As I write [21 October 2023], the hottest world news is the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel or the Jews, now in its second week. In the midst of this great chaos, voices are heard favoring one side or the other. Well, let me add my voice to the chorus of those who are in support of Israel or the Jews in this conflict!

What is my reason, or are my reasons, for doing so?

I would summarize my view in what the apostle Paul wrote about Israel, in Romans 11. He began by asking: “Has God cast away His people [Israel]?” His reply:“Certainly not!” (Verse 1.) In Verse 26 Paul concluded: “And so all Israel will be saved.”

One important reason for God doing so is that, while Israel as a nation has been and on the whole still are “enemies” of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they are, however, “beloved [by God] for the sake of the fathers” [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob] (Verse 28).

God tested Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in their own times and found them faithful to the end [see: The Children of Abraham].  As a result, God gave them irreversible [unconditional] gifts and calling (Verse 29), and that is, that through their seed or offspring – the people of Israel – the whole of mankind will be blessed (Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18).  God also promised the possession of the land of Canaan — where Israel and Jerusalem are — as their inheritance forever (Genesis 35:11-12; Psalm 105:10-11).

In order to fulfill this purpose, God has saved Israel from their troubles despite their often disobedience whenever they called out to Him. Even in these our “end times” He will do the same for Israel. In a prophecy about our times, Zechariah12:2-3. 9 declares:

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness [KJV, “trembling”] for the surrounding nations when they lay siege against Judah [the Jews, for short] and Jerusalem. It shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples, and all who would heave it away will surely be cut it in pieces, though all nations of earth are gathered against it…I will set to destroy the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 14:2-3 also says: “For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem… then the LORD will go forth, and fight against those nations.” And God will surely overcome them!

Christ will come in time to save Jerusalem, because it is His city! It is here where He will establish His throne, from which to rule the whole world with His glorified saints and Israelites, after His return. Isaiah 2 :1-3 prophesies about this, as does Zechariah 8:23. As a result of nations knowing and keeping God’s laws, there will be universal peace and prosperity (Verses 4-5)! [See: When He Rules the World.]

The bottom line

God’s promise to Abraham and to his descendants [certainly including Israel today] is: “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse  you” (Genesis12:3). Zechariah 2:7-9 says that “he who touches you [Zion/Jerusalem/Israel] touches the apple of His eye [in reference to Israel (Deuteronomy 32:10)]. For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants.”

Will you be for or against Israel in today’s Middle East crisis?  Do you want to be blessed and not cursed? Then, add your voice too for Israel!

Psalm 122:6 well sums it all – “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you.” [See: God’s Kingdom and Israel.]

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
21102023

 

The two could not be more diverse! Yet life’s ultimate purpose is to make both one – in favor of the divine.

How is this possible?

Isaiah 55:8-9 declares to mankind: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD, ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

From the start of human history God observed “…that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of man was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). As a result, God had to wipe out the entire human race through a worldwide flood and spared only righteous Noah and his family. [Read the rest of the story in Genesis 6 through 8.]

Mankind has since increased again upon the earth, but so have their evil thoughts and ways – more so in these our days! The apostle Paul described our times as “perilous: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times shall come: For men shall be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, despisers of good, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

That is why Jesus teaches us to pray to our heavenly Father: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). God’s will is just not being done by the broad majority of mankind!

The human dilemma

Paul famously explains how difficult it is for God’s will to be done on earth by man. He wrote about his and all of humanity’s condition: “For we know that the law [of God] is spiritual, but I am carnal [made of flesh], sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If then I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law [of God] that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do I do not do, but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me” (Romans 7:14-20).

Paul explains this “law” as “another law in my [bodily] members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin” (Verses 21-23).

Paul called this “the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2), for as he wrote earlier, “the wages [reward] of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

The prophet Jeremiah was earlier inspired by God to write about the human condition: “The heart [of man] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Earlier he wrote: “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

Knowing this too well as his own dilemma, Paul felt “wretched” and helpless (Romans 7:24). But he knew the only solution – Jesus Christ our Lord!

God’s Will Shown Through His Word and law

If we want to know what God’s will is, we can find it well contained the “books of the law” [Genesis through Deuteronomy – also known as the “Pentateuch” or the “Torah”] and throughout the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. As someone described it, God’s law is a “facsimile” [or Xerox copy] of God’s mind, purpose, will, pleasure or displeasure. God’s law basically tells us what God wants or does not want us to do – what pleases or displeases Him: the “thou shalts” and the “thou shalt nots.”

The problem, however, is that the natural man is unable to understand the “things of God,” such as His law. It takes the Spirit of God to do this. Paul wrote:

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory [Christ].

But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”[Isaiah 64:9]

But God has revealed them to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit [of God] searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who [or that] is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

These things we also speak, not as words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the th0ings of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, becau0se they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet is himself is rightly judged by no one, For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” [Isaiah 40:13] But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:7-16).

In a word, we cannot understand the things [or mind] of God unless we have God’s Spirit guiding and teaching us.

Paul tells us again how humanly impossible it is for the natural [“carnal” or fleshly] mind of man to be subject to God’s law, and thus to please God (Romans 8:7). The only solution is for man to have the spirit of Christ in him. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the [sinful] deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God these are sons [or children] of God” (Verses 13-14).

Those, then, who are led by the Spirit of God are able to surrender or subject their human will to God’s will. They will be like the human Christ who, during His agony about His impending death by Roman crucifixion to pay or atone for all of mankind’s sin, prayed that He would be spared by the Father from the suffering.

But knowing how vital His death was for the salvation of man, He prayed, “Nevertheless not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). Luke 24: 41 renders this same prayer as: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup [of suffering] from Me; nevertheless not My will but Yours be done.”

When we are truly Christ’s because we have His Spirit (Romans 8:9), we will have the same mind as His (Philippians 2:5), our human will also attuned to and intertwined with God’s will!

For more on this topic, see “What Is This Thing Called ‘Will’?” “God’s Spirit and Obedience” and “The Higher Law of the Spirit.”

 

Pedro R, Meléndez, Jr.
09252023

 

 

 

 

Psalm 142:7 [NKJV] says: “Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls. All Your waves and billows have gone over me.”

We might understand this to mean how the knowledge of God resounds from one depth to the other. Christ likened God’s Spirit to water (John 7:37-39; 6:64). I personally experienced this recently when I came across a website put up by an American aerospace engineer and  expert in computer science and neuroscience or brain science. I felt that what he has written about God and the Bible in light of his scientific experience called out to the things I have also written on this my website!

In case you haven’t already encountered him on the internet, he goes by the name “Adon,” and his website is: www.thehighestofthemountains.com.

After having read several of his rather technical-sounding articles I got the distinct impression that, through his scientific expertise, he has been called by God to bring God’s word – His truth – to all nations. In a comment I remarked to him that, by a different route I feel that God has given me a similar calling.

I therefore encourage you, my dear readers, to visit Adon’s website and compare our content. You might be surprised at how similar are our perception and conclusions about God’s purpose and ways! Our eternal God bless you with a good understanding and a life pleasing to Him!

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
28082023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In sending His disciples into the places where they were to preach the gospel, Jesus told them to “Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). He prefaced this with the warning: “Behold, I send you out as sheep [‘lambs,’ Luke 10:3] in the midst of wolves” (Verse 15).

By learning about the nature of serpents and doves, we can understand better how we are to conduct ourselves as Christ’s servants in our community, especially a hostile one. As the apostle Paul said, “His [God’s] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made” (Romans 1:20).

First, then, how did God make or create the serpent? The outstanding characteristic of the serpent is its eyes, which never shut; it has no eyelids. The Greek word for serpent or snake is ophis. The root oph occurs in the word ophthalmology (the science treating disorders of the eyes).

Christ told His disciples to “Watch and pray” (Matthew 26:41).  To “watch” is to be awake.   In a dangerous situation one cannot be careless but watchful, awake and alert.  Like a serpent that doesn’t blink its eyes!

This does not mean that we should not sleep at all! As physical creatures, we all need a fair amount of sleep. But whenever we are awake, we are to be watchful and “circumspect” – looking around. As Paul admonished: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15).

Speaking in the spiritual sense, Paul tells us: “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do.  But let us be watchful and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). He said this in the context of watching the signs of the times before the “day of the Lord [Christ’s return], which comes as a thief in the night” (Verse 2) – unexpectedly. He particularly warned about a time when men would proclaim “Peace and safety,” but sudden destruction would come upon them instead |(Verse 3).  Paul admonished:  “But let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (Verse 8).  Notice how similar this is to Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 6:14-18.  As Christian “soldiers,” we cannot let our guard down as we battle the forces of evil in this present world, which Christ likened to a pack of ravenous wolves!

As for being harmless as doves, the dove is a well-known symbol of peace, in contrast to the preying hawk. The Christian’s dove-like spirit of gentleness and meekness makes for peace; whereas violence and pride make for war. Hardly anyone feels threatened by a dove. The American humorist James Thurber wondered how anyone could feel excited with doves.

So gentle and harmless are doves (and their close relatives, the pigeons) that they get along well. The now-extinct passenger pigeon multiplied so much that when a flock of them flew together, the sky darkened, according to ancient lore!

Like harmless doves, Christians can become –and in the past were – the target of persecution and violence, as witnesses The Book of Martyrs.  Many more (like God’s “two witnesses” of Revelation 11:3-13) will become martyrs for the faith of Christ.  But Jesus assures them of ample reward in God’s soon-coming kingdom (Matthew 5:10-12).  God be praised!

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
30072023

 

Like drunks, most people have numbed themselves into thinking that this present world will continue for some decades or, at worst, some years as it has done in the past. But for those who are diligently watching the “signs of the times,” this present evil world – which God looks at as Satan the devil’s crafty instrument “Babylon” – has its days numbered!

Like movie-goers who are eagerly waiting for the next movie that’s “coming soon,” these diligent watchers clearly see the signs of the soon-coming fall of “Babylon” as described in Revelation 17 and 18.

One such sign is how Babylon – symbolized as a harlot woman [prostitute] – has made “the inhabitants of the earth…drunk with the wine of her fornication” (Revelation 17:2).  A gaudily attired harlot, she has in her hand “a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication” (Verse 4).

Some have rightly pointed to this “golden cup” as the attractive way by which this world’s god, Satan, has enticed a majority of earth’s inhabitants into a false religion with its colorful pageantry and mystique. As a result, worship in a conservative church congregation may seem bland and “uncool” in comparison.

But here I would like to single out a particular “abomination” and “filthiness” of Babylon’s fornication. It is the proliferation of pornography (from the Greek words porneia, meaning “fornication” or “sexual immorality” and graphein, meaning “writing” or “graphics,” which include graffiti on walls, sexually explicit stories and pictures in magazines, books, posters, billboards, tv commercials, movies and videos on the internet and messages on digital phones, tablets and computers.

Someone has dubbed this phenomenon as a “porndemic!”

Some have estimated that there are over three billion pornography (or “porn” for short) sites on the internet!  Because of porn’s “three A’s” (accessible, anonymous, and affordable), a surprising percentage of people of both sexes, ages from pre-teen to seventy-plus, single or married, have either purposely or unintentionally logged on to these sites. Assuming that most sites charge single or double digit US dollars for their services, pornography is thus a multi-billion dollar “business” or “industry!” Rolling in gold, these providers seemingly cannot be stopped by human fiat! As the saying goes, there are no sellers where there are no buyers! All because Satan is behind the scenes pulling the strings. Indeed, as Revelation 18:, 39 says, “The kings [leaders] of the earth have become rich, and have lived luxuriously with her [Babylon] through her “merchandise,” including – appropriately enough –  “bodies and souls of men” (Verses 12 and 13).

Social scientists, mental and medical health workers, and religious counselors have studied and have striven to fix the devastating effects of pornography-viewing on the spiritual/moral, mental and physical state of the persons involved on both ends of the “industry.”  Some have likened the effect of porn-viewing to that of taking an addictive drug like cocaine!  Many – even including church workers! – have become addicted to porn, often unsuccessfully struggling with it. Compounding this is the internet’s use of algorhythm– a cyber method of tracking an internet user’s visits to  porn sites and redirecting him to similar sites. [See:  Mind Control.]  Not only is it affecting the person’s perception of himself as filthy, sinful, guilty and shameful; it destroys relationship with people closest to him – family or spouse – and with God!

Left unchecked, pornography could destroy the individual, the family, and the whole human race! God cannot — and will not — allow Satan to thwart His master-plan to bring forth many divine sons and daughters of God through reproduction in the God-ordained human family consisting of a man, his duly married wife, and their offspring or children.  [See: The Rainbow Connection and The Conversion Therapy Controversy.]

The way out

With the imminent fall and destruction of Babylon [which will come “in one day” or “an hour” (Revelation 18:8, 10, 17, 19)], God cries out to His people (both Israelites and Christians): “Come out of her [Babylon], My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” (Verse 4), because “she will be utterly burned with fire” (Verse 8).

How can one come out of Babylon if or when one is addicted to her merchandise of porn?

God has promised with certainty: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

A number of religious people have offered such “way of escape.”  See, for example: puredesire.com (with Nick Stumbo or Ted Roberts) and faithfulandtrue.com.  See also my articles: “On Earth Is not His Equal,”  Overcoming Temptation, and Good News — End of the World!

Remember, the stakes are high!  Absolute death and perdition, if we don’t come out of the bondage of porn addiction (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Revelation 21:8; 22:15).  But mercy and forgiveness to the repentant and overcomers, through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross at Calvary; sanctification through God’s word and Holy Spirit; and glorification with everlasting life and immortality in God’s kingdom at Christ’s soon return (1 Corinthians 6:11;15:50-54; Revelation 2:10-11; 3:5; 22:14).

May you choose purity of heart and body — and everlasting life!

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
29062023

Leaders of most of this world’s nations strive hard to make their country self-sufficient in man’s basic necessities – food, clothing, shelter, plus energy, mass communication/transport, national defense.  In the process these nations may, knowingly or unknowingly, fall into the trap of making self-sufficiency some kind of idol – a false god – they bow down to.  This may result in coveting the resources of other nations, even going to war to obtain these.  James 4:1-5 succinctly points out this grave human tendency.

Everyone needs to know that our Creator is a God of sufficiency: He is able to supply us our needs sufficiently – even abundantly. Jesus, however, stated how we can avail ourselves of this sufficiency: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [our necessities, Verse 31] shall be added to you” (Matthew 6: 32).

The kingdom of God is the rule or government of God that Jesus Christ will impose on all humanity when He returns to take power over all the earth (Revelation 11:15-16). [See: “The Next Chapter of History.”] It will bring about great abundance and prosperity and joy!

God’s righteousness is God’s perfect, sinless attitude and conduct (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; 4:15), as shown by His commandments and laws (Psalm 119:172). Such righteousness is imputed to us by faith through God’s grace (Philippians 3:9).  [See: God’s Spirit and Obedience, Saved for Good Works,  and Being and Doing.]

A faithful follower of Jesus, the apostle Paul affirmed: “And my God shall supply all your needs according to the riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). However, Paul also experienced that God may decide, for a higher reason, to not grant our every request.

Paul apparently had some physical affliction that he attributed to Satan the devil (2 Corinthians 12:7) – probably a problem with his eyesight, as indicated by how he had to write his epistle to the Galatians with “large letters” (Galatians 4:11), and how  they ” would  have plucked [your ]own eyes and given them to me” (Verse 15).

Thrice Paul had implored God to remove the affliction from him. But God refused to do so for a higher purpose – that Paul may not be “exalted above measure [become puffed up] by the abundance of revelations” (Verse 7, first part) he had received from Christ, who said to him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (Verse 9). Paul went on to state a sublime paradox: “Therefore most gladly I will rather take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (Verses 9-10).

God’s grace through Christ – the undeserved pardon which every believer receives through faith and repentance – is sufficient for all. The blood which Jesus as the “Lamb of God” shed all the way from Pilate’s court, down through the “Via Dolorosa,” up to the cross at Calvary, is sufficient to take away the sin of the whole world (John 1:29).  As a Protestant hymn declares about God’s grace: it “can pardon and cleanse within, grace that is greater than all our sin.”

God’s sufficiency in Old Testament times

God provided “bread” for His people Israel during their wilderness sojourn [see Exodus 16].  Verses 17-18 relate about God’s amazing provision:  “Then the children of Israel did so and gathered [manna], some more, some less.  So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Paul saw in this miracle a principle he taught to the Christians in Corinth:  “For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack — that there may be equality” (2 Corinthians 8:13-15).

Sufficiency of trials, too!

Besides grace, God also gives us sufficient trials and burdens to bear each day.  Jesus said: “Therefore do not [overly] worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).

Knowing this, Paul was also inspired to write: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Yes, God will not give us a trial so great that we cannot bear it. Cain, the world’s first murderer, complained that the punishment God gave him for murdering his brother Abel was “greater than I can bear” (Genesis 4:13). By saying thus to and about God, Cain profaned God’s righteous, holy name. Let’s not become guilty of the same error!

God give you the grace to experience His sufficiency every day!

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
13052023

It is an obvious truth that every human being has to deal with one type of loss or another as he goes through life. It is natural to feel some grief over a loss, but sooner or later one learns to deal with the loss and move on.

One of a child’s first experiences of loss is losing a “baby” tooth or more. I’ve heard of kids who bawled a long time while looking in a mirror and seeing themselves missing a tooth or more. The kid may endure some teasing by friends and folks about his “new look.” A caring parent or adult companion would easily calm the kid by explaining that soon a new, permanent tooth or more will grow in place of the one or ones he lost. And when the new – proportionately larger — tooth or teeth do appear, the kid would often flash a big smile and brag about the new growth.

As we move on through life, we experience all sorts of losses: a favorite toy or book, some well-kept money, a dear friend who moves somewhere else, a pet dog or cat that dies. Some children have to face the early death of a parent or both, a brother, sister other relative or friend. Often adult folks would encourage the child, themselves and others by saying that the departed loved one has “gone to a better place.” [See: “What Happens to Man After Death?”]

As we reach our 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, we deal with the loss of the “glory” of youth – beauty and strength (Proverbs 20:29). Some may experience the loss of one’s tight, taut skin, muscular tone, a lot of hair and, yes, some of our permanent teeth. Many can and do avail themselves of remedies that the cosmetic arts offer.

Mid-life often brings about loss of health and vigor through diseases such as diabetes, resulting in damage to eyesight and other vital organs. Then there is the much dreaded loss of memory – dementia or Alzheimer’s disease among the elderly.

Besides health some experience the loss of a job, the loss of some property through robbery or theft, a fire, flood and other natural or man-made calamities.

Eventually, each of us has to face “the grim reaper” –whether or not we reach or exceed the God-allotted “three-score-years-and-ten” (Psalm 90:10, KJV) [NKJV, “70 years” — the average lifespan of man]. While it is natural and healthy for loved ones to grieve this loss and other losses, it is unhealthy to be too depressed, engage in self-pity,  and bitterly blame people or circumstances for a long time.

A wise man’s way to cope with change or loss

I suppose many of you have heard or read about a famous quotation called “serenity prayer.” It is attributed to the Protestant theologian Reinhold Niebuhr as the author, and has been popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous [AA]. [See: https://www. google.com/search?client=&q=”serenity+prayer”+author.] The prayer goes:

God, grant me the humility to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

God’s word – the Holy Bible – affirms the principle in the above “formula.” God knows there are things we cannot change because they are inherent in our nature, such as the natural color of our skin. Jeremiah 13:23 asks: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil.” One may use a bleaching product to whiten one’s dark skin, but after the product’s effect wears out, the natural skin condition reappears! So also does man’s evil “human nature” make it impossible for a man do good. The apostle Paul dealt with this human dilemma, in Romans 7:14-24.

On the other hand, the Bible is mostly about God’s call for man to change! Because all men have sinned or transgressed God’s holy laws (Romans 3:23; 1 John 3:4), God commands all to repent – change from sinning, to obeying God’s laws. The prophets of the Old Testament preached that message. The greatest of prophets – Jesus Christ – tells us emphatically, “…unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).

A noble “loss”

In line with His message to repent, Christ also said: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost [KJV: “loses his soul”]” (Luke 9:25)? He earlier said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life [by his own efforts] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” [KJV: “will find it”] (Verse 24).

The apostle Paul, who is assured of receiving “a crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:9) and life everlasting (Revelation 2:10), confessed (Philippians 3:7-11): “But what things were gain to me [Verses 4-6], I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things lost for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith, that I may know Him and the power of the resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

The greatest Old Testament prophet, Moses, decided to lose the glory and riches of Egypt – which included the “pleasures of sin” – in order to gain Christ. Hebrews 11:24-26 says: “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the [greater] reward [from Christ].” [See: The Deceitfulness of Sin.]

Because it is impossible for man to obey God’s laws on his own merits, God offers His Holy Spirit as a gift to help man live righteously. [See: God’s Spirit and Obedience, The Higher Law of the Spirit, Breaking Down our “Walls of Jericho,”  Does God Require us to Do the Impossible? and “Be Holy, for I Am Holy.”]

The greatest loss of all

The greatest loss that could ever befall a man is to lose the opportunity to enter the kingdom of God and receive everlasting life through Jesus Christ because of a sin or sins not repented of and forgiven. Paul warned: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Revelation 21:8 reveals the dire fate of such  unrepentant sinners as above, and other incorrigible sinners: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 22:15 reinforces God’s judgment that such sinners will be excluded from God’s holy city. This death is final – without hope of ever being given life again in the future.

Malachi 4:1-3 adds, “‘For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble, And that day which is coming shall burn them up.’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘That will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness [Christ] shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

For those struggling with some serious sins but desire to be saved and not lost, the following articles would be of help:  Should Everyone Be Allowed to Be Who They Are? The Rainbow Connection, The Conversion Therapy Controversy, and Overcoming Temptation.

This being the case, it behooves all Christians to make their election sure (2 Peter 1:10), by observing the things listed in Verses 5-8, and by knowing Christ through His word, the Bible, and – more importantly – that Christ knows us and will acknowledge us at His soon return. [See: “I Never Knew You!”]

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
27042023

 

As my previous article discussed [see: Protestants and Sunday Keeping], Protestants have blindly followed the Roman Catholic Church in observing Sunday as their day of worship. In this present article I submit that Protestants have also blindly followed the RCC in observing several of the Roman holydays, festivals, and obligatory celebrations. Notable among these are Palm Sunday, Lent [including Maundy Thursday and Good Friday], Easter, Feast of Ascension, Pentecost, All-Saints Day, and All-Souls Day, Advent [ weeks before  December 25 or Christmas], New Year’s Day, and Feast of the Epiphany (January 6).

J.Michael Feazell and company asserted that now deceased WCG founder and pastor-general Herbert W. Armstrong (HWA) had falsely and wrongly taught that what mainstream Christianity has observed as holy days are unbiblical or unscriptural [see: The De-liberation of the Worldwide Church of God].

I submit that Protestants keep these holy days not because these are commanded in the Bible for Christians to observe, but as commanded by the RCC hierarchy and observed by Roman Catholics. For a history and basis of these RCC holy days, see this link:  https://www.britannica.com/topic/holy-days-of-obligation.

One of the arguments posed against observing the holy days and festivals commanded in the Old Testament is that God supposedly meant these to be observed only by the Jews or Israelites. That these were part of the O. T. laws that held them in bondage, but that now Jesus Christ has freed them, and Christians, from that bondage. Instead, Christians are supposed to observe  holy days and festivals honoring Christ.

Rather than repeating myself here, let me just refer you to my past articles covering the subject: Freed From Bondage, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, God’s Feasts in the Book of Acts: Mere Time Markers – or to Be Observed? God’s Feasts and the Jews – Part 1, God’s Feasts and the Jews – Part 2, God’s Feasts and the Jews – Part 3, and Moses and Jesus – Are They Contraries?

In addition, I might refer you to WCG literature that reveals the pagan origins of many of the holy days and festivals of the RCC and Protestants. See: https://www.herbert-armstrong.org, click ENTER HERE, choose “Books & Booklets,” and scroll down to the booklets titled “Pagan Holidays — or God’s Holy Days — Which?”  “The Plain Truth About Christmas,” “The Plain Truth About Easter,” and “Easter Is Pagan.”

As spring has come upon us, God’s spring festivals will also be observed by faithful members of the Church of God in a few more days. If you are one of these brethren, here’s wishing you all, “Have a wonderful and meaningful Passover, Night to Be Much Observed, and Feast of Unleavened Bread!”

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
19032023

 

 

 

In my last article [see: The De-liberation of the Worldwide Church of God] I mentioned that J. Michael Feazell and his company of high-ranking former WCG leaders asserted with absolute certainty that the late WCG founder and pastor-general Herbert W. Armstrong [HWA] had been in error in accusing Protestants of keeping the wrong day of the week [Sunday] as holy time to worship God.

In this present article, I will show you what the Roman Catholic Church testifies on this very matter! It will come as a surprise that the RCC itself has become an unlikely ally of HWA in this issue!

The details of the RCC’s argument are found in this link:

https://www.herbert-armstrong.org, click ENTER HERE, select “Reference Materials,” and scroll down to the article titled “Rome’s Challenge to Protestants –Why do Protestants keep Sunday?”

In Rome’s own words, here is the introductory paragraph, which summarizes the argument:

“Most Christians assume that Sunday is the biblically approved day of worship. The Roman Catholic Church protests that indeed, it is not. The Roman Catholic Church itself without any Scriptural authority from God transferred Christian worship from the Biblical Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday, and to try to argue that the change was made in the Bible is both dishonest and a denial of Catholic [that is, papal] authority [emphasis and bracketed words, mine]. If Protestantism wants to base its teaching only on the Bible, it should worship on Saturday [emphasis supplied].

I strongly suggest that you read the rest of this reference material, as well as a related one, titled “Roman Catholic and Protestant Confessions About Sunday.” I believe this literature presents a telling rebuttal to the accusation made by Feazell and company against Herbert Armstrong on this matter.

One of the reasons advanced for Sunday worship is that Christ supposedly rose from the dead or the grave on a Sunday morning. A thorough understanding of the exact time of Christ’s resurrection as infallible proof of His being the Messiah can be had by staying on the HWA link and choosing “Books & Booklets,” and scrolling down to the booklets titled “The Crucifixion Was not on Friday” and “The Resurrection Was not on Sunday.”

An honest and unbiased student of the Holy Scriptures will find Herbert Armstrong to have preached and taught the truth of God, while the young turks who have accused him of having been a heretic and a false prophet to have been sorely misled and deceived!

My prayers and desire for them to change remain.

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
19022023

 

 

In 2001 J. Michael Feazell, a former high-ranking assistant to the Worldwide Church of God’s [WCG’s] late founder and pastor-general Herbert W. Armstrong [HWA] and his successor Joseph W. Tkach Sr., wrote and published the book titled The Liberation of the Worldwide Church of God.

The author’s main point is that the WCG members as led by Mr. Armstrong had been in bondage or in some kind of prison because of the supposedly “deceptive”and untruthful teachings which he handed to them. [If you wish, you may search Google as to how you can obtain a copy of this controversial book.]

A related video titled “Called to Be Free” [search Google for free video view – called to be free, and select the site that works] shows how Mike Feazell along with other former top leaders of the WCG [Joseph Tkach Jr., Dan Rogers, Greg Albrecht, Bernard Schnippert, Randal Dick. Ronald Kelly, and several others] one day came together and, without previous consultation with one another, they came to a unanimous conclusion that the teachings which HWA left behind were heretical, not true to the Holy Scriptures, and deserved rightly to be demolished and junked. Thereby, they advanced, the WCG and members would be “liberated” or “freed” from the bondage to former false teachings, as Mike Feazell confidently declares in his book.

By accepting the teachings of mainstream “Christianity” as “absolute truth,” the WCG and the brethren are pronounced by these leaders as now “liberated” and “free!”

The WCG members’ reaction to the book and the video has been, understandably, mixed. Those who feel they had been oppressed by the former church beliefs and practices expressed joyful thanks for the relief afforded by the new perspective. Those who have held HWA in high esteem felt mortified and incensed. The rest have tried to walk the tightrope between the two extremes — terribly confused!

I would like, in this present article, to make sense of this turn of events and train the lens of God’s Word on the issues raised by this actually revolutionary occurrence in the WCG.

My view is that the so-called liberation of the WCG has actually resulted in the “reformed” WCG becoming bogged down in a different kind of bondage or prison. I say, the WCG needs to be “de-liberated!”

The law of God — burdensome, or not?

Feazell and company maintain that WCG members had been needlessly burdened by their keeping of God’s “Old Testament” or “Old Covenant” laws and commandments. But these leaders contradict the plain testimony of 1 John 5:3 that God’s commandments are not burdensome! John here affirmed that we love God and the brethren by keeping His commandments.

These leaders also contradict Jesus’ plain testimony that “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me” (John 14:21).

Jesus’ commandments are not simply all His instructions as recorded in the New Testament. If we understand that the LORD who gave the law to ancient Israel was the same God Being who later became the God-man Jesus Christ, we will know that He meant to include that law among His commandments. [See: The True Christ, The Law of Christ, and The Four Dimensions of Christ’s Love.]

We can sing to Christ “I love You, Lord” all we can, and still not have a real personal relationship with Him unless we keep His commandments! Jesus called such worship according to the commandments of men to be but “vain” (Matthew 15:9). [See: True Worship.]

While these leaders consider the apostle Paul as their ally in teaching about liberation from the “Old Covenant” law, they blindly forget that Paul considered that “the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (Romans 7:12), and that it is “spiritual” (Verse 14).  Paul affirmed that we do not make void the law through faith, but rather that we thus establish the law” (Romans 3:31)!

Paul admitted that by his own strength and merits he could not keep God’s law, despite his good intentions (Romans 7:15-24). He thanked God that through Jesus Christ and His spirit, he – as all others who are in Christ – can be subject to [or obey] the law of God and thereby please God (Romans 7:25; 8:1-14).

Paul also taught that, as we are led by the Spirit of God and thus are able to obey His law, we do not receive the “spirit of bondage” but rather the “Spirit of adoption” or sonship (Verse 15), whereby we become the “children of God” (Verse 16), who when glorified together “will be delivered from the bondage of corruption [evil and death] into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Verse 21).

Paul agrees with James 2:12, which affirms that God’s law is ‘royal” and is a “law of liberty.” Psalm 119:44-45 assures: “So shall I keep your law continually forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.” Keeping God’s law is not bondage!

By keeping God’s law [what HWA called “spiritual” law as distinct from “ritual” or “ceremonial” law – such as various laws on animal and other offerings and sacrifices], we are freed from the condemnation which we rightly deserve for sinning or transgressing God’s law (1 John 4:3; Romans 6:23).

Will we “become God as God is God?”

Feazell and company painted as odd and ego-boosting HWA’s teaching that, as children of God we will become “God” ourselves. What’s so off about saying that the children (or offspring) of dogs are also dogs? Why can’t the same logic apply?

However, the statement that “We will become God as God is God” needs to be qualified! HWA always taught that God is eternal or ever-living – with no beginning or end. The same cannot be said of created mankind. But, once made immortal through the resurrection or change at Christ’s return to earth (1 Corinthians 15),  true Christians will receive everlasting life such as God the Father and Christ enjoy.  And for what purpose?  So we can work with God in finishing the creating of “all things”– the whole vast universe – “new” (Revelation 21:5).  [See: Are We All God’s Children? and “He Marveled”.]

“New Covenant” Christians, like most evangelicals, have insisted that the New Covenant that Jesus Christ entered into with Christians does not require them to keep the laws of the Old Covenant.  However, Hebrews 8:10 affirms that, under the New Covenant, God will put His laws in the people’s mind and write the same laws on their hearts.  Jesus has fulfilled and will continue to fulfill His promise in Ezekiel 36:26-27 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh [a soft heart].  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”  Jeremiah 31:33 also has God promising the same.  In Hebrews 10:16 we find this promise fulfilled.   How can we justifiably throw away something that God has put or written in our heart and mind? And Jesus clearly said: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-18, NKJV).

For more on this subject, let me refer you to my previous articles on this website: Freed From Bondage, Barking up the Wrong Tree, Moses and Jesus – Are They Contraries? Law Added to Law Transgressed, The Law of Christ, No Such Thing as Sin?  Just What Do You Mean — Legalism?  and A Great Omission in Doing the “Great Commission.”

Feazell and company also singled out the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Old Testament Festivals, tithing and the food law as no longer necessary and required of Christians.  [See: What if the Sabbath Is Still Holy? God’s Feasts in the Book of Acts: Mere Time Markers – or to Be observed?   The New Testament Teaching on Giving, Did Christ Cleanse all Meats? and True Worship.]

The same group of leaders has also taken the belief in the Trinity to be “absolute truth.”  I challenge anyone to read my article “The Trinity Doctrine Reconsidered” and show me where I have been flawed in my reasoning as I prove this doctrine to be rank heresy!

Another claim of this same group is that we are saved by grace alone and are not required to do good works or keep God’s “Old Covenant” laws.   [See:  Saved for Good Works, Being and Doing, and The Law of Christ.]

This group also dressed down HWA for teaching the despised “theory” of “British-Israelitism” in his book The United States and the British Commonwealth in Prophecy as one of the strong pillars of the WCG’s faith.   [See: God’s Kingdom and Israel and https://www.herbert-armstrong.org, click ENTER HERE, select “Books & Booklets” and scroll down to the above-mentioned book.]

Since Jesus had commanded His 12 apostles to go and preach the gospel to the “lost sheep” of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:6), an idea about where those apostles went can give us a strong clue as to where those tribes could have settled after their Assyrian captivity.  Ambassador College history professor Dr. Herman L. Hoeh discussed this in his astounding article “Where Did the Twelve Apostles Go?” [see:  https://www.herbert-armstrong.org, click ENTER HERE, select “Plain Truth (1934-1986),” then 1960-1969, and scroll down to the May 1964 issue, pp.7-12, 23-26].

No doubt Dr. Hoeh’s research work helped HWA in crystallizing the teaching on who and where the chief tribe of Israel are today.

The “divine healing” issue

This issue was brought up in Feazell’s book and in the video.  This is an issue that boils down to the person’s perception of his own faith and God’s supreme will.  God plainly reveals that He is our Healer (Psalm 103:3; Exodus 15:26).  But God’s Word also reveals that not all who believe in God are healed of every disease. We have the case of the apostle Paul, who had an affliction (a ‘thorn” in his flesh that he attributed to Satan) which God did not take away for Paul’s greater good,  despite Paul’s repeated faithful intreaty to God (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

I would suggest that you check out my following articles, for a broader perspective on health and healing:   Pandemic Pandemonium! and The Omicron Scare.

Feazell and company have also remarked about the authoritative and persuasive way HWA preached, and decided that people who believed his teachings were simply so blind and “theologically ignorant” that they couldn’t tell the difference between truth and falsehood.   I find this remark personally insulting!   If this group claims to have prayed for God’s Spirit to guide them in coming to their conclusions about all of HWA’s teachings, I too prayed for God’s Spirit and guidance as I took HWA’s dare to not believe him until I had proved from the Bible that what he taught was right.  This group cannot claim exclusive right to or the corner on God’s inspiration and sound, logical thinking!

I have personally witnessed the humbler side of HWA, despite his seemingly “autocratic” manner, as some accuse.   I recount this in my article Two Goats Together, particularly the box captioned “Reexamining the Roots of our Beliefs.” Here I challenge the reader to overhaul his or her understanding about the “azazel” goat in God’s plan of atonement as taught by HWA, in the same way I challenge those who blindly believe in the trinity doctrine.

As this website purposes, I hope that as you read my articles God will give you eyes to see His pure truth and that you will truly be set free (John 6:32).   [See: About Pool of Siloam.]

On the Day of Judgment Feazell and his company of former WCG leaders will have to give an answer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for having done as warned and prophesied by Ezekiel 23:38 –

They have defiled My sanctuary and profaned My Sabbaths.

Also Ezekiel 22:26 –

Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.

And 2 Peter 2:18-19 —

For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness [KJV, “lasciviousness” or lawlessness], the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

Jesus warns us that, at His return, He will reject many who profess to believe in Him as their Lord while practicing lawlessness, and tell them to depart – go away – from Him, saying, “I Never Knew You!”

Let us hope and pray that this group will see the error of their way and repent before it’s too late and their day of reckoning comes, when God will pour out His indignation and consume them with the fire of His wrath, and recompense their deeds on their own heads (Ezekiel 22:31).

And don’t you be deceived by their crafty and high-minded teachings, and save yourself from the condemnation that awaits them, unless they return to the truth.

 

Pedro R. Meléndez, Jr.
17012023