This page contains a selection of the letters and questions sent to us and responses from our pastor and from members of our congregation. Please feel free to send us your comments and questions or to further respond to what you read here.
FROM B.G.O.S. response:
Dear Sir,I was a member of the WCG and also briefly had an association with the United group.
You mention in your web page that you had been drawn to God through Christ in a former instrumentality organized by Herbert W. Armstrong. Since you do not list a statement of beliefs, could you please provide answers to the following questions?
Statements of Belief seem to be/are necessary if a church is incorporated. I was fired by UCG from its ministry because I would not fully uphold the constitutional statement of beliefs. The reasons I gave were on the basis that since these summMS Sans Serifly stated beliefs are subject to change, and we are expected to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, I can only give wholehearted support to the Word of God, which none of us knows fully. This apparent 'uncertainty' is not acceptable to too many.
May I give an example of living by every word of God? The Church of God in Williamstown is aware that 1Cor 12 is to be applied within the congregation. In consequence it is expected that if someone has the Spirit of God one is also given gifts which must be used and all must allow those godly gifts to be used.
1. Just who in your opinion was Herbert Armstrong?O.S. response:
2. Do you believe in the Church eras as taught by HWA? If so, what era are we in now?O.S. response:
It is extremely important that all of us should apply all the lessons and warnings given in Rev 2 & 3. Furthermore, all the 'rewards' are applicable to all the firstfruits down through history (Heb 11). The sequence of seven rewards, beginning with the tree of life ("in the Garden of Eden") and ending with sitting on the throne with Jesus Christ (in the New Jerusalem), are presented to show the completeness of the immeasurable gifts God has in store for all the saints.
The sequence of the rewards in Rev 2 & 3 is:
(1) the tree of life; (2) the crown of life; (3) the hidden manna [also a
white stone with one's new name]; (4) power over the nations; (5) white
garments; (6) pillar in the Temple [and name of the City of God]; (7) with
Christ on His Throne (see Rev 2:21; 20:11; 21:5-7; 22:1,3,14).
3. Is the break-up of the WCG the "falling away" spoken of in 2Thess 2:3?O.S. response:
4. Since you acknowledge that the Church is scattered, what is the Work of the Church now?O.S. response:
At present I know of two final efforts to preach the Gospel: (a) by the two witnesses (Rev 11:3-12); (b) by an angel (Rev 14:6).
The Bible indicates that confusion, the teaching of error, the scattering of sheep will continue. See the page on "Shepherds in the Last Days", which is meant as a personal Bible Study with many Scriptures to carefully review.
5. Is the sacred calendar as preserved by the Jews and used by HWA still in force today?O.S. response:
6. Should Passover be kept on the 14th or 15th Abib?O.S. response:
1Cor 11:23-26 makes it clear that Paul taught the churches of God to observe the "Lord's Supper" (1Cor 11:20) on the same night Jesus Christ observed it (Jn 13:1-2). This was not the Jewish Passover as Israel observed in the wilderness. Convoluted arguments involving various verses from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John seem to be devolutions from the former erroneous idea HWA had that the Jews of today keep Passover a night later than what Israel observed in Exodus 12.
It is evident that the apostles kept the Lord's Supper with Him on the same night that Jesus Christ was arrested and illegally tried. The next morning the process continued until He was crucified. The rush of the Jews was to avoid doing these things on the evening of the first Holy Day, the beginning of the 15th Abib (Jn 19:31; Matt 27:62; Lk 23:54).
The killing of the Passover lambs, and the killing of the High Priest's lamb in the afternoon of the 14th coincided with the death of the Lamb of God on the afternoon of the 14th. The body of Jesus Christ was placed in the tomb just before the sunset introducing the evening during which the Jews ate their roasted lambs without recognition that the Lamb they had murdered had been among them.
FROM: J.J.O.S. response:Glad to find you on the net. At the FOT in 1981, Herbert Armstrong asked, "Let me see a show of hands of everyone who is a member of the Worldwide Church of God," and most raised their hands. He then spent the next few minutes explaining that there were only three members of the WCG, himself, Ramona, and Stan Rader, the only three members of the California Corporation called "Worldwide Church of God". He reminded us of our baptism, where the baptizer says, "I now baptize you, not into a worldly organization or religion, but into the body of Christ."
Growing up in Pasadena, I heard him say countless times to blow the dust off our bibles and prove things for ourselves, and it's corollary, "Don't believe me, believe your Bible."
After seeing the words of the Tkaches, Greg A, and Mike F., I came to realize that these guys had sat in the same classes I did, but learned completely different knowledge. They had some different paradigms, different worldviews, and so their learning was different from mine. They actually believed that Mr. Armstrong taught what some of his students said were their own conjectures, never bothering to go to Mr. Armstrong's writings to see what he actually said. I was completely dismayed.
Then a year and a half ago, UCG started solidifying into WCG2, and proved itself to be independent from God as well, so I stopped attending there regularly. I just (last week) was able to start using the Internet, and am very happy to see that there is another means of fellowship with members of God's church.
Thanks for being there.
Who were the members of the "corporation" after Ramona and Stan Rader 'left'? One person in control of everything: all material assets, all decision making, all doctrinal matters at a time when he was blind, in poor health, unable to study further, unable to remember corrections of error, unable to select good men (a consistent habit), and finally despairing that he was not one of the two witnesses. The church was ripe for exploitation. We see the fruits of what was sown. Though this is very uncomfortable to consider, the evidence of experience and admissions from Aaron Dean, HWA's personal assistant who wrote "Mystery of the Ages", bear out the truth of this.
Do I imply that there would be nothing of significance happening in terms of the saints doing something effective? Daniel 11:32-36 and 12:7-11 seem to be quite clear that all around the world there would be true Christians who the whole world conspires to destroy (12:11; 11:33-35). These people of God, who are called, chosen, and faithful (Rev 17:14), will have opportunity to preach the Gospel because they know the true God (Dan 11:32). It would appear that the means of this preaching will be as described in Lk 21:12-17; Mk 13:9-13; Matt 24:9-14. The context of these verses is during great trials.
Since the Law of God says that I am to love my neighbour as myself, then I have personal responsibility to do whatever I can, as genuinely blessed by God (and not presumptuously claimed), in using whatever talents given me to help my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ to attain to their greatest capacities. The Bride will be ready (Rev 19:7). Since Jesus Christ does this no human being can claim this responsibility. Every saint is a helper and carer to others (Gen 4:9; 1Jn 3:1-5:5).
FROM J.C.N.W. response:
Norm,I read your article "ABIB and the BIBLICAL CALENDAR" at
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~sanhub/Abib.htm , and wanted to make a few comments.On page 1, you write: "There is no biblical evidence to postpone the start of the Biblical year by a month so as to force the observance of Passover after the Equinox. It is a popular misconception, however."
In reality, the true misconception concerns the very nature of the biblical year itself--it concerns what in fact constitutes the biblical year. According to the principle established in Gen. 1:14, the biblical year--like the biblical month and day--must somehow be measured by visible astronomical phenomena. We know this because the entire emphasis of Gen. 1:14-19 is on the LIGHT coming to us from the sun, moon, and stars. The biblical year is, therefore, a visible astronomical phenomenon.
Elsewhere, whenever the Bible refers to the year, it refers to it as being in a state of motion. The "year" RETURNS (2 Sam. 11:1; 1 Kings 20:22, 26; 2 Chron. 36:10; 1 Chron. 20:1). The "year" EXITS (Ex. 23:16). And the "year" MAKES A CIRCUIT OR A REVOLUTION (2 Chron. 24:23; Exod. 34:22). 1 Chron. 27:2-15, and many other passages, tell us that there are ordinarily 12 months in a biblical year. So whatever visible astronomical phenomenon constitutes a year, it ordinarily takes at least 12 months.
Therefore, in order to use the Bible to define a "year," we must look for a recurring astronomical phenomenon somehow involving the sun, moon, and stars. And at least 12 months must elapse between recurrences of this same phenomenon (1 Chron. 27:2-15).
Now which of the great luminaries seems to make a circuit or a revolution with relation to some other luminaries every 12 months? The answer is the sun's apparent movement through the 12 constellations of the Zodiac, with the constellation marking the vernal equinox being the specific point of reference for the spring-to-spring year. The Bible itself, therefore, defines a year as the period spent by the sun in making its apparent passage from vernal equinox to vernal equinox. This year is known as the year of the seasons. It is also known as the tropical, equinoctial, and solar year.
The sun's position against the background of the constellation marking the point of vernal equinox is the biblical definition of a year. The moon, therefore, cannot be used to determine the beginning of the year. This is not its purpose. Its purpose is for an ordinal reckoning of the holydays within the month: "He has made the moon for appointed times" (Ps. 104:19, NWT).
A corollary of this biblical definition of the year is that any month beginning before the sun reaches the point of the vernal equinox cannot be the first month of the year. Such a month must be the last month of the old year.
Likewise, Ps. 81:3 does not say that the new moon can mark the start of the year BEFORE the time of the equinox. This idea is based on the Jewish belief that Psalm 81 refers to the Feast of Trumpets and to the Feast of Tabernacles. The reasoning is that since the Jews begin their year with the Feast of Trumpets--very often BEFORE the time of the autumnal equinox--the new moon can therefore mark the beginning of the year BEFORE the time of the equinox. However, this line of reasoning is fallacious because the calendar practices of the Jews are almost totally unscriptural and cannot be used as a reliable guide.
Your article implies that the astronomical conjunction should determine the beginning of the month. However, the astronomical conjunction cannot be used to determine the beginning of the month because at the time of the astronomical conjunction there is no light coming to us from the moon; and LIGHT is the basis of God's calendar. Such a practice would be contrary to the perfectly clear principle of Gen. 1:14.
1 Sam. 20:5 does not indicate that the ancient Israelites knew how to calculate the time of the astronomical conjunction. If anything, this chapter indicates the exact opposite. Two days were set aside every month for the new moon festival because the Israelites were unable to predict with certainty the day of the biblical new moon (see 1 Sam 20:5, 12, 19, 27). These two successive days of new moon festivity were the two possible days on which the crescent could first be seen if weather conditions were favorable. Each month had to have either 29 or 30 days.
Although Gen 1:14-19 is very informative in establishing some biblical principles, it is wrong to assume that this scripture proves that the biblical year "must somehow be measured by visible astronomical phenomena", particularly when many other scriptures obviously demonstrate seasonal criteria as being important as well.
Gen 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. The very fact that the name ABIB, given by the authority of God for the first month of the year, implies seasonal new growth, budding, sprouting time, demonstrates the importance of seasonal criteria in any overall evaluation.
I do understand that the earth is in a state of motion. However, it is an overstatement to assert that "whenever the Bible refers to a year, it refers to it being in a state of motion". The term 'year' or 'years' is used over 900 times, mostly without the connotation of movement, and is translated most frequently from the Hebrew word shaneh, H8141. from H8138; 'a year (as a revolution of time):-- by implication, again, repeat, return, do the second time'.
The scriptures do, I agree, demonstrate a recurring phenomenon which takes at least 12 months - ie., 12 lunar months - plus the 13th or intercalary lunar month (Adar II) every 2 or 3 years. The scripture identifies this recurring phenomenon quite specifically, but it is not an astronomical sign. Rather, it is brought about, if you like, by the position of heavenly bodies in relation to one another. This recurring phenomenon may not be visible but it is easily recognised, understood, and appreciated, marking the shift not only between Winter and Summer but delineating as well the early growing season and the late harvest season (away from areas adjacent to the Equator). This phenomenon is the Equinox.
You specify that the point of reference for a spring-to-spring year is the apparent position of the sun in relation to the constellations of the Zodiac, with the constellation marking the Vernal equinox as the specific point of reference. This opinion is without any scriptural justification and in fact, with the Precession of the Equinoxes, there has been a shift of the Vernal Equinox from the Zodiac constellation of Aries at the time of Josephus to the constellation of Pisces now.
Reference 1: ( Antiquities, 111,X, 5 ) " In the month of Xanthicus, which is by us called Nisan, and is the beginning of our year, on the fourteenth day of the lunar month, when the sun is in Aries, (for on this month it was that we were delivered from bondage under the Egyptians) the law ordained, that we should every year slay that sacrifice that I before told you we slew when we came out of Egypt, and which is called the Passover"
Reference 2: Internet:
http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~eww6n/astro/VernalEquinox.html
The constant throughout history has been the Equinox and seasonal changes, not the relationship to Zodiac constellations.
Your statement that "The moon, therefore, cannot be used to determine the beginning of the year" is incorrect. When the topic of Month, i.e. New moon, New Month, as well as the start of the New Year and Passover is addressed with Moses, we find, by the full authority of God, that the New Moon is the point of reference:
H2320. chodesh, kho'-desh; from H2318; 'the new moon; by impl. a month:--month (-ly), new moon.'
Exo 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
This is confirmed by studying the meaning of the Hebrew words used and cross- referencing with Exo 13:4.
I agree with your statement that Ps. 81:3 "does not say that the moon can mark the start of the year BEFORE the time of the equinox." However, neither does it say that the moon can mark the start of the year AFTER the time of the equinox. Ps.81:3 is in fact silent on what you see as an issue. The inclusion of this reference in my paper has nothing to do with the dubious reasoning of Judaism, as I indeed agree with your feelings expressed in your follow-up e-mail maintaining that "this is a Psalm commemorating the Passover and the Exodus, and the blowing of the Shophar at the New moon applies to the first of Nisan, to the ecclesiastical New Year." This concurs with my point exactly, that the New moon signifies the beginning of the New year, with the Full moon signifying Passover.
Your contention that the New moon is in fact the crescent rather than the conjunction may well be an opinion agreed to by Talmudic writings, but it is not corroborated in Scripture. I do not consider Judaism or the Talmud to be the criteria for my religious convictions. Lastly, despite your attempt to present "LIGHT as the basis of God's calendar", I have found no scriptural justification for this position either.
Thank you again for you input.
Norm Womersley
PS.
Regarding your later email comments on Passover:
Your statement that " A full moon rises at sunset, and sets at sunrise" is incorrect. The full moon is an exact time, as is the new moon, as well as the first and last quarters. These precise times vary considerably within a 24-hour day, each and every month, and each year. This information can be confirmed and is readily available.
A useful site is:
htpp://lunaroutreach.org/phases/phases.cgi?1998
or the U.S.Naval Obseratory site.
Regards,
Norm
FROM A.W.O.S. response:
I have been reading you paper on tithing and so far has been very good. I do have a question. If, as you say, no "universal law of tithing" was in force during the days of Abram, then why did Abel bring the "firstlings" of his flocks and their fat? Why didn't he just go out and pick any one of his flock (Gen 4:4)?
I do believe that the entire worship system was set up with Adam and Eve. At that time it was more on an individual basis. During the time of Moses it was presented on a national basis, which involved all the people. For the Christian today this all has a spiritual meaning and, as you say, shows how Jesus Christ magnified the law. During the 1,000-year reign of Christ and the saints, this system will be established on a physical basis to a physical people.
Heb 11:4 says that Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice--that of firstlings (Gen 4:4). Abel, the first martyr murdered by his brother Cain who was supposedly faithful to the same God (Matt 10:36; Jn 16:2), understood that sacrifice was pre-Creation (1Pet 1:18-20). This first Christian (since he will be in the first resurrection: Heb 11:1-2,4,39-40) knew that the firstborn of GOD (see NASB, NKJ, RSV [Rev 3:14]), the Son of the Almighty God, was to be the redeeming Sacrifice for all mankind. Abel understood this, as did his spiritual descendants (e.g., Enoch, Abraham, David, Paul), so he wanted to express in symbols his belief: he offered the firstlings of his flock. Christians, who will be in the first Resurrection, are the firstlings of God's Flock.
All the patriarchs, prophets and saints of the OT (e.g., Rahab, Bathsheba, Esther, prophetesses) anticipated the coming of the Son of God (1Pet 1:10), firstly as the Sacrifice, then as King of kings; then would come the New Jerusalem (Heb 11:10; Gal 3:8). Our problems include the need to understand what they understood and did.
If Adam and Eve had the sacrificial system set up for them then they certainly showed no evidence of having understood it. The setting up of the sacrificial system under Moses, with tabernacle and priesthood, was typifying what would be--it was full of symbols for the future. It failed (Ps 40:6-8; Heb 10:5-10). The people could not see what was meant (Rom 4:20; 11:20; Heb 3:19; 4:6,11; Act 7:39-43). The people of God, OT and NT, agree doctrinally and will be raised into the same resurrection to work together in the same Faith (Heb 11:2,39-40).
The setting up of the sacrificial system (Ezk 40-48), different in aspects to the Mosaic system, foreshadows lessons and the future into the New Jerusalem. Please review the section on Ezekiel (Millennial Considerations) in our paper (pp 61-62).
Sometimes it is difficult to completely grasp the full intent of questions asked. We hope we have answered to your satisfaction. If this is not the case please let us know where we might have misunderstood the nature of your questions.
Sincerely,
Orest Solyma
FROM A.W.O.S. response:
We have been taught that there is a "gap" between Gen.1:1 and Gen.1:2. If this is the case then is Ex.20:11 a true statement? Remember, the Bible does not have to agree with science, but science has to agree with the Bible. I would like to know what you think, when you have the time.
The theory "seems" reasonable, and may provide answers for such incidents in Scripture as Cain's fear of being murdered (Gen 4:11-16; by whom one might ask?)
The 6-day creation (Gen 1:1ff.; 2:1-2; Ex 20:11; 31:17) does suggest a literal six-day creation. We know that Adam, whose destiny was to conform to the image of God, was created as a finished product with the human spirit (Zech 12:1), but he failed . The creatures that anthropology, zoology, and associated evolutionary sciences speak of as 'humanoid" one cannot imagine as being God's handiwork. It is my opinion that Satan could create the strange creatures that date back so far, if so allowed. Satan's creative power is illustrated in the court of Pharaoh in Egypt (with the creation of snakes, blood, frogs: Ex 7:8-12, 22; 8:7 by the servants of Satan, Jannes and Jambres; 2Tim 3:8). Scientists could not take such factors into account (Rom 1:18-21).
The 6 days may be seen as a time of re-creation (Ps 104:30) in view of past events.
The far more important things are that we learn from God what He wants us to do. We should work six days each week in such a way that we can say at the end of the week: "Everything that I have done is good in the eyes of God!"(Gen 1:31). The seventh day is one of rest, spending time with the family as Christ would have us do, of meditation, of instruction in righteousness, of fellowship with the saints, of recognizing that the future is far more important than the past six days. That is the lesson of Ecclesiastes also. Our future is as Abraham saw it (Heb 11:10; 2Pet 3:10-13).
Though brief, I hope this response is adequate, for the subject is full of more and more questions.
With kind regards,
Orest Solyma
FROM R.& G.O.S. response:
The paper "A History of Tithing from the Bible" by Hubert Krause and Orest Solyma was confirmation for my wife and I. Though .... we haven't done the level of research that is presented in the paper, we have come to the same conclusion. Indeed, we have been intending to write a book from the layman's perspective entitled "Tithing: The Last Yoke Removed". We have, in just reading the Word and listening to the Spirit, found the truth in the scripture regarding the tithe. We have shared the freedom we have from the bondage of the law of tithing with only a few close friends as it seems almost sacrilege to most when such law is challenged. Pastors are the hardest to approach as we feel they believe their livelihood would be threatened. If they could only see what a blessing it would be to their flock for them to remove this obligatory form of giving and, instead of concentrating on a law, to put forth the spiritual principle of giving. I believe that people, feeling this freedom, seeing the true nature of God-that He does not need their money, He needs their acknowledgement that it is He that is responsible for their blessings - those people would feel at last the true spirit of giving in love, not out of obligation. Pastors' support would most likely increase with offerings, rather than the forced tithe. I believe it is fact that only 20% of church members pay tithes anyway.
It is clear that the church attempts to motivate through guilt rather than love when all I have ever heard preached regarding the tithe is Malachi 3 "will a man rob God?" Only after I did a word study on my own did I find the other scriptures which clearly define the purpose of the tithe ("so you will learn to revere the Lord") and the method used to offer them to the Lord (not all tithes to the priest or church, just share with them; rejoice and give thanks to the Lord for his bounty by eating the tithe with your family and community yourselves!).
Just wanted to say thank you for being so bold in speaking the truth about this subject.
Yes, it was a huge effort in terms of research, constant review, rethinking and consideration of implications. In being in the ministry since 1977 the experience of editing the initial draft that Hubert did and then nearly doubling the paper in size was profound. I'd had years of doubt about the tithing concepts as taught by WCG, UCG, and others. In fact my doubt was partly instrumental in having me fired by UCG because some members complained about my expressed views.
It has amazed me how Christ answered the 'rich young ruler' as Matt 19:16-22, Mk 10:17-22, Lk 18:18-23 record. And how amazing that all three synoptic gospels give the same account. The question is asked of Jesus Christ, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Christ's answer is stunning and powerful. Firstly, the man is told that no one is good but God! He doesn't grasp that. Then Christ tells him that the gift of eternal life is conditional on obedience to the commandments. The young man asks which commandments for he knows he is observant of the law. Maybe he's missed something?
Christ cites five of the ten commandments and includes the law that summarizes them, "Love your neighbour as yourself" (see also Matt 7:12; Lk 6:31; Matt 22:34-40). The man, still blind to what Christ means, says that he's been observant since a boy. So he presumes there must be something lacking in his obedience and asks: "What do I still lack?" If we find we lack in doing something, then find out what we should do, what do we in fact do?
Now the man was rich. He was keeping the commandments, including the Sabbath. Notice the silent sword of the Word that Christ uses (Heb 4:12). The shock comes with Jesus' words: "If you want to be perfect [Matt 5:48], sell everything you own, give it to Me, I'll spend it on Me and the preaching of the Gospel, and follow My Organization!"
Far from the truth! No, Jesus tells him to sell everything, give it away to the poor, which is the man's personal decision, then He gives him the incredible offer to follow Him as a disciple without any of his money. The man's covetousness for his wealth deceives him. His love for the true religion was on his own conditions. Covetousness is not openly declared by the carnal mind (Rom 7:7,11,14). Like lust it lies hidden and masquerades as righteousness (2Cor 11:13-15; Isa 14:12-15). Covetousness is idolatry (Eph 5:5; Col 3:5). No wonder Christ did not mention the first four commandments which describe the conditions by which one worships God, nor did He mention the tenth commandment which forbids covetousness. So the man wanted eternal life on his terms. Eternal life can only be given as a free gift on the terms God defines. The false shepherds (Jer 23; Ezk 34; Matt 23) are more set in the habit of consolidating their own positions than commiting themselves to unselfish devotion to the God who offers them roles as disciples. The principle applies to all of us.
You are right in declaring that control over the people is maintained by engineering guilt and fear. But our reverential fear should be towards God. Our guilt should be in the breaking of the laws and principles of God. Love is the greatest principle. Where there is godly love there is surely generosity of spirit, freeness of expression, liberality in giving, real joy in willingly obeying God.
With our best regards,
Orest
FROM P.L.N.W. response:
A question on the date of Zachariah's sevice in the Temple (Lk 1:5)
Sorry for the delay with my reply.
There are several ways to answer your question. However, I will try to give the logic as well as the scriptural and historical evidence to substantiate the date I selected for Zachariah's service in the temple. The date was far more than an assumption on my part, and I was not--as you thought--presuming that it had been the first service for the division of Abijah in the year 7 BC. Rather, I had calculated and extrapolated the time-period to have fallen after the service in the temple for both Unleavened Bread and Pentecost. All orders of priests served during the Holy Days, with two orders serving each Sabbath. See this reference material from Josephus:
Flavius Josephus Antiquities vii. 14. 7.According to US Naval Observatory figures, the new moon nearest to the equinox in 7 BC (March 23) would have been 9 pm UT, March 30. However, when converted to Jerusalem time, and taking into account a day as reckoned from sunset to sunset, this time would, when viewed from the perspective of our present-day calendar, be equivalent to Tuesday, March 31.
7. But David, being desirous of ordaining his son king of all the people, called together their rulers to Jerusalem, with the priests and the Levites; and having first numbered the Levites, he found them to be thirty-eight thousand, from thirty years old to fifty; out of which he appointed twenty-three thousand to take care of the building of the temple, and out of the same, six thousand to be judges of the people and scribes, four thousand for porters to the house of God, and as many for singers, to sing to the instruments which David had prepared, as we have said already. He divided them also into courses: and when he had separated the priests from them, he found of these priests twenty-four courses, sixteen of the house of Eleazar, and eight of that of Ithamar; and he ordained that one course should minister to God eight days, from sabbath to sabbath. And thus were the courses distributed by lot, in the presence of David, and Zadok and Abiathar the high priests, and of all the rulers; and that course which came up first was written down as the first, and accordingly the second, and so on to the twenty-fourth; and this partition hath remained to this day. He also made twenty-four parts of the tribe of Levi; and when they cast lots, they came up in the same manner for their courses of eight days.
Put simply, these calculations demonstrate that Abib 1, 7 BC, the beginning of the sacred year, would have been our Tuesday, March 31 (For this year, 1998, the sacred year began 3 days earlier than it would have in 7 BC, beginning on Saturday March 28, but March 31, 1998 was again a Tuesday, which may help you to follow and check my calculations.).
According to Luke:
As the Wave-Sheaf offering in 7 BC would have been April 19, Pentecost was on June 7, with the tenth week or eighth division ending on Sabbath Sivan 20, or June 13, the other option being the thirty-sixth week ending Kislev 23, or December 12. This date is approximate, as I have not checked all new moon times for the year 7 BC.
We now have to choose between two basic options for John the Baptist's birth:
There are many scriptural allusions connecting John the Baptist with the Unleavened Bread season, some of which I presented in my article. Likewise, there are scriptural allusions connecting Jesus Christ with the joy and rejoicing at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles:
I feel that the weight of evidence stands as has been presented rather than making a six-month shift which I consider to be the only other option.
I hope that this evidence has helped in your understanding. I know it has with mine and although I cannot prove categorically when the conception and birth of either John or Jesus took place, I suspect that it could have been even more precisely timed, with conception, gestation, birth and circumcision all synchronising exactly with God's Holy-day time-table to again demonstrate His unfathomable greatness.
Yours sincerely
Norm Womersley
FROM P.L.
-NormThank you so much for your incredible research. I agree wholeheartedly with all of your conclusions. I was particularly interested to know if there was any conclusive proof that the first service was when the angel appeared to Zachariah rather than the second. According to your response there is none.
While you make a great argument (which I happen to ascribe to as well), we can't know for sure. You did, however, provide me with some more interesting details that I didn't previously have regarding the new moon dates, the Josephus quote, and the comment regarding the taxation during in-gathering. If you have any of the sources for the taxation issue I would greatlyappreciate it. Thank you so much for your response.
God bless you,
Phil
FROM M.
Dear Brethren,Greetings in the Lord. How are things down under? I have enjoyed several of your articles immensely. I am currently looking at the articles, "Elements of Genuine Faith" and "The Immutability of God". I have a lot of interest especially in the second article because of the manner in which many professing Christians have altered the will of God with reference to the Sabbath. There are those who view it as merely ceremonial, yet I find that God doesn't view it in that manner. Neither does Christ or any of His apostles. In the past, I've been quick to address the issue with those who downplay the relevance of the Sabbath commandment for today, but I'm starting to tire of it a little because I'm starting to feel as if I'm talking to brick walls. However, since God is immutable, there is little doubt in my mind as to His desire for us to recognize His sovereign will with respect to keeping the Sabbath holy to Him.
I will be checking back often for more spiritual edification. May the Lord richly bless your ministry, for it is not in vain by any means.
In Christ,
Marion
FROM R.S.
FoundI have just finished reading "The Immutability of God" and was in search for more literature. I am new to the internet system and was always very skeptible of it. Due to the affordability of Web TV, I decided to explore. The Creator is truly wonderful, and through His ways has led me to the answer to a continuous prayer. I have known and believed the truths you have conveyed on your site for a very long time and am so happy to have found my roots. I always wondered what happened to the "Plain Truth"! When I received my copy of the "Plain Truth" magazine with Edward Tkach on the front compromising my life I knew something was wrong. I am so glad to again be able to be fed with the wonderful truths you write. I have missed the edification, strength. and warmth. I would very much enjoy a copy of "The Immutability of God" if that is possible. I have no means of printing it off the screen.
Thank You!
Ex-member found
FROM: J.N.O.S. response:My husband and I have read some of your articles and find them to very true to biblical scriptures. We first learned about the postponements about three months ago and we were very much in shock ( it was like a bombshell to us!).
We now don't keep the postponements. We attended WCG for quite awhile! We left WCG about 3 or 4 years before the apostasy on a whim; it just seemed to me that there was no more truth revealed to them anymore, but we always wondered if we did the right thing! Now I am glad we did. We still however kept the sabbaths and holy days at home! We attended Global for a while and found them not right either.
We checked out the Philadelphia Church, and almost started attending there until we learned of the postponements—and the Philadelphia Church's rules were so strict! In order to go there you had to read their books first (where is that found in biblical scripture?).
Next, I wanted to be baptized. My husband was when [he was] in WCG but I wasn't in WCG, due to some things I noticed. The PCG told me if I would attend their church I would have to wait 6 months after attending to be baptized. They did not seem to have the love that I know that Jesus Christ expects of a person. I am not trying to downgrade anyone, but this is what I felt of them.
Well, now here I my questions to you:
1. Since the church is scattered, how can a person get baptised? I know you have to repent before you get baptised, something that I am trying to do; I smoke—it's been a real battle for me to quit and I know it is not good health-wise also. When I confronted PCG about this they said even if I quit smoking I would have to wait 6 months after attending to be baptised! I realise now they are wrong in this issue.
2. We have some friends here who now understand the postponement rules and we try and get together with these people who read and study the bible. Are there any others in the U.S. or Ohio where we live who believe this also? Is there anyone I can call and talk to?
3. What are your views on eating out on the sabbath? I don't believe in buying or selling on the sabbath, so this is a question that I would like to have some scriptures to relate to!
4. Do you have any articles on the ten virgins with their lamp oil and what that pertains to?
Hopefully, I will hear from you soon. I am sorry this is kind of long but these were just some things I needed to know! We are trying to study more and more everyday and to do the right things. Hoping to hear from you soon.
Like yourselves I came into WCG (though it was Radio Church of God in 1965 when I started attending) years ago and have seen many "changes"—many unfulfilled false prophecies, much financial exploitation and misuse of money, spiritual and psychological abuse by most of the ministry, many doctrinal errors and biblical incompetence by the vast majority of the ministry, rejection of godly correction—and, not surprisingly, a constant inability to learn basic lessons from such experiences. Even now there are many who do not recognize the seriousness of the numerous errors and spiritual blindness. Prophecy clearly shows that most will not learn (see Jer 23, Ezk 34).
By the grace of God you have come to some understanding of the dreadfulness of all this past and its continuation in groups such as Philadelphia, Global and UCG. Satan, father of lies and deceit and a destroyer, wants none to be saved, and he opposes the Messenger of the Father (Mal 3:1b), Jesus Christ, who wants all to be saved. All will not be saved and the saints will grieve over this, as David did over Absalom.
Please do not give up, but always hunger and thirst after the righteousness of God, and endure (Mt 24:13). I can understand, at least in part, your feelings of isolation. Unfortunately, at this point of time, I know of no-one in the USA from whom I could recommend you seek additional spiritual counsel. God says that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church (Mt 16:18b). This, with other Scriptures, means to me that scattered over the earth are people God is drawing to Himself through Jesus Christ. The identity of such people is readily verified if one finds that the Spirit of Truth is there and that they are always seeking and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2Pet 3:18). Pray that you might find such people within reasonable travelling reach. Many people are seeking a kind of spiritual club where they expect to be finally comfortable; and having found such a comfort club all growth ceases. Such experience is not the life of a Christian.
It seems you're well aware that the Hebrew calendar churches observe is erroneous. On our web site are several short papers and one longer one that speak about this topic.....
Baptism is for those who are drawn to the God and Father of Jesus Christ (Jn 6:44,63-65), who repent of their separation from God, repent of disbelief and disobedience towards God, who vow to give their lives to Him and to forever follow His Will as revealed by the Spirit and as is consistent with the Scriptures. Sin pollutes both mind and body. Repentance seeks total purity in the eyes of God (1Jn 3:1-3). All sin and come short of the glory of God. Though the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh (Gal 5:16-17), though the mercy of God endures in awesome graciousness (Ps 136), and though that battle is on-going (Rom 7:7-25), we cannot abuse the grace of God by failing to overcome (see Ps 19:7-14; Ps 51:1-18; 139:17-24).
If you, by the grace of God, become truly confident or have become spiritually assured that the essence of the above paragraph characterizes your spiritual condition then you should be baptized. But how is this done?
Matthew 18:19-20 says that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by the Father of Jesus Christ in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in the Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God will be among them (see my paper "In the Name of God").
Again, I caution, one cannot abuse such divinely privileged liberty!
Please prayerfully consider what I've said and believe is in accordance with the Word and Will of God.
You also asked about eating on the Sabbath—in a restaurant, I take it. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin, for we defile our consciences.
The parable of the ten virgins is a prophecy about those in the church at the end, for the context is given in Matthew 24 and 25. The number five may be regarded as the number indicating grace and the responsibility of man (see 1Sam 5:40; Mt 14:17-21; 25:1-13; Lk 19:11-27). Grace is a gift of God. Responsibility (courage) is each man's choice. We have choice in accepting or rejecting the grace and mercy of God. In human terms, that is a 50-50, or 1 in 2 choice. God knows all those who are His, but true Christians also know if they are truly His. An outside human observer is not a position to truly know which is which. The 5 foolish virgins should know they are foolish. The wise know they are wise because they have taken the cautions and warnings to heart and are always ready. The wise virgins have lamps that guide them on the Way (see Ps 18:28; 119:105; Prov 6:23). That is, at present, my perception of the parable. There are other perceptions, but I am unconvinced, and there may also be other godly perspectives, but I am unaware of them.
Please write again, to my personal e-mail address, if I can be of help.
May the Almighty God bless you in your search for His Way.
Orest
FROM: E.C.Sir:
I have just found your works on the web. I was in the church from the early '60s until it fell apart. I knew if I searched long enough and hard enough there would be someone who was keeping the right way. I have printed all I can from your site until I ran out of ink. I will continue to do so as I get more ink. There are two famlies here in this area and I pass your works on . Keep them coming.
Thank you.
FROM: M.S.O.S. response:
I have been searching for truth and have found no one I can totally agree with. I just found your website and read with interest your article on tithing. So far, it is the best I've seen. I was with WCG from 1973 until I was disfellowshipped in 1995 because I didn't go along with the changes. At that time, May 1995, I joined United. I soon learned they were just a continuation of WCG and have been worshipping alone, for the most part, ever since.
At present, I'm trying to understand more about the Holy Days. I have not attended any Holy Days this year because I don't believe those officiating at the different sites are teaching the truth, plus I have a problem with the way Passover is kept and the dates. I also wonder why the Holy Days were chosen to be kept and other laws that were supposedly to be kept "throughout your generations" are not being kept. Who decides what part of the Torah man should be keeping now and what part should be discarded? I can't find anywhere in the bible where God calls the Holy Days His plan of salvation. I can only find this in the teachings of HWA, the false prophet, and his offshoots. Since I can't assume ANYTHING he taught was correct, I'm starting at ground zero and trying to prove ALL things again.
Any opinion you can give me on the validity of the Holy Days will be appreciated.
Thank you
I felt just as you do—Everything is up for review, reconsideration, research, change—and I still think that way.
We have been reared in world cultures that are overwhelmed with falsehoods whose intent is to kill spirit, mind, and body, for Satan is the father of lies and is a murderer from the beginning, as you read and know.
Your carefully-considered letter indicates that you are unafraid to search the Scriptures, which WCG, UCG, and like groups discourage even as they distort much of God's Word, for they do not know God nor the Scriptures (Mt 22:29; 23:23-24; Jn 8:19,23,37-38,43-44; 5:39,42,47). The culture of death permeates the churches also. So many are lost and confused sheep. The small congregation in Melbourne is well aware that our purpose is to learn to live by every Word of God and to actually live by every Word of God. We are to change as God reveals by His Spirit, and His Spirit can only do good.
Your letter expresses much of what we likewise feel and think. But where do we really begin in terms of finding the Truth? Is it with the Holy Days and "Plan of God"? Jesus Christ says, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life!" So on that basis I began to search in earnest in 1988 though the process begun much earlier (probably in 1968 when I read HWA's "The Incredible Human Potential"). I realised he didn't know the truth about the nature of God (and that puzzled me) and now I know he didn't know Jesus Christ, the Son of God. If one doesn't know who and what God is how can one know what God expects of man? How can a child know what to really expect of parents if the child never understands the heart and intent of the parents? Jesus said, "If you have seen Me you have seen the Father!" These were and are the kind of reference points I use to find the Way, the Truth and the Life of God He offers those whose names are in the Book of Life. You'll notice … that the process for me has been a long one and one that continues to reveal that we are all stupid, blind, easily mislead, lacking the will, faith and courage to be led by God's Spirit and choosing rather false shepherds and their folly. Yet God knows those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Surely anyone who knows she/he zealously seeks the Way of Life God offers will experience many examples of Divine revelation and accompanying interventions so that one's spiritual development continues, though it is invariably very difficult.
I cannot tell you what precise steps to take to find what you seek (see Prov 14:15; 16:9; 20:24). Your calling is your calling and God knows what you need and in what sequence. I can make suggestions that I know are of God, but you have to prayerfully decide what is needed at what time.
For example, I came to realise, as did my friends here, that the calendar the churches observe is based entirely on Jewish traditions which, as they now exist, began about 200AD and developed until the time of Maimonides (late 12th century), and even into the next few centuries. Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah), like Arabic Sufism which greatly influenced Judaism, and Catholic mysticism (developed from Plato, Plotinus, the Cappadocian Fathers) are massive influences on interpretation of Scripture. The Jews had the oracles (the teachings) of God, but how can they preserve Jesus' teachings (which are the teachings of God) if their dogmas are of the Devil? So where could I begin? My mind likes to address several issues in a short space of time because I know that God's Ways, as in nature on earth and as in the stellar universe, are coherent. If something is true then it fits into many other categories of truth. Nothing true stands out alone, for it belongs to a larger truth.
For example, when I watched the stunning and awesome lunar eclipse of July 16th for over 3 hours, the many observations I made through binoculars all fitted together. I was enthused to make the observations because Rev 12:1 speaks of the Church standing on the moon and the new moons are somehow part of the festival observances, which I still don't understand (Col 2:16; Is 66:23). The more one looks at the questions regarding the holy days the more questions and awe there are. We understand but in part. And questions I've asked a NASA astronomer about the lunar eclipse, though I've not got an answer as yet, will fit the truth of what I saw. I suspect there are some amazing symbols in the natural events (Rom 1:20; Ps 19:1-4; Rom 10:15-18). That principle applies spiritually. If I have proven something as true or false, related material will likewise fit—being either true or false. Falsehoods add to confusion. Truths add to grand vision and excellent perception of reality.
One of the approaches I took towards verification or abrogation of the holy days and festivals was to look at what the prophets said, e.g., Is 56, Is 58, Is 66:22-23, Ezk 20, Zech 14:16-18. These and other Scriptures certainly suggest that the festivals will be observed in the future. They were observed in the past, will be observed in the future, God is the same yesterday, today and forever, so are we to not observe them today? Part of the problem is, how do we observe? And why would God punish so severely, wiping out even children, for non-observance of Sabbaths if He knew He was going to abolish them? Is God capricious, is He a God of equity? God is not fickle and He is the God of equity and all righteousness!
I noted Is 2:12-14, Hos 2:11, 3:4-5, Amos 5:21-24 and 8:10 which express God's disgust of 'festival' observances. Does this mean that those who observe the days have the time and the way wrong? And is God a God who always talks about the past or is He always talking about the future? The Sabbath is predictive, as was and is the Passover, as was and is Pentecost
…When I did an exhaustive study entitled, "Mankind and the Sabbath", I was appalled at how many great scholars readily admit that the Sabbath is a creation ordinance yet do not endorse personal observance. If the Sabbath stands, do not the remaining sacred days? If the Sabbath prophesies about the future do not the other sacred days? These sorts of questions have to be progressively and thoroughly answered. And you,…, must respond to your conscience and especially as it is moved by the Spirit of God. Yes, I'd recommend that you download the "Mankind and the Sabbath" paper from our website, but study it very carefully and ask any hard questions. That applies to any of the messages on our website. Because it is so extraordinarily demanding and time-consuming to properly edit a message, I have more than 30 others on vital subjects and there are many audio tapes available on subjects not yet addressed on our website.
Please don't be concerned by any feelings that you might upset me in asking difficult or challenging questions. If I'm wrong I want to know, for I want to grow more and more. Jesus' example shows me He was unafraid of any questions. The apostle Paul was likewise unafraid. Every Sabbath there is some open discussion amongst us as a congregation as a result of questions. I strive to copy all biblical examples and therefore also welcome questions.
…, may God lift your spirit toward His heights as you seek to find His Truth on all matters.
In Christian love,
Orest
FROM: L.A.O.S. response:Dear Brothers/Sisters,
I recently did an internet search on tithing and came across your article "A History of Tithing from the Bible", by Hubert Krause and Orest Solyma. Thank you for the courage to write that and share it. I have printed out a copy of it and I'm in the process of going through each scripture verse and comparing it to the Bible to see how it supports the article. This is not to refute the article, because both my husband and I believe the same: that tithing in modern-day Christianity is not correct. Anyway, it is my desire to fully review the article and to hopefully use it to help share the truth with others. May I have your permission to make copies of this article (after I have reviewed it) to give and share with others; these will be freely given (as I have "freely received").
The truth about tithing, as discussed in this article, is so radically different than our present-day norm of what may really be "fleecing the flock", that the "religious" may have a difficult time swallowing this truth. Yet regardless of the popularity of what you have written, both my husband …and I are really seeking the truth; NOT the traditions of man or the opinions of the religious. It is better to be unpopular and to know the truth than to be popular and remain in the darkness.
Blessings and God's peace to you. Keep forging ahead and seeking and sharing the truth, no matter what it will cost you …we plan on doing the same.
Your sister-in-the-Lord,
L.A.
Thank you for your comments and of course you may copy and use our material with acknowledgement of the source.
Please let Hubert and I know what you think about the tithing article after you've studied it carefully.
With our kind regards,
Orest
FROM: D.P.
I just finished reading your article entitle "The Biblical Teaching on Tithing" (I found it by doing a search in the Internet on the subject). I was not surprised to learn that you had been part of WCG because of the holding to Sabbath observance the festivals (I was a part of WCG from childhood and then later UCG.).
My husband and I are currently part of an independent sabbath-keeping group of about 40 in Missouri. I can't believe how plain these things are when you look at the facts and not the writings of men. We had wondered how a loving God would exact the burden or three tithes on people and yet have them provide for their families, etc. Historically, the brethren have not had the freedom to come to an understanding of Scripture without the "help" of the ministry.
Thank you for leaving no stone unturned in this matter.
D.P.
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