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Christian Biblical Church of God Biblical Truth Ministries: “…the truth shall set you free” Order Books Online | Sermon Text Index | Sermon Audio Index | CBCG Children |
Christian Biblical Church of GodPost Office Box 1442Hollister, California 95024-1442(831)-637-1875Fred R. Coulter Minister A perfect example is Revelation 13. It is evident the Mark of the Beast prophecy was not meant to be understood until the time of the end. In the past, the most common interpretation of the Mark of the Beast was that the Roman Catholic Church changed the weekly day of worship from the Sabbath to Sunday. It was believed that in the end times Rome would be able to enforce Sunday keeping upon the entire world. Today, the Seventh Day Adventists and some churches of God still believe that interpretation. However, that scenario has not happened, nor is it likely to occur. Consider for a moment “Sunday blue laws.” If it were possible to enforce absolutely no buying or selling on Sunday, it would still be possible to buy and sell on the other days of the week. Therefore, the Mark of the Beast cannot be Sunday keeping. God’s Greatest Mystery of the AgesRevealed in the Last Great Day“As with the other fall festivals and holy days, the meaning of the Last Great Day could not be fully understood until the book of Revelation was written. We have seen how Revelation 20 discloses that the Feast of Tabernacles portrays the establishing of the kingdom of God on earth. It is a special one thousand-year period with an offer of universal salvation for all nations with Christ as King and those of the first resurrection serving as kings and priests. Since the Last Great Day follows the Feast of Tabernacles, Revelation 20 also provides the final key to unlock God’s hidden secret meaning as revealed in this unique holy day. In the Old Testament, the last holy day, after the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles, is simply called “the eighth day … a holy convocation—a Sabbath” (Lev. 23:36, 39). In the Scriptures, it is the least mentioned and consequently the least understood of all the feasts or holy days of God. Yet, with God that “which is least of all shall become great” (Luke 9:48; Matt. 13:32; I Cor. 15:9; Eph. 3:2). Likewise, this seemingly obscure “eighth day” has perhaps the greatest meaning for all mankind than any other holy day. From the Scriptures we will come to understand the meaning of this “least” holy day. These Scriptures answer the most profound and seemingly unanswerable, unknown questions that men of all ages have pondered—the greatest mysteries of human existence. When one views the panorama of human history from a single person to great civilizations, from the forgotten, unwanted and rejected, to famous, idolized, celebrated men and women, why is there life and death, good and evil? If there is a God, what is His purpose? Why does God allow and/or cause disasters, floods, tidal waves, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, destruction, wars, famines, pestilences, sickness, diseases, pain and suffering, violence and death to befall all mankind throughout every generation and civilization from the dawn of history? If God is a God of love, why does He not stop or prevent the wretchedness and misery of human suffering, and accidental death—especially of innocent children, babies and abortion of the unborn? Why does God allow rape, murder, sadistic torture and cruelties of man against man—the strong against the weak, the wicked against the righteous? If God hears the cries and mournings of desperate humans suffering these horrific tragedies, disasters, sicknesses and death, why does He not intervene and stop it? Throughout the ages of time these most profound questions of life and death have haunted mankind, religionists and philosophers. Attempting to find answers to these enigmatic, mysterious and inexplicable realities of human life and death, men separated from the true knowledge of God have cultivated countless theories and religious philosophies about the nature of God, the origin and purpose of life, the immortal soul, heaven, hell, purgatory and reincarnation. However, in the final analysis they all admit that ultimately they do not understand or know the answers to these great mysteries of life and death and the ultimate mystery of all—is there life after death? Clues of a Resurrection From the Old Testament: The Old Testament divulges some clues about this mystery. The ancient patriarch Job, in the misery, pain and agony of his afflictions and sufferings, thought he was facing certain death. During his many arguments with his friends, he ponders the questions of life and death and the after life: “But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost [spirit], and where is he? … So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep [by any man]” (Job 14:10, 12). Job knew full well that no human being has any power over death. He also knew that God would resurrect the dead at His appointed time, however far into the future that would be: “O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands” (verses 13-15). Job understood that God, his Redeemer, would resurrect him from the dead at the appointed time—the return of Jesus Christ: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: after I shall awake, though this body be destroyed, yet out of my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins within me are consumed with earnest desire for that day” (Job 19:25-27, verses 26-27 alternate translation from reference column). These verses indicate that Job perceived that at the resurrection he would receive a new body composed of spirit and not of flesh. King David also knew this, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Psa. 17:15). Likewise, the prophet Daniel realized that there would be a resurrection of the righteous and the wicked at the time of the end: “And at that time [the end time] shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Dan. 12:1-3). Although Daniel wrote many prophecies about “the latter days” and “the time of the end,” these prophecies were incomplete and he did not grasp them. In fact, God deliberately sealed them, declaring that He was withholding their meaning from him: “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased … And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand … But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days” (verses 4, 8-10, 13). Progressive Revelation of God’s Mystery in the New Testament: The New Testament gives a step by step progressive revelation of God’s greatest mystery of the ages. It begins with Jesus Christ revealing God the Father to His chosen apostles and disciples: “ ‘I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things [the mystery of God] from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for it was well pleasing in Your sight to do this. All things were delivered to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son personally chooses to reveal Him’ ” (Matt. 11:25-27). This is the first step in coming to know the mystery of God. Since Jesus did not reveal the Father to the multitudes who heard Him speak in parables, they did not fathom what He was saying. On the other hand, Jesus told His disciples that they would be given knowledge to understand the “mysteries” of God: “And His disciples came to Him and asked, ‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ And He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given … But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous men have desired to see what you see, and have not seen; and to hear what you hear, and have not heard” (Matt. 13:10-11, 16-17). Moreover, Jesus said that those who refused to hear or believe Him and His teachings would be blinded and kept from understanding. And what little discernment they may have had would be taken from them. But Jesus told His disciples that they would be given an abundance of understanding: “ ‘For whoever has understanding, to him more shall be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have understanding, even what he has shall be taken away from him. For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing, they see not; and hearing, they hear not; neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, ‘In hearing you shall hear, and in no way understand; and in seeing you shall see, and in no way perceive; for the heart of this people has grown fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and should hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them” ’ ” (verses 12-15). What Jesus declared was an astounding baffling statement—a mystery! If God desires to have all men and women to come to the knowledge of the truth, repent and be saved (II Pet. 3:9; I Tim 2:4), why does He deliberately blind them so they cannot understand and be converted? Have all those from the dawn of history been lost and damned as some religionist claim? If not, since they are long dead, when will they be saved? The revelation of the mysteries of God does not come by human will, rationale or intellect but from Jesus Christ and God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit as revealed in the Holy Scriptures (I Cor. 2:9-11).” Finally, Occult Holidays or God’s Holy Days—Which? will be 7” x 10,” over 230 pages and will be a major tool in exposing the occult holidays of this world and teaching the truth about the holy days of God. We expect that this book will be something that you can use to help other brethren and people. While there have been books which have separately covered pagan holidays and other books outlining the holy days this will be a unique book because it thoroughly covers both. Brethren, we need to stay close to God in our daily lives through prayer and study and living our lives in a manner that is pleasing to God. He will give us the strength, the encouragement in times of trouble, and blessing in our lives in every thing. Once again, we truly appreciate your love, prayers and support and your participation in reaching out to other brethren and new people. God is blessing our combined efforts as we move forward in serving Him with all our hearts, minds and strength. With love in Christ Jesus, Fred R. Coulter FRC Revelation Series - Audio Revelation Series & Calculated Hebrew Calendar Chart
High Resolution - PNG versions: Revelation Sheet - Last Seven Years (Right-click on file to save to your computer & print.) Calculated Hebrew Calendar - (Right-click on file to save to your computer & print.) NOTE: Some of these documents are in Adobe Acrobat PDF Format. In order for you to be able to view & print them, you will need to have the free program installed. Please click on the "Get Acrobat Reader" image below, if you do not have it. Download Free Program to read this article! http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html Disasters & God's Judgment #1 & 2- Audio The Coming Economic Tribulation - Audio |
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