Warm hellos to you dear brethren, co-workers, spiritual family on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and scattered children of God, from our offices here in Spanish Fort, AL.

My wife and I pray and hope this finds you all doing well, and that again your week has been blessed.

It’s now been 3 weeks since we finished the Feast of Tabernacles. What an absolutely wonderful Feast we had overall. Again, I thank all of you for your part in serving our Lord, which enabled the Feast to run so smoothly. It was obvious God’s Spirit was there!

I hope most of you had a positive and encouraging Feast experience. I know some of you had to remain home during the Feast and some had health and other challenges on the way to or at the Feast. God knew your situations and I hope you felt His encouraging presence. We have completed another cycle of God’s Feast and Holy days. While we had peaceful and harmonious settings at His Feast, conditions in this world are anything but that right now. There are various hot spots of violence and nations flexing their muscles as they make moves to take over more territory and control others. Man never seems to be happy and thankful to have what he has. He always pursues more to gain his desire for more, and having control over others.

I know I have discussed this in the past, but several have asked, “Where are we in the flow of events leading to the end of the age?” That is a challenging question when it comes to specifics. A lot is happening in the world but there is still a lot to happen before we enter the final phase of the “end time events”.

Even though our news media is quiet on some of this, (due to the heavy focus on the upcoming election results and its candidates), we do see several hot spots of aggression of one nation or group against another such as Isis in Syria and Iraq. I don’t think Russia has given up on its designs for taking part of Ukraine. Russia and China are appearing to be working together again and taunting the U.S. and other countries in the use of their planes and ships. Not heard about it? That does not come as a surprise. We Americans are an interesting lot. We glue ourselves to the TV and its media…and can easily miss what is really going on in the world around us.

In my travels around the globe, I have always enjoyed watching the news of the specific country I am in, as they portray what is happening in the U.S. A very different perspective.

Matthew 24 gives us an outline of major events but not a lot of details. Perhaps Matthew 24:7 describes where we are now. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”

We are not exactly in a World War scenario right now but some analysts say we could enter one rather quickly. Famines and diseases have been with us for some time especially in Africa. Will Ebola become a serious problem in the U.S. and other Western countries again? Is this Covid virus that inundates our media finished? Time will tell. When you look at the information on web sites that track earthquakes, it is amazing how many there are every week! Christ described the next event as a time of tribulation.

There are many professing Christians who are already suffering violence and persecution in areas with a high Muslim and even Hindu populations. There are various reports of anti-Semitism in Europe and other countries. Christ was referring mainly to the true disciples.

What will precipitate attacks against the church of God? We are increasingly out of step with political correctness and trends of society especially regarding LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) and abortion issues. There is a bias against Bible based points of view even in our courts and other institutions. My friends, it will continue to grow. We must be prepared spiritually.

Jesus next makes a very troubling statement about the behavior of what seems to be a reference to members of the church! “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” (Matthew 24:10) Jesus may have been referring to the attitudes of society and the world, but it seems that He is referring to his disciples. This should be a warning to all of us. We must avoid getting so polarized with our perspective, that we adopt an “us versus them” attitude regarding those in other church organizations.

If a Gestapo-like group gains control and has an agenda to hunt down and incarcerate Sabbath keepers and those who hold to Biblical beliefs, it will be a very difficult and trying time. It appears some will abandon their calling and Bible based practices and “turn others in” who do hold to them. Throughout the Gospels Jesus warned about persecution and harassment. “These things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.” (John 16:1-2) It is important that we develop close loving relationships and concern for one another, just like a close family. As some might recall, I spoke about this several times during God’s Feast of Tabernacles in Cartagena, Colombia back in 2014. Time flies!

Jesus mentioned this kind of love that we should have for one another which He exhibited Himself. “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” (John 10:15) Jesus also instructs His disciples. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13) The apostle John echoes these same words. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16).

It’s a shame that some disciples will betray other disciples and even end up hating them. This world is becoming darker and more violent. We are to walk in the light and we are supposed to be beacons of light in a dark world. (Matthew 5:14; John 8:12; Philippians 2:15) Jesus defined an important identifier of a true disciple of His. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35).

Let us continue to encourage one another and build bonds of brotherly love to help one another to combat the attitudes in this world and to endure the challenges that lie ahead.

As they say, fasten your seat belts and hold on for the ride…
Arms up friends! Our prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Please do pray for us as well.