Christian Biblical Church of God

Biblical Truth Ministries:  “the truth shall set you free”

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The Holy Bible In Its Original Order  -  Available Now New

Fred R. Coulter

Minister

February 14, 2003

Dear Brethren,

On February 1, 2003, the mystery of human life, the mystery of the universe, the mystery of God and human error all collided together twelve miles high at the top of earth's atmosphere—where seven astronauts died in a fiery ball as the shuttle Columbia disintegrated and fell to earth in thousands of pieces scattered over thousands of square miles. Now the investigation of the incident is causing them to realize that the problem may have begun while the shuttle was passing over Hawaii, and some of the parts may have fallen as far west as California.

The Columbia shuttle tragedy that occurred, February 1, 2003 actually fell within four days of the seventeenth anniversary of the shuttle Challenger disaster as it exploded during lifting off on January 28, 1986. These disasters show the extreme danger of space travel. However, it does not appear that such catastrophes will deter man's endeavors to travel in space. Rather, it appears that the United States is not going to cut back on the space programs. Far from it, they will accelerate the introduction and use of new technology that may allow men to go further into space than ever before—perhaps to Mars.

The earth was created for mankind. Space is not the natural place for man, but the Bible even shows that men would go into space and die. Notice what God said to ancient Israel of the last days when they would be in captivity, just before the return of Jesus Christ: "And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shall call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; that then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee" (Deut. 30:1-4).

The prophecy that if they would "be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven," surely shows in the end times that God would fully allow men to travel into space. However, it does not tell us the extent of the space travel. But this passage clearly reveals that some of the Israelites would be gathered from there and clearly indicates that there would be some kind of space travel. To date, the furthest that men have traveled into space is to the moon and back. On the other hand, unmanned space vehicles have traveled to the outer reaches of our solar system and into the universe beyond. (We are reprinting a booklet that I wrote in 1981, entitled Space Wars in Prophecy. We will mail it to you in next month's mailing, so please do not write for it.)

The technological marvels of men have revealed tremendous things about God's creation. As witnessed by the memorial services for the seven dead astronauts, most of them, after traveling into space, believe in God. Furthermore, in a recent television documentary put out by Moody Productions, the narrator, who was an astronomer, said that he did not know of a single astronomer who did not believe in God. Yes, God's creation of things great and small, earthly and heavenly, proves the existence of God and magnifies His glory. God intended that all men and women, called or uncalled, know that He is God because of the wonders of His creation— especially the glory of the heavens: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coining out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof (Psa. 19:1-6, KJV).

The prophet Isaiah proclaimed the power and glory of God that He has shown mankind through His Creation of the Universe! No one can deny this, though they may try. God challenges all humans to look up into the heavens and understand that He created it, that He upholds it by the word of His power. He has numbered all the stars and calls them by name. Isaiah wrote: "Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding?

"Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?....Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth" (Isa. 40:12-18, 21-26, KJV).

God condemns all men and women who reject the knowledge of His existence that God has demonstrated through the magnificence of His awesome creation. In fact, He says that they are without excuse. The apostle Paul wrote: "Indeed, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest among them, for God has manifested it to them; for the invisible things of Him are perceived from the creation of the world, being understood by the things that were made—both His eternal power and divinity—so that they are without excuse; because when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but they became vain in their own reasonings, and their foolish hearts were darkened. While professing themselves to be the wise ones, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed creatures, and creeping things" (Rom. 1:18-23). Without a doubt, even those men and women, whom God has not called to salvation in this age, are held responsible to know that God is the Creator of all things! The creation itself reveals the Creator.

About This Big Mailing: This is a big mailing because we have updated The Passover Ceremony. At the beginning of the Scriptural reading, we have added the portions that pertain to Abraham and actual beginning of the Passover on the night that God began to make His covenant with him on the 14^th day of the 1^st month. By including these scriptural readings about Abraham and the Passover, the Christian Passover itself is put into its full spiritual perspective. This is important because most people in the world, who have not heard of the Christian Passover, think that the Passover is only for the Jews. In fact, the Jews adamantly insist that the Passover is only for the Jews. Therefore, it is necessary that the Christian Passover Ceremony itself reflect the scriptural truth that God actually originated the Passover with Abraham when He made His covenant with him. The Passover is always the 14^th day of the 1^st month according to the calculated Hebrew Calendar. When God instituted the Passover for the children of Israel in Egypt (Exodus 12), it was on the night of the 14^th day of the 1^st month.

Jesus Christ kept the Passover on the 14^th day of the 1^st month. On His last Passover, the night of the 14^th before His crucifixion, Jesus instituted the New Covenant Passover with footwashing and the symbols of the unleavened bread and wine. Because we observe the Passover on the night of the 14^th day of the 1^st month, does not mean that we are following the Jews or that we are an Old Testament church. The truth is: We are a New Testament Church, under the New Covenant, based on the promises that God gave to Abraham on the first Passover night (Gen. 15:4-12). As the apostle Paul wrote: "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3:29). Paul also wrote: "It is exactly as it is written: 'Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.' Because of this, you should understand that those who are of faith are the true sons of Abraham. Now in the Scriptures, God, seeing in advance that He would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you shall all the nations be blessed.' It is for this reason that those who are of faith are being blessed with the believing Abraham" (verses 6-9). All the detailed information about Abraham, Jesus Christ and the Passover is contained in The Christian Passover book, pp. 266-298). When you review this section of The Christian Passover book, you will see that the accounts concerning God's promises and covenant with Abraham have everything to do with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the New Covenant and the true Christian Passover.

The proper understanding and observance of the Passover according to Jesus Christ's commands is the first step to understanding God the Father's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is the vital key that reveals the full grace of God and His love for us. In his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul wrote of the remission of our sins and the grace of God: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ; according as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, in order that we might be holy and blameless before Him in love; having predestinated us for sonship to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will, to thepraise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us objects of His grace in the Beloved Son; in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:3-7).

Jesus Christ is our High Priest at the right hand of God the Father in heaven above. Through the New Covenant by the operation of grace, we have direct access to God and Jesus Christ makes intercession for us. In Hebrews 4 we read: "Having therefore a great High Priest, Who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, we should hold fast the confession of our faith. For we do not have a high priest who cannot empathize with our weaknesses, but one Who was tempted in all things according to the likeness of our own temptations', yet He was without sin. Therefore, we should come with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:14-16).

Every year when we partake of the Passover we renew the New Covenant of grace so that we may continue to have this direct access to God the Father through Jesus Christ. It is quite astounding that God began this with Abraham nearly 4,000 years ago. I am sure that this updated Passover Ceremony booklet will help make your Passover much more meaningful. We are also including an audiotape of the entire Passover ceremony. In addition, we have made a video of the Passover Ceremony and it is available upon request.

Holy Day Calendar: We are sending you two sets of two holy day calendars — two book markers and two pocket calendars. The holy days until the year 2010 are listed. This way you can have one in your Bible and for your desk or kitchen. Also you can carry one in your wallet or purse. We have a large supply, so if you need any more just drop us a note and we will forward them to you.

Brethren, in spite of all the circumstances and difficulties in our lives and the events in the world, the most important thing we need to do is to remain in the love of God. As Jesus said, it is the first commandment — the primary commandment. Notice Jesus' answer when asked this question by a scribe: " 'Master, which commandment is the great commandment in the law?' And Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment; and the second one is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matt. 22:36-40). By loving God the Father and Jesus Christ in this manner, God will love us in return and help us, uplift us, and lead us in all the ways we need to go, regardless of our personal situations.

Once again, brethren, thank you for your love, prayers for all the brethren. Many have need of our personal intercession daily for healing, for encouragement, for inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide them. Thank you for your continued support and your cards and letters. May God bless you with His love, grace and blessings in all things.

With love in Christ Jesus,

Fred R. Coulter

FRC