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Will You Stand Up and be Counted?

by M. John Allen

Today’s warped society and education teach us to sit passively on the sidelines and be spectators. We are taught not to rock the boat. Not to make waves. Not to offend anyone. TOLERANCE is the watchword. But is this how God wants us to act in the face of evil?

We are living in a lukewarm world and a lukewarm society today. We are taught to TOLERATE what in generations past would have been shameful abominations with only a whimper of protest. People who stand up to be counted, people who actually FIGHT FOR SOMETHING, especially when it is politically incorrect, are labeled as trouble makers and they are either ignored, ridiculed, or shouted down.

But does GOD teach us to idly sit by and allow evil to go on -- especially n God’s very Church? Does the Bible tell us to shut up and not rock the boat? I think we need to be REMINDED what the Bible says on these issues before it is too late, both for ourselves and for the church that so many have fought and sacrificed for over the many long years of the Work.

What prompted me to write this article? Frankly, brethren, I was shocked and outraged to hear recently that Joe Tkach and his gang in Pasadena are contracting to sell the Big Sandy Campus of Ambassador College to of all things a Catholic university! If anything should tell people to SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE, THIS MUST SURELY BE IT!

Personally, I am sick and tired of watching the heritage of God’s people squandered and destroyed by outright HERETICS who no longer even bother to make a pretext of living by the truths we were all taught to treasure over decades in the Church! And worse yet, none of the so called “church leaders,” except for Gerald Flurry, perhaps, bother to lift up their voices against what is going on.

The sadest thing is that God’s people could STOP THIS THING DEAD IN ITS TRACKS if we only mustered the will to do what was necessary to overcome this monstrous evil. It’s about time that a voice cries out to rally God’s people to action, and away from defeatism and excuse making and complaining and to ACTUALLY TAKING BOLD ACTION TO STOP THESE ATROCITIES DEAD IN THEIR TRACKS!

It’s about time that those who have been fleeced, hoodwinked, lied to, and stolen from stood up for themselves and put a stop to all of this!

Many of us have been brainwashed to think that to do anything else besides sit on the sidelines is not Godly -- yet, is this what the Bible and history show? Let’s get this matter straight once and for all, and finally DO SOMETHING to get this Work going again so that we can warn a dying world of what is about to happen to us before it is too late, lest their blood be on OUR HANDS -- and that includes all of the brethren, not just the ministers. We can’t shirk our own individual responsibility to stand up and be counted!

First, let’s learn form the Bible the kind of behavior that God expects of us, and then we will go into history to learn a very important lesson that will simply ASTOUND many of you.

Notice a few snippets form the story of Gideon:

Judges 6:11-16 (English-NIV)

11The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that

belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a

winepress to keep it from the Midianites.

12When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with

you, mighty warrior."

13"But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to

us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said,

`Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has

abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."

14The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel

out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"

15"But Lord, [1]" Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in

Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

16The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the

Midianites together."

Judges 6:21-27 (English-NIV)

21With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the

meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat

and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared.

22When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah,

Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!"

23But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die."

24So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace.

To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

25That same night the LORD said to him, "Take the second bull from your father's

herd, the one seven years old. [1] Tear down your father's altar to Baal and cut

down the Asherah pole [2] beside it.

26Then build a proper kind of [3] altar to the LORD your God on the top of this

height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second

[4] bull as a burnt offering."

27So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD told him. But because

he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did it at night rather than

in the daytime.

1.25 Or Take a full-grown, mature bull from your father's herd

2.25 That is, a symbol of the goddess Asherah; here and elsewhere in Judges

3.26 Or build with layers of stone an

4.26 Or full-grown; also in verse 28

[NOTE: Gideon was not instructed by God to allow the abomination to stand, but was told to DESTROY IT AND BUILD AN ALTAR TO GOD IN ITS PLACE!]

Continue now, skipping down a way [you can read the full account on your own in your own Bible]:

Judges 6:36-40 (English-NIV)

36Gideon said to God, "If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised--

37look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the

fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my

hand, as you said."

38And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the

fleece and wrung out the dew--a bowlful of water.

39Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one

more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece

dry and the ground covered with dew."

40That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with

dew.

Judges 8:1-3 (English-NIV)

1Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, "Why have you treated us like this? Why

didn't you call us when you went to fight Midian?" And they criticized him

sharply.

2But he answered them, "What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren't

the gleanings of Ephraim's grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer?

3God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I

able to do compared to you?" At this, their resentment against him subsided.

Judges 8:14-17 (English-NIV)

14He caught a young man of Succoth and questioned him, and the young man

wrote down for him the names of the seventy-seven officials of Succoth, the

elders of the town.

15Then Gideon came and said to the men of Succoth, "Here are Zebah and

Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me by saying, `Do you already have the

hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to

your exhausted men?'"

16He took the elders of the town and taught the men of Succoth a lesson by

punishing them with desert thorns and briers.

17He also pulled down the tower of Peniel and killed the men of the town.

So we see form these few short examples that Gideon had great zeal for God, and didn’t let evil run around without opposition. This is true of all great men of God. Notice another example:

Numbers 25:1-13 (Revised Standard Version) 25:1While Israel dwelt

in Shittim the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of

Moab. 25:2These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and

the people ate, and bowed down to their gods. 25:3So Israel yoked

himself to Ba'al of Pe'or [this is exactly what the Tkach crowd is doing today: the are bowing down to the God if this world, Satan, and inviting him into God’s church and are invaders in God’s property donated by God’s people to the glory of GOD’S NAME!].

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against

Israel; 25:4and the LORD said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the

people, and hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger

of the LORD may turn away from Israel." 25:5And Moses said to the judges

of Israel, "Every one of you slay his men who have yoked themselves to

Ba'al of Pe'or." 25:6And behold, one of the people of Israel came and

brought a Mid'ianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in

the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they

were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting. 25:7When Phin'ehas the

son of Elea'zar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the

congregation, and took a spear in his hand 25:8and went after the man of

Israel into the inner room, and pierced both of them, the man of Israel

and the woman, through her body. Thus the plague was stayed from the

people of Israel. 25:9Nevertheless those that died by the plague were

twenty-four thousand. 25:10And the LORD said to Moses, 25:11"Phin'ehas

the son of Elea'zar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath

from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among

them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy.

25:12Therefore say, 'Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace; 25:13

and it shall be to him, and to his descendants after him, the covenant

of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God, and made

atonement for the people of Israel.'"Revised Standard VersionThe Bible

text designated RSV is from The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version.

Copyright 1946, 1952, 1959, 1973 by the Division of Christian Education

of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States

of America. All rights reserved.

Numbers 25:7-15 (English-NIV)

7When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the

assembly, took a spear in his hand

8and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of

them--through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against

the Israelites was stopped;

9but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.

10The LORD said to Moses,

11"Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger

away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among

them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them.

12Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him.

13He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he

was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites."

14The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri

son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family.

15And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Cozbi

daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.

Yes, God takes such human defiance against Him very seriously. He repeatedly makes examples of those who test Him and do things contrary to His way! Those in God’s church today should TAKE NOTE OF THESE EXAMPLES! After all, what happened back then was FOR OUR INSTRUCTION! So, are there any among us who will STAND UP AND BE COUNTED FOR THE TRUTH OF GOD? Are there any among us who will attain the higher reward God reserves for such zeal?

I am going to site much more than the above before I am done. In the end, the course that YOU should take should be very plain indeed!

Notice what Psalms says of this incident:

Psalms 106:28-31 (Revised Standard Version)

106:28

Then they attached themselves to the Ba'al of Pe'or, and ate

sacrifices offered to the dead;

106:29

they provoked the LORD to anger with their doings, and a

plague broke out among them.

106:30

Then Phin'ehas stood up and interposed, and the plague was

stayed.

106:31

And that has been reckoned to him as righteousness from

generation to generation for ever.

We are being tested by God RIGHT NOW TODAY! God wants to see WHICH OF US will stand up for Him and for His truth and will FIGHT TO PRESERVE IT against the heretics! He wants to see if we really love Him and His Truth -- and if we do HE WILL COUNT IT TO US AS RIGHTEOUSNESS! I don’t know why God’s people have been blind to this so far, but we must wake up now and stop these abominations before they go any further! And remember that God will count this as righteousness on our part, and greatly bless us for being zealous for His Way and His Truth! So says your Bible!

There was one other time when renegade priests took over the Temple of God in Jerusalem. They conspired with the forerunner of the Beast, Antiochus Epiphanes, to WIPE OUT GOD’S RELIGION AND GOD’S TRUTH FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH! We must learn what happened then, because I believe it has a bearing on what the renegade priests in Pasadena are doing this very moment. And our reaction must be what the reaction of God’s people then was to this terrible atrocity.

The main accounts of this event are found in the first book of Maccabees and Josephus. I am about to quote a lot of material, but it is important to study the past and learn from it so that we can apply it more perfectly to our situation in the present day. the past, after all, has happened for OUR INSTRUCTION IN THE END TIME.

First, let me quote the appropriate section of Maccabees, followed by Josephus. Please try to stay with it, and God will show you the point.

I Maccabees

[10]

From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

[11]

In those days lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, saying, "Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them many evils have come upon us."

[12] This proposal pleased them,

[13] and some of the people eagerly went to the king. He authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles.

[14] So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom,

[15] and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil.

[16]

When Antiochus saw that his kingdom was established, he determined to become king of the land of Egypt, that he might reign over both kingdoms.

[17] So he invaded Egypt with a strong force, with chariots and elephants and cavalry and with a large fleet.

[18] He engaged Ptolemy king of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned and fled before him, and many were wounded and fell.

[19] And they captured the fortified cities in the land of Egypt, and he plundered the land of Egypt.

[20]

After subduing Egypt, Antiochus returned in the one hundred and forty-third year. He went up

against Israel and came to Jerusalem with a strong force.

[21] He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the lampstand for the light, and all its utensils.

[22] He took also the table for the bread of the Presence, the cups for drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the gold decoration on the front of the temple; he stripped it all off.

[23] He took the silver and the gold, and the costly vessels; he took also the hidden treasures which he found.

[24] Taking them all, he departed to his own land. He committed deeds of murder,

and spoke with great arrogance.

[25] Israel mourned deeply in every community,

[26] rulers and elders groaned,

maidens and young men became faint,

the beauty of women faded.

[27] Every bridegroom took up the lament;

she who sat in the bridal chamber was mourning.

[28] Even the land shook for its inhabitants,

and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame.

[29]

Two years later the king sent to the cities of Judah a chief collector of tribute, and he came to

Jerusalem with a large force.

[30] Deceitfully he spoke peaceable words to them, and they believed him; but he suddenly fell upon the city, dealt it a severe blow, and destroyed many people of Israel.

[31] He plundered the city, burned it with fire, and tore down its houses and its surrounding walls.

[32] And they took captive the women and children, and seized the cattle.

[33] Then they fortified the city of David with a great strong wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel.

[34] And they stationed there a sinful people, lawless men. These strengthened their position;

[35] they stored up arms and food, and collecting the spoils of Jerusalem they stored them there, and became a great snare.

[36] It became an ambush against the sanctuary,

an evil adversary of Israel continually.

[Notice that there were actually TWO ATTACKS on the Temple and Jerusalem, with the second appearing to be a complete defeat! it is interesting that in the last twenty years, there have been TWO ATTACKS on God’s Church by Satan -- one small and passing and the other massive, being also a complete invasion and subjugation, at least on the surface.]

[37] On every side of the sanctuary they shed innocent blood;

they even defiled the sanctuary.

[38] Because of them the residents of Jerusalem fled;

she became a dwelling of strangers;

she became strange to her offspring,

and her children forsook her.

[Note the parallel with our church today. It’s very striking indeed! The residents of Jerusalem who remained true to God FLED, and then STRANGERS MOVED IN and took over, and she became strange to her children. In the same way, the Church of God has been invaded, raped and pillaged. Outside forces were invited in to occupy it by renegade priests. And the WCG is now a virtual stranger to her children, the churches that have been forced out by the evil!]

[39] Her sanctuary became desolate as a desert;

her feasts were turned into mourning,

her Sabbaths into a reproach,

her honor into contempt.

[This is so true today, especially to the FEW REMAINING LOYAL TO GOD WHO ARE STILL THERE! If any of you are reading this, you cannot deny the truth of these words.]

[40] Her dishonor now grew as great as her glory;

her exaltation was turned into mourning.

[From God’s point of view, the WCG was once the Bride of Christ, having much honor. Now, in God’s eyes although not in the world’s, her dishonor is now as great as her honor used to be.]

[41]

Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people,

[This is EXACTLY WHAT THE NEW WORLD ORDER IS TRYING TO DO! They want one worldwide government and one worldwide religion, but with tolerance for minor differences.]

[42] and that each should give up his customs.

[Yes, while paying lip service to tolerance of other people’s customs, the New World Order is trying to subvert them and has a long range plan to foist its politically correct world view and agenda on the whole earth!]

[43] All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.

[44] And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land,

[45] to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane sabbaths and feasts,

[46] to defile the sanctuary and the priests,

[47] to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals,

[48] and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves abominable by

everything unclean and profane,

[49] so that they should forget the law and change all the ordinances.

[50] "And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die."

[This is the real Abomination that Makes Desolate: the worldly power declaring that it is illegal to obey God’s laws. The Sabbath is a particular problem to these people. I f you read the seven mystery letters elsewhere in the Times, you will note that THE CATHOLIC CHURCH is behind this plot to destroy God’s Church -- and they are the DESCENDANTS OF THIS EVIL SYSTEM ANTIOCHUS REPRESENTED AS THE FORERUNNER OF THE BEAST! Because the Catholic Church has KEPT THE BEAST, OR THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, ALIVE THROUGH MILLENNIA! And what is one of her chief methods of doing this, of holding together her empire? It is through cramming her evil religion down the throats of everyone she had the power to force and coerce and kill! Oh brethren, I hope you begin to see just how insidious this really is, and what God’s answer to it is! ]

[51]

In such words he wrote to his whole kingdom. And he appointed inspectors over all the people and commanded the cities of Judah to offer sacrifice, city by city.

[52] Many of the people, every one who forsook the law, joined them, and they did evil in the land;

[53] they drove Israel into hiding in every place of refuge they had.

[Yes, they forced those who remained TRUE to God and His Word to LEAVE JERUSALEM!]

[54]

Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-fifth year, they erected a

desolating sacrilege upon the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding cities of Judah,

[55] and burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets.

[56] The books of the law which they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire.

[57] Where the book of the covenant was found in the possession of any one, or if any one adhered to the law, the decree of the king condemned him to death.

[58] They kept using violence against Israel, against those found month after month in the cities.

[59] And on the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the altar which was upon the altar of burnt offering.

[60] According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their children circumcised,

[61] and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants from their mothers' necks.

[We are talking here of genocide and a concerted effort to wipe God’s way and His Truth from the face of the earth. The Beast will again go this far during the Tribulation!]

[62]

But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food.

[63] They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.

[64] And very great wrath came upon Israel.

1Mac.2

[1]

In those days Mattathias the son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Modein.

[2] He had five sons, John surnamed Gaddi,

[3] Simon called Thassi,

[4] Judas called Maccabeus,

[5] Eleazar called Avaran, and Jonathan called Apphus.

[6] He saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem,

[7] and said, "Alas! Why was I born to see this,

the ruin of my people, the ruin of the holy city,

and to dwell there when it was given over to the enemy,

the sanctuary given over to aliens?

[8] Her temple has become like a man without honor;

[9] her glorious vessels have been carried into captivity.

Her babes have been killed in her streets,

her youths by the sword of the foe.

[10] What nation has not inherited her palaces

and has not seized her spoils?

[11] All her adornment has been taken away;

no longer free, she has become a slave.

[12] And behold, our holy place, our beauty,

and our glory have been laid waste;

the Gentiles have profaned it.

[13] Why should we live any longer?"

[14] And Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned greatly.

[15]

Then the king's officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to make them offer sacrifice.

[16] Many from Israel came to them; and Mattathias and his sons were assembled.

[17] Then the king's officers spoke to Mattathias as follows: "You are a leader, honored and great in this city, and supported by sons and brothers.

[18] Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts."

[19]

But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: "Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to do his commandments, departing each one from the religion of his fathers,

[20] yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our fathers.

[21] Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances.

[22] We will not obey the king's words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left."

[This is the response each one of us must give to the words of Satan’s servants and his bribes to make us lose our crowns.]

[23]

When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in Modein, according to the king's command.

[24] When Mattathias saw it, he burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to

righteous anger; he ran and killed him upon the altar.

[God does not want compromise with those who abrogate His ways and profane His Truth and His Laws among His people. We are to EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS! A reading of the entire Book of Jude at this point would be very appropriate.]

[25] At the same time he killed the king's officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore

down the altar.

[26] Thus he burned with zeal for the law, as Phinehas did against Zimri the son of Salu.

[God will not accept excuses or compromise. He is calling each and every one of us to action right now, and He is DEMANDING THAT WE RESPOND WITH ZEAL! There is a great work to do and little time to do it in!]

[27]

Then Mattathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: "Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!"

[And this is exactly what God is calling all of us to do right now. He has raised me up to restore the Work of God and to get God’s Church back on is track, and, frankly He isn’t asking for your opinion or for any balk talk or any excuses! The train is leaving the station and if you know what is good for you, you will be on it. It’s just too bad if you don’t want to hear it or if you won’t endure sound doctrine, because if YOU will not answer the call, then HE WILL FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL! It’s about time that you woke up to reality and quit listening to the lies and pabulum pureed out by the hirelings and hypocrites! I know this is strong wording, but that is just how serious this thing is! God is not fooling around anymore. HE IS GOING TO CRUSH THIS SATANIC INVASION AND REBELLION, an d for some clues, we will continue to read on. But we are at the stage where God has SENT SOMEONE TO CRY ALOUD, AND SPARE NOT, AND SHOW MY PEOPLE THEIR SINS! You are receiving this message right now, and you are reading it because God, in His mercy, has drawn you to this message and now sets before you TWO WAYS OF LIFE! Just like Adam and Eve, He is now forcing you TO CHOSE WHICH WAY YOU WILL GO!

It is not the human prerogative to decide WHICH WAY IS right and which way is wrong. God only lets us choose WHETHER TO FOLLOW HIM OR SATAN!]

[28] And he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the city.

[29]

Then many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to the wilderness to dwell there,

[30] they, their sons, their wives, and their cattle, because evils pressed heavily upon them.

[31] And it was reported to the king's officers, and to the troops in Jerusalem the city of David, that men who had rejected the king's command had gone down to the hiding places in the wilderness.

[32] Many pursued them, and overtook them; they encamped opposite them and prepared for battle against them on the sabbath day.

[33] And they said to them, "Enough of this! Come out and do what the king commands, and you will live."

[34] But they said, "We will not come out, nor will we do what the king commands and so profane the sabbath day."

[35] Then the enemy hastened to attack them.

[36] But they did not answer them or hurl a stone at them or block up their hiding places,

[37] for they said, "Let us all die in our innocence; heaven and earth testify for us that you are killing us unjustly."

[38] So they attacked them on the sabbath, and they died, with their wives and children and cattle, to the number of a thousand persons.

[39]

When Mattathias and his friends learned of it, they mourned for them deeply.

[40] And each said to his neighbor: "If we all do as our brethren have done and refuse to fight with the Gentiles for our lives and for our ordinances, they will quickly destroy us from the earth."

[41] So they made this decision that day: "Let us fight against every man who comes to attack us on the sabbath day; let us not all die as our brethren died in their hiding places."

[42]

Then there united with them a company of Hasideans, mighty warriors of Israel, every one who

offered himself willingly for the law.

[43] And all who became fugitives to escape their troubles joined them and reinforced them.

[44] They organized an army, and struck down sinners in their anger and lawless men in their wrath; the survivors fled to the Gentiles for safety.

[45] And Mattathias and his friends went about and tore down the altars;

[46] they forcibly circumcised all the uncircumcised boys that they found within the borders of Israel.

[47] They hunted down the arrogant men, and the work prospered in their hands.

[48] They rescued the law out of the hands of the Gentiles and kings, and they never let the sinner gain the upper hand.

[49]

Now the days drew near for Mattathias to die, and he said to his sons: "Arrogance and reproach have now become strong; it is a time of ruin and furious anger.

[50] Now, my children, show zeal for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of our fathers.

[51]

"Remember the deeds of the fathers, which they did in their generations; and receive great honor and an everlasting name.

[52] Was not Abraham found faithful when tested, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness?

[53] Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment, and became lord of Egypt.

[54] Phinehas our father, because he was deeply zealous, received the covenant of everlasting

priesthood.

[55] Joshua, because he fulfilled the command, became a judge in Israel.

[56] Caleb, because he testified in the assembly, received an inheritance in the land.

[57] David, because he was merciful, inherited the throne of the kingdom for ever.

[58] Elijah because of great zeal for the law was taken up into heaven.

[59] Hannaniah, Azariah, and Mishael believed and were saved from the flame.

[60] Daniel because of his innocence was delivered from the mouth of the lions.

[61]

"And so observe, from generation to generation, that none who put their trust in him will lack

strength.

[62] Do not fear the words of a sinner, for his splendor will turn into dung and worms.

[63] Today he will be exalted, but tomorrow he will not be found, because he has returned to the dust, and his plans will perish.

[64] My children, be courageous and grow strong in the law, for by it you will gain honor.

[65]

"Now behold, I know that Simeon your brother is wise in counsel; always listen to him; he shall be your father.

[66] Judas Maccabeus has been a mighty warrior from his youth; he shall command the army for you and fight the battle against the peoples.

[67] You shall rally about you all who observe the law, and avenge the wrong done to your people.

[68] Pay back the Gentiles in full, and heed what the law commands."

[69]

Then he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers.

[Yes, and we must use whatever means God gives us to pay back Joseph Tkach and his minions for the atrocities he has perpetrated. But in our modern day, we may well have to use the courts and the mass media to strike at this man of sin.]

[70] He died in the one hundred and forty-sixth year and was buried in the tomb of his fathers at

Modein. And all Israel mourned for him with great lamentation.

Let us study more details on these events as recorded by Josephus:

CHAPTER 5.

HOW, UPON THE QUARRELS ONE AGAINST ANOTHER ABOUT THE HIGH

PRIESTHOOD ANTIOCHUS MADE AN EXPEDITION AGAINST JERUSALEM,

TOOK THE CITY AND PILLAGED THE TEMPLES. AND DISTRESSED THE JEWS'

AS ALSO HOW MANY OF THE JEWS FORSOOK THE LAWS OF THEIR COUNTRY;

AND HOW THE SAMARITANS FOLLOWED THE CUSTOMS OF THE GREEKS

AND NAMED THEIR TEMPLE AT MOUNT GERIZZIM THE TEMPLE OF JUPITER

HELLENIUS.

1. ABOUT this time, upon the death of Onias the high priest, they gave the high priesthood to Jesus his brother; for that son which Onias left [or Onias IV.] was yet but an infant; and, in its proper place, we will inform the reader of all the circumstances that befell this child. But this Jesus, who was the brother of Onias, was deprived of the high priesthood by the king, who was angry with him, and gave it to his younger brother, whose name also was Onias; for Simon had these three sons, to each of which the priesthood came, as we have already informed the reader. This Jesus changed his name to Jason, but Onias was called Menelaus. Now as the former high priest, Jesus, raised a sedition against Menelaus, who was ordained after him, the multitude were divided between them both. And the sons of Tobias took the part of Menelaus, but the greater part of the people assisted Jason; and by that means Menelaus and the sons of Tobias were distressed, and retired to Antiochus, and informed him that they were desirous to leave the laws of their country, and the Jewish way of living according to them, and to follow the king's laws, and the Grecian way of living. Wherefore they desired his permission to build them a Gymnasium at Jerusalem. (15) And when he had given them leave, they also hid the circumcision of their genitals, that even when they were naked they might appear to be Greeks. Accordingly, they left off all the customs that belonged to their own country, and imitated the practices of the other nations.

2. Now Antiochus, upon the agreeable situation of the affairs of his kingdom, resolved to make an expedition against Egypt, both because he had a desire to gain it, and because he contemned the son of Ptolemy, as now weak, and not yet of abilities to manage affairs of such consequence; so he came with great forces to Pelusium, and circumvented Ptolemy Philometor by treachery, and seized upon Egypt. [Another rending calls him, if I remember correctly, Ptolemy Philadelhius! And note that Antiochus’ pattern is subversion and treachery.] He then came to the places about Memphis; and when he had taken them, he made haste to Alexandria, in hopes of taking it by siege, and of subduing Ptolemy, who reigned there. But he was driven not only from Alexandria, but out of all Egypt, by the declaration of the Romans, who charged him to let that country alone; according as I have elsewhere formerly declared. I will now give a particular account of what concerns this king, how he subdued Judea and the temple; for in my former work I mentioned those things very briefly, and have therefore now thought it necessary to go over that history again, and that with great accuracy.

3. King Antiochus returning out of Egypt (16) for fear of the Romans, made an expedition against the city Jerusalem; and when he was there, in the hundred and forty-third year of the kingdom of the Seleucidse, he took the city without fighting, those of his own party opening the gates to him. [Notice INTERNAL ACCOMPLICES! It is interesting to note that Herbert Armstrong stated that the receiver was allowed to take over for a time in 1979 because of traitors within the church! I noted years ago when I studied this subject previously the spooky parallels between that time and the FIRST ATTACK against God’s Church in the modern day. I think we will also note some parallels also with the SECOND ATTACK, as Antiochus attacked Jerusalem not once, BUT TWICE!] And when he had gotten possession of Jerusalem, he slew many of the opposite party; and when he had plundered it of a great deal of money, he returned to Antioch. [The Receiver also plundered God’s Church for a GREAT DEAL OF MONEY when he attacked it in 1979.]

4. Now it came to pass, after two years, in the hundred forty and fifth year, on the twenty-fifth day of that month which is by us called Chasleu, and by the Macedonians Apelleus, in the hundred and fifty-third olympiad, that the king came up to Jerusalem, and, pretending peace, he got possession of the city by treachery; at which time he spared not so much as those that admitted him into it, on account of the riches that lay in the temple; but, led by his covetous inclination, (for he saw there was in it a great deal of gold, and many ornaments that had been dedicated to it of very great value,) and in order to plunder its wealth, he ventured to break the league he had made. So he left the temple bare, and took away the golden candlesticks, and the golden altar [of incense], and table [of shew-bread], and the altar [of burnt-offering]; and did not abstain from even the veils, which were made of fine linen and scarlet. He also emptied it of its secret treasures, and left nothing at all remaining; and by this means cast the Jews into great lamentation, for he forbade them to offer those daily sacrifices which they used to offer to God, according to the law. And when he had pillaged the whole city, some of the inhabitants he slew, and some he carried captive, together with their wives and children, so that the multitude of those captives that were taken alive amounted to about ten thousand. He also burnt down the finest buildings; and when he had overthrown the city walls, he built a citadel in the lower part of the city, (17) for the place was high, and overlooked the temple; on which account he fortified it with high walls and towers, and put into it a garrison of Macedonians. However, in that citadel dwelt the impious and wicked part of the [Jewish] multitude, from whom it proved that the citizens suffered many and sore calamities. And when the king had built an idol altar upon God's altar, he slew swine upon it, and so offered a sacrifice neither according to the law, nor the Jewish religious worship in that country. He also compelled them to forsake the worship which they paid their own God, and to adore those whom he took to be gods; and made them build temples, and raise idol altars in every city and village, and offer swine upon them every day. He also commanded them not to circumcise their sons, and threatened to punish any that should be found to have transgressed his injunction. He also appointed overseers, who should compel them to do what he commanded. And indeed many Jews there were who complied with the king's commands, either voluntarily, or out of fear of the penalty that was denounced. [Read our special edition on the WCG. After reading these articles, I think you will see that history has repeated itself in a very uncanny, surreal sort of way!] But the best men, and those of the noblest souls, did not regard him, but did pay a greater respect to the customs of their country than concern as to the punishment which he threatened to the disobedient; on which account they every day underwent great miseries and bitter torments; for they were whipped with rods, and their bodies were torn to pieces, and were crucified, while they were still alive, and breathed. They also strangled those women and their sons whom they had circumcised, as the king had appointed, hanging their sons about their necks as they were upon the crosses. And if there were any sacred book of the law found, it was destroyed, and those with whom they were found miserably perished also. [How about the attempts of the Tkachies to keep Mr. Armstrong’s books from ever seeing print again? How about the time when the call went forth in church services asking the brethren to donate their copies of Mystery of the Ages “so that we can donate them to libraries,” when in reality these liars and thieves BURNED THESE BOOKS IN A HUGE BONFIRE IN BIG SANDY? Sounds like the same old tricks to me! Perhaps what was done then will also repeat itself in our modern day.]

5. When the Samaritans [could these be the “tares” that have attended church with us all of these years, only to reveal their TRUE NATURES once the cat was away?] saw the Jews under these sufferings, they no longer confessed that they were of their kindred, nor that the temple on Mount Gerizzim belonged to Almighty God. This was according to their nature, as we have already shown. And they now said that they were a colony of Medes and Persians; and indeed they were a colony of theirs. So they sent ambassadors to Antiochus, and an epistle, whose contents are these: "To king Antiochus the god, Epiphanes, a memorial from the Sidonians, who live at Shechem. Our forefathers, upon certain frequent plagues, and as following a certain ancient superstition, had a custom of observing that day which by the Jews is called the Sabbath. (18) And when they had erected a temple at the mountain called Gerrizzim, though without a name, they offered upon it the proper sacrifices. Now, upon the just treatment of these wicked Jews, those that manage their affairs, supposing that we were of kin to them, and practiced as they do, make us liable to the same accusations, although we be originally Sidonians, as is evident from the public records. We therefore beseech thee, our benefactor and Savior, to give order to Apollonius, the governor of this part of the country, and to Nicanor, the procurator of thy affairs, to give us no disturbance, nor to lay to our charge what the Jews are accused for, since we are aliens from their nation, and from their customs; but let our temple, which at present hath no name at all be named the Temple of Jupiter Hellenius. If this were once done, we should be no longer disturbed, but should be more intent on our own occupation with quietness, and so bring in a greater revenue to thee." When the Samaritans had petitioned for this, the king sent them back the following answer, in an epistle: "King Antiochus to Nicanor. The Sidonians, who live at Shechem, have sent me the memorial enclosed. When therefore we were advising with our friends about it, the messengers sent by them represented to us that they are no way concerned with accusations which belong to the Jews, but choose to live after the customs of the Greeks. Accordingly, we declare them free from such accusations, and order that, agreeable to their petition, their temple be named the Temple of Jupiter Hellenius." He also sent the like epistle to Apollonius, the governor of that part of the country, in the forty-sixth year, and the eighteenth day of the month Hecatorabeom

CHAPTER 6.

HOW, UPON ANTIOCHUS'S PROHIBITION TO THE JEWS TO MAKE USE OF THE

LAWS OF THEIR COUNTRY MATTATHIAS, THE SON OF ASAMONEUS, ALONE

DESPISED THE KING, AND OVERCAME THE GENERALS OF ANTIOCHUS'S

ARMY; AS ALSO CONCERNING THE DEATH OF MATTATHIAS, AND THE

SUCCESSION OF JUDAS.

1. NOW at this time there was one whose name was Mattathias, who dwelt at Modin, the son of John, the son of Simeon, the son of Asamoneus, a priest of the order of Joarib, and a citizen of Jerusalem. He had five sons; John, who was called Gaddis, and Simon, who was called Matthes, and Judas, who was called Maccabeus, (19) and Eleazar, who was called Auran, and Jonathan, who was called Apphus. Now this Mattathias lamented to his children the sad state of their affairs, and the ravage made in the city, and the plundering of the temple, and the calamities the multitude were under; and he told them that it was better for them to die for the laws of their country, than to live so ingloriously as they then did.

2. But when those that were appointed by the king were come to Modin, that they might compel the Jews to do what they were commanded, and to enjoin those that were there to offer sacrifice, as the king had commanded, they desired that Mattathias, a person of the greatest character among them, both on other accounts, and particularly on account of such a numerous and so deserving a family of children, would begin the sacrifice, because his fellow citizens would follow his example, and because such a procedure would make him honored by the king. But Mattathias said he would not do it; and that if all the other nations would obey the commands of Antiochus, either out of fear, or to please him, yet would not he nor his sons leave the religious worship of their country. But as soon as he had ended his speech, there came one of the Jews into the midst of them, and sacrificed, as Antiochus had commanded. At which Mattathias had great indignation, and ran upon him violently, with his sons, who had swords with them, and slew both the man himself that sacrificed, and Apelles the king's general, who compelled them to sacrifice, with a few of his soldiers. He also overthrew the idol altar, and cried out, "If," said he," any one be zealous for the laws of his country, and for the worship of God, let him follow me." And when he had said this, he made haste into the desert with his sons, and left all his substance in the village. Many others did the same also, and fled with their children and wives into the desert, and dwelt in caves. But when the king's generals heard this, they took all the forces they then had in the citadel at Jerusalem, and pursued the Jews into the desert; and when they had overtaken them, they in the first place endeavored to persuade them to repent, and to choose what was most for their advantage, and not put them to the necessity of using them according to the law of war. But when they would not comply with their persuasions, but continued to be of a different mind, they fought against them on the sabbath day, and they burnt them as they were in the caves, without resistance, and without so much as stopping up the entrances of the caves. And they avoided to defend themselves on that day, because they were not willing to break in upon the honor they owed the sabbath, even in such distresses; for our law requires that we rest upon that day. There were about a thousand, with their wives and children, who were smothered and died in these caves; but many of those that escaped joined themselves to Mattathias, and appointed him to be their ruler, who taught them to fight, even on the sabbath day; and told them that unless they would do so, they would become their own enemies, by observing the law [so rigorously], while their adversaries would still assault them on this day, and they would not then defend themselves, and that nothing could then hinder but they must all perish without fighting. This speech persuaded them. And this rule continues among us to this day, that if there be a necessity, we may fight on sabbath days. So Mattathias got a great army about him, and overthrew their idol altars, and slew those that broke the laws, even all that he could get under his power; for many of them were dispersed among the nations round about them for fear of him. He also commanded that those boys which were not yet circumcised should be circumcised now; and he drove those away that were appointed to hinder such their circumcision.

3. But when he had ruled one year, and was fallen into a distemper, he called for his sons, and set them round about him, and said, "O my sons, I am going the way of all the earth; and I recommend to you my resolution, and beseech you not to be negligent in keeping it, but to be mindful of the desires of him who begat you, and brought you up, and to preserve the customs of your country, and to recover your ancient form of government, which is in danger of being overturned, and not to be carried away with those that, either by their own inclination, or out of necessity, betray it, but to become such sons as are worthy of me; to be above all force and necessity, and so to dispose your souls, as to be ready, when it shall be necessary, to die for your laws; as sensible of this, by just reasoning, that if God see that you are so disposed he will not overlook you, but will have a great value for your virtue, and will restore to you again what you have lost, and will return to you that freedom in which you shall live quietly, and enjoy your own customs. Your bodies are mortal, and subject to fate; but they receive a sort of immortality, by the remembrance of what actions they have done. And I would have you so in love with this immortality, that you may pursue after glory, and that, when you have undergone the greatest difficulties, you may not scruple, for such things, to lose your lives. I exhort you, especially, to agree one with another; and in what excellency any one of you exceeds another, to yield to him so far, and by that means to reap the advantage of every one's own virtues. Do you then esteem Simon as your father, because he is a man of extraordinary prudence, and be governed by him in what counsels be gives you. Take Maccabeus for the general of your army, because of his courage and strength, for he will avenge your nation, and will bring vengeance on your enemies. Admit among you the righteous and religious, and augment their power."

4. When Mattathias had thus discoursed to his sons, and had prayed to God to be their assistant, and to recover to the people their former constitution, he died a little afterward, and was buried at Modin; all the people making great lamentation for him. Whereupon his son Judas took upon him the administration of public affairs, in the hundred forty and sixth year; and thus, by the ready assistance of his brethren, and of others, Judas cast their enemies out of the country, and put those of their own country to death who had transgressed its laws, and purified the land of all the pollutions that were in it.

CHAPTER 7.

HOW JUDAS OVERTHREW THE FORCES OF APOLLONIUS AND SERON AND

KILLED THE GENERALS OF THEIR ARMIES THEMSELVES; AND HOW WHEN, A

LITTLE WHILE AFTERWARDS LYSIAS AND GORGIAS WERE BEATEN HE WENT

UP TO JERUSALEM AND PURIFIED THE TEMPLE.

1. WHEN Apollonius, the general of the Samaritan forces, heard this, he took his army, and made haste to go against Judas, who met him, and joined battle with him, and beat him, and slew many of his men, and among them Apollonius himself, their general, whose sword being that which he happened then to wear, he seized upon, and kept for himself; but he wounded more than he slew, and took a great deal of prey from the enemy's camp, and went his way. But when Seron, who was general of the army of Celesyria, heard that many had joined themselves to Judas, and that he had about him an army sufficient for fighting, and for making war, he determined to make an expedition against him, as thinking it became him to endeavor to punish those that transgressed the king's injunctions. He then got together an army, as large as he was able, and joined to it the runagate and wicked Jews, and came against Judas. He came as far as Bethhoron, a village of Judea, and there pitched his camp; upon which Judas met him; and when he intended to give him battle, he saw that his soldiers were backward to fight, because their number was small, and because they wanted food, for they were fasting, he encouraged them, and said to them, that victory and conquest of enemies are not derived from the multitude in armies, but in the exercise of piety towards God; and that they had the plainest instances in their forefathers, who, by their righteousness, exerting themselves on behalf of their own laws, and their own children, had frequently conquered many ten thousands, - for innocence is the strongest army. By this speech he induced his men to contenm the multitude of the enemy, and to fall upon Seron. And upon joining battle with him, he beat the Syrians; and when their general fell among the rest, they all ran away with speed, as thinking that to be their best way of escaping. So he pursued them unto the plain, and slew about eight hundred of the enemy; but the rest escaped to the region which lay near to the sea.

2. When king Antiochus heard of these things, he was very angry at what had happened; so he got together all his own army, with many mercenaries, whom he had hired from the islands, and took them with him, and prepared to break into Judea about the beginning of the spring. But when, upon his mustering his soldiers, he perceived that his treasures were deficient, and there was a want of money in them, for all the taxes were not paid, by reason of the seditions there had been among the nations he having been so magnanimous and so liberal, that what he had was not sufficient for him, he therefore resolved first to go into Persia, and collect the taxes of that country. Hereupon he left one whose name was Lysias, who was in great repute with him governor of the kingdom, as far as the bounds of Egypt, and of the Lower Asia, and reaching from the river Euphrates, and committed to him a certain part of his forces, and of his elephants, and charged him to bring up his son Antiochus with all possible care, until he came back; and that he should conquer Judea, and take its inhabitants for slaves, and utterly destroy Jerusalem, and abolish the whole nation. And when king Antiochus had given these things in charge to Lysias, he went into Persia; and in the hundred and forty-seventh year he passed over Euphrates, and went to the superior provinces.

3. Upon this Lysias chose Ptolemy, the son of Dorymenes, and Nicanor, and Gorgias, very potent men among the king's friends, and delivered to them forty thousand foot soldiers, and seven thousand horsemen, and sent them against Judea, who came as far as the city Emmaus, and pitched their camp in the plain country. There came also to them auxiliaries out of Syria, and the country round about; as also many of the runagate Jews. And besides these came some merchants to buy those that should be carried captives, (having bonds with them to bind those that should be made prisoners,) with that silver and gold which they were to pay for their price. And when Judas saw their camp, and how numerous their enemies were, he persuaded his own soldiers to be of good courage, and exhorted them to place their hopes of victory in God, and to make supplication to him, according to the custom of their country, clothed in sackcloth; and to show what was their usual habit of supplication in the greatest dangers, and thereby to prevail with God to grant you the victory over your enemies. [this is what God is calling us to do today, brethren. God has revealed to me that the occupying forces that have taken over His Church and His properties are the MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE ON THE EARTH TODAY -- starting at the Vatican itself! If you will read the mystery letters you will note that at the time Mr. Armstrong started broadcasting years ago in 1954 on Radio Luxembourg, the Pope at that time became OUTRAGED at what he heard, and that a plot then was hatched to destroy the very Work of the Living God! So a plot was devised, and agents were planted in the church and the college, with Stanley rader being the chief Vatican agent. They infiltrated the top layers of the ministry, brethren, just waiting for their chance to POUNCE and to destroy this Work of God, just like Antiochus infiltrated Judah by getting renegade priests -- including the high priest himself -- so that he could just march in and take over. Satan’s methods don’t often change, and the same methods have been used against us today! In fact, another part of the plot, according to the letters, was to use some of the agents in top positions to start several false spin off groups to dissipate and use up the energy of God’s people!

God has made this all very plain and clear to me in recent weeks. Al the pieces fit together into a matrix of deceit and evil that has been used by SATAN HIMSELF TO DESTROY AND NEUTRALIZE GOD’S WORK! Many thought Mr. Armstrong was just a paranoid old man when he stated over and over again that the enemies were like vultures just circling overhead waiting for their opportunity to swoop in and take over the very Work that JESUS CHRIST BUILT, NOT ANY MAN!

But, God works through human instruments and human instruments are imperfect. We sometimes make very big mistakes. And so Satan has been allowed to capitalize on those mistakes for over twelve years now! And he thinks in his own conceits that he has won the final victory.

Nothing could be further from the truth, though! While Satan may have ALL THE POWER OF THIS WORLD AT HIS COMMAND, so that he even controls most of what the churches of God are presently jutting out, HE CANNOT STOP GOD ONCE HE HAS DECIDED TO MOVE! Yes, Satan is using the biggest church in this world, which is, step by step, even now resurrecting its Beast power for one more walk on the world stage. Satan may be working through the government of the United States and others to SUPPRESS God’s true Church and the preaching of the Gospel. And yes, Satan may even have MOST OF GOD’S PEOPLE UNDER HIS SWAY AND INFLUENCE. But one thing that neither Satan nor the people of this world understand is that the Eternal God HAS ALL THE VAST POWERS OF THE UNIVERSE AT HIS DISPOSAL! God Almighty has revealed to my mind now for almost seven long years now that it is almost His time to move. He is gathering His powers, and will soon MOVE VERY SWIFTLY NOW TO PUT HIS OWN CHURCH BACK ON HIS TRACK! The final mighty push of this great Work is about to begin right now, and it will HAPPEN WITH SUCH SWIFTNESS ONCE THE TIME HAS COME THAT IT WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY! All of this world’s powers don’t stand a chance once God has determined to move. All we humans can do is either stand and watch or get out of the way or GET BEHIND WHAT GOD IS DOING!

I know that too many people have forgotten he words of Jesus Christ when He thundered to His disciples that NO MAN CAN COME TO ME EXCEPT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DRAWS HIM!

I think that most of us have forgotten the important fact that the very fact that YOU UNDERSTAND GOD’S PRECIOUS TRUTH is because YOU HAVE AN INVITATION FROM THE FATHER TO EAT AT HIS TABLE! It doesn’t matter if you are a famous scientist or philosopher. It doesn’t matter if you are a great religious leader with tittles piled up to heaven: UNLESS GOD OPENS YOUR MIND TO UNDERSTAND HIS TRUTH, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AS MUCH OF THE THINGS OF GOD AS A COW UNDERSTANDS THE THINGS OF THE MIND OF MAN!

It’s just that simple, but I think that we have been influenced by Satan’s deception for so long that we have forgotten this very important fact, and I am here to remind you of this today!

Now, do you think that I sit down and purposely THINK UP OR MAKE UP ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT I AM WRITING TO YOU? Do you think I sit down like so many of the committees do on so called editorial boards in most of the churches today and simply write up an outline of what I am going to say? Do you think all of this is just some kid of nutty performance, or an act or effectation that I put on?

Oh, sometimes I wish that it were that simple!

I think many of you have forgotten how Mr. Armstrong wrote and spoke. You have listened to the prefabricated purrings of the hirelings so long that you have literally forgotten what it was like to listen to someone who was literally inspired by t he very SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD!

They used to have a television camera outside the television studio in Pasadena because there were many times when God would speak to Mr. Armstrong’s heart and directly inspire him with a message that HE HAD TO GET OUT RIGHT THEN AND THERE WHILE GOD’S SPIRIT WAS UPON HIM, so that it would not lose its force or power.

But this didn’t always happen at a time convenient to the television people. Mr. Armstrong would sometimes be SO URGENT to pour out the word of God onto video tape that he would leave his home at 2 AM in the morning and drive around tot he television studio to tape a broadcast!

I don’t think that most of you peep understand that was how much of God’s Work got done in the past! There were no script committees. No story editors. No script writers that a blow dried pretty face trained in acting skills simply read into a camera, producing a slick, professional production according to this world’s way of thinking! Oh now! GOD USUALLY DOESN’T WORK THIS WAY! Is inspiration often doesn’t come at convenient preplanned times and locations! It come suddenly, sometimes in the middle of the night, and the best thing to do is to act on it right then and there.

The job of the television people was to be ready and alert to tape Mr. Armstrong at any time of the day or night WHEN GOD INSPIRED THE MESSAGE, and not necessarily when it was convenient for us mortals.

And that is the way the inspiration of God often works, brethren. And I am sure that Mr. Armstrong often had no warning of it either, many times! I know this because I experience the same things in my own life.

I will plan an article or a message that I want to put on tape. I will plan to do one thing, but when I sit down to type or get in front of the microphone, all of a sudden THINGS WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE! Connections will be made and I will understand things in crystal clarity RIGHT THAT MOMENT, and sometimes what I understand then will be ALMOST THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I HAD PLANNED AHEAD TO SAY!

The Power of God’s Holy Spirit comes upon me, and, just as Mr. Armstrong said so long ago, it’s almost like I am taking dictation. It’s almost as if another mind is doing the thinking and I am just typing out the words or speaking the words as I am being inspired right at that very moment.

The same thing is happening right this minute as I write this material. I had planned to make at most a two or three sentence parenthetical comment on what Josephus was saying, but , as I started, God’s Spirit began to inspire me and the words have just flowed from one thought to another.

Now a writing committee or an editorial board could not act like this, brethren. They plan things out with their HUMAN MIND, which cramps the style of the Holy Spirit and the mind of God to say what HE WANTS!

And God has a lot to tell all of you epode! My meager facilities and resources JUST AREN’T ENOUGH ANYMORE to convey everything that God wants to say to you, His people.

He has watched you and judged you during this time of trouble -- a mini tribulation if you will -- during which access to the Word of God HAS ALMOST BEEN SHUT OFF. But He wanted to see what His people would do. Now, He wants to see what you will do WHEN HE MOVES TO PUT THINGS BACK ON T HE TRACK!

He wants to know if those originally invited to the wedding feast will answer the invitation. He wants to see if you can get your minds right again, and return to an emphasis on HIS PRIORITIES rather than YOUR OWN PRIORITIES! He wants to see how many of you people will recognize the Holy Spirit working through a NEW END TIME APOSTLE, and whether you will accept it and recognize him or whether you will LEAN TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING AND REJECT WHOM GOD HAS SENT!

Do you think that I could write such lines as the above of my own accord? If I did, I would be an EGO MANIAC! And many have accused me of being an ego maniac because FALSE PROPHETS AND FALSE TEACHERS HAVE ARISEN, NOT SPEAKING THE SAME THING THAT GOD PUT INTO HIS CHURCH ALL F THESE YEARS THROUGH HIS END TIME APOSTLE HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG!

No, these false ministers and false prophets, those who claim to speak for God and to have a message from God when they have NO SUCH THING except their own vain imaginations -- THESE MEN HAVE THEIR OWN PET THEORIES AND THEIR OWN QUIRKY WAYS OF DOING THINGS THAT ARE NOT BASE DON THE BIBLE, BUT ON THEIR OWN FANTASIES!

Some will tell you to learn and follow Jewish traditions, WHICH CHRIST HIMSELF REJECTED! Others have told you they had a vision form an angel, and then later contradict themselves. Others will tell you that you have to use the Hebrew names for God and Christ only and that if you don’t you can’t be saved. WHAT UTTER HOGWASH!

Yet others, the technocrats and hirelings, who have turned the commission of God’s Work into a MERE PROFESSION, as if they were a doctor or a lawyer or a minister of this world or something like that, WILL PREACH TO YOU WHATEVER THEY THINK YOU WANT TO HEAR SO THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEIR PAYCHECK!! They won’t do what GOD COMMANDS IN HIS WORD, WHICH IS TO CRY ALOUD AND SPARE NOT AND SHOW MY PEOPLE THEIR SINS! THEY WON’T ROCK THE BOAT BECAUSE THE GOSPEL TO THEM IS A MEANS OF FINANCIAL GAIN!

What man in his right mind, if he wanted to gain a following for himself would preach the truth of God? No one my brethren! It’s like a man once told Mr. Armstrong when he was first starting out. He said, “you won’t get very far, Mr. Armstrong.” Mr. Armstrong then asked him why. And the man replied that people pay a minister to stand at the front of their church and make them feel good about themselves. They pay a man to tell them the things that they want to hear. But, this man noted that MR. ARMSTRONG WAS PREACHING THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE, AND PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO HEAR THAT AND SO THEY WON’T PAY FOR IT OR STAND FOR IT!

Well, because God was behind Mr. Armstrong, this man’s prediction failed. What that man failed to understand was that the most DYNAMIC, POWERFUL FORCE IN T HE ENTIRE UNIVERSE WAS BEHIND HIM, AND THAT THEREFORE NOTHING COULD STAND IN T HE WAY!

You see, Christ said THIS GOSPEL SHALL BE PREACHED AS A WITNESS TO THE NATIONS, AND THEN THE END SHALL COME. Christ didn’t say if. Christ didn’t say maybe, if enough people contribute money. He didn’t say any of that. He said IT SHALL BE PREACHED! And that message STILL HAS NOT GONE INTO MUCH OF THIS WORLD! Most of this world has never even heard of God or Jesus Christ let alone His Truth! Yet God said this word WOULD be preached!

That’s how I know this job will be done. That’s how I know what to expect. And also, God has revealed things to my mind in dreams and visions. I don’t talk about this much, but it is the truth nevertheless. And if you DOUBT that God can communicate with me in this way, or if you think that I am just making it up, THEN GOD IS NOT REVEALING IT TO YOUR MIND AND HE IS NOT OPENING IT UP SO THAT YOU CAN SEE!

It’s just like that first calling. But, if you have shut yourself off from God and Hi s Truth for too long, you can become blind, hard, and cynical like the world around us.

We live in a very cynical age today. It seems that no one is trustworthy or honorable anymore, and so we question all. We have come to believe as a nation that there is NOTHING GOOD, PURE, AND HONEST ANYMORE. We have been LIED TO so much by those in authority, both in and out of the Church, that the natural thought is that EVERYONE IS A LIAR AND A CHEAT!

Well, that’s a sign of the evil times in which we live, but when I say something of this magnitude and importance it is true. And if God hasn’t opened your mind to see it, then just go ahead and turn away and walk according to your own paths and lean to your own understanding and see just where that path leads you!

I am amazed at some of the things that I myself have written and said lately, because SOME OF IT, quite frankly, is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what I had convinced myself to be true.

And most of those situations where I have had to eat crow are in areas where I had the gall to say that I was right and Mr. Armstrong was wrong! Only on one or two very minor matters does it appear that my ideas are better than Mr. Armstrong’s. This has been quite a shock to me because I have written and said some very critical things in the past, thinking that I knew better than the one God use d to lead this work through a half century or more!

I have come to think just how narrow, puny, arrogant and small some of my ideas have been and just how BIG some of the things of God are! I have seen that God had very good REASONS whey He inspired Mr. Armstrong to do things in a certain way, an d maybe even someday I will believe all that he said on church government, although at this point I am still thinking that most of my ideas as well as Mr. Armstrong’s early ideas not he subject are better. But maybe I will be shown my error there as well, although at this point I doubt it.

But in almost every other area other than church government and the tithing issue, I have come to realize that Mr. Armstrong was right and I was wrong. We will see what happens in the remaining areas. It seems like sometimes God just opens a door in my mind and all of a sudden the lights come on in another dark room and I say, “now I understand.” I think you had better look into your own life and see how many rooms you have not been into in a long time and maybe you should go into those rooms again and turn on the lights and look around and maybe some things will start to make sense to you again, and Satan’s veil of deception will come off of your mind once more.

That brings me back to my original point again. The ways of God seem so foolish and stupid to the world. there is just no logic too it. But, if you are being led by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, and He has blessed you with the power to see the things of God, then things will start to become clear again. The confusion and the fog will lift again, and you will once more have a clear view of God’s Kingdom and the World Tomorrow like you did in t he beginning. And this is how God wants us to be. He wants us to be like little children, gasping in awe and wonder as He reveals to us and opens our minds to the glorious plan of salvation He has for mankind. It seems stupid and ridiculous and childish to the world, but it makes perfect sense to the true children of God.

Brethren, God is moving fast to put His Work back on track. In a couple of years, we may have forgotten the present distress and things may seem back to “normal again.” But the same thing happened in the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s. We had the same pattern then that we are about to experience now. But many of us didn’t learn much from that experience. I pray that it will be different this time.

God wants all of us to be working together in unity and harmony again, working to get the Gospel out to a dying world. It’s so simple, and yet it has been something so hard to do, because I think we’ve been trying to do it on our own. And our efforts have been a total failure. I hope we have learned that we have to rely on God again, and then all things will be possible.

God has revealed to me that He is preparing now to eject the heretics and to clean up this church and to get it back on His track. I pray that all of you reading this will be a part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

Now, let’s continue on with Josephus, a nd see what we can learn from the past about what may happen in our time today!]

So he set them in their ancient order of battle used by their forefathers, under their captains of thousands, and other officers, and dismissed such as were newly married, as well as those that had newly gained possessions, that they might not fight in a cowardly manner, out of an inordinate love of life, in order to enjoy those blessings. When he had thus disposed his soldiers, he encouraged them to fight by the following speech, which he made to them: "O my fellow soldiers, no other time remains more opportune than the present for courage and contempt of dangers; for if you now fight manfully, you may recover your liberty, which, as it is a thing of itself agreeable to all men, so it proves to be to us much more desirable, by its affording us the liberty of worshipping God.

Since therefore you are in such circumstances at present, you must either recover that liberty, and so regain a happy and blessed way of living, which is that according to our laws, and the customs of our country, or to submit to the most opprobrious sufferings; nor will any seed of your nation remain if you be beat in this battle. Fight therefore manfully; and suppose that you must die, though you do not fight; but believe, that besides such glorious rewards as those of the liberty of your country, of your laws, of your religion, you shall then obtain everlasting glory. Prepare yourselves, therefore, and put yourselves into such an agreeable posture, that you may be ready to fight with the enemy as soon as it is day tomorrow morning."

[These men didn’t just lie around and complain about their situation. They asked for God’s help and guidance, and then did their part to preserve God’s way of life as they understood it. And remember that the forces of the enemy were much greater than theirs. there was no way to win unless God intervened, and they trusted Him that He would. It is just the same today. the forces arrayed against us are the greatest on the face of the earth. Looking at it carnally, there is no way we can win. but if we trust God to support us in this fight, then we will prevail. God will prevail to preserve the honor of His name and to show forth His glory to the nations, just as He has done in times past!]

4. And this was the speech which Judas made to encourage them. But when the enemy sent Gorgias, with five thousand foot and one thousand horse, that he might fall upon Judas by night, and had for that purpose certain of the runagate Jews as guides, the son of Mattathias perceived it, and resolved to fall upon those enemies that were in their camp, now their forces were divided. When they had therefore supped in good time, and had left many fires in their camp, he marched all night to those enemies that were at Emmaus. So that when Gorgias found no enemy in their camp, but suspected that they were retired, and had hidden themselves among the mountains, he resolved to go and seek them wheresoever they were. But about break of day Judas appeared to those enemies that were at Emmaus, with only three thousand men, and those ill armed, by reason of their poverty; and when he saw the enemy very well and skillfully fortified in their camp, he encouraged the Jews, and told them that they ought to fight, though it were with their naked bodies, for that God had sometimes of old given such men strength, and that against such as were more in number, and were armed also, out of regard to their great courage. So he commanded the trumpeters to sound for the battle; and by thus falling upon the enemies when they did not expect it, and thereby astonishing and disturbing their minds, he slew many of those that resisted him, and went on pursuing the rest as far as Gadara, and the plains of Idumea, and Ashdod, and Jamnia; and of these there fell about three thousand. Yet did Judas exhort his soldiers not to be too desirous of the spoils, for that still they must have a contest and battle with Gorgias, and the forces that were with him; but that when they had once overcome them, then they might securely plunder the camp, because they were the only enemies remaining, and they expected no others. And just as he was speaking to his soldiers, Gorgias's men looked down into that army which they left in their camp, and saw that it was overthrown, and the camp burnt; for the smoke that arose from it showed them, even when they were a great way off, what had happened. When therefore those that were with Gorgias understood that things were in this posture, and perceived that those that were with Judas were ready to fight them, they also were affrighted, and put to flight; but then Judas, as though he had already beaten Gorgias's soldiers without fighting, returned and seized on the spoils. He took a great quantity of gold, and silver, and purple, and blue, and then returned home with joy, and singing hymns to God for their good success; for this victory greatly contributed to the recovery of their liberty.

[If history repeats itself, the forces arrayed against God’s Church will be divided, and they will be defeated, and despoiled and will thus from t he basis for a restoration of the Work!]

5. Hereupon Lysias was confounded at the defeat of the army which he had sent, and the next year he got together sixty thousand chosen men. He also took five thousand horsemen, and fell upon Judea; and he went up to the hill country of Bethsur, a village of Judea, and pitched his camp there, where Judas met him with ten thousand men; and when he saw the great number of his enemies, he prayed to God that he would assist him, and joined battle with the first of the enemy that appeared, and beat them, and slew about five thousand of them, and thereby became terrible to the rest of them. Nay, indeed, Lysias observing the great spirit of the Jews, how they were prepared to die rather than lose their liberty, and being afraid of their desperate way of fighting, as if it were real strength, he took the rest of the army back with him, and returned to Antioch, where he listed foreigners into the service, and prepared to fall upon Judea with a greater army.

[God promises to give His Church a little help and give us a little strength, but that will be enough to do exploits. Compare this passage with Daniel 11. Yes, after the sacking of the Temple, there IS a future for God’s work, although the Beast won’t give up until he has the power to physically kill and finally martyr many of the saints as many prophecies state. But if these events are a foreshadowing of our present day, then there are some victories ahead for the people of God, and God will show Satan who is in charge.]

6. When therefore the generals of Antiochus's armies had been beaten so often, Judas assembled the people together, and told them, that after these many victories which God had given them, they ought to go up to Jerusalem, and purify the temple, and offer the appointed sacrifices. But as soon as he, with the whole multitude, was come to Jerusalem, and found the temple deserted, and its gates burnt down, and plants growing in the temple of their own accord, on account of its desertion, he and those that were with him began to lament, and were quite confounded at the sight of the temple; so he chose out some of his soldiers, and gave them order to fight against those guards that were in the citadel, until he should have purified the temple. When therefore he had carefully purged it, and had brought in new vessels, the candlestick, the table [of shew-bread], and the altar [of incense], which were made of gold, he hung up the veils at the gates, and added doors to them. He also took down the altar [of burnt- offering], and built a new one of stones that he gathered together, and not of such as were hewn with iron tools. So on the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, which the Macedonians call Apeliens, they lighted the lamps that were on the candlestick, and offered incense upon the altar [of incense], and laid the loaves upon the table [of shew-bread], and offered burnt- offerings upon the new altar [of burnt-offering]. Now it so fell out, that these things were done on the very same day on which their Divine worship had fallen off, and was reduced to a profane and common use, after three years' time; for so it was, that the temple was made desolate by Antiochus, and so continued for three years. This desolation happened to the temple in the hundred forty and fifth year, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Apeliens, and on the hundred fifty and third olympiad: but it was dedicated anew, on the same day, the twenty- fifth of the month Apeliens, on the hundred and forty-eighth year, and on the hundred and fifty- fourth olympiad. And this desolation came to pass according to the prophecy of Daniel, which was given four hundred and eight years before; for he declared that the Macedonians would dissolve that worship [for some time].

[The campus in Pasadena today lies in waste. I have heard that the grounds are no longer kept up. Once luxurious gardens lie in waste and disuse. Once bubbling fountains and streams are now dry and neglected. Buildings are falling apart through disuse and neglect.

ON the Sabbath, the Auditorium, dedicated to God Himself, is almost deserted. The balcony is roped off because the congregation doesn’t even fill the first floor for even one service anymore. The Hall of Administration is an empty tomb, with the only first floor occupant being a lone receptionist. to those of us who spent so many years in Pasadena, it is a terrible contrast with the hustle and bustle of activity of a great Work with a great purpose. Gone are the vices of college students walking lazily across campus on a peaceful Sabbath, enjoying the beauty of the grounds. The many classrooms are silent and deserted. No teachers and no students are left here. Across the freeway, the once busy mail processing center, out of which truckloads of literature departed each and every day has barely a trickle of activity. Imperial Schools are a wasteland.

And yet these men have the gall to say that this has nothing to do with whether the church is pleasing God. They say that God is not punishing them for their sins and for not following God’s way of life. They make their lame excuses, but deep down inside they know that this is God’s judgment.

Now, the evil Pentecostal holy so called laughter business is inviting Satan’s spirit right into God’s HOUSE OF WORSHIP! This is an abomination that has made desolate, and the renegade priests are to blame now just as they were at the time Josephus is writing about.

But history shows us that there is hope! Despite the superior forces of the enemy, God is with us AND HE WILL RESTORE HIS WORK! The Temple will be cleansed, and the sacrifices of God’s services and the prayers of God’s people will cleanse this property yet.

The last time I was on the campus in Pasadena, it was already halfway on its way to becoming an empty shell -- a tomb. I felt as if the ground underneath my feet were crying out in agony, wanting to expel the evil right form off of it, and I knew that one day it WOULD HAPPEN.

That was years ago now, before most had left. Only the first few had come out, but the church and God’s popery were in bondage to Satan even then.

God gave me a dream where I was at my parent’s home on a Sunday afternoon. It was a Sunday, and it was almost time for Sunday afternoon dinner.

I was in the kitchen watching my mother cook. She turned to me and said, “There is a very special guest here to see you this afternoon, it is the Chancellor of Ambassador College.”

I was in the doorway of the kitchen, and there was a living room sofa very close. there had been a crowd of people in the dining room right near the kitchen, so I had not seen who was sitting there. As my mother introduced him, the crowd parted, and sitting on that sofa was Herbert W. Armstrong! I almost had a heart attack. I was so overjoyed to see him.

He motioned me to come over, and we had a brief conversation. I blurted out, “I thought you were dead. they said that you were dead.” Mr. Armstrong just sort of chuckled and said that he had just been in hiding, and that now it was time for him to come out of hiding, but that he was getting old, so he was turning everything over to me.

We then had a brief conversation. He told me that he still had some money “in a bank account nobody knows about. That’ll be enough o get us by and do what we need to do. He then said that first thing the next morning we would go down to his lawyer’s office, and that he would sign over all of his property to me. Then, in the afternoon, we would go out with the Marshals “and take my property back.” I was to be the one in charge.

I protested that I was too young and inexperienced for such a huge job of running the Work and putting it back on God’s track. he then looked at me and said simply, “It’s not going to be easy, but you’ll do.”

I have had other dreams that ad more details. I believe that on the timeline we are now at the place in time where we were at the lawyer’s office. We are about to finalize the legalities, and we will then soon go back and take back what is God’s.

God has also led me to believe that He will perform a miracle with certain people’s minds, and that perhaps one or two of the spin-offs will join in this effort after their leaders realize through whom God is working right now, and who God has chosen to lead this Work into its final phase.

There is much more that I could tell you, but the time is short. We must begin to move now before all is lost. The Temple is in a state of decay, emptiness, and desertion just like the physical Temple was after Antiochus set up the abomination of desolation. there has been AN ABOMINABLE SACRILEGE IN GOD’S SPIRITUAL TEMPLE WAY TOO LONG, AND THE LEADER OF THIS GANG IS NONE OTHER TAN JOSEPH TKACH, JR.

God struck down his evil father for his rebellion against God and God’s way of life. But despite this, the wicked son revolts more an d more, seeming to just DARE God to do something. Not content with despoiling God’s Church, HE IS NOW TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE FAITH OF OTHER SABBATH KEEPING CHURCHES! This is a slap in the face and an abomination before God! And now, this JUDAS dares to attempt to sell GOD’S CAMPUS IN BIG SANDY TO SATAN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH! IT’S NOTING LESS THAN SELLING GOD’S PROPERTY TO SATAN THE DEVIL!!!!

God will not sit idly by and let this abominable sacrifice take place! he will not allow the Vatican to control GOD’S CHURCH FORM BEHIND THE SCENES ANY LONGER. I DON’T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY AND HOW MUCH POWER THESE PEOPLE HAVE, AND I DON’T CARE IF THEY THREATEN TO KILL ME, BUT THEY WILL NOT STAND IN THEIR WICKEDNESS. GOD IS NOT MOCKED! HE WILL BREAK THE TEETH OF THESE EVIL REBELS AND THROW THEM OUT OF THEIR OFFICE AND MAKE THESE EVIL MEN WISH THEY WERE DEAD BEFORE HE IS DONE WITH THEM.

God has shown me that Joe Jr. will WISH HE WAS DEAD before this is all over, but God is going to MAKE HIM SUFFER AS VERY FEW MEN IN THE HISTORY OF THIS WORLD HAVE EVER SUFFERED FOR HIS WICKED ABOMINATIONS!!! THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS, BRETHREN, AND GOD TAKES THIS VERY SERIOUSLY!

Some will protest that a God of love so called doesn’t act this way in the New Testament, or what they like to call the New covenant period. That is utter garbage. IF GOD STRUCK ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA DEAD FOR LYING TO PETER, HOW MUCH MORE WILL HE PUNISH THIS MODERN DAY MAN OF SIN AND WICKEDNESS?

This modern society of ours has taught us to be way too tolerant of such abominations. Well, GOD IS SICK AND TIRED OF THIS WORLD AND ITS WAYS AND HE IS ABOUT TO COME OUT LIKE AN ATOMIC BOMB BLAST AGAINST THOSE WHO DARE TO DEFY HIM AND LAUGH HIM TO SCORN ON HIS OWN PROPERTY!

Just WHO does this gang of liars and thieves think they are? Well, they are little mere mortal men who are puffed up by their own vanity. They and their GANGSTER BUDDIES think they have everything all sowed up. They believe they can LAUGH at this stupid little church and a dead man who claimed that he was God’s Apostle. Oh how they roll in laughter and scorn at ALL RELIGIOUS PEOPLE BECAUSE TO THEM RELIGION IS JUST ANOTHER MONEY MAKING BUSINESS!

They no more believe in the literal existence of an all powerful GOD than they believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny! DON’T BE FOOLED BY THESE CHARLATANS, AND THE CYNICAL KNOCKOFFS AND FELLOW TRAVELERS THAT SO PERMEATE THE SO CALLED MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST!

God is absolutely livid with anger as a consuming fire. When I even glance at this anger for a moment I have to turn away, because it is SO STRONG! It is boiling over! DO YOU UNDERSTAND -- DO YOU COMPREHEND HOW SERIOUS THIS IS, BRETHREN? Or do you just think this is some nice little beddy bye story to frighten little kids at night?

GOD IS TOTALLY OUTRAGED, perhaps MORE THAN AT ANY TIME IN WORLD HISTORY! It’s like the most violent VOLCANIC ERUPTION that you can possibly imagine, and the heretics in Pasadena ARE DIRECTLY IN THE LINE OF THE LAVA’S FLOW!

Now, let me tell you something that caused a GREAT MANY PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY ARE CHRISTIANS TO GET UPSET! BUT IT IS PROOF THAT I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!

About six months before the death of Joe, Sr., God let me see that he was in MAJOR TROUBLE, and that if he did not repent, GOD WAS GOING TO KILL HIM! I have some witnesses that will attest to this fact. One of them even wrote a stern LETTER OF WARNING to Joe telling him what was soon going to happen unless he repented and changed direction 180 degrees and led the church back in GOD’S DIRECTION!

Well, by the time Joe went into the hospital, I told some people on an internet newsgroup what I had seen in a vision, an d I told them that unless he repented, Joe would not come out of there alive. And just a few weeks before he died, Joe reaffirmed his direction on the Big Sandy campus and happily quipped “well, I guess God isn’t done with me yet!” A few weeks later he was DEAD!

Are we so FAITHLESS and is our concept of God SO OUT OF WHACK that we fail to understand that God struck this man DEAD for the ABOMINATIONS THAT HE DID TO GOD’S VERY CHURCH? Do I really CARE if you people don’t believe me or that you think that God doesn’t act this way today because you are in DENIAL THAT GOD’S JUDGMENTS ARE REAL, AND THAT THE BIBLE MEANS WHAT IT SAYS WHEN IT SAYS THAT IT IS A TERRIBLE THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD?

Do you think God has time to play around with us anymore? Do you think He can hold back His wrath against these apostates much longer?

Well, if you doubt my word, just WAIT until the volcano erupts in Joe’s face and gives him a FAR WORSE FATE THAN HIS WRETCHEDLY EVIL FATHER!

It is my belief that Joe Jr. is far more wicked and far more stupid than his father ever was. if his father stole millions form God’s Work, then the son has stolen TENS OF MILLIONS, AND IS NOW PLOTTING TO POCKET MILLIONS MORE IF THIS PLOT TO SELL BIG SANDY GOES THROUGH. JUST WHOSE POCKET DO YOU THINK THE SALE PROCEEDS WILL GO INTO FIRST?

You will know a man’s character by his deeds. Well, Joe Sr. put a little money aside for his poor sick wife before he died so that she would have something to fall back on should he die. She was also living in one of the houses on an almost DESERTED campus.

So, does the son, Joe Jr. honor his mother as the Bible instructs? No, in an act that speaks volumes about this evil man’s character, it is reported that he first got control of and then STOLE the money his father left for the upkeep of his own mother.

But the story gets worse. Not content to steal his poor sick mother’s money, Joe Jr. then THREW HIS PENNILESS MOTHER OUT ON THE STREET! WHAT KIND OF A DERANGED, SATANIC ANIMAL WOULD ACT LIKE THIS? AND YET THIS MAN HAS THE AUDACITY TO CLAIM TO BE A MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST!!! HE IS NOTHING MORE THAN A LIAR AND A THIEF, AMONG THE LEAST OF HIS CRIMES!!!

Yet, so many people DARE to criticize me for “having a problem with the Tkach’s.” Well, EXCUSES ME, but GOD HAS THE PROBLEM WITH THESE LIARS AND THIEVES, NOT ME!

So, if you doubt that GOD IS VERY UPSET with this gang of thugs and liars, WHO DON’T EVEN believe that god exists, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU JUST WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM, AND PRAY THAT YOU DON’T SHARE I THEIR FATE.

Because, dear brethren, God has revealed to me that MANY will share in their fate as A CLEANSING FIRE PURIFIES THE TEMPLE OF ITS WICKED STENCH! I know that saying things such as this goes against all of the conditioning of our modern evil society about what is right and how God acts, but God is about to show HIS TRUE NATURE and show to the doubters and the scoffers in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT THERE IS A GOD IN ISRAEL! And when God finishes with the Church, HE IS GOING TO PUNISH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND WILL GIVE THEM NOTHING BUT SAND TO EAT IF THEY WILL NOT REPENT OF THEIR SINS!

He is going to SMASH this nation and BRING IT DOWN TO TOTAL DESTRUCTION, so that by the time the Beast’s armies march in there will BE ALMOST NOTHING LEFT! Drought, famine, and disease epidemics, and, most likely CIVIL WAR ON THE GRANDEST SCALE YOU CAN IMAGINE, ALONG WITH RACE WARS, BIOLOGICAL WARFARE AND OTHER HORRORS SUCH THAT THE HUMAN MIND WILL REBEL AT THE VERY THOUGHT will be the fate for our sinful, stiff necked nation.

God is VERY UPSET about our murders, adultery, abortions, “gay rights,” and every SICK PERVERSION THAT SATAN INSPIRED MEN CAN EVER DREAM OF!

God is going to SMASH our nascent police state and bring it down lower than any nation has EVER GONE!

Years ago, Mr. Armstrong said for our entire nation to hear, “this nation is going down, down down and OUT!” And so it is, only Mr. Armstrong was a little bit early.

And after He is through with the rebellious nations of modern day Israel, God is then going to turn His wrath on the REST OF THE WORLD AND ESPECIALLY THE BEAST POWER AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH! He is going to so UTTERLY DEVASTATE the Beast’s home area around ROME that the so called “Eternal City” will be a WASTELAND FOREVER, the home of only jackals and other desert vermin!

So God is about to SMASH a rebellious humanity and show it once and for all WHO IS BOSS! AND ALL OF THIS WILL MOST LIKELY HAPPEN IN THE LIFETIMES OF MOST O F YOU READING THESE WORDS!

We are called to be a WATCHMAN for our people and to WARN when we see these things on the horizon. If we DON’T DO OUR JOBS, GOD PROMISES TO PT THEIR BLOOD ON OUR HEADS!

I don’t know about you, but I am one of the few people alive in modern times, I guess, that takes God at His Word, and believes that He will literally wreak the terrible destruction and devastation on rebellious mankind that He promises in one third of His Word!

I believe that God exists. I believe that His Word is literally true, and I believe that He is about ready to start on a march that will only end when Christ returns. Truly TERRIBLE TIMES are abut to come on this world, brethren, AND HE IS GOING TO START HIS JUDGMENTS IN HIS VERY OWN CHURCH!

I know that some who are reading this will be rolling on the floor in uncontrollable laughter. Others will think that I am insane. Still others will think that God is too nice to do such things -- well, God is about to prove that all of these people are wrong! And soon they will be laughing out of the other side of their mouth and spitting out their broken teeth if they do not repent!

It is my sad job to have to WARN YOU PEOPLE of what is abut to SOON transpire. Neither I nor God can force you to repent. All we can do is WARN of the dire consequences of REBELLING against His Word. I think you had better take these warnings seriously.]

7. Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the sacrifices of the temple for eight days, and omitted no sort of pleasures thereon; but he feasted them upon very rich and splendid sacrifices; and he honored God, and delighted them by hymns and psalms. Nay, they were so very glad at the revival of their customs, when, after a long time of intermission, they unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship [notice that this sudden restoration came as a compete surprise to even THEM], that they made it a law for their posterity, that they should keep a festival, on account of the restoration of their temple worship, for eight days. And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights. I suppose the reason was, because this liberty beyond our hopes appeared to us; and that thence was the name given to that festival. Judas also rebuilt the walls round about the city, and reared towers of great height against the incursions of enemies, and set guards therein. He also fortified the city Bethsura, that it might serve as a citadel against any distresses that might come from our enemies.

And so I end the quote form Josephus with t he glorious RESTORATION OF GOD’S TEMPLE AND GOD’S WAY OF LIFE! What a marvelous time this must have been. And now that we have lived through something very much like this today, as soon as God’s Church is set back on HIS TRACK, then we should also begin celebrating this restoration, because, we, like the Jews, will have something to celebrate then.

Since God does things on time, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if this happened around the Festival of Lights period, perhaps even this year. I am so happy that God is FINALLY pointing out the significance of these events to His people, and showing us how wonderful will be the restoration of all things to His Church.

And this will happen UNEXPECTEDLY and SUDDENLY from t he point of view of those who are not being led by God’s Spirit at this time. They will stand in AWE, including our great enemies, AS THE RED SEA PARTS AND GOD’S PEOPLE COME MARCHING BACK IN TO RECLAIM GOD’S PROPERTY AND REVIVE HIS WORK!

And this could happen AT ANY TIME! IN fact, I have a feeling that it will happen SOON!

God will pull the rug out from under the heretics. He will confuse our enemies, and then SUDDENLY, everything will turn around 1801 degrees and GOD’S PEOPLE WILL MARCH BACK ONTO GOD’S PROPERTY AND RETAKE IT IN TRIUMPH AND HAPPINESS.

God has shown me glimpses of that happy time. I can visualize the first Sabbath service after this glorious restoration of God’s Work, when the Auditorium will SUDDENLY BE FILLED ONCE MORE! I see Ambassador College reopened, and a beautiful campus once again filled with happy people who can now appreciate, finally, what they have been blessed with.

I see the fountains again shooting up into the bright California sun, and I se the restored Pasadena Church choir performing a wonderful number before the sermon. Then, a hush will come over all as they watch God’s end time Apostle, the successor to Herbert W. Armstrong stride out and give that victorious sermon in that lovely place.

But that first sermon will be one of correction. It will be a serious message. It will be a message of warning lest God’s people ever take the blessings of His way and of UNITY for granted ever again.

After that corrective message, after sunset that evening, will be a wonderful gala ball as the restored Student Center is opened once more in a celebration of God’s way of life and His Truth! The champagne will flow form a fountain as people discuss the exciting events that have SUDDENLY CHANGED EVERYTHING.

I a moment of time, it will be as though the tumultuous period of the rebellion had not occurred. The rebels will be gone. God’s way will have been restored to His Church and His property. It will be a blessing to all.

Offices will once more be full of activity, and shortly, whereas about four trucks of literature a day once went forth from Mail Processing, now perhaps EIGHT will go forth to the far corners of the earth. We won’t just have a half hour television program once a week, BUT WE WILL HAVE A FULL NETWORK, TEACHING GOD’S WAY 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!

God’s Truth will flow out to the far corners of the earth, and once again there will be an AMBASSADOR FOR WORLD PEACE visiting kings, emperors, prime ministers and presidents, bringing the GOOD NEWS OF GOD’S SOON COMING, WORLD RULING GOVERNMENT TO A SIN SICK, TIRED, AND DEVIATED WORLD!

It will be a message of peace to the children of the world that there is hope for a better tomorrow, and that a time is coming when every tear shall be dried and they shall not learn war anymore. Even the nature of the animals will be changed, and the lion shall lay down with the lamb.

Have we forgotten that we are ALL AMBASSADORS for that wonderful world tomorrow? have we all FORGOTTEN OUR AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY to SPREAD THIS GOOD NEWS T ALL OF MANKIND IN THE HERE AND NOW? Have we forgotten the great HOPE AND PROMISE that God’s precious Truth holds for a dying world? Have we lost faith that God will do what He promised to do?

Brethren, God’s Feast days are upon us. God is going to restore His Church and He is going to get this Work done and He is going to once more send forth an AMBASSADOR OF WORLD PEACE TO THE HEADS OF NATIONS, but we smut never forget that EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IS AN AMBASSADOR TO THOSE AROUND US.

Why do you think it is called Ambassador College? Do you think that God will leave this world unwarned, so that they have an excuse? No. He always warns before disaster.

But, if we pray, and if God is merciful, He will allow His people to once again have a little glimpse of the World Tomorrow Today.

Frankly, brethren, the Work was always an impossible miracle. Are we so faithless that we fail to believe that God will soon perform His greatest miracle ever in our time? Don’t you yearn for a great FAMILY REUNION? Don’t you want your life to have a PURPOSE and a clearly defined goal and purpose once more? Don’t you want a tremendous, wonderful PURPOSE for your life, beyond mundane existence.

While Joe Sr. may have been a cynical criminal intent on fleecing the sheep and hijacking God’s Work for personal gain, he did have one thing right when he said “We are Family!”

Not only will we be Family in the World Tomorrow, we ARE FAMILY RIGHT NOW! Let’s start acting like a family again. Let’s start working like a family again. Let’s stop following hirelings and hypocrites and then beating ourselves up for it. Let’s work together once more to RESTORE THIS GREAT WORK, and not only to restore, BUT TO MOVE FORWARD INTO NEW TERRITORY!

I would like to close by quoting some of the most wonderful words ever written in the Bible, and one of the best songs we could ever sing.. Notice the words of Psalm 133 in closing:

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

“It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down the edge of his garments.

“It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountain of Zion; for there the Eternal commanded the blessing -- Life forevermore.”