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2 Peter 1:12


February 2002

Dear Readers,

“Beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7) We are having a camp meeting here in West Virginia July 2-6. Please plan to attend. There will also be a camp meeting in Colorado June 6-15. For more information about these camp meetings please contact us. We will provide you with more information in future issues. We are also having a weekend seminar on the truth about God in Parsons, Tennessee (between Nashville and Memphis) February 22-23, 2002. Allen Stump and Lynnford Beachy will be two of the speakers. All are welcome. The first meeting will be Friday evening at 6 p.m. We will also have meetings all day Sabbath. For more information contact us or call Danny and Gina Campbell at (731) 845-5859.

In this Issue

Living by the Word

by Alonzo T. Jones

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Part 1)

by George McDaniel

Questions and Answers

by Lynnford Beachy

The Work in Africa

by Lynnford Beachy

Letters from our Readers

 

 


Living by the Word

by Alonzo T. Jones

“Now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:21-23)

The righteousness of God is that which every man is to seek first of all. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) And in the way of righteousness there is life. It is impossible to separate the life of God from the righteousness of God. As certainly as you have the righteousness of God, so certainly you have the life of God.

And “now the righteousness of God is made known.” Now is at this time, at this very moment, even while you read. At this very moment, then, the righteousness of God is manifested “unto all, and upon all them that believe.” Do you believe in Jesus Christ now, at this moment? Do you? If you say, Yes, then “now,” at this very moment, the righteousness of God is made known to you and upon you. Do you believe it? The word of God says that it is; do you say that it is? And if you do not say that it is, then do you believe the word? When the Lord says plainly to you that His righteousness is “now” manifested unto you and upon you and you do not say that it is now manifested unto you and upon you, then do you really believe the Lord? When He plainly says a thing to you and you will not say that that thing is true to you, then do you really believe Him?

The Lord wants you to say that what He says is so; that it is so “now,” at this moment, and that it is so to you and in you. “A new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you.” (1 John 2:8) When the Lord says a thing, it is true, even though nobody in the world ever believes it. It would be true in Him, but not in them. But He wants it to be true in you as well as in Himself. And when you acknowledge that what He says is true to you “now,” at this moment, then that thing is true in Him and in you. This is believing God. It is believing His word. This is having His word abiding in you. And, “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7)

Many people are ready to admit, in a general way, that what the Lord says is so; they will admit that it may be so to other people, but that it is so to themselves, just now, they will not say. Such people do not really know that the word of God is true. “Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God.” (Romans 14:22) If you do not have faith for yourself, faith of your own, you do not have faith at all. If you do not believe the word of the Lord as being true to you personally and now, you do not believe it at all; for as you are not living yesterday nor tomorrow but just now, while it is now, so if you do not believe now, you do not believe at all. Therefore the word of God is that now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation; and, “Now the righteousness of God… is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.”

Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour now? You can answer that in one moment; you know that you do. Then this moment thank the Lord that His righteousness is manifested unto you and upon you. He not only says it but He gives you witnesses to the fact—it is witnessed by the law and the prophets. That law which you have transgressed, that law that has shown you guilty before God, that very law “now,” in view of the manifestation of the righteousness of God, witnesses that you have a just claim to this righteousness and that you are thereby justified through the faith of Jesus Christ. The prophets likewise witness to this blessed fact. “The moment the sinner believes in Christ, he stands in the sight of God uncondemned; for the righteousness of Christ is his; Christ’s perfect obedience is imputed to him.” Is not this, then, sufficient to cause you to say now, at this moment if never before, that “now the righteousness of God is manifested” unto you and upon you who now do believe in Jesus?

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” (Romans 3:24) Would you rather have the righteousness of God now than to have your sins? You say, Yes. Very good. God has “now” set forth Christ Jesus “to declare” to you “his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past.” Will you let the sins go now, this moment; and take the righteousness which He is set forth purposely to give and which He now, this moment, freely gives? “Being justified freely.” “Being” is present tense. “Was” is past; “shall be” is future; but “being” is present. Therefore the Lord says to you and of you who believe in Jesus, “Being [now, at this moment] justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus… through the forbearance of God.”

But the Lord does not drop the subject yet. He emphasizes the present power and blessing of this infinite fact. “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness.” First He says that it is “now” that the righteousness of God is manifested unto all and upon all them that believe; then He speaks of all such as “being justified freely”, and next He emphasizes it all thus: “To declare, I say at this time his righteousness.” O poor, trembling, doubting soul, is not this assurance enough that now, at this moment, the righteousness of God is yours? That now you are being justified freely by His grace? that now, “at this time,” righteousness is declared to you for the remission of all your sins that are past?

Is not this enough? It is enough to satisfy the Lord, for He says, “To declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness; that he might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.” Then as it is all-sufficient to satisfy the Lord, is it not enough to satisfy you? Will you now take the fullness of this blessed “gift of righteousness,” which is life, so that the Lord, by seeing the fruit of the travail of His soul, shall be satisfied again, and so, by your rejoicing, be doubly satisfied? This is all He asks of you. For “to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Romans 4:5)

Here is the word of God, the word of righteousness, the word of life, to you “now,” “at this time.” Will you be made righteous by it now? Will you live by it now? This is justification by faith. This is righteousness by faith. It is the simplest thing in the world. It is simply whether the word of God shall be true in you “now” or not. God spoke to Abraham, “Tell the stars, if thou be able to number them… So shall thy seed be.” (Genesis 15:5) And “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Galatians 3:6) “Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up our Lord Jesus from the dead; who was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 4:23-5:1)

“Now,” “at this time,” it is true; it is true in him. Now, at this time, let it be true in you.

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(This article was first printed in the November 10, 1896, issue of The Review and Herald. It is also found on pages 114-117 of the book Lessons on Faith by A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner.    Editor)


Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Part 1)

by George McDaniel

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14)

When David wrote these words, he had comparatively little knowledge of how the body is made and how it works. Nevertheless, he could praise God for the wonders of his being. People living a few hundred years ago didn’t know much more than David knew of the wonders of the human body. The knowledge was not available. Even today, most people know little of these things. There is plenty of knowledge now about the workings of the body. It just takes a little effort to find it, and requires some basic knowledge to sort out error from fact.

In this article, and in ones to follow, I hope to present a basic understanding of how the body functions and how to keep it functioning well. I would like to deal individually, and in greater detail, with the eight natural remedies for health as presented by the editor a few issues back, and show how they keep the body in health. I hope to be able to keep things as non-technical and as simple as possible, and yet be thorough and accurate.

The basic structure of all living things, human, animal, plant, bacteria, or whatever, is the cell. Evolutionists tell us that the first living organism on earth was a simple, one-celled organism that somehow evolved from non-living chemicals. We cannot accept this theory. As we look at the structure and workings of a cell, however, we see that it is far from simple. What we see is very complex and well-organized.

We will first examine the way a cell is put together (anatomy). Then we will see a little of how it works (physiology). It is actually so complex that a whole book of several hundred pages could be written on the subject. We are going to look at a “typical” human cell, but much of what is true about this is true of any cell, plant or animal.

The cell is very small. It would take about 1000 of them side by side to measure an inch. It is completely surrounded by a membrane containing three layers: a layer of protein covered on both sides by a layer of fat. Inside the cell membrane is a fluid called cytoplasm. This just means cell fluid. Within the cytoplasm are small structures called organelles (small organs). Some of these are nucleus, nucleolus, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, mitochondria, golgi complex, liposomes and vacuoles. The functions of each of these are as follows:

Nucleus - contains deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). DNA controls the life of the cell, and the lives of organisms made up of cells, in two ways. First, it passes on all hereditary information from one generation of cells to the next. Second, DNA determines the form and function of the cell by regulating the kinds of proteins it produces. The foundation for every part of the human body is protein. Even the bones, which we think of as being mainly calcium, have an underlying structure of protein to which is added various minerals to provide rigidity, such as calcium, magnesium, boron and many others. Even the blood fluid contains protein, which is what keeps the water inside the blood vessels. DNA molecules lie tightly coiled in the chromosomes of a cell. Each chromosome probably consists of one very long DNA molecule.

The average length of a human chromosome is about 16 inches, but it is a thread so thin that details can’t be seen even under an electron microscope. It’s shape is called a double helix—a double thread held together by crosspieces and coiled like a spring. It looks something like a twisted rope ladder. All DNA looks the same, whether from a tree, an elephant, or a human. Genes are specific units on the chromosomes for making a certain protein.

Nucleolus - a smaller body within the nucleus. It contains ribonucleic acid (RNA), which is involved in the manufacture of protein. It carries out DNA’s instructions. Two of these are: messenger RNA and transfer RNA.

Endoplasmic reticulum - a network of channels throughout the cytoplasm through which protein in various stages of production is transported.

Ribosome - granules of RNA where the linking of amino acids into proteins takes place. They are on the outside of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Mitochondria - membrane-lined structures saturated with complex enzyme systems whose activities result in the production of energy for cell operations; called also the powerhouse of the cell. Glucose is changed into energy here.

Golgi complex - believed to be a storage place for protein.

Vacuoles - membrane-lined containers of various compounds in transit through the cell. They can remove waste matter from the cell.

Lysosome - membrane-lined container of enzymes. Can merge with vacuoles containing debris and disintegrate the contents. This is then ejected through the cell membrane.

We can see from this that the cell is an amazing little factory. The activity of cells in the human body is under the control of the brain. They do not act independently. If an injury occurs, or an enzyme or hormone is needed, or growth is occurring, a message is sent to the brain or to a secondary control center in the central nervous system. A program containing all the needed instructions as to what proteins are needed and how they are to be used is sent back. The DNA in the nucleus opens up at the right place, exposing the blueprint for the needed protein. Messenger RNA from the nucleolus copies the blueprint and carries it out of the nucleus to a ribosome. The ribosome begins moving along the strand of messenger RNA. Another kind of RNA, transfer RNA, collects amino acids and brings them, one at a time, to the ribosome, finds its correct place on the messenger RNA mold, and then builds the protein needed. The last piece of information on the messenger RNA strand tells the ribosome that the program is complete and it can let the protein chain go. The protein chain then goes through the endoplasmic reticulum to a warehouse, the golgi complex, where it awaits transfer to its final destination. It will be used as a building block in the finished product, perhaps a muscle fiber, a cell membrane, or an enzyme.

When a cell divides, everything in the cell is duplicated—all the DNA, RNA, organelles, membranes; everything—so that the new cell is an exact duplicate of the original. An exception to this is in the formation of reproductive cells, sperms and eggs. In the final division of cells for these, the number of chromosomes is cut in half. The human cell contains 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs. When the sperm or egg is formed, it contains only one of each of these pairs. When the sperm and egg join to form a new being, the resulting person contains 46 chromosomes in each cell.

Another exception is in the early stages of the developing embryo. The program these cells receive causes differentiation, so that various systems develop; for instance, bones, muscles, nerves, heart, lungs, arms, legs, head and everything else that makes a body a human, or an elephant, or whatever. All this information is built into the DNA. Every cell in the body contains all the information, but it is controlled so that an earlobe doesn’t start to grow legs or the heart doesn’t produce insulin.

Every moment of our lives, damaged cells are being repaired or replaced, hormones and enzymes are being produced, foreign invaders are being removed. Literally millions of events are taking place all the time and it is all automatic; we don’t have to think about it. The only time we notice it is if something goes wrong and we start to feel sick.

We have an amazing number of cells in our bodies. I have seen estimates ranging from three trillion all the way to 50 trillion cells. These cells are arranged into tissues, which is a group of similar cells; tissues are arranged into organs, organs into systems, systems into the organism.

All this activity requires energy to take place. The energy is provided by the oxidation of glucose in the mitochondria to form adenosine triphosphate (ATP), CO2, and water. Wherever energy is needed, ATP goes. One of the phosphate bands is broken, releasing energy and forming adenosine diphosphate (ADP). ADP can be broken down even more into adenosine monophosphate and energy. This energy is essentially electric energy. The body runs on electricity. It is not just a chemical factory, which if given the right chemicals will function well. The importance of this observation will become clearer as we progress with this series.

From this we can see that even a “simple one-celled organism” is very complex. In order to have a living cell, every factor making up that cell and causing it to be a functional organism has to be in place at the same time. If it has gaps in its cell membrane, it will die. If it can’t process food into energy or rid itself of wastes, it will die. If it can’t duplicate itself and form a new generation, it will die out. A dead cell contains all the qualities and characteristics of a living cell except for one thing-there is no electrical activity present. Hitting it with a lightning bolt won’t start it up. In fact, it will probably destroy its structure. Evolution is impossible. We are indeed, “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

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Questions and Answers

by Lynnford Beachy

Question:

“Please help me. I have a problem about this chapter in Romans 7:1-25. I am confused about this chapter. Was this person convinced or was he in conviction? Was this person converted or not? Do unconverted people delight in the law of God? (Romans 7:22) When we look at verse 18 it looks like this person was convinced. Was he? While in verse 24 he cries for deliverance. This term “wretched” is used twice in the Bible—also in Revelation 3:17. What makes me say that this person was convinced is that you won’t see that you are wretched unless you are convinced. Please help me. I am confused.”

Zimbabwe

Answer:

You brought up some excellent questions: ones which have been debated over many times. If Romans chapter seven was all that was written about the gospel we would be left with no hope of victory in this life. This chapter portrays a man who wishes to do good, but finds no power in himself to do good, and continues to do evil instead. This is a very miserable condition, one which I can personally relate to, having been there myself. Fortunately, Paul does not end his letter to the Romans with chapter seven. Chapter eight really gives us the key to victory. Even at the close of chapter seven, after Paul cried out, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” we read the following answer: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:24, 25)

Chapter eight begins with these words, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4) Here Paul contrasts the inability of the law to change a man with the power of Christ, through His Spirit, to transform a man. The difference is as high as heaven is above the earth. In chapter seven Paul described a man who knew what was right, and even wanted to do what was right but had not found the ability to do it. Paul was describing the condition of a man after he has been enlightened by the Spirit of God enough to realize he is a wretched sinner, but before he has fully surrendered to God, and found the power to overcome the sins that beset him.

I know this condition, because I experienced it during my conversion. Several years ago the Spirit of the Lord revealed to me my wicked condition. I had an overwhelming desire to give up my wicked habits, but I found myself lacking the power to overcome. I told all my friends that I had now decided to quit my evil habits, but over and over again I would find myself practicing the very things I  had decided to quit. I was horrified by how little strength I had to overcome my evil habits. At that time I was very ignorant about the Bible. I continued in this condition for about one month, after which my father gave me a little book entitled “Steps to Christ” that shed amazing light upon me, revealing to me how I could give my life to Christ and repent of my sins. From that point until now I have experienced the power of Christ in my life to overcome sin. I have committed sin since that day, for which God has graciously forgiven me, yet my life has been completely changed since I invited Christ into my heart.

After Paul described this intermediate condition between conviction and victory he wrote, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13) Paul in no way indicated that a Christian should be satisfied with the experience of Romans chapter seven. He continued his letter by showing the absolute necessity of moving out of Romans chapter seven into the victorious life of Romans chapter eight.

I hope this helps to answer your questions.


A Note of Correction

On page 7 of the December 2001 issue of Present Truth I wrote, “The Bible says that ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,… who first trusted in Christ.’ (Ephesians 1:3, 12) The Father trusted His Son with the gift of self-existent life.” By the Lord’s grace and the kind letters of two brothers in different states, it has come to my attention that my application of this verse was not correct. It is true that the Father was the first One who trusted in Christ, but this verse is referring to the Jewish Christians who first trusted in Christ for their salvation. This is brought out more clearly in the Greek text. I am sorry for the mistake.

Lynnford Beachy



Question:

“Does 1 Timothy 6:16 mean that we will never be able to see God the Father? Is there any scripture that clearly shows that we will be able to see the Father? Also study the words ‘invisible God’ in Colossians 1:15.”

Tennessee

Answer:

Referring to God the Father, 1 Timothy 6:16 says, “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” At this present time, in our sinful condition, we cannot see the Father for, if we would, we would be consumed by His brightness. God wishes to directly fellowship with us, but because of our sins He must use His Son as a Mediator. Yet there will be a time when, if we are faithful unto the end, we will see His face. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

In Revelation chapter four John saw, in vision, four living creatures and twenty-four elders bowing before the throne and worshipping the Father. John wrote, “And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4:9-11)

Considering the question under consideration, this would not be significant if John had not written verses 8-10 of the next chapter. But here we read, “And when he [Christ] had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:8-10)

The four living creatures symbolically represent people who have been redeemed from this earth by the blood of Christ. The twenty four elders also have been redeemed from the earth by the blood of Christ. Yet, these people are bowing before the Father’s throne and worshipping Him, indicating that the redeemed will see the Father.

John saw the New Jerusalem, the great city of God, come down from heaven to the earth after the millennium, and in his description he wrote, “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.” (Revelation 21:22-24)

This indicates that the Father will live in the city of the redeemed, and they shall walk in his light. The Father is invisible now, but so are the angels, yet we will see them.

I hope this helps to answer your questions.

Question:

“In Matthew 27:52, 53 it is said the graves were opened and many bodies rose and entered the holy city and appeared to many. At the death of Jesus, who are these people who rose? Why do they rise at Jesus’ death while the Bible promised resurrection at Christ’s second coming? Also, which was this holy city which they entered?”

Zimbabwe

Answer:

These are excellent questions. Please take notice of the answer to the previous question, because the scene John described in Revelation chapters 4-6 clearly takes place before the second coming of Christ. We know this because in chapter six, verses 9-11, we read, “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” (Revelation 6:9)

Whenever this scene takes place there is a time yet future when other saints would be killed for their faith. This could not be after the second coming of Christ, because after that time death will have no power over the righteous, for they will have put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

Revelation chapters 4-6 depict redeemed people in heaven worshipping in front of the throne of God before the second coming of Christ. Notice, there is a marked difference between these living redeemed, and the dead souls under the altar. The dead souls under the altar are said to be resting until their brethren are killed. They are not conscious of what is going on around them or the Scriptures could not be true which clearly state that “the dead know not anything.” (Ecclesiastes 9:6; see also Psalm 146:3, 4; Acts 2:29, 34. For a thorough study on this subject, please contact us and request the tract entitled “What the Bible Says About Hell.”) The statement that the souls cried out for vengeance no more indicates that the souls were conscious than the blood of Abel crying out to God for vengeance indicated that the blood was conscious. God said to Cain, “the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10)

The verses you mentioned read, “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matthew 27:50-53) We are not told who these people were, other than they were saints—not all the saints, but many saints, and they went into the holy city and appeared unto many. These had to have been saints who lived and died prior to Christ’s death, and are very likely some of the people John described as being in heaven prior to the second coming of Christ.

The term “the holy city” was used nine times in the KJV Bible. In the Old Testament it is used in reference to the literal city of Jerusalem, or to the people of God. In Nehemiah we read, “And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.” (Nehemiah 11:1)

In the New Testament, it appears the same usage is employed. When Jesus was in the wilderness of temptation “the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple.” (Matthew 4:5) This obviously refers to the literal city and temple in Jerusalem. From this evidence, we see that after their resurrection these saints went into the literal Jerusalem to bear witness for Christ, after which they went to heaven.

These saints were resurrected in a special resurrection apart from the two common resurrections mentioned in the Bible, one taking place at the second coming, and the other taking place 1000 years later. This is not the only special resurrection that took place. Moses was resurrected long before Christ’s death.

“So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.” (Deuteronomy 34:5, 6) Moses died, and was buried, but no man could find his sepulchre because the Lord raised him from the dead. We learn this from Jude, “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” (Jude 9) The fact that Moses was raised from the dead is evident by his appearing with Elijah at the mount of transfiguration. (Luke 9:30) Elijah was taken to heaven by a fiery chariot without seeing death.

We are not told in the Bible why some of the saints were resurrected right after Christ’s resurrection. I believe they were resurrected so they could bear witness on earth to the fact that Christ had conquered the grave, and that Christ could enjoy the reward of fellowshipping with some of the redeemed prior to His second coming. They may be a sort of firstfruits.

I hope this helps to answer your questions.

Question:

“The generations from Adam to Noah were all swept away by the flood. Only Noah and his sons were left. That was the punishment for their sins. So that generation met their punishment and died. My question is, will they have part in the promised punishment of fire which is coming to our generation or have they completed theirs?”

Zimbabwe

Answer:

There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that the antediluvians suffered the second death, from which there is no resurrection. There is more evidence that Sodom and Gomorrha will not be resurrected than there is that the antediluvians will not be resurrected. Jude wrote, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7) Sodom and Gomorrha suffered the vengeance of eternal fire, yet Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.” (Matthew 10:15)

Jesus spoke of a future judgment for Sodom and Gomorrha, indicating that they will yet have to suffer the punishment for their sins. You see, those who lived before the flood, along with the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrha, suffered a death similar to all humans down through the ages. They never had to give an account to God for the things done in their life. But Paul wrote, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:10)

Every person will have to give an account before God, including the antediluvians and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrha. With this in mind, I pray that each of us will take advantage of the wonderful opportunity for our sins to go beforehand to judgment (1 Timothy 5:24), to be pardoned, so that we can stand before the throne unashamed.

In the second death, from which there will be no resurrection, the sufferers’ mental anguish of the reality that eternal life has been forfeited, and their knowledge that they will die and never come back, will be more difficult to bear than the physical pain caused by the lake of fire. They will confess that God was right in all his judgments. This aspect of the second death could not have been experienced by the antediluvians and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrha, for their deaths were sudden. Therefore, they will arise in the resurrection of the wicked after the millennium.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Question:

“Could not Isaiah 9:6 support the idea that Father, Son and Holy Ghost are only one being, with the Father being God’s mind, the Son His body and the Holy Ghost His Spirit?”

Tennessee

Answer:

No, Isaiah 9:6 only mentions one individual, the Son of God. In that verse the Son of God is called “the everlasting Father,” but this title is not given to Christ because He is His own Father, but rather because He is the Father of the children which His Father has given him. Isaiah 8:18 mentions this, when Jesus said, through Isaiah, “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.” (Isaiah 8:18) We know that this verse refers to Christ because it is applied to him in Hebrews 2:13. Christ is the Father of the redeemed, “the author and finisher of our their faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)

I am the son of my earthly father. Yet, at the same time I am the father of my son. If someone were to come to me and call me a father, I would not assume they are thinking that I am my own father. I would know they are referring to me as a father of my son. Surely, we can expect no less of God. When He inspired Isaiah to refer to Christ as a “father,” He was not trying to indicate that Christ was the Father of Himself. Furthermore, the term Holy Spirit is not used at all in Isaiah 9:6, thus making it impossible for this verse to prove that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all one being. The Bible clearly makes a distinction between the Father and His Son, portraying them as two separate beings. (Daniel 7:9, 13; Revelation 5:1, 7; 1 Corinthians  8:6; Zechariah 6:12, 13; Proverbs 30:4, etc.)

The idea that the Father is the mind, the Son the body, and the Holy Ghost the Spirit, of one being, is not taught in the Bible. If that were true, when Christ was on earth you would have the body (Christ) praying to His own mind (the Father), asking his mind to take away the cup from his body, but then exclaiming to his mind, not my will but thine be done. This is evidently absurd. At Christ’s baptism you would have the mind speaking from heaven to His body, saying, “This is my beloved Son.” This would have been a lie if the Son was merely the body of the Father. I have a body, and I have a son, and I can tell you for sure they are not the same. My son is a separate being from myself.

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) God’s love is so deep and so broad that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins. When we see this love it breaks our hearts and changes our lives. Any deviation from the Bible on this point is a deviation from our ability to love God with all our heart.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Question:

“I have not seen God’s original diet for man to include vegetables, but being added after sin in Genesis”

Tennessee

Answer:

This statement is in reference to the article I wrote entitled “Healthful Living” and printed in the December 2001 issue of Present Truth. The original diet given to man is found in Genesis 1:29. Here we read, “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”

On the third day of creation God created all vegetation. “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.” (Genesis 1:11) From this verse, if there is any separation of fruits and vegetables, the vegetables must fall under the category of “grass” or “herb yielding seed.” However, in the Genesis 1:29 diet both the “herb bearing seed” and “the fruit tree” are mentioned. After the fall of Adam, God said, “Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Genesis 3:17-19)

After the fall the “herb of the field” and “bread” were mentioned as part of the diet of man. The Hebrew word that was translated “herb” in Genesis 1:29 is the same word that was used in Genesis 3:18. The only difference was that in Genesis 1:29 the herb is said to yield seed. Yet, it is certain that “the herb of the field” also yields seed, so there is no difference. Every vegetable I can think of yields seed, so vegetables must have been a part of man’s diet before the fall of Adam and Eve.

I hope this helps to clarify the issue.

?


The Work in Africa

by Lynnford Beachy

Last year, from the middle of August to the middle of September, Howard Williams and I went to three countries in Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania) to hold meetings with the brethren there to make clear the message of the Father and His Son. In each of the three countries we had very good responses from those who attended. Many people learned about the truth for the first time. Some, who had heard about the message, gained a clearer understanding of it and a great burden to share it with others.

Since that time the work in Africa has mushroomed beyond what we could have imagined. Many more people have learned the truth about God through the labors of the ministers we visited, and several more workers have arisen to share this message. We are continually receiving reports of how the message is spreading in Africa. To give you some idea of the progress of the message in Africa, I would like to share some of the reports and letters with you. The letters will be printed blue.

Tanzania

Brother Patrick Katambo travelled a long distance to attend our meetings in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Along the way he contracted malaria and yellow fever, so he was not able to attend all the meetings. Yet he received enough to want to share it with others. Recently he wrote,

Thank you very much for the communication through Present Truth magazine. Now I’m working for this truth. The doctrine of the truth about God, the trinity, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit makes the people arise from the spiritual darkness. I am receiving calls from those who need to hear the truth.

I have been spreading the tracts you gave me in Dar es Salaam that makes me to have invitations in order [for people] to hear more about this message; my weapon now is short. Things are going well. On November 17th one more group has joined in the truth, so now we are four groups in our part. Invitations for seminars are increasing. I find it difficult to meet the demand. The members whom we share the message with are about 38 who are in different parts of my area…

My joy is to get serving our Master. God bless you in your service to feed the world.

This brother lives in Mwanza, Tanzania, where he is busy spreading the truth about God and His Son. Because of this message, he and his family have recently been asked to leave their home, which is owned by his former church employer, yet he has decided to continue to preach the truth. Please pray for him, his family, and the people he is witnessing to.

Another brother in Tanzania, Kaahahkira Kitomary, travelled many miles to study with us in Dar es Salaam. He was very interested in the message, and as you will see, he has begun sharing it with many people. He wrote,

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. I believe you and your family and those who share our belief are doing well.

I am pleased to inform you that I have been to Mbulu/Babati for a period of almost two weeks and I am now back in Arusha. God enabled me to visit 3 churches and to have motivation meetings wherein we studied various subjects together about One God, Jesus the only Son of God and who the Holy Spirit is.

Everybody was very impressed on the subjects taught… The Love of God, The God of the Bible, The Holy Spirit, Satan’s Deadliest Lie, The Law of God, The Law of God as changed by the PAPACY, etc. We have perused ‘The Formulation of the Doctrine of the Trinity.’

After the meeting people decided to unite and live in that truth and they are prepared to go on with the studies. Twenty-one people… handed me their names. What they need from you now is the guideline on how to conduct prayers. They have discovered that The Holy Spirit is not as the [trinity] teaching [claims]. They do not want to worship Satan.…

They are requesting that lessons be prepared in Kiswahili so that they can understand and be prepared to defend themselves whenever and wherever they are confronted with questions. If you are agreeable, the lessons are to be prepared as soon as possible, on the following: “The God of the Bible,” “The Love of God,” “God’s Plan to Save You,” “The Truth About God,” “The Importance of Knowing the Truth About God,” “The Holy Spirit,” “The Law of God,” “The Reward of the Wicked,” “What the Bible Says About Hell.”

People who attended are from two churches only.… some represented their families. The church which did not attend sent some representatives because they come from a very long distance. They requested that I visit them after the meeting. I have not been able to do so because of my poor health after teaching for many hours all alone and during the night and I had to translate the subjects in their native languages. I also suffered from malaria and my health is still not good and I have to rest for a while. There is a group of people who stay a long distance but are interested to participate. The whole zone has 56 people.

Areas which need to be visited are Tanga, Kangata, Mbulu/Kutta, Mto wa Mbu. I am unable to visit any place at the moment because the funds you sent to me have been spent on visits, e-mail expenses, etc.

I am very grateful for the lesson you sent me, [the people here] want them translated in their own language.… Some people need to be baptized…

I am in contact with Br. Katambo. Many in Mwanza zone have accepted the truth but I am not sure how many, but they are many, I will get in touch with him.…

I am sure our good Lord will bless you for all your sacrifices. We shall always pray for God’s blessings.

E-mail expenses in Africa are very high. There are many e-mail cafes that send and receive e-mail for a fee. All of the people we are corresponding with through e-mail use these services. It is very quick, but the cost adds up quickly as well.

Because of the great commotion this message has caused in their denomination, several of the top leaders were sent to Tanzania to deal with the problem. We recently received this report:

Eventually the decision was made that we either have to stop immediately the non-trinitarian message or we continue and face the cutting edge of the church manual.

We have taken our position that we cannot stop, and thus we will go forward. Last Sabbath marked our first non-trinitarian conference which brought together 17 people. This shocked our brethren very much.

Therefore, we are sure the cutting edge of the church manual is upon our necks.

Now how much this affects us individually? We have to say that first our financial support from which we depended is stopped. Our biggest trouble now is: How do we get food for our families? How do we send our children to school? For example, Bother Mwambene’s son has passed examination to join secondary school. This means more expenses to the parents. He needs US $200 to enable him to send the son to new school. What do we do?

Leave alone the threat of being evicted from the house where one of us lived, as already informed. Money is needed for preparation of our small gardens for vegetables. Please help us. Signed, Patrick Katambo, K. A. Kitomary, and Adam Mwambene.

Of the three countries we visited, the brethren in Tanzania will probably notice a financial hardship most due to this message, because at the time we were there, all of these brethren were employed by a trinitarian church that is very opposed to the non-trinitarian message. Their employment will cease if they continue to preach this message, and yet they have decided to preach the message anyway, because it is the truth.

We invited several people to come to Tanzania from other countries to study with us. The only ones who could make it were two brothers from Uganda.

Uganda

The work is progressing nicely in Uganda after the brethren returned to their home country with a zeal to spread the truth about God and His Son. Recently one of the brethren wrote,

Thank you for communication. I have been busy in the village repairing my house as well as getting rest for the treatment of malaria. I thank God very much for His kindness that now I am strong enough to carry on my responsibilities. Thanks for all your dear sacrifices for supporting me in both missionary work and caring for my family. May our God, the Father, bless you richly.

Brother Kenneth is okay, only he has been in Kampala visiting some brothers there who had invited him. We are arranging our meetings and today I have communicated to Brother Benny Kayamba in Zambia to send me some booklets and pamphlets for us to distribute while in our meetings. Kindly, we ask you brethren to offer your supplications unto the Lord for us daily, and we are waiting for the success of the meetings, after which we shall inform you the outcome.…

Lastly, according to our message as we heard from you in Dar es Salaam, one time, the Lord willing, we need you to visit us here in Uganda, we also long to work together with you.

This brother, Alfred Mukhooli, lives in Tororo, Uganda, where he, along with some other ministers, is busy spreading the truth about God and His Son. Please pray for the work in Uganda.

Rwanda

We had also invited a brother from Rwanda to come to Tanzania and study with us. He tried very hard to come to Tanzania but due to the political unrest in Rwanda he was forced to turn back at the border. Recently he wrote,

I wish to inform you how we are in the work of the gospel. By the way, things are going on well even if there are some problems that we usually meet in our usual activities…

Thank you for your letter I received last week. From 1998 Brothers Alfred Mukhooli and Fred Sakwa Musungu, we have been working together hand and hand in the work of the gospel. Those two brothers have been helping me in so many things even if they are in Kampala, Uganda, another country.

I usually stay at Ruhengeri District because of not having any kind of work here in Kigali, and life is very expensive in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. I took my family away from town into the country where they can raise their own provisions.

This brother, Bigirabagabo William, lives in Rwanda, where he is busy spreading the truth about God and His Son. Please pray for him and his family as he works for the Lord.

Kenya

Shortly after our return from Africa a brother from Kenya, Lawrence Allosso Kojwang, came to visit us here in West Virginia. While he was here some brethren from Uganda went to his home church in Kenya where many pastors and others came together for some meetings on the truth about God, and on the issue of the Sabbath. Lawrence has returned home to Kenya, and recently he wrote us the following letter:

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel and being confident of one thing, that he who began the good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ.

My journey back to Africa was full of God’s blessings having been blessed by you people. I was blessed by our every day’s study of the Scriptures as we discovered many truths about the God of the Bible; God the Father and Jesus the Son of God. Just like I testified to you that even though I spent more than seven years studying the Scriptures, our two and a half month’s study with you did revolutionize my understanding of the Godhead relationship, thanks be to God.

Many things have happened since I came back. The conference churches are falling apart, after the camp meeting many members were revived and new ones were added to the fold. The most significant one is the coming of Bonde Seventh-day Adventist church to join our congregation having learned the truth and having been disgusted by the corrupt leaders of the conference church.

The Ebenezer Seventh-day Church is the talk of the region. Thank God we are here in time for the service of the people of God. Leave that alone, six churches in Mombasa have invited me to go hold a seminar for them on truth about Godhead and the three angel’s messages. We are expecting an audience of over a hundred people to listen to us. The meeting is scheduled for 18th - 22nd January 2002. we are going in a team of four people from our church, plus Pastor Morris Maina who has joined our church from Rusinga Seventh-day Baptist Church  where he has been expelled after attending the last camp meeting.

 We are therefore requesting that you send us US Dollars 400 to help us with the trip to and from Mombasa. We are leaving on Friday the 18th in the morning so we need to have the funds wired as soon as possible. Many other reports are on the way. Our small congregation is now full and would soon need expansion.

How about the printing press, are we moving somewhere about acquiring one for this mission? Let me assure you of our prayers for you, your family and the entire brethren at Smyrna… The children at the orphanage send their special regards, so does Sophie, my wife.

[A few days later:] We are on our way to Mombasa to hold the seminar even though we have not received the money for the trip. We can only afford the one-way transport. We are not even sure of how we would sleep but we are on a mission for God. Please tell Lynnford to send me the money, otherwise could be sent today or Sunday? Then I could get it on Monday in Mombasa if possible.

There are a few brethren in Kenya who are busy spreading the truth about God and His Son. Please keep them in your prayers. They are also working to relieve the needs of the orphans in Homa Bay.

Zambia

Perhaps one of the most thrilling visits was our visit to Zambia. There, many people accepted the message who had never heard about it before. After we left, several brothers carried on the work in a very enthusiastic way, reaching many people for the truth. Recently some brothers went to neighboring Congo to share the message. After their trip they wrote,

We are happy to share with you our Mission Report “To Congo with Love.” Our first meeting was held Thursday  morning the 3rd of January 2002 in a hall that we had rented in a city of Kipushimine. In a few minutes there were several people coming; about 90 people attended the first meeting. The following day there were 125 in attendance. The third day there were 109 in attendance. The fourth day there were 128, and the end of the last meeting there were 140 in attendance.

After we shared with them the fundamental truth about one God and His Son, Jesus Christ, many people were very excited about the message and determined to share it with others.

Dear Brother Lynnford, one of the major needs in Congo is literature. Translations into French and other Congolese languages are now complete. $700 is needed for printing tracts!

Mission Zambia, we collected 15 boxes of tracts from Brother Ephraim from Zimbabwe on the 31st of December 2001. We distributed 10,000 tracts on the 1st of January 2002 in Lusaka’s west townships and compounds and we also distributed 12,500 in Lusaka’s east townships and compounds. The remaining tracts and booklets will be used in Bible correspondence and seminars. Funds needed for mission Zambia: $300 for e-mails and stamps for postage. Hundreds of people were crowding around us and hundreds were passing by without tracts because we could not reach them. The people accepted our literature with hugs, tears and smiles! Praise be to God.

“I hope to hear from you soon. May Almighty God bless you all as you continue dispensing His everlasting gospel to all parts of the World.

Shortly after receiving this encouraging testimony we received the following letter:

Right now we need more money for seminars $400. Many people in various places invite us for seminars and Bible studies.  The invitations for seminars are increasing, especially in rural areas. Please remember Mission Zambia phase 2, now! I need a mountain Bike urgently. Don’t forget Mission Congo.

We are ready to go to western province next week. Presently we have a problem that affected our ministry so much. The number of the students for our Bible correspondence school is increasing continuously and for this reason we urgently request Brother Ephraim in Zimbabwe to help us to print more Bible lessons (Christ and His Righteousness study guide) Right now Charles and I are disfellowshiped by our local church because of preaching the non-trinitarian message. I am ready to send the letter of disfellowship…

Let us hear from you again very soon. May God Bless you all and the work in America.

In response to a letter published a couple months ago, a dear sister has offered to purchase a bicycle for Brother Benny Kayamba. Praise the Lord that this portion of his needs have been met. Interestingly, after writing Benny to let him know about the bicycle offer, and ask him if a small motorcycle might meet his needs better, he wrote the following letter.

We have received your e-mail of 17th January 2002… Right now I need a bicycle urgently. I want to use it in rural evangelism. I agree with you that the bicycle is most practical for me and is cheaper, the motorcycle, the price is high. It is good to spend a lot of money to print literature. God’s people are hungry for the message. We need more money for printing literature.

The brethren in Zambia have their heart in this message, and wish to give all they have to spread it to the world before it is too late. Please pray for these brethren, that the Lord will provide all their needs to spread the message of God’s love in Africa.

Zimbabwe

We cannot end without mentioning Zimbabwe. This was the first country we visited, and we found the people well grounded in the truth. The Lord provided the means to purchase a small printing machine similar to a Risograph. With this machine they have been able to produce some literature. As you read in the previous letters, they have been able to provide Zambia and Congo with some literature. However, they are very short on funds to cover the cost of paper and ink. For this reason they have not been able to print much literature yet. Please pray for these brethren, that the Lord would provide the funds needed that they can continue printing and provide literature to several countries in the area.

Brother Ephraim Ngwenya, who leads out in the group, is well grounded in the message and had even written a small booklet on the subject of the Father and His Son before we met him at his home. If you would like to help finance the printing work in Africa, please let us know and we will provide you with the necessary information.

Conclusion

All the brethren mentioned in this short article are busy spreading the message about the love of the Father in giving up His only begotten Son. They are also preaching the Sabbath and the truth about the state of the dead and the non-immortality of the soul. Please pray for all these brethren as they spread the truth. It is spreading like wildfire. Currently these brethren are receiving little, if any, support to do the work they are doing. There are so many needs, especially regarding literature, and our limited funds cannot come close to fulfilling these needs. If the Lord impresses you to help any of these brethren in Africa, please let us know and we will give you the necessary information. One hundred US dollars is enough to support a minister and his family for one month in many parts of Africa, including his rent and food. However, when meetings are being held, and traveling needs arise, more expenses must be met. Money is able to go further in Africa, so any donation sent will be multiplied.

I am excited about the work in Africa, yet there are many more countries to be reached. We are currently in contact with brethren in several other African countries who are eager to receive a visit in their own country. Some ministers in these other countries have accepted the truth and are preaching it as well.

I pray that you will be encouraged to know that the work is advancing, God is in control, and none will be able to stop it.

?


Letters from our Readers

(Each month we receive letters that help us to know how God’s work is progressing throughout the world. Because we think you are interested in this work as well, we are printing some of them for you. If you do not wish your letter to be printed, please let us know when you write.    Editor)

The Work in Africa

“I have studied [your] materials with keen interest and the jewels procured from them have been shared to my fellow members in the territory.”

Malawi

“In the name of the Almighty Father, I take this opportunity to send you  my sincere and heartfelt greetings believing you are fine over there.
    “Brother, I met some brothers from Uganda in an effort held in Homa Bay, Kenya, who were Mr. Alfred Mukhooli, Israel Kenneth and Fred Sakwa Musungu.  In fact these people introduced me to the true way of life and Sabbath.  And I am happy that I am now on the true Sabbath and have been baptized…
    “The brothers advised me that to be strongly built in the church, I should read some very important books but I cannot afford them since I am financially unable. It is called “Conflict Series.”  Therefore I am asking you to send for me the books if you don’t mind for I believe the  study is going to put me some place towards the heavenly kingdom.
    “Otherwise, this is my request.  May God bless you abundantly.”

Kenya

“I wish to inform you that  the church, Christ Love Assembly,  with headquarter at Umuokazi Amuzi Ahiara I Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government of Imo State Nigeria, wishes to affiliate with your Ministry, TRUTH SEEKERS, for the purpose of more evangelism.
    “The Christ Love Assembly will be highly delighted if our request meets positive answer.
    “Thanking you in anticipation.”

Nigeria

(We do not have any membership books or hierarchy structure, but we are glad to work together with like believers to  spread the good news about God.    Editor)

“The entire members of Christ Love Assembly wish to congratulate you, our dear Pastor Lynnford Beachy, for your effort towards us, especially your love towards our pastor, Evangelist Eddy Egbujor. It has been one year since we contacted you.
    “We pray that as the Lord adds another year to your life, you rededicate your life to the work the Lord has called you for. We, as co-workers in the Lord’s vineyards, will continue to lift you up before the Lord in our prayers so that fullness of Him will be made manifest in you.
    “God bless your family.”

Nigeria


A Call for Prayer

There is a brother in Zimbabwe, Michael Sibanda, who is currently on death row for a crime he did not commit. When Howard and I were there we spent much time with his mother, Melody Tshabalala, who informed us of the situation. Michael was working away from home, and when he returned he found his wife dead in his apartment. As much of a shock as this was to him, he was then accused of murdering his wife. However, two women prior to this had been murdered in the same apartment complex before Michael and his wife moved into this apartment, and the manager of the apartment was a suspect.

Brother Michael has been reading some of our literature and had accepted the truth about God before his wife was murdered. He recently wrote us a letter in which he stated: “Sitting sad and dismayed in the dark prison cell, sentenced to death for a crime I never committed, I was yet filled with joy to receive books and the note that there are people like you who are praying for me. Thank you very much for your kindness… through your prayers I believe God may stretch out His hands and deliver me. I made an appeal to the Supreme Court and I am still waiting for their reply. I wish to meet you some day, but if we do not meet here on earth let us meet in heaven.”

Please pray for this dear brother, for we know that God delights to answer the prayers of His people. When Peter was in prison for preaching the gospel, “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:5) and the Lord answered these prayers. I am sure Michael will be grateful for every prayer that is offered up in his behalf.

You may wish to send cards and/or notes of encouragement to Michael and his mother Melody Tshabalala at:

1031 Emaganwimi
P. O. Nkulumane
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Lynnford Beachy


Bible Lessons

“I feel down because I am away from family whom I love so much… [This man is in prison.] I know my family is out there suffering. I was the only one to care for my family. I have to stop now, because I want the next lessons and if I don’t send this out now, I will have to send it next week when I need lessons now.
    “God bless you always. I look forward to hearing from you soon.”

New Jersey

“It is always with prayer and hope that you, the family and the ministries are all doing well and blessed by the God of all creation. These are perilous times for mankind. We need all the help we can get sharing the Word of God with our fellow man.
    “Physically and spiritually I am doing well. Our Father blessed me with a wonderful Thanksgiving Day as I was able to talk with my daughter and with my former wife. Both of them, and my granddaughter, are doing well. They are another blessing I am thankful for. There are many more things in this life that can be worse than being in prison. As you know, there are more people in spiritual prison than there are in physical prison. Given a choice of imprisonment, I would rather the physical than the spiritual. It is a blessing to be spiritually free.
    “Thank you for sending lessons 7 and 8 of ‘These Last Days’ Bible study. I have completed them and enclosed them with this letter. Studying the Word of God is always a treat for me. It is never ending as it is impossible to know all the things of God. Therefore, we are constantly learning about Him, His Son and Their way of life and purpose for Their creation. How special it would be to be called ‘A friend of God.’…
    “The articles in the Present Truth about the work being done in Africa and South America are enlightening. How wonderful that the information was published. I recall someone once saying, ‘If you want to recapture the fire you once had when newly converted, be in the presence of someone with the fire of a newly converted.’ It makes sense to me…
    “May the God and Father of all be with Truth Seekers Ministries, Mr. Lynnford Beachy, and with you each and every day. You are fighting a good fight. Thank you for all you have done for me.”

Michigan

The Trinity

“How long must mankind worship a god of their own making, and dictated to them by a human being who wanted the bishops to teach one doctrine whether right or wrong, just so long as his empire was united under one creed? This man, Constantine the Great, was not baptized until on his death bed because he was afraid of committing the unforgivable sin if he had been baptized sooner. Where was his faith in the power of God, through His son, to prevent him from sinning?
    “On the one hand Arius taught that the Son had a beginning, but not in the likeness of the Father. On the other hand Athanasius taught that the Son had no beginning. Now every son has a beginning with his father, and every son is in the likeness of his father (we are all human beings). The conclusion we must reach is that neither Athanasius nor Arius had a true [conception of the] Son, and yet we read that he who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God has not life.… In any case we should be aware of the persecutions that took place between the various Christian groups as a result of these obviously wrong creeds. There was anything but love shown; not even tolerance in many cases.
    “Mohammed had consulted with some of the priests of his time, and could not accept either of the creeds mentioned above, so he went his way and founded the Islamic faith. How much different things might have been today if a true Father-Son relationship had been maintained as outlined in the New Testament! There would be no need for Osama Bin Laden or his like, who even some of the Moslems regard as an antichrist. Let us wake up; our sins will find us out!
    “I trust that you will see that the above is not written to criticize what you have sent me, but rather to confirm you in your approach, and to strengthen your resolve. Know that there are other ways to look at [the] trinitarian doctrine, all of which lead to condemnation; even our theologians agree that the trinitarian doctrine cannot be explained with any degree of logic. IT IS FAR PAST TIME THAT IT WAS THROWN INTO THE DUST BIN.”

Canada

New Contacts

“Add me to your mailing list.”

Kentucky

“You are new to me. Would you please send me some background info on your ministry.
    “Would you also send a listing of all your videos and audio tapes which you offer.
    “I am mainly interested in booklets, pamphlets and tracts that I can distribute in mass. Would you please send me samples of such literature with prices for 100’s, 500’s, 1000’s of each.”

Utah

“I have a request for you to send a copy of Present Truth to ____.”

Maine

Literature

“Thanks for your lovely Present Truth. They are always a blessing. I am sending a small gift in the mail. I have a request: Please send the Present Truth to ____. I talked to her about the current issue and I think that she would enjoy it. Thanks and may God continue to bless.”

Arizona

Thanks for your time and the literature. Here’s $__ to help pay for your costs.

Canada

“Thank you for speaking out on the issues of rapture and judgment (Sept. 11). The rapture surely is a false and pagan doctrine. Unbiblical in its teaching and gnostic in the roots of its ideology. The rapture doctrine denies the eminent return of Christ by placing historical schemes, without Scripture, as obstacles to His return. The event of Sept. 11 certainly demonstrated a judgment of God upon this nation. I do sympathize and grieve with those who have lost loved ones as a result of the evil men and their cause. I joy in the judgment upon these evil men as the US roots them out and reveals the lies they told about being innocent of the crimes. The truth is that this nation is certainly headed for judgment even greater if it does not repent and turn to God. No one can avoid the issue that they need a Saviour. How sad that any should die without knowing Christ. Let us continue to pray for all men and women (1 Timothy 2) for salvation and endeavor to proclaim the truth in love.”

Maryland

“Just a note to let you know we’ve moved… Please keep us on your mailing list. We enjoy how God is using your ministry to reach the world. God bless you.

California

“I do enjoy reading these newsletters. They are very good, but I have so much to read (most important of which is the Bible) that at this time, please remove me from the mailing list.”

North Carolina

“As you can see by the date of this letter, it is the ‘season to be jolly.’ If this is ‘the season to be jolly,’ why is it that this time of the year there are more crimes against other human beings, more suicides caused by extreme depression, and more drug and alcohol abuse than any other single time of the year? There is something wrong in the celebration of a season that brings so much misery and pain to the celebrants. When God’s Word is read and applied to our lives ‘in spirit and in truth,’ the negative acts inspired by Satan will not take root. The truth is the devil deceives the whole world. Revelation 12:9…
    “Thank you for sending the March 1999 Present Truth with the study ‘Which Bible?’ The article is very informative and helpful in my understanding which Bible is the better translated Bible. Unfortunately, I, as well as some of my friends, found out the hard way about the inadequacies of the NIV. At one time I even had an NIV Concordance. I was not satisfied with that Bible translation or with the concordance. It is understandable why some refer to the NIV as ‘Non-Inspired Version.’…
    “The Present Truth is a wonderfully helpful and informative publication. It is a pleasure studying the information it contains month after month. In the December 2001 issue I was drawn to the “Healthful Living” article. Too many believers in God do not understand the importance of proper health habits. The article taught me something about the effects of liquids with a meal. I am working to cut out fluids with my meals. I see how they hamper the digestive process. Hopefully more people will want to improve our health by principles of NEWSTART.”

Michigan

“There is a Bible, 1611 edition. I called Nelsons and they were sold out and had back orders of very many. I have seen the new versions and how words have been changed. I am very grateful for your advice on selecting a Bible. Thank you for all your literature and the Bible studies…
    “I am grateful for all literature. I try to study with an open mind. I pray for God’s guidance and direction for all of us.”

North Carolina

(If anyone would like more information on Bible versions, please request your free copy of the study entitled “Which Bible.”    Editor)

“As Sabbath is drawing to a close here in ____, I will share two special verses in Isaiah with you. Isaiah 41:10, 13: ‘Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.… For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.’
    “Brother Lynnford, I want you to know you are appreciated. As I read the latest Present Truth, I prayed the Lord for you. The requests to ‘Come over and help us,’ Acts 16:9, must be, at times, overwhelming. I thank the Lord in behalf of each one at SGM [Smyrna Gospel Ministries], who are working together to bring the message of salvation to the world.
    “Thank you for your stand concerning pagan holidays. I rejoiced as I read your words. May the Lord bless you and keep you, as you continue in your service for Him, is my prayer, in Jesus’ name.”

Montana

“I would like to tell how much my wife and I enjoy Present Truth. The articles printed, the truth presented, is to us priceless. Smyrna Gospel Ministries as a whole, with everyone involved, is in our daily prayers; praising God for you all and your work. I have been sharing with others your papers.

Canada

The Work Around the World

“I always thank God for the ministry within the USA and overseas. I’m making plans for a center in El Salvador. Please remember this in your prayers. As you all know, everywhere we go there are people in need and we need to take them the good news before it is too late.”

Indiana

“We were very happy when we received your letter and the monthly issue of Present Truth. Really, we are thankful to God and you for this.
    “I discussed with my friend, Pastor S. Raj Israel, about your arrival to India. If this is God’s will, we are welcoming you to start the missionary work in new ways. The main reason is your thoughts are really different and we are very eager to learn through you.
    “Unfortunately, most of our workers and members are very poor, but they are very faithful in Sabbath keeping.
    “Can you write us? In which way would we conduct meetings here in India? 1. Workers seminar (average 25 workers only) for ten days minimum we have to spend two thousand US dollars for a ten-day conference. 2. Or each one member from every church like a delegate for one hundred members we have to spend four thousand US dollars.
    “The people are living in four states (four different languages) so this amount for travel, lodging, food and other expenses for meeting arrangements.
    “Kindly write about this and your arrival. We feel you should try to come to India in April last or May first week of 2002. Inform to us both myself and Pastor S. Raj Israel. If you are willing to send financial assistance for meeting arrangements, send to us in both of our names. May God bless you abundantly.”

India

(These dear brothers are eager for me to come to India and hold meetings on the truth about God and His Son. I believe a trip like this would start a fire in India as it did in Africa. Unfortunately, at the moment, our shortage of funds will not allow me to make this trip in the near future, especially since I will not be traveling alone, but with another minister. If anyone would like to help sponsor a trip to India please let us know.    Editor)

 


To view or print this issue of Present Truth in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) click here.

Present Truth is published monthly by Present Truth Ministries. It is sent free upon request. Duplication of these papers is not only permitted but strongly encouraged, as long as our contact information is retained. Present Truth is available online at www.presenttruth.info.

Editor: Lynnford Beachy, PO Box 315, Kansas, OK 74347, USA. Phone: (304) 633-5411, E-mail: webnewsletters@presenttruth.info.

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