration condensed], and that through this very process more people will potentially be able to be saved (who can indeed live on into the millennial period that is rapidly approaching). This not only includes the possibility of many more people of different nations being saved, but it also includes an offer of saving many more who were part of the scattering in the Church after the apostasy in 1994 (who otherwise would not have been given such opportunity and blessing).”

CONTINUING PRESENT POST:
Yes, that two-day fast was for the people of this world. It was a petition requesting that more would have the potential of being saved than would otherwise be the case if things happened in their natural, normal progression. Through this fast, God revealed His desire to grant great mercy to all mankind by lessening the time for actual suffering that begins once the Second Trumpet sounds. Once the world begins to become aware of this, the potential for more being saved will become a reality.

2010 Feast of Tabernacles & New Truth:
God’s Church is blessed this year to be able to observe God’s eight day Feast in twelve sponsored locations, with six being international and the remainder being in the U.S.

This year’s Feast is going to be one of the most exciting and fulfilling spiritual Feasts that God has ever inspired! God will establish four additional doctrinal truths that will be given at this Feast. Two of these truths have been referred to only in passing (in the very slightest of terms), but they have not been focused upon and have not yet been taught and established as doctrine in the Church.

God gave the 50th Truth which led us to understanding the correct timing for the return of Jesus Christ. In Worldwide, we had come to believe that Jesus Christ would return on a Feast of Trumpets, however, with the revelation of this truth we came to understand that Christ would return on Pentecost—specifically, Pentecost of 2012.

At the time that this truth was being revealed, I believed that this was the final truth God would give us. That was partially true. It was the last truth to be given during the Laodicean Era (the last era of God’s Church). Shortly after this truth was given, we came to understand that God’s work for the Firstfruits was complete once the 144,000 were sealed by the Feast of Trumpets in 2008 (Sept. 30th).

It was on this day that the eras of God’s Church ended, with the final Laodicean Era coming to an end. On this day, the work of God for the past 6,000 years concerning the preparation and complete sealing of the 144,000 who would be resurrected when Jesus Christ returns had ended. Those who had died in the faith and those still alive (who would make up that count of the 144,000) were fully sealed by that date.

Anyone being called of God and becoming a part of the Church from that date forward would not be part of that resurrection, but would live on into a new age, as the Church of God would continue on into that new Millennium.

A new era began on Trumpets of 2008, although a short one, which would continue up to the day of Christ’s return as King of kings. It was the beginning of the final countdown of the 1335 days prophesied in Daniel 12.

In this new era of the countdown to Christ’s return, God has continued revealing new truth to His Church. God’s true Church has never stagnated since the apostasy in December 1994, but has continued to grow in truth that God has revealed. All others have stagnated and only carry a resemblance of the Church before the apostasy.

To date, three additional truths have been given in this new era and four more will be given during the Feast of Tabernacles. This will bring the total number of new truths revealed to God’s Church since the apostasy to a number that should have deeply significant meaning to all who know the history of the last three Church Eras. After the Feast, God will have given a total of 36 new truths to His Church since the apostasy. How incredible is that? Who could have known that such a thing would come to pass?

Yes, this year’s Feast of Tabernacles will prove to be one of the most exciting and fulfilling spiritual Feasts that God has ever inspired!

This posting cannot cover all of the exciting revelation that God is giving concerning what His purpose is and what is meant by the expression of “restoring all things” in the commission of the end-time Elijah. It is about a “work” that God is doing in and through His human instruments, primarily through His Church.

In order to receive a far greater understanding of the inspiration, plain truth, and excitement of what God is now revealing, I am encouraging every one of you (if you have not already done so) to listen to some of this new truth as it is covered far more thoroughly in the sermon on Dec. 26, 2009, entitled, “Restoring All Things,” and in the current sermon series entitled, “Ordinations & Baptisms.”

Finding Fault:
The numerous groups that have formed from the scattering that took place during the apostasy of the Worldwide Church of God in December, 1994, are busy responding to what God is currently revealing to the Church through me as His end-time Elijah. They are quick to find fault in order to belittle and ridicule what God is now revealing.

Some are much like the Pharisees who were always so quick and eager to find fault in anything Christ taught. They seethed at the notion that God would work or say such things through a man like Jesus. Yet in actuality, they were finding fault with the very Son of God, their very Passover Lamb.

It is no different today. Much of the leadership and membership in such organizations are not able to contain themselves with glee over what they think they now see as far clearer proof that I could not be of God; yet I am (of God)!

The very thing they fight against and refuse to embrace is the very truth that could help them escape what is coming. Those who refuse to repent and listen to what God is telling them will not be blessed to see the “promised land” that has been prophesied to come for so long now. The millennium is almost here, and only a small percentage will be allowed to enter. Most will have to wait until a future time when they will be “spiritually awakened” after they are physically resurrected in the final hundred years of mankind.

As much as the Pharisees hated the thought of Christ being the Messiah, most of those from the Church that have been scattered loathe the thought that I could possibly be the “Elijah to come,” let alone be one of the two end-time prophets and witnesses of God. Yet it is true. It is just a reality that so many do not yet accept. Human pride is such a shameful thing. As with the Pharisees, who knew there were words of truth in what Jesus Christ was saying, but refused to listen because he was threatening their authority and their belief that they were the true custodians of the word of God, there are many scattered groups and their leaders who are of this same deceived attitude and spirit today.

A Curse On Women:
As talked about in recent sermons, which I referred to earlier, one of the first things to be revealed that God is now beginning to address to His Church is the need to restore a far better and more correct mindset toward the role of women in society, especially within the Church and the family. From the beginning, Satan led the first two humans into sin in his effort to begin his work of seeking to destroy God’s plan for His Family—Elohim—and did so by striking out at the first human family.

Satan’s success in leading these two people to sin (due to the selfishness and pride of human nature) led to consequences. It resulted in that which all sin leads, the opposite of being blessed for obedience, but instead reaping curses for disobedience. Curses are the result of not being blessed and given favor by God. It is a matter of natural physical consequences that God has imposed upon nature when His sustaining power of preservation and favor is removed.

Sin infects the mind and alters how a person thinks. It distorts the capacity for sound and practical thinking as it leads to perverted and distorted reasoning that is further fueled by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. When Adam and Eve sinned, the mind of man began to turn farther away from sound mindedness that can only come from God. Only God can reveal the way to right thinking and right relationships among people, and that is especially true in the context of this posting of how men think toward women. Even in reading this, many men will “think” that their thinking is right toward women, and yet it is not, and much must yet be changed!

In marriage, the right relationship between a husband and wife should be the most exciting and most rewarding relationship in life. However, this “got off on a wrong foot” from the very beginning.

Ever since man chose the way of sin (as all have, except Jesus Christ), men have not rightly respected women, not even their own wives (when married), and have instead ruled “over” women in a wrong manner that is authoritarian, controlling and demeaning (looking down as being lesser). This is what constitutes a large part of the curse upon women that has existed from the beginning. Over the centuries, even within the Church, that curse has only partially been lifted to the degree that individuals have repented of mistreatment of others and have truly sought to “change” self and become more God-like in character and thinking (in harmony with the truths and laws of God). But women have still been suppressed by being morally mistreated, demeaned, and held to an inferior state by men. And most sad of all, this has been perpetuated by husbands because of male ego, lust and pride.

God is now starting the greater process (which only partially started in the Church over the centuries) of restoring the dignity and honor that He intended women should have from the beginning. This is part of the “healing” process that is prophesied to fill the earth in the Millennium, as Satan and his demons are removed from the presence of mankind, and as Jesus Christ receives rule of all the earth. This healing process is now beginning to be restored in God’s Church as we accelerate toward that new age for all mankind. In this context, this is the greater fulfillment of the prophecy that states, “And those from among you shall build the old waste places and you shall raise up the foundations of many generations, and you shall be called, ‘The repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in’” (Is. 58:12).

Of even greater inspiration is the literal translation from Hebrew that states, “And those from among you shall build from the destruction caused of old [ancient times] and you shall raise up the foundations of many generations, and you shall be called ‘The repairer of the break, the restorer [Heb. – “to set again,” “to reestablish”] of paths to dwell in.’”

Those who will be part of this work are blessed to help restore the God intended role and purpose of both man and woman in marriage and in society. When God’s government, love, and true purpose are more firmly reestablished in the foundation of marriage, the structure of the family will become far stronger than ever experienced in the previous 6,000 years. The human family will be given a giant boost that more readily leads into the very Family of God—Elohim.

The liberation of all races and nationalities is rapidly approaching, and at the top of that list is the true liberation of women from the demeaning state in which they have been “ruled over.” This also produces a liberation for man that yields a more fulfilling and rewarding life, a greater unity and oneness with God, and the greater experience of what true masculinity was intended to be from the beginning.

Ordination of Women:
It is in the midst of this restoration that is coming from God, through His Church to this world, that God has now revealed that women can be ordained to ministerial service in His Church. As this latest sermon series (”Ordinations and Baptisms”) is giving the soundness and balance of how this will exist in His Church, there are distinctions of service that will be different between men and women. Such distinctions of service will not exist because of the lesser ability, insight, understanding, or stature of women. It is because of the differences God established that would constitute the qualities that are genuine and true in all that reflects a unique beauty in the femininity of women, just as there is service that is only intended for men that God has created which constitutes right qualities of true masculinity.

True masculinity and true femininity can only be understood by how God defines each. Such truth and spiritual sound minded understanding can only come from God through the power of His spirit working in us.

God has revealed that the role of preaching in the environment of the formal Sabbath service is that of a masculine role, as God has defined it to be. That is not a feminine role, and if women did speak in a formal Sabbath environment, it would make a woman appear to have characteristics of masculinity that are not edifying or natural (as God created it to be).

God has revealed that women are to be ordained into ministerial service as elders. There is to be no distinction within the Church for the term “elder” (spiritual service) that would differentiate between a man or woman. Even for the office of a prophet, the term is simply “prophet” without a distinction of gender.

Within the Church, a woman would not be ordained to an apostle, evangelist or pastor because of many of those duties that God has set aside as masculine in nature. A woman can be ordained to that of a prophet or elder (sr. elder, elder, or associate elder).

The understanding God is currently giving concerning the removal of a curse upon women (and men) from the beginning is to begin the fulfillment of the prophesied role (work) of the “Elijah to come.” That “work” is about final preparations God is making for the return of His Son, Jesus Christ.

As John the Baptist baptized thousands into a baptism of repentance in preparation for the first coming of Jesus Christ, God’s Church is now preparing for massive numbers of baptisms into the Body of Christ in preparation for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Women will play as crucial a role in this as men will. Both men and women who are ordained may lay hands upon a person after baptism for the purpose of the impregnation of God’s spirit. Such a role is neither masculine nor feminine, but of God through the power of His spirit.

As Paul wrote in Galatians 3:27 & 28, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The Family of God, including the begotten Family, is not a matter of gender. And so in ordination and the laying on of hands that God has chosen for His ministry to perform for the impregnation of His spirit for all who are baptized, this process in no manner reflects male or female in distinction, but the power of God to beget.

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As we covered in a sermon series (“Our Journey of Faith”) about our recent history, I addressed an issue that God had given me which was to acknowledge how He and His Son, Jesus Christ, had made me an apostle as well as a prophet. I had long believed that Herbert W. Armstrong was the last apostle to the Church, but due to the truths that God has revealed over the past several years, it was now time to acknowledge that such truths given are only accomplished through an apostle.

The prophecies given to the Church have been through the office of a prophet, but the doctrines and truths have come through an apostle. And as God inspired Paul to write, we “are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:20). In other words, God works in a very specific manner through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the head of the Church, to give truth of doctrine and instruction through His apostles and to give prophecy through His prophets. How the Church then responds to truth (by seeking to live by it) and how it responds in faith to prophetic revelation (living according to it) determines the spiritual relationship each member has with God the Father.

The Church that was scattered, due to the apostasy, has fragmented into over 500 different organizations, yet only one has been reestablished as God’s true Church. It became fully reestablished once again on Pentecost of 1998, as the true remnant with whom God was working. This is not a popular thing to declare, yet it is simply the truth. God’s Church cannot be organized into many fragmented groups with differing ideas of government and doctrine. That is not God’s way and thus it is fully contrary to the laws of God and how God’s spirit works in His Church.

Mr. Armstrong was a “type” of the Elijah:
Herbert W. Armstrong fulfilled a “type” of the Elijah to come as prophesied in the Old Testament and as prophesied by Jesus Christ.

It was revealed by Jesus Christ that John the Baptist was a “type” of the Elijah to come. He was one sent to prepare the way for the first coming of Jesus Christ, as a voice crying out in the physical wilderness of Judea. Many came to John to receive a baptism of repentance as they increasingly began to look for the coming of the Messiah. They did not know his first coming was to be as a Passover Lamb to be sacrificed for all mankind.

An angel of God appeared to Zacharias and revealed that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to a son and that they were to name him John. Zacharias was told that John (later, John the Baptist) would turn many to God and that he would do so in the spirit and power of Elijah. It was also said of John that he would be instrumental in turning the hearts of the fathers (the beliefs and teachings of the fathers of old) to the children (the descendants of the fathers), and the disobedient (those who would later come to John for baptism) to the wisdom of the just (the fathers of old who lived and taught God’s ways to Israel) to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (of whom several hundreds were baptized on the day of Pentecost in 31 A.D. when the Church began, which is the spiritual Body of Christ).

When Jesus Christ spoke of John the Baptist coming in the spirit and power of Elijah, he made a distinction in the previous verse of that which did not apply to John: “Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things” (Mat. 17:11).

John the Baptist was not used by God to “restore” anything. However, we did see Herbert W. Armstrong used in a very unique way to “restore” truth to the Church that the era of Sardis had lost (they only had three basic truths remaining). God said of Sardis that they were spiritually dead and that was because they had consistently become weaker through time by losing many foundational truths of God. The Church had become so weak that it was ready to die completely. God prevented it from dying out by raising up Herbert W. Armstrong and his wife, Loma, in order to restore lost truth to the Church. Mr. Armstrong is well-known for restoring 18 foundational and basic truths of God that were necessary for the Church (for salvation) in order to be revived and restored to spiritual strength once again. God had strengthened and restored 21 foundational truths for the Church.

If God had not raised up Mr. Armstrong, the Church would not exist today. The Church was given the spiritual life it needed in order to be thrust forward and survive the apostasy that would follow Herbert W. Armstrong’s death. One of the greatest battles of the Church after the apostasy was to once again recapture and reestablish all 21 truths for the Church. After the apostasy occurred, so many of these truths were either being omitted or watered down by the scattered organizations that followed the destruction of the temple.

When Mr. Armstrong began to see that he was being used of God to fulfill a “type” of the Elijah to come, God was also showing him that he was a “type” of Zerubbabel. This is in reference to rebuilding the temple once it was destroyed. Indeed, God did use Mr. Armstrong as a “type” of Zerubbabel to build up the temple, the Church of God, after it had nearly died out through the Sardis Era. And it should be clear to all that as with John the Baptist, Mr. Armstrong fulfilled a “type” of the prophetic Elijah to come. Yet, former pastors and evangelists in God’s Church are uncertain or fully disbelieving of this great truth!

The Fulfillment of the “Elijah to Come”:
The truth is that neither John the Baptist nor Herbert W. Armstrong fulfilled the complete prophecies concerning the “Elijah to come,” but they fulfilled a “type” of that prophetic fulfillment. The actual fulfillment has not yet occurred, but it is about to be fulfilled in full spirit and truth.

As God has made me both an apostle and a prophet for this end-time, He has also given me to fulfill prophecies being the spokesman of the two end-time witnesses of Revelation 11. In addition, He has given me to fulfill the prophecies of the “Elijah to come” and of Zerubbabel. It is actually God, in and through Jesus Christ, who fulfills all these things, but He is doing so through a human instrument. The Book of Acts makes it very clear that Jesus Christ will come to fully restore all things in God’s great plan after He returns in his second coming as King of kings.

But there are things that God will restore before Jesus Christ returns.

Herbert W. Armstrong did restore truth to the Church—truth lost during Sardis. He also helped to build the Church once again as it had nearly died out. Only a few in Sardis were able to be revived and become part of the era of Philadelphia. But the Church—the Temple of God—had not been destroyed. During the era of Philadelphia and Herbert W. Armstrong, the Church had not fulfilled the prophecy of Jesus Christ that He said would occur before His coming in the complete fulfillment of prophecy concerning the Messiah as ruler over the earth.

After Jesus Christ’s disciples asked about His coming, He prophesied that not one stone of the temple would be left on top of the other. It would be fully destroyed before His coming and that would be the sign that He was now going to return as the Messiah. Most of those who were scattered at the time of this prophetic fulfillment about the destruction of the temple do not believe what Jesus said.

It is because they refuse to believe what God said would happen to the Church that these same people refuse to believe how God is working today. These people not only refuse to believe whom God has sent to them, but they go so far as to mock, ridicule, and violently strike out at God’s true servants. They cannot acknowledge the truth that God has revealed through me to His Church. They cannot accept me being the spokesman of the final two end-time witnesses. They mock that God would use a woman and more so mock that she should be my wife, who is the second witness. They ridicule that it is so convenient that she is my wife, or that God would even dare to use a woman in such a position.

On Jesus’s last day of human life, these same people would have mocked and ridiculed Jesus Christ and cried out that He should be put to death. But such people would gasp at such a statement and they would declare that they are not at all like that; however, they are the very ones who refuse God’s word through His apostle and end-time prophet.

Yes, as hard as it is for these people to stomach such thoughts, God has made my wife an end-time witness and prophet for this end-time. God does use both men and women in His great plan for mankind. There are two great occasions in history where God revealed this truth in a powerful way. One is in the example of Moses’ sister, Miriam, who was a prophet and another in the great example of a judge and prophet of Israel, Deborah.

Yet the scattered organizations, who were once active in the Church of God, ridicule God’s choices and how He works in His Church. It is for this very reason that most will not be awakened spiritually to repentance in this age and they will not enter into the promised land of the beginning of the millennium. These must wait until they are resurrected once again at the beginning of the Great White Throne and then at that time awakened spiritually so they can repent of their sins against God. Prophecy does show that a few thousand such people will be brought to repentance as we progress forward in time into the blowing of the Trumpets of the Seventh Seal. These will accept God’s messengers and God’s message.

All the stones of the temple (God’s Church) were cast down and not one was left on the other. God further reveals that the Church had become so complacent and lukewarm that He had to separate it from Himself by spewing (vomiting) it out of His mouth. God used this occasion to bring a few to true repentance and He then began to draw together a remnant that would be reestablished as His true Church.

Final Fulfillment:
Since the reestablishment of the Church on Pentecost (after 1260 days of the apostasy had passed) in 1998, God first began by reestablishing the 21 original truths in the Church once again (3 from Sardis and 18 from Philadelphia). Since that time, God has continued to restore more truth to the Church and has now fully established 50 truths. God has been using me to “restore” His truth to the Church on a scale that fulfills that full portion of prophecy concerning the “Elijah to come.”

God has also been using me to rebuild the temple that had been cast down after every stone had been moved out of its place—not one stone upon another! God used Mr. Armstrong to revive the Church and rebuild it again, but only after it was dying out and not because it had been destroyed.

So God gave Malachi to prophecy, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse [utter destruction]” (Mal. 4:5-6).

Yes, I have come in the full spirit and power of Elijah. God and His Son have made it so—not me! I seek to fulfill the commission God has given me with all the zeal and power God gives me to do so. And He has given me much to fulfill this task!

John the Baptist was not a prophet. Herbert W. Armstrong was an apostle, but he was not a prophet. Yet God says He will send “Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the LORD.” I am that prophet and I am to proclaim it so! That is given to me from Jesus Christ and God the Father.

On December 17, 1994, the Church was cast down after the apostasy of Joe Tkach, Sr., and on that day was the opening of the First Seal of Revelation by Jesus Christ. On September 11, 2001, the Sixth Seal of Revelation was opened. The prophetic “type” of destruction that occurred on that day would be fulfilled on the United States in the blowing of the first Five Trumpets of the Seventh Seal. That destruction is now very near.

On November 14, 2008, the Seventh Seal was opened and on December 14, 2008, the First Trumpet was blown and God commissioned the beginning of the two end-time witnesses. Although we had believed that this phase of God’s plan would begin eight months earlier, God used that period of time to reveal the Fiftieth Truth concerning Jesus Christ actually returning on Pentecost of 2012, rather than Trumpets of 2011.

Some who like to ridicule and mock stated this was proof that I was not God’s prophet. On the contrary, it helped establish it. All the prophesied events that are written in 2008 – God’s Final Witness will come to pass exactly as written. The prophesied events have not changed and they will occur as written. Timing has changed only a little, but not the events.

The timing due to the 50th Truth is in God’s control, as are all things. God alone is responsible for the revelation of Christ’s return and the timing involved. If God changes or in any fashion alters the timing involved, then He will reveal it through His prophet.

God has also altered the timing for massive destruction to begin. God can do that whenever He chooses. He is God! And thank God He heard the cries, petitions, and heart-felt prayers of His people—His Church—when they fasted for two consecutive days that God would have mercy on mankind and through that process of mercy, bring more people to repentance in both the world and the scattered Church. God is being merciful to both the world and the scattered Church, but that does not mean that more will actually repent when all is said and done. Time will tell.

All prophesied events stated in the book will come to pass before Jesus Christ returns on Pentecost, May 27 of 2012.

Prophecies Fast Coming to Pass:
God is continuing to “restore” many things on a greater scale as the world is being made ready for the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. This Sabbath, God is beginning the process of restoring things that have been removed from mankind since the days of Adam and Eve. Satan has caused much destruction and deception in this world, and slowly but surely he is being stripped of the power of that deceit over mankind. Satan’s time is rapidly coming to a close. His sway and power over mankind is coming to a close!

As we move forward and when the Second Trumpet does blow (which can happen tomorrow or late into 2011 – as written in the book, we will not know the time until it happens), people will begin to be humbled in a very great way. The hearts of people will begin to be softened so that they will hear the words of the “fathers” concerning the truth of God’s way of life and salvation for mankind.

And there are those who have condemned me for what I wrote in the book concerning the death of many ministers who were part of the scattering in God’s Church, especially of specific leaders that were mentioned. God has clearly revealed to His Church that I am the “Elijah to come,” and not in “type,” but in fullness of spirit and power. Elijah was known most by what he did to several hundred false prophets. He killed them! Now a prophetic type of that is going to follow upon the Church that was scattered. It is one of the Thunders of God, which God gave to me to proclaim. It was of my choosing, but my choosing was in unity and harmony with the power and spirit of God. It came from God!

Yes, time will prove I am who I say I am. And that is my commission to proclaim such a message!

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The symbolism of this speech at the U.N. is of even greater significance. Much of the speech centered upon the need of all nations to cooperate in resolving the world’s problems. The focus included the need to root out al-Qaeda, to prevent nuclear proliferation by preventing countries like Iran and North Korea from developing such weapons, and of the world engaging in justice to bring about peace for the Middle East. That message of peace also centered around the need for the Palestinians and Israelis to have peace that is acceptable to them and the Arab world. There was much more given in this message of “peace, peace.”

But the truth is, there is no such thing, there has never been any such thing, and there will not be such a thing in this present evil world of selfishness, despotism, and conflicting national and religious goals of nations. The United Nations symbolizes the futility of peace and is a lie contained in the name itself. The United Nations stands as the greatest witness against the modern-day nations of this world and proving that mankind does not know the way to peace. It is just hallow empty rhetoric.

The “Swords into Plowshares” statue at the U.N. is the great lie of 6,000 years of man’s rule on earth. “They do not know the way of peace, and there is no sound judgment in all their efforts [toward the way of peace]: instead they have made for themselves crooked paths to follow, and whoever follows them shall not know [find] peace” (Isaiah 59:8). As always, God is right! Only God can bring true peace to this earth and that is exactly what He is now doing. It will be accomplished on May 27, 2012. At that time, God will bring to pass the saying of that statue at the United Nations. “And He [God Almighty] shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).

The truth is, only God can give peace to mankind! Man can proclaim “peace, peace” all he wants and speak to billions of how this will be achieved, but it will not happen with “man’s efforts.” Thank God we are rapidly approaching the end of the era of man’s self-rule and the establishment of God’s Kingdom ruling over all nations.

The “Prophetic” First Trumpet:
The impact of the “prophetic” First Trumpet is about to resound with its greatest intensity yet! As I stated a few months ago, people needed to understand that there would be a period of “false hope” that would be allowed to capture the hearts and minds of many people as they were led to believe that an economic recovery was now taking place. The Stock Market reflects much of that false hope as an economic balloon stretches out to its limits. This is prophetic as it enables the potential for a greater humbling process to follow once the balloon bursts. That balloon is soon to burst!

We have now entered a new era of time for this end-time. God has been merciful to the world and is extending that mercy so that the massiveness of final destructiveness on this earth, in the form of WWIII, is given the least amount of time possible in order to accomplish the impact necessary to usher in a new world government—His very Kingdom ruling the earth.

Not only is God altering the time sequence of end-time events (not the return of Jesus Christ) by shortening the actual time of man’s suffering, but He is revealing a pattern that testifies to His judgment being given to this earth at the end of 6,000 years of man’s self-rule and disobedience.

God has indeed revealed the depth of His mercy, toward all of mankind and toward His creation, through His Church and the two-day fast that was held for the world on January 31st of this year. These truths will become manifest over the next two years. Through this process of time, only those who repent will come to clearly “see” this plan of God unfolding for this end-time.

The time for the intensifying of “thunders” and fulfillment of the “prophetic” First Trumpet is now arriving. “He who testifies [warns and affirms] of these things says, ‘Surely I come quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Dear Moses,

It is with genuine gratitude that I want to thank you for the opportunity to have been a presenter at ideaCity. Long before the actual event, I was receiving very positive and helpful communication from your staff. Once my wife and I arrived in Toronto, we began to meet more of your staff members who were also exceptionally helpful, friendly, and enthusiastic. Then, on the first morning, we had the opportunity to meet even more staff members who continued with that same excellent helpfulness, care, and concern for our presence at the conference.

My purpose in writing to you is twofold. First, I wanted to thank you and your staff for making us feel so very welcome. Secondly, I must tell you why I could not return after the first morning of presentations.

The first few presenters were interesting, thought provoking, and they tied in well together, even with part of what I addressed in my presentation. Everything was fine to this point. I understand offering diverse thoughts and opinions, as with the gentleman who followed my presentation who espoused the belief, through intellectualism, that “God never wrote a book” and how he believed in the fallacy of what was written in scripture. As God’s prophet for this end-time, I know such ignorance is all too plentiful on earth.

However, a couple of presentations later, you gave the stage to a man who was “supposedly” a comedian, but sadly, the content of his message was so revolting, perverted and blasphemous that I found it incredulous that you would have given such recognition to something so hideous. For me, this is one of the most distasteful experiences I have ever had in my whole life. It is not my purpose to pass judgment on you, but to explain to you why I found this presentation so harmful to what I had believed was a more noble purpose for ideaCity.

Perhaps you could try to put yourself in my shoes for just a moment. Indeed, as I said in my presentation, I do not expect you or that audience to believe I am God’s end-time prophet.

However, I would think that you might at least consider that I am very sincere about the warning I gave and that I have a deep conviction and passion about the message I delivered. Having said this, I would think that you might then understand that what I experienced (and hopefully, a few others might have experienced) was one of shock and dismay that ideaCity would allow such a presentation to be given. Tolerance and diversity do have their limits in life, even in this world.

There is no example I can give to reveal the magnitude of what this was like, but consider what it might be like if I had a brother, and he was one who was known for his tireless efforts to promote peace, give monetary aid, and influence the promotion of medical assistance to underdeveloped nations (due to his great wealth, political influence, and known humanitarianism). In time, my brother was murdered by terrorists and then drug through the city behind a jeep until only some few bones and flesh remained. Then, a few months later, ideaCity hosts a comedian who mocks the death of my brother while I am in the audience. Jesus Christ is my brother and you sponsored a comedian who mocked his death in front of me.

Out of conviction and conscience toward my brother and Father, I could not return in the afternoon, nor could I participate in anything further that would show any kind of support for ideaCity. To me, participation of any kind after that would have meant I was condoning what was presented.

Since I have no idea about your beliefs, I do want to say that the Eternal God, the God of Abraham, who I spoke about in my presentation, does not take this event lightly. This is not a small thing that such mocking of His Son was given audience at ideaCity and that you personally sponsored this. It is my hope that you come to see the magnitude of the severity of your decision for what occurred and that you will pursue God’s mercy in this matter because of what it will mean to you personally if you fail to do so.

Most sincerely,
Ronald Weinland

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…

That destruction is coming, and it will be coming all too soon. It doesn’t need to be rushed! Because of the time that has now been lengthened for the humbling process of the scattered nations of Israel, which will result in more people being saved, many are going to experience increasingly difficult financial trials as companies continue to let go of larger numbers of employees, cut back on salaries and benefits, and reduce the hours people are allowed to work. Although such trials will prove to be difficult, they are meager and nothing compared to the conditions we would now be living through if great destruction had already come by now. We can be ever so thankful that the Second Trumpet has not yet sounded and that it may now be withheld even longer.

For the final sermon on the Last Great Day of the Feast, it is planned that a sermon will be given on the subject of “time, times, and half a time.” God is beginning to give a clearer understanding of what He is doing concerning a “new” significance this expression has for this end-time. Due to the special fast held by God’s Church in January this year, some prophetic events have been shifted within the framework of the fulfillment of “time, times, and half a time.”

ideaCity:
A little over a week ago (on Thursday morning) I had interviews with two stations in Toronto, as presenters for ideaCity are being interviewed in the city’s anticipation of this special tenth anniversary event. This is the beginning of a new phase of recognition of God’s two witnesses (although it is only very slight at this time). It is indeed a unique and welcomed experience. Rather than being treated with attitudes that can be challenging, confrontational, disbelieving, irreverent, and at times condescending, there indeed seems to be a shift beginning to take place in which the message (and messenger) are beginning to be treated with greater respect. Of course the other attitudes will always exist, but as God begins to work with larger numbers of people, through a process of drawing them closer to the truth, His message (and messengers) will begin to be treated with greater sobriety and genuine respect.

This is the natural sequence of a change in attitude that comes through the way God works with people to draw them to Himself. Attitudes do begin to change as this same process helps humble human nature and begins to open the ability to “see” the truth and the hope of a new future. God is right now working with millions of people who are going to be called by Him at various stages over the next couple of years. Although they have not yet been specifically called (their minds “fully” opened to the truth), God is still working them and has begun the process of preparing them for that calling.

It will be interesting to see what door or doors God opens as a result of this unique speaking invitation in Toronto. I am reminded of the kinds of invitations Mr. Armstrong received that led to even greater opportunities to preach the gospel (as this was his commission).

On this Sabbath in Toronto, I will interrupt the current sermon series by giving a special sermon focusing on the events at ideaCity and where we are in a sequence of events that involve the Thunders and First Trumpet through which we are still living.

The Honeymoon is ending:
We are living through extraordinary times. We now live at a time when God has completely removed His protection, favor, help and blessings from all the scattered modern-day nations of Israel and from the Church that was scattered, except for His one true remnant group that fully consists of His Church today.

Beginning in 2009, the United States placed a new government in motion that no longer has any favor and will no longer receive any help from God. Over the past decades and even centuries, God has sustained the many governments of the scattered nations of Israel, due to Him fulfilling His promises of physical prosperity and greatness He was to give, especially to the tribe of Joseph (both Ephraim and Manasseh). Those nations of scattered Israel include the U.S., Israel itself (who is Judah), the U.K. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden. These nations have not only had the favor of greatness and prosperity now taken completely away from them, but these same nations are the first in the world to face prophetic demise. That demise began with the First Trumpet blast of the Seventh Seal that sounded on December 14, 2008.

The demise of the U.S. began on that date, and the removal of God’s favor over the nation is epitomized by the overwhelming response of the country to its new president. There has never been a time in U.S. history where such large masses of people have so strongly believed that a man could be their governing savior. This spirit of jubilation and excitement shown to such a leader has been like a mesmerizing stupor that has taken over individuals’ ability to see the reality that no man has such power.

The United States (Manasseh) was the last recipient of the blessings promised Israel as God made the U.S. the single greatest power and wealthiest nation the world has ever seen. But the U.S. is the first that is prophesied to fall and will lead to the collapse of the remaining nations of Israel as well.

Once God removed His sustaining power from the modern-day nations of Israel (and primarily the U.S.), those governments could no longer be recognized as having any legitimate rule. Only the monarchy of England has any continuing role of legitimacy until Jesus Christ returns.

God is no longer helping to sustain the greatness of the United States. Is it any wonder that we now see some eyes beginning to open and the euphoria of the honeymoon rapidly dissipating? Words like fascism, Marxism, Leninism, socialism, and totalitarianism are being bantered about more openly and convincingly. The kind of democracy the United States has been known by for over 200 years has now passed. Irreversible forces have already been set in motion that will now cause the final demise.

The government and economy of the United States is very near the point of a vacuum collapse where the entire system is going to crush in on itself. All efforts to shore up imploding corporations through government intervention or positive talk on Wall Street are not only going to fail, but these are going to fuel the final catastrophic events that lead to the downfall of the U.S. as a world power. Nations are scurrying to find other means for survival rather than depending on the stability of the U.S. or its currency as they have in the past. China is rapidly and wisely (from their vantage point) dumping U.S. dollars for raw materials all over the world. They no longer want U.S. dollars because they see “the handwriting on the wall.”

I would recommend that people reread the latter part of the post of March 6, beginning with the section “It’s the economy, stupid!” The hopes and dreams that many in the U.S. have over government intervention and the glimmer of a rising stock market are about to be dashed. Such misplaced hope and trust in government and a recovering economy is part of a prophetic fulfillment that is following the First Trumpet blast. All such hope and faith is soon going to be shattered and this plays a major role in the humbling process of the nation.

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This is the 10th Anniversary of a program in Toronto, Canada, called ideaCity, which was uniquely established to promote ideas and idealism. Each year an invitation is sent out to fifty speakers to attend this special meeting. They are asked to give a twenty-minute presentation on the ideas of which they seek to influence other people’s lives.

You may view their website (http://www.ideacityonline.com/) to read more about this gathering of speakers and those who will attend. On the “Presenters” tab at the top of the website you can click onto the page containing a list of the speakers. By clicking onto a name, you can read a short biography of each one. Under a newly posted section of the website, called “ideaCity News” (or simply the “News” tab at the top), is a promotion for the most recently added speakers. Moses Znaimer, who established ideaCity, has written a poem about each of these individuals, which can be found under the title of this “News” section, “Rhyme and Reason of ideaCity09.”

Included below is a synopsis of what is written about the concept of ideaCity and its producer, Moses Znaimer:

IdeaCity, also known as ‘Canada’s Premiere Meeting of the Minds’, is an eclectic gathering of artists, adventurers, authors, cosmologists, doctors, designers, entertainers, filmmakers, inventors, magicians, musicians, scientists and technologists.

Fifty of the planet’s brightest minds converge on Toronto each June to speak to a highly engaged audience. Only 497 are privileged to attend.

Produced and presented by Moses Znaimer, ideaCity is not themed around any one topic, issue or business. There are no scripted speeches or, breakout or parallel sessions. Rather, everyone is in one place and in on the same narrative. Moses Znaimer is described as a Canadian media icon and innovator internationally recognized for his tireless quest to inform, enrich and engage our collective spirits.

…….

…….

Much of the world of traditional Christianity, and even God’s Church, have long believed that this final time would begin with great destructive events that would immediately lead to the death of tens of thousands of people and then continue to escalate throughout the final 3 1/2 years. This period of time has often been referred to as “the great tribulation,” although the Bible makes no such statement regarding this final 3 1/2 years.

The reality is that the Seventh Seal of Revelation was opened on November 14, 2008, and then 30 days later the First Trumpet sounded. This trumpet is prophetic in nature, yet it will also prove to be very physical in its complete fulfillment. It is prophetic in that it reveals the kind of literal, physical destructiveness that will follow in the fulfillment of the six trumpets that are yet to sound.

We now find ourselves three months into that final 3 1/2 year period of time, but thank God that these massive powers of end-time destruction have not yet been unleashed. The kind of suffering that will finally come to pass is horrific beyond comprehension. God is being merciful by temporarily holding back the day when the Second Trumpet sounds and massive physical destruction begins. As always, it needs to be understood that God is not bringing that destruction upon mankind, but mankind is bringing it upon himself (it will be caused by man). God is now holding back that time of massive physical destruction by not allowing man to start this process for a few more months.

This “holding back” is in large part due to the result of God answering the prayers of His people who set aside a time of fasting, similar to that of Esther, whose results are remembered to this day in what is called the Feast of Purim.

On January 31, the Church of God entered a prolonged fast (a fast that lasts beyond the normal one day), and God’s people petitioned God, humbling themselves in the process, seeking that God would humble more people, and thereby deliver many more than He initially revealed would be saved. This is all the result of God’s will and His purpose that is being worked out for this world, and although God has granted to offer mercy to more people in this end-time by bringing more to humility, the choice of repentance is still in the hands of those whom God humbles and grants mercy. It is sad that there will be many who will still refuse God’s mercy and His offer to save them physically through this final end-time.

The petitions that went up before God were not for the purpose that the destructive power be lessened (as this cannot be changed), but that the period of time of the actual physical suffering from it will be lessened, and that through this very process more people will potentially be able to be saved (who can indeed live on into the millennial period that is rapidly approaching). This not only includes the possibility of many more people of different nations being saved, but it also includes an offer of saving many more who were part of the scattering in the Church after the apostasy in 1994 (who otherwise would not have been given such opportunity and blessing).

Mocking continues:
Sadly, the world, and even the Church that was scattered, is unaware that God’s Church fasted for them and has been praying for them. God is answering those prayers by extending the time before the Second Trumpet sounds and actual massive physical destruction begins in the United States. With this change of timing for the Second Trumpet and with the change of timing that occurred in the revelation of the “50 Truth” to God’s people, all others who are without this knowledge or that are unbelieving of such matters often turn to mocking that which they do not see.

We understand the inability of people to “see” what God is doing during the timing of this First Trumpet, so we recognize the need to endure more ridicule and skepticism for a longer period of time. It really doesn’t matter that people don’t yet accept what is true, but what is important is that more of them can be saved through what is coming. Those who are saved through all this will one day be very thankful to God and to His Church for what they did on their behalf.

Foolishly there are those who are quick to find fault by saying we are wrong or that I am a false prophet since physical destruction did not come at a time I had previously stated. It is easy to see, that without the understanding of “why” some matters of timing have changed, that some would doubt or ridicule what is true. Yet the time for the final 3 1/2 years has not changed at all. We are in it! We are in the countdown before the actual day Jesus Christ returns to this earth as King of kings. There are those who unwittingly and ignorantly seem to wish that destruction was already occurring and that great suffering was already here. But that will come soon enough!

Many do not “get it” concerning the title of the last book that was published. It is 2008 – God’s Final Witness. That was the final and the last year for a witness to be given to mankind at the end of 6,000 years of man’s self-rule. At the end of 2008, the final 3 1/2 years commenced. Mankind has already received his last warning and it was God’s final witness.

Before the Second Trumpet is blown, God is giving more time for people to be humbled before actual physical destruction begins on a massive scale (whereby more can be saved). Rather than physical destruction beginning immediately, more people can actually be brought to humility through the prolonged process we are now experiencing, which will then be followed by massive physical destruction. This extension of time for the duration of the First Trumpet will help bring about more humbling through a process of people experiencing more fully the steady destruction of our economic system. It is where people have placed their trust rather than in God and obedience to His ways.

It’s the economy, stupid!
The quote, “It’s the economy, stupid!” has been repeated much in recent years. When the economy is down, it does get the attention of people. This is the very tool God is now using at the beginning of this 3 1/2 year period that will help begin to humble people and prepare many more for greater humbling once the Second Trumpet has blown.

Governments and corporations have practiced wrong economic principles that are responsible for breeding and providing fuel to greed, misuse of power, and the selfish use of wealth. The leader of this has been the United States. The very process of how the government has established the U.S. Dollar, the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank, Central and Commercial Banks, the Treasury, the IRS, Treasury Bills, with all its convoluted and intertwined workings that has established this entire worldwide economic system, is now falling apart.

Today’s predominating and sustaining financial system that the global economy has been woven from originated in the United States and it is now coming unraveled! There is no mending that will save it. It is doomed to complete destruction. That is prophetic and the truth of it is from God. Such a system cannot stand because it is against the laws of God. Yet the world has established itself upon this false Babylonish System, whether they know it or not. Initially, some nations believed they were immune from what has been happening in the collapsing global economy originating out of the United States, but they are quickly learning that they are very deeply tied into it. They are now finding just how attached they really are. Through time, they have become part of the same Babylonish System.

The pride of mankind is strong. Although the process of collapse has begun, people do not yet grasp how severe this is. As more is taken away, people will be humbled more. Even now, we are witnessing a growing loss of faith that people have in the economic system, banking, wall street, corporations, unions, investor consultants and so called financial experts, and in the very government they believed would intervene to save them. There is no system, no government, no person, no plan, nor anything or anyone but God who can now save people from what is happening in this world.

This first phase of destruction is one that hurts people financially and affects every facet of personal life, from food, clothing, housing, transportation, livelihood, etc. It is all encompassing in the daily lives of millions. The collapsing financial system of this world is only the beginning of a humbling process for mankind. This is why there are Seven Thunders that will continue to sound and increase in power and frequency. This is why there are Seven Trumpets to be blown. It takes much to humble the nature of mankind!

We are witnessing the collapse of the United States, followed by the complete collapse of all governments of mankind. It has already begun. Nothing can change the course of what is happening. The merchants of the earth are beginning to mourn for what they see collapsing before them.

The Prophetic Sixth Seal:
The prophecies concerning the further fulfillment of what is pictured through the events of 9/11 are well under way, but the world and the Church that was scattered are fully asleep to this truth. The prophetic Sixth Seal that manifests the destruction of 9/11 is beginning to be fulfilled now that the Seventh Seal has been opened and the First Trumpet has already been blown.

The prophetic destruction manifested in 9/11 was followed by a temporary shut down of Wall Street and the plunging of the Dow. It truly takes a lot to humble people, for how soon we all forget. People were shocked and horrified by those events that shook the economic world. Before 9/11 the Dow had been fluctuating between the 10,000 and 11,000 level.

Following 9/11, the Dow plunged in October of 2001 to 7,300. Over the years to follow, it continued to climb until it hit a high of 14,164 in October of 2007. Since that time, the Dow has steadily declined and has now surpassed the plummet that followed 9/11. This is indeed a time for humbling people as they see their hopes and faith for increased wealth diminished exceedingly, far below expectations.

God has taken away the blessing of wealth that He gave to the U.S. It was God who made the U.S. great. “We the people” did not make it great. Wealth and prosperity is steadily being stripped away, and this will continue until everything has been fully diminished. All of this is part of the power to humble in order to save.

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