Jan-Feb-01

In our previous Newsletter we established the truth that God's true church is made up of people, not a denomination. With this Biblical understanding, we would then individually find our rest, become part of Christ's body and true church, find our salvation and eternal life, by going directly to, and becoming connected directly with, Jesus. Thus our eyes are directed upward, and our attention becomes centered and focused upon Jesus. He becomes the object of our love, adoration and praise. Jesus becomes our All-in-All, His life becomes our best and all absorbing theme to contemplate on. Hence our desire to please Him becomes paramount, and His will and commands become our delight to follow and obey. And by continuing to behold Jesus day after day, our very lives and characters are more and more changed into His perfect image, and our desire to lead others to also join with Jesus and find salvation in Him enlarges more each day. But by leaving, separating, disconnecting and breaking ourselves away from Christ, then we no longer have any rest; we are no longer part of His body or true church; we no longer have any assurance of salvation or hope for eternal life; which means that we are lost.

But the majority of religious people have been taught just the opposite: that God's true church is a denomination. With this incorrect understanding, they would then find their rest, become part of Christ's body and true church, find their salvation and eternal life, by going directly to, and becoming connected directly with, the denomination. Thus their eyes would be directed downward, and their attention becomes centered and focused upon the denomination. It becomes the object of their love, adoration and praise. The denomination becomes their all-in-all, it's history becomes their best and all absorbing theme to contemplate on, and their desire to please the denomination becomes paramount. The will and commands of the denominational leaders become their delight to follow and obey. And by continuing to behold the denomination, their very life and character would be more and more changed into the imperfect image it reveals, and their desire to lead others to join with them in the denomination would grow more each day. But by leaving, separating, disconnecting and breaking themselves away from the denomination, then they would believe that they would no longer have any rest; that they are no longer part of Christ's body or true church; they would believe they no longer have any assurance of salvation or hope for eternal life; which means that they would believe they were lost.

I earnestly pray that you can clearly discern the stark difference between these two ideologies and the pathway which it leads you to follow. One leads to complete liberty and freedom in Christ, the other leads to complete bondage and captivity to men! The one is the gospel truth of the Bible which centers in Jesus, the other is the heinous falsehood of Catholicism which centers in Satan! I sincerely hope that you can clearly understand that if you believe that God's true church is a denomination, that you are in bondage to the men who control that church. And, more importantly, that Christ has been robbed from you as your Saviour because the denomination has taken His place--it has become the object of your worship and source of your salvation!

Any denomination or religious group which puts forth the claim that they are the true church of God, and therefore your salvation is jeopardized if you willingly separate from them, or are cast out, disfellowshipped, or excommunicated from their fellowship, you can then know that they have cast Christ out of their church and have taken His place among their people! How is this true?

The Bible teaches that it is only "in" and "through" Jesus Christ that we find the truth (John 14:6); that we become part of the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 3:13-18); that we find redemption (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7); that we are justified (Acts 13:39); that we become righteous (Jeremiah 23:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21); that we have peace with God (Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 1:20); that we have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18); that God shows us His kindness (Ephesians 2:7); that we receive grace (2 Thessalonians 2:1; Ephesians 2:7); that we receive the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:6); that we become wise (1 Corinthians 4:10); that we become alive and live (Romans 6:11; Philippians 1:21; 1 John 4:9; John 14:6); that God works in us (Hebrews 13:21); that we are sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:1); that we are made perfect (Colossians 1:28); that we can do all things (Philippians 4:13); that we gain the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57); that we triumph over sin (2 Corinthians 2:14); that we can remain faithful (Ephesians 1:1); that we can be preserved in righteousness (Jude 1:1); that we become the children and heirs of God (Galatians 4:7); that we can joy and glory in God (Romans 5:11; 15:17); that we receive spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3); that we become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9); and that we can sit in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)! Thus it is only in and through Jesus Christ that we can escape from the wrath of God (Romans 5:9); that we will be resurrected if we should die before Christ returns (John 11:25); that we find our salvation and will be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:10; John 10:9, 3:17); and that we find eternal life (2 Thessalonians 1:1; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:11-12)! That is why OUR ONLY HOPE IS FOUNDED SOLELY IN AND THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (1 Thessalonians 1:3), because anything and everything which is good in us comes only through Him (Philemon 6)!

The above should unquestionably and conclusively prove why the foundation of God's true church can only be based upon Jesus Christ--the eternal and solid Rock (see 1 Corinthians 10:4, 3:11; Psalms 62:2, 18:2, 92:15, 2 Samuel 22:32)! No denomination, religious group, clergy, priesthood, man or group of men, can offer you any of these above items in truth. The only Being who can indeed offer you all of these above items in truth, is only Christ Jesus; not Peter, or Pope, or Buddha, or Krishna, or Mohammed, or Maitreya, or any other being--but only Jesus Christ! Therefore any denomination or religious group which tells you, or leads you to believe, that any of these above items are to be found by joining their religious system, or that your salvation is in some way tied to being or remaining a member in their system, then you can know without a doubt that they are deceived agents of the devil, their church system is a counterfeit posing as God's church, and thus it is a snare and a deceptive trap to try and bring you down to hell by robbing you of Jesus as your Saviour! Only in and through Christ can we gain all things, be assured salvation and become part of His true church, but outside of Christ, we have, and are, nothing!

So God's true church is not made up of any denomination--no matter how exalted their name, no matter how much Bible truth they may claim to believe or to have followed for decades, no matter how loudly they may proclaim to be God's chosen, because what constitutes God's true church is individual people. Praise God for this true understanding! Now individuals no longer have to remain in bondage to a corrupt priesthood or to an apostate church, but they can find true and lasting freedom in Jesus Christ!

As we already learned, we become part of Christ's true church by joining Christ Himself. The only way to become connected to Christ is by recognizing that we have broken God's law and are sinners deserving death, and that we need a Saviour (1 John 3:4; Romans 3:20, 6:23). Then we must accept Christ as our personal Saviour, confess and repent of our sins, and Christ will then covers us with His precious blood, forgiving our confessed sins thereby cleansing and washing us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7, 9). Jesus freely justifies us from all our past sinful life through His precious merits (Romans 3:23-28), clothes us with His own precious robe of righteousness--these blessed garments of salvation (Isaiah 61:10), and gives us His grace and strength (Romans 5:1-2; Galatians 5:1). We then can stand before the Father perfect and completely righteous as if we had never sinned at all! We become the sons and daughters of God (Romans 8:16; Galatians 3:26), being children of the light and of the day (1 Thessalonians 5:5), being a peculiar and holy people (1 Peter 2:9)--and thus a part of God's true tabernacle, temple, church or house (see Revelation 21:3; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Hebrews 3:6)!

The Bible refers to this amazing miracle of transformation, from a defiled sinner to a perfect man or woman in Christ, as being "born again" (John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23); becoming a "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15); a "new lump" (1 Corinthians 5:7); a "new man" (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10); a "new bottle" (Mark 2:21-22; Matthew 9:16-17; Luke 5:36-39); etc. In this justified righteous position, being in a "yoke" together with Christ (Matthew 11:29-30), we have "put on" Christ (Romans 13:14), we are "in" Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1; 1 Peter 5:14), and are "servants to God" and "of Christ" (Romans 6:22; Ephesians 6:6)--being servants "of righteousness" (Romans 6:18-19). As long as we remain in this justified righteous condition being "in" Christ, and do not choose to separate ourselves from Him, we continue to remain perfect and complete in Him, being doers of His will (Romans 2:13; James 1:22), and thus our salvation is assured (1 John 5:11-12). And as long as we remain in Christ, we continue to remain part of His true church.

But if we should choose to separate ourselves away from Christ then we are no longer "in" Christ, but are outside of Him. And what would cause us to be separated from Christ? If we choose to break God's law of 10 commandments and thereby commit sin (1 John 3:4), then we instantly are separated away from God and Christ (see Isaiah 59:1). By choosing no longer to crucify self (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1-3), but to choose to give life again to the flesh of the "old man" (Romans 6:6), choosing to be guided by our "carnal mind" (Romans 8:6-7), then we no longer stand justified, righteous or perfect before God because we have now chosen to sin and are now defiled by it. We are no longer a "new creature", or a "new lump", or a "new man", or a "new bottle". In this unrighteous condition we are no longer in a "yoke" with Christ, but are now yoked together with the devil; we no longer have "put on" Christ, but now have put on the devil; we no longer are "in" Christ, but are now in the devil, and we are no longer the servants of God, or of Christ, or of righteousness, but are now the servants of Satan, of sin, and of unrighteousness (Romans 6:12-13, 19-21)! Thus we are no longer part of the true church of God, and we have no more assurance of salvation, because we are no longer connected with Christ!

As you can clearly see, this is a very straight and narrow road outlined above, but it is nevertheless Bible truth (see Matthew 7:13-14). We remain part of God's true church only by remaining connected to Christ. We remain connected to Christ by not choosing to commit sin. All those who choose to commit iniquity and sin have no connection with Christ (see Luke 13:24-28). Just one sin committed takes us out of Christ, out of the assurance of salvation, and out of being part of God's true church!

So after we have accepted Christ, if we should choose to commit sin, we no longer are justified in Christ, we no longer have salvation in Christ, we no longer are the servants of, or have any part in Christ, because we have become the servants of Satan. You can only serve one master at a time, not two at the same time! You are either serving Christ, or you are serving Satan. So you cannot be Christ's servant while you choose to sin!

As the above is true, there is no Biblical truth to the belief that once you have accepted Christ as your Saviour, then you are justified in Him forever from past, present and future sins! Justification is only for those sins which you have already committed in the past (see Romans 3:24-25). Thus justification cannot be applied to any sins not yet committed, but only to those in the past. So if you sin, your past justification cannot cover it! You are thereby in a lost condition, and need to repent of these new sins and be justified again by Christ. Thus no one has a blank check to cover their continued sinning.

There is also no Biblical truth whatsoever to the belief that once you have accepted Christ as your personal Saviour then you are saved at that very moment. The gift of salvation, the incorruptible crown of eternal life, is only given to you at the end of the trial of your faith if you have endured, not at the beginning of your faith without having endured (see 1 Peter 1:9; Matthew 10:22; James 1:12). Salvation is only given to those who finish the gospel race, not to those who have just began to run (see 1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Salvation is only given to those who hold fast to the true faith, not to those who have just begun in the faith (see Revelation 3:11). And salvation is only given to those who have fought a good fight, who have finished their course, who have kept the faith, not to those who have just entered the fight, or who have just started their course, or who have just embraced the faith (see 2 Timothy 4:7-8). Since we are not yet saved, it behooves us all that we should, by patient continuance in doing God's will, "seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:7), and if some should not continue, then they "shalt be cut off" (Romans 11:22). Thus no one can continue to sin and yet believe that they are saved!

There is also no Biblical truth to the belief that once you accept Christ then you remain His servants forever. You are either the servant of Christ, doing His righteous will and not committing sin, or you are the servant of Satan, doing his unrighteous will by committing sin. No one can serve both Christ and Satan at the same time. Thus you cannot be Christ's servant while you serve Satan by committing sin!

In Christ there is no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 14:30)! In Christ there is no union with the devil, or with unrighteousness, or with darkness and error (see 2 Corinthians 6:14-15). Thus if you are truly united with and are in Christ, then you also will have no continued connection with sin, or with the devil, or with unrighteousness, or with darkness or error either. So if you should choose to sin, you plainly show yourself not to be living in, or connected with, Christ, and thereby reveal yourself not to be part of God's true church! If you are in Christ, you will not and cannot commit sin, because there is no sin in Him. But outside of Christ you will not, and cannot, stop from sinning! So which will you be--in Christ or outside of Him? You cannot be both at the same time!

"Whosoever abideth in him (Christ) sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed (Christ--Galatians 3:16) remaineth in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God..." 1 John 3:6-10.

So if you sin, you show yourself not to be connected with Christ, but a child of the devil and part of his synagogue of Babylon! But if, through the strength and grace of Christ (Philippians 4:13, 2:12-13; Mark 9:23, 10:27) you resist sin and do not yield to it (James 4:7-8; Romans 6:11-22), you show yourself to be in union with, and hid in Christ, and thus a child of God and part of His true church! Thus it is by your words and actions, or by your fruits, that you are known to be of God or of Satan!

Many individuals, as well as denominations, loudly proclaim that they are part of the true church of God, while their fruits plainly reveal them to be liars and followers of the devil! (see Revelation 2:9, 3:9; Romans 9:6.) But this brings up another question: Can God's true church really be made up of only perfect and righteous people who live without committing sin? As hard as it may be to believe this, the Biblical answer is Yes!

The Bible refers to God's true church as being made up of only those who are saints (1 Corinthians 14:33; Revelation 14:12); those who are sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2; Jude 1); those who are established in the faith and truth (Acts 16:5; 1 Timothy 3:15); those who are subject unto, or who submit self to, Christ (Ephesians 5:24); those who are joined to Christ (Ephesians 5:31-32); and finally those who are in Christ (Galatians 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:1). Thus God's true church will be a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing (Ephesians 5:27).

Those who are saints do not sin. Those who are sanctified do not sin. Those who are established in the faith and the truth; who are subject unto, or submit self to, Christ; who are joined to Christ, and who are in Christ--these do not commit sin! So if you choose to sin you plainly show to others, as well as yourself, that you are not a saint, or sanctified, or established in the faith or truth, or subject to, joined to, or in, Christ! Thus you are not part of God's true church, and being outside of Christ you have no assurance of salvation!

Therefore God's true church is only made up of those who are living a perfect righteous life without choosing to sin, and this is made possible only in and through Christ. That is why God's true church on earth can be one with the church of the firstborn in heaven, because both groups are made up of perfect sinless beings and thus belong to the same true church of God! (see Hebrews 12:22-23). That is also why the remnant people are identified by their character, and not by their profession or name (Revelation 12:17). "No denominational name has any virtue to bring us into favor with God" (Review and Herald, February 10, 1891), no matter how exalted it may be, because God is concerned with our character! If our character is an image of His Son, we are God's children and part of His true church. But if our character is an image of the devil, then we are children of disobedience and part of Satan's synagogue of Babylon--regardless of what name we identify ourselves by!

"Not by its name, but by its fruit, is the value of a tree determined. If the fruit is worthless, the name cannot save the tree from destruction. John (the Baptist) declared to the Jews that their standing before God was to be decided by their character and life. Profession was worthless. If their life and character were not in harmony with God's law, they were not His people." Desire of Ages, p 107.

"God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. `Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them' (Matt. 18:20). Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ's church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church." Upward Look, p 315.

For those who may find themselves in this perilous condition of not being a part of God's true church and without the assurance of salvation because you have chosen to sin, you do not have to remain in this hopeless condition! Jesus is your High Priest, Mediator and Redeemer who is still, for the time being, ministering in the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary. And He is beckoning you to flee to Him so that you can find complete forgiveness. He will not turn away any who honestly come to Him for pardon, but will mercifully cleanse, justify, and make you perfectly righteous so that you can indeed be part of God's true church and have the assurance of salvation if you remain faithful to Him to the end!

But friends, as there are only two powers today--either of God or of Satan, so there are only two kinds of churches today--either God's true church or Satan's synagogue of Babylon. There is no neutral position, no third church, no fence that you can ride on and still find salvation. Laodicea is a mixture of good and evil which makes it Christ-less and in union with the devil. Christ therefore stands outside of the Laodicean church, and knocks at the door of the heart for entrance--not the heart of the denomination, but the door of the heart of individuals.

Those who sin reveal they are no longer connected with Christ, and are no longer part of His true church, even though they may have accepted Christ as their Saviour, and may have previously been living in His strength for a long period of time without committing sin! God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11; Colossians 3:25; James 2:9; 1 Peter 1:17), and neither is He a respecter of church denominations or religious groups either (Matthew 23:37-38; Romans 11:12-22). If any choose to sin, all their past righteous living cannot continue to allow them to remain a part of God's true church with the continued assurance of salvation!

"Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression...neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right...None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live." Ezek 33:12-14, 16.

"The Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the Prince of life, He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work. When a church proves unfaithful to the work of the Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities. But, if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action, if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them and, unless they repent, will remove them from their place and make them a reproach." Upward Look, p 131.

The issue of fellowship with God's true church has been one which has been very misunderstood. From what we have already learned, God's true church is made up of people who have joined themselves to Christ, and is not a denomination. So there is no denomination today which is God's true church. Yet it is indeed God's will that His people are to fellowship together whenever possible (see Hebrews 10:25). In fact, it is through this fellowshipping together that our characters are tested, revealed, and therefore enabled to be brought to perfection (see Manuscript Releases, vol 11, p 179). This is accomplished by our learning how to be united together as one with our fellow brothers and sisters, since all make up the different members of Christ's body (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-14). But are there any conditions for this fellowshipping together, or are we free to fellowship and worship together with any who call themselves Christians?

So God's people are to fellowship together with only those who walk in the light as Christ is in the light. And since in Christ there is no darkness or error or false doctrine at all, then this Biblical test for fellowship would prevent God's people from worshipping with any groups or churches who were not following, walking, or living in all the truth, but who had a mixture of truth and error within. This confused condition, brought about by a mixture of truth and error, clearly describes the condition of all denominations of today; whether Catholic, Protestant, Adventist, Evangelical, Full-Gospel, Buddhist, Hinduist, Islamic, Spiritualistic, Occultic, etc. Therefore all of the religious groups of today are disqualified for fellowship with because they all are not walking in all the light but have a mixture of truth and error in their beliefs, and they are unwilling to give up the error! And it is this mixture of truth and error which makes all these churches part of Babylon--confusion!

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

So it is of vital importance in regards to our salvation that we make sure to be separate from any denomination which has a mixture of truth and error in it, or we will be held corporately responsible for her sins and will be destroyed along with that denomination. Thus if you refuse to leave these denominations as God is desiring you to do, and continue to fellowship with, worship in, or remain a member of it, then you will become a partaker with the church in her sins, you will lose salvation, and be destroyed right along with that Babylonian denomination--no matter what name the church calls itself by, whether it be called "Roman Catholic" or "Church of God" or even "Seventh-day Adventist"! For more on this subject of corporate responsibility, please write for the booklet "Why Are We Held Responsible for Personal, Social, and Corporate Sin?"

Since not one of any of the established denominations today are fit for fellowship according to the test of God's word, then where are we to fellowship together and worship God? In our very homes! God is not calling you to join any denomination in order to worship Him today because they are all defiled and corrupted by error and sin. But God is indeed calling you to worship Him in spirit and truth (see John 4:20-24), and this can be easily accomplished in your very homes--just like it was in the days of the Disciples! (see Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Acts 18:7; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 2.)

If you know of others who believe in, and who are walking and living in, the same Biblical truths, and you both are close to one another, then according to 1 John 1:7 you can and should fellowship together with each other. This type of fellowship with those of like faith, where both are striving to be free from sinning through Jesus, can be a great blessing and benefit to all parties concerned--not only through mutual edification, encouragement, and growth in spiritual life and knowledge of the truth, but by knowing that there are indeed others who are going through the same struggles as you are, and in Christ they are more than conquerors! (see Romans 8:37).

Some home churches may be made up of only one person or of one family who are worshipping God in spirit and in truth. And if you are worshipping God alone because there are no other believers near you, then know that you are not really alone, because the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, as well as your guardian angel are there joining with you in worship (see Matthew 18:20), and They will make up for the lack of fellowship by blessing you more abundantly! But other home churches may be full of believers fellowshipping together. But please never forget that God's true church is not any denomination or home church group, whether individually or collectively, because God's true church is only made up of those individuals who are connected with Christ and who are thereby living a perfect sinless life through Him.

Also, as it has been throughout history, the bigger the home church group becomes, the more chance for Satan to enter into the church through one of its members and thereby cause problems which threaten all. So in order to prevent this from happening, God has given specific guidelines for those who are fellowshipping together in a home church to follow and abide by--especially when having to deal with any problems which may arise. These guidelines are not only designed to shut Satan out of the home church, but also to help redeem a brother or sister who has fallen into sin so that they can continue to fellowship with us. For those who would like to know what God's will is in this important area of unity and on how to deal with problems in our midst, please write for the booklet "Our Most Important Need Today: That They May Be One".

May God help us all to fully understanding this issue of God's true church. May He help you to so fully connect yourself with Christ that you may indeed "shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Thus you, as well as all the other brothers and sisters making up God's true church, may reveal God's pure and spotless character to others, spread His precious gospel truth far and wide, and thereby fill this dark world with the glorious light of truth (Habakkuk 2:14; Numbers 14:21; Revelation 18:1). And this all begins with your continuous choice to be connected with and to be hid "in" Christ.

"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews (or they say they are part of God's true church and people), and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." Revelation 3:8-12.

Dear brothers and sisters in this most precious Loud Cry Movement of the third and fourth angels' message. It is clear that the Devil knows that his time is short, because he is working to hedge about the spreading of this precious message of truth through any means and methods he can find effective. You will read in our "Letters" page how that one elderly sister in Zambia was severely beaten and her house completely destroyed. Why? Because she dared to preach the truth that the SDA church was part of Babylon. And who were responsible for this damage to her and destruction of her house and property? The members of the SDA church!

Yet, on the other hand, we continue to marvel at how God is working at harvesting precious souls away from Satan and his kingdom of Babylon. Especially is this the case in the foreign countries. In India, as well as other parts of the mission field, the work is blossoming. At times we are hard pressed to keep up with the request for the extra funds needed to keep pace with the interests, converts, and growing home church needs. And it is heartbreaking that we have to deny many of these requests because of the lack of funds available. Not only this, but the Government in India is starting to close up the avenues to send funds from overseas in support of the gospel work, and just at a time when the work is expanding there in a mighty way! So if you find it in your heart to donate more for the needs of all the vital foreign mission work, please do so for what better time than now to sacrifice for the expansion of God's cause and kingdom of righteousness--because the needs are now there to be met.

"Our brethren have not discerned that in helping to advance the work in foreign fields they would be helping the work at home....As the (foreign) laborers are freed from embarrassment, their efforts can be extended; as souls are brought to the truth and churches established, there will be increasing financial strength. Soon these churches will be able not only to carry on the work in their own borders, but to impart to other fields. Thus the burden resting on the home churches will be shared.

"The home missionary work will be farther advanced in every way when a more liberal, self-denying, self-sacrificing spirit is manifested for the prosperity of foreign missions; for the prosperity of the home work depends largely, under God, upon the reflex influence of the evangelical work done in countries afar off....Our burden for the `regions beyond' can never be laid down until the whole earth shall be lightened with the glory of the Lord....

For those who have already visited our Web Site, we are continuing to update it with more present truth material. We recently added a new section dealing with the Sabbath/Sunday controversy. In this section you will find; Rome's Challenge to Protestants over the issue of Sunday worship; Catholic and Protestant confessions about the Biblical Sabbath and the lack of Biblical support for Sunday worship; and a small but potent sermon on which day of the week God has chosen for His people in this New Covenant period to worship Him on as His Sabbath day. We are presently working on another item to include in this section entitled "Protestants Bowing Down to Rome", and should have it completed soon. This will deal with common arguments against the Bible Sabbath and then show how the Bible refutes these arguments. For those who are able, please visit this new section, and be sure to contact us and let us know your thoughts and comments.

The Lord is continuing to bless our Web Site more abundantly as each month goes by! In the month of November, 2000, we had 11,494 hits, which were generated by 2,513 visitors, who stayed an average of 27:39 minutes each. In these Visitor Sessions, 3,831 documents of Present Truth were viewed. While most of these visitors were from America, we also had visitors from Australia, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. All our visitors downloaded over 10,000 files, which totalled 463,261,000 bits of information!

In December, 2000, we had 13,557 hits, which were generated by 2,832 visitors, who stayed an average of 18:50 minutes each! In these Visitor Sessions, 3,981 documents of Present Truth were viewed. Again, while most of these were from America, there were also visitors from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Finland, France, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom! Over 11,500 files were downloaded from our Web Site, which totaled an amazing 552,200,000 bits of information! So the combined total for these past two months is that over 1 Billion bits of information were downloaded from our Web Site of Present Truth materials by over 5000 visitors! Brethren, we continue to marvel at how God is greatly blessing our efforts at spreading His Present Truth all over the world. MAY GOD'S HOLY NAME BE PRAISED FOR EVER!!

"Let There Be Light" Ministries is devoted to the spreading of the full Present Truth Gospel message worldwide, and has been doing so since 1986. This Ministry has operating expenses covering the areas of: printing, publishing, and writing of present truth books, booklets, tracts, and other literature; video and audio production, and distribution; Web Site production and evangelistic outreach; supporting several ministers/workers in foreign Countries; mail order--both domestic and foreign; holding meetings; answering correspondence and questions regarding the message of truth; ongoing Bible Correspondence studies; sending free Present Truth literature to contacts in many poor Countries; etc.

We are currently supporting several workers in many different Countries on a monthly basis. We check into the economy of each area and supply a base support which is adequate depending on their situation, but not extravagant. This base support is to ensure that the monthly needs of each worker and family is adequately met for that month so that the worker may devote full time to the ministry work. In addition to this, we are sending extra materials for evangelism, and money for printing, publishing, holding meetings, traveling, and other necessary areas in spreading the Present Truth in their Country. And as the work extends, especially will the expenses for evangelism expand. Whatever you can send to help in this necessary and vital area is greatly appreciated.

The work of spreading God's present truth is not to be limited, but must extend world-wide, to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people before our Saviour can come (Matthew 24:14). What better way of spreading the present truth gospel than by having workers who speak the native language, who reside in that particular Country, who can live and preach the truth and visit the interests in their homes, and spread the printed truth translated into their common language! Please financially help us to continue consistently supporting our current ministers and workers, so that the spreading of the truth can quickly lighten this dark world with the glory of God.

On the other hand I have been receiving very bad attacks from Seventh Day Adventist Church, calling me bad names. They threatened me to stop distributing materials containing (and calling) their church...Babylon. Why do these people disagree (with) this? Are they blind? Another worse thing, one of our fellow (home church members, a) old woman, was attacked and severely beaten during night time, her house completely destroyed for not stopping preaching the message we are preaching. There is no doubt that the people attacked this poor old woman are the SDA's. Truly the SDA church is the worse enemy of the truth. So I am humbly crying to you to help this old woman....I am also requesting you to be praying for us always, for we are in a bad situation. We will be always praying for you day and night....

Thanks for the wonderful messages....I thank God He made our camp-meeting a success; there have seen the spirit of humility, confessions are being made during the foot washing and Lord's supper. We have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. Every one was being touch by God's messages of unity and...former brethren been back to our church by accepting God's message (one of them is Bro ____) of willing separation from the corporate SDA (church) and to call them fallen Babylon....

Our Ministry has distributed every booklet study that I had printed up, in fact the most requested booklet is S.D.A. CHURCH HISTORY--one thousand copies went very quickly! (Editor's Note: if any of our readers desire a copy of this excellent booklet, please write and we will forward your request to this dear brother.) We have worked with the poor third world countries sending out present truth studies free. The people in these poor countries love our Saviour and are neglected by the Conference because the Adventist Book Centre charges such high prices for Spirit of Prophecy books that these dear people cannot afford them!

It's always inspiring to read in your Newsletters about how God is using the Ministry to reach more and more people in the far-flung corners of the earth. Time certainly is very short now, and there is so much yet to be done. "The hand of Providence is holding the machinery. When that Hand starts the wheel, then all things will begin to move. How can finite man carry the burden of responsibility for this time? His people have been far behind. The people who had great light did not have corresponding piety." (Ms 184, 1901). Thought you might be interested in this interesting SOP statement.

A number of things have happened here. I received a letter from the SDA pastor that my name has been removed from their books. (Editor's Note: Praise God, dear brother, for your step of faith in following Christ out of Jerusalem--Hebrews 13:12-13!) He could not understand how a man who fully accepts the true Adventist beliefs, the Bible and SOP, will want to leave the SDA church. We spent about 3 hours discussing my reasons. He could not refute one reason. I have made good friends with him and regularly feed him with good material. Maybe he will decide to leave too....

One of my friends phoned me...I told him I had my name removed from their books. I now worship in the "beauty of holiness". (And) I don't have problems with celebration, apostasy, Conference presidents, parties, incompetent church boards, etc., etc, (anymore). I enjoy my relationship with my Lord. I can never go back to that corrupt system....Since then I have conveyed my convictions with other friends too. I told them they must leave the GC church and join God's church. They will experience blessings, happiness, etc., etc. The seeds have been sown. Some can see the signs.

In recent times quite a few friends have joined me. Locally my friend...together with his wife and two children have resigned from the SDA church. In another city a sister, her husband and two daughters have resigned. In another town two middle aged sisters have separated. Not far from them a brother and his wife have separated. In another town two ladies have separated too. I also know of others who are on the verge of separating. Meanwhile I send out literature to encourage them to follow God. Unfortunately Laodiceans cannot read, because they are blind.

It is almost the end of another year and so many predictions have taken place, but many of the world do not recognize it in the spiritual aspect....And which tells us not to trust no man. We are to have no comfort in man, for Christ sent us a Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to comfort & guide us in this world of turmoil....We pray that you and your family will keep the Comforter close to the treasure house of the mind....

We need more faith that we, along with the Lord's help, (are) to be among the faithful 144,000 with no guile in our mouth. Those who put trust in erring fallible fellowmen and their devisings are crippled spiritually. They are leaning upon a broken reed and that gives Satan an opportunity to introduce himself. Just as soon as man is placed where God should be, he loses his purity, his vigor and his confidence in God's power. The redemption of the human race was planned that men, fallen though he was, might be partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. This is our prayer that we partake of the divine nature so we can be united with Christ. May Christ's divinity be seen in our humanity....

May the Lord be praised for the lovely Newsletter you have given us about God's True Church. This is one of the issues that I have been looking forward to understand. Because this is one of the argument that I always come across nearly every day. Thank you for the study and may God continue to give you wisdom and strength and be a blessing to your brothers and sisters worldwide.

On Sabbath next week we will be baptizing more souls in the home Churches in ____ area. The member of our churches are increasing every time I visited them. The Fijian (translation of the booklet) Last Message of Mercy is working wonders amongst (our) own people even amongst the Independent ministers. They are now convinced that the whole truth is with our Ministry. They come and told me that they now knows the difference and I praise God for that....

Our home churches in the ____ are increasing in numbers. Two Sabbath ago I was there and I will be visiting them again this Sabbath. Two more Home Churches has been established in ____ Village. I spent two whole days with them and they are now fellowshipping at home on Sabbath, previously they were Methodist....I carry booklets, tracts, and other literatures with me to the City everyday and distributing them to people everyday--that is why I am establishing more home churches now.

About two Sabbath ago, I baptized six more souls...The whole week was raining, and my wife thought the baptism will be called off, I told her that God will give us the weather. On the Sabbath morning we saw a beautiful sun came up from the East, and we praised God for it. The water was very blue in colour and the sun was shinning brightly. When we arrived at the pool, it was full of (non-believing) people (swimming). When they saw us, they all moved to one side of the pool and kept very quiet, watching the baptism ceremony closely. After every baptism they all clapped their hands and said praise God. It was very good testimony to these people....

I received your email. Thanks you lot for the same. Let us thank God for the hosting of Indian website in USA itself (placing on our Website booklets translated into Indian language). In any way the present truth is reaching to the God's chosen soul (people)...this earth must be glorified with the power of loud cry....God's appointed time has come now to carry forward this precious message to this country. I am very much thankful to my Lord for the blessings He has provided through you and many other sources. My plan for future is to self-support with maximum possibility in India; as the Indian government's restriction of incoming funds from foreign countries for the gospel work. (Editor's Note: If the Lord so impresses you, please contact us as about $6000 US is needed to purchase a camp facility in India which is supposed to generate enough funds to support the work there). At the same time the Hindu movement of Vishwa Hindu Parishat has established their organization in USA and supporting the Hindu mission in India. They are not having any restriction to receive money from USA. The Satan is making war with the remnant of her seed. I don't think we will be able to get your fund for long days in India....

Here the Cyclone was very severe and affected with great loss of natural calamities and deaths. Let us thank God no harm is done to us. We are safe in the arms of Jesus. But we were in utter darkness without electricity and water scarcity; no vegetables in the market. In (the middle of) this disaster of nature, the injustice mind of SDA leaders (is clearly shown as they) cast away one family out of their school and house at 11 a.m. of yesterday. (Because) Last week they attended our home church. Now I have given them accommodation and food....

I forgot to mention...about the damage happened to the worship place we are having in this ____ due to the Cyclone. Our worship place is made out of thatch shed (coconut tree leaves). It is fell in one side. I asked the labourers to remove the whole shed and make a new one. It is costing about Rs 5000 ($105 US). Tomorrow the work will be done. Please let me know that how to meet this expenses....

I am afraid (concerned) of God's ministry, for...(it is a very) solemn work. In India, one by one, those who are and were troubling this Ministry are in some way punished by the Lord. Here in ____, a young man of SDA church who is the Representative of Hartland (College) Ministry named bro. Muthukumar expired last night in an accident of motorbike. He was the person who was making false rumors against me everywhere. I am very much pity upon this soul and his salvation. I do not know whether he has confessed his sins before he died. Our God is Almighty and righteous and truth and holy. The kingdom of God is taken away from SDA church and given to the people, those who are worthy for it. Let us pray to the Lord earnestly for His grace to be poured upon us to make us to be fit for this final ministry.

Below is the Chart showing the (medical missionary) cases which I dealt with last month which is October. Convasions -- 2. Chest pains -- 2. Clastic pain -- 1. Dizziness -- 2. Eye problems -- 2. Fatigue -- 4. Gas -- 2. Fevers -- 2. Flooding -- 1. Shocks -- 3. Headache -- 2. Heartburn -- 2. Spleen -- 2. Itching -- 3. Running Stomach -- 1. Loss of sleep -- 1. Lumbago -- 3. Nausea -- 4. High blood pressure -- 3. Out of breath -- 1. Urinary disorders -- 1. Ulcers -- 2. (For a) total (treated of) 45 (men, women and children)....

You have been too busy these past days. We had received the mail bag for Golden Calf Apostasy, and I hope there have been received others because from 5th to 19th November we were at ____ effort...the place is ignorant of the Sabbath (truth), so much so that it appeared strange thing to them. From 19th to date, I and ____ are in ____ area...In these meetings we have made the books of Daniel and Revelation the main theme...and the people are being aroused....

On printing...we have the Will and Golden Calf Apostasy in Kiswahili and we have a stock of them. We had ordered for 5000 of each. At present we have the following complete in translation but not printed yet: -- Protestant History; Wheat and Tares; Whom Shall You Obey? (locally prepared in Kiswahili on the Law of God--Biblical exposition on allegiance to either God or Satan); and Abomination of Desolation Stands (in progress of translation). Soon as we can get the funds, we shall engage these to print. (Editor's Note: $1000 US will print 5000 booklets! That is only $0.20 per booklet!)....Please have us in your prayers...

Greetings from Malaysia. How is the work of putting Chinese web page on the net going? I'm fine here except the rainy season is coming. Still busy inputting the Bible Corr. Course. I'm also giving Bible study to a net friend about a hundred miles away. I had mailed her some Chinese articles and books, including "Steps to Christ". She is a buddhist, having a hard time to understand our beliefs. She has some Christian friends of other denomination too, (therefore) I need some time to explain to her the change of Sabbath and other differences. Please remember her in your prayers....

I'm pleased to inform you that I have some net friends who are interested to know the present truth. I'm desperately looking for some interesting materials written for these non-SDA youths...Please keep these young souls in your prayer. Are there any Bible truths written in very simple English for these youths available? (Editor's Note: if any of our readers have any suggestions, please let us hear from you)...Hope to hear from you soon.

On Nov 27, the Namibian TV Broadcasting, reported on the appointment of the Regional Party Leader in Katima Mulilo for SWAPO (a Communist backed organization which the World Council of Churches supports). Know what, here comes [Mr Kani] a strong, former pastor, very influential. He is an SDA leader who is now leading the Political Party of SWAPO in Katima Mulilo, Caprivi. This election took place on the Sabbath. He is [25 Nov.] leaving a post of HIV/AIDS Regional Co-ordinator which he was holding before elected for the Party past. (This is Church and State united or) "Iron and clay mingled" Daniel 2: Image. Politics is respect to Pope. see MS 63, 1899.

I appeal to all those who claim to be SDA's, please think (on these things) and take your stand. Save your own souls. Respect the solemn warning of Rev 14: 18:. Escape for your life and then warn others. Separate yourselves from these unions that are taking place in your eyes. Don't just close your eyes that you might (not) see. Take heed, be warned. Harden not your hearts, time is almost finished....I am writing this with a heart sore. Why would people who [are/were] ministers at the feet of Christ turn to respect Satan? OH! I fear for ourselves, those who have accepted the message of separation....Please brethren, let us hold fast, the end is just so near...

I thank you brother Bob and the rest of the others who made it possible for you to send us the box of "Why Are We Held Responsible for Personal, Social, and Corporate Sin?" which I received Nov 17, 2000. Please pray that this booklet will bring a sense of responsibility to the people of God in this Country. We have distributed it to almost every part. Others are able to see, they are telling us that the message is true. We also gave to some pastors of SDA church, and challenged them to prove (it for themselves)...

We thank the Lord for the guidance and for all the blessings that He gave to us, especially for the new converts who accepted Him as their personal Saviour and the truth. We spent two weeks in ____, ____ to give follow-up studies to those who are interested to hear the truth. Before we left there, six souls decided to be baptized (Editor's Note: Praise God!). These souls are all ____, the four of them come from the Church of Christ, and the other two were from the Roman Catholic Church. They are all active now. We give back the glory & praise to our God for calling up these souls from the darkness. These souls need Bibles and some Spirit of Prophecy books. If we can ask some help to (from) our brethren there to help these souls have their own Bibles....Here in the Philippines, it cost 550 pesos each (approx. $11)....

I had the opportunity of speaking to a home church at ____ yesterday afternoon. They just recently separated from the SDA church...but were not aware of the real issue on separation....So we took the opportunity of speaking to them. I heard from ____ who visited them Friday night that they don't believe that the SDA GC church is Babylon fallen, so I gave them our position on this particular issue. One of them...publicly expressed his belief in the message we gave that afternoon! I don't know about the rest of them, but they want us to visit them again. They humbly accepted that they still have a lot to learn. Our study lasted until around 9:00 p.m. without taking a break for supper. I saw they were really hungry for messages. Please pray for them....

The Sabbath, 10 November, I was asked to prove these tract false or allow the groups to re-unite with the rotten organization. The previous night I spent hours going through youy ABOMINATION and CHURCH HISTORY. I gathered many good points. On the (next) Sabbath the church was packed full. I had my red tie on again (to do battle). The meeting began at around 10 a.m. The pro-S.D.A. were greatly awaiting victory. All listened as I hastened from testimony to testimony in speedy succession. At one point, I shouted "Praise the Lord"! The entire congregation responded "Hallelua".

Greetings once again in the precious name of Jesus Christ. I apologize for delay in writing back. Thanks for your E-mails and the Newsletter. Send my sincere thanks to V.I.W of Canada for Christ-like sacrifice to assisting those in need. "For I was hungry and ye gave me meat...naked and ye clothed me." Matthew 25:35,36....The young ____ has been told of the gift given him by V.I.W of Canada, he says he is deeply thankful....

On 5th November, 2000, I shared the message of separation with ____. He promises to believe the message. For three weeks from the above date, I have had several Bible studies given in & out. By these studies, one young man by the names of ____ has believed. Another young man by the name of ____ believed, but his father being a pastor of a Sunday-keeping church has promised him hell on earth if he ever comes to worship with us on the Sabbath. On Dec. 1st a former U.C.C. student, the ones who some times back had picked interest in the message, told me of the work the silent messengers have done. Six souls have believed the Sabbath through the tract distribution....

The 3rd angels' message was preached in Catholic & Protestant homes. This work was done by Bro. ____, ____ and ____ & I. By the time we (finished the work and) left, the (a new) Home Church was opened at ____ place under a tree with five adults & 7 young ones. (Editor's Note: May God be praised!) It is their prayer that God gives them some money to make up a shelter for worship.....

Greetings in the name of our Saviour Jesus....Brother ____, who is my closest co-worker now, and I travelled to ____ to meet Home Church members there. A series of Bible studies were conducted and tracts were also left for distribution by our Home Church members there. Thank you God (and Elder) for these tracts which you had sent because the small papers are really doing great as silent preachers.

Please, I want to ask you Elder so that you can involve me in special prayers. In the month of October, the work increased because we became directly involved with some big work of translating our tracts to our native language, Kaonde, for our people who have been asking for this since we began our ministry work. Elder ____ is a teacher so he helps very much in his spare time. I am always very busy, which is why my reports seem to be delayed. Please at the moment kindly accept my missionary reports in this way (being behind).

May I also report to you that sister ____, who is a nurse by profession, through her duties has introduced us to a Baptist standing family with whom we are studying the Sabbath messages and the three (angels') messages. Elder ____ family and mine are always visiting this home, which has also introduced 3 more families into this study group. Please kindly pray for this group too so that they bear these truths....

The work of God in this month of November 2000, has been going steadily but with a very strong opposition and hardships, so much hard (had it) been not for GOD's protection, it wouldn't have continued. But thank you God because HE has stood to protect His work and His message. Thank you for your prayers too because it was not easy for me alone to stand and continue reporting and standing on behalf of this Ministry in ____ Zambia....

Alternatively, because of this strong messages which the Lord God is spreading, in ____ is in fire especially with SDA's who couldn't understand (fully) these separation messages in first time....Elder ____, the former mighty preacher in the North-Western province of ____, former Vice-pastor for ____ SDA church, has now finally separated. Two weeks ago I was even called to give a full evidence of the separation message from the Bible and the SOP (to him). This was at his country place, and my (may I) also report to you that two strong in faith families have also joined with him.

Now because he has finally done so (separated) after discovering the truth, this elder is undergoing a very, very big and dangerous way of life. The very pastor who used to (be) his assistant is now on (against) him. And on 17th of December, 2000 (this elder) is called to go and give an account (to the SDA church officials) on the separation he has made, especially that he at the same time (is) a literature Evangelist, and that he hasn't cleared his office with some balances of funds which his debtors has also disappointed him (refused to pay him) by not settling their bills (with him)....

Now according to this (SDA church) pastor and his flock, all these they say (that) I am the one pulling their people (out of church), and so they are trying to threaten me through many ways. They have really gone very far (in this) and I now see the what (whom) is leading them because they are even trying to find some wizards (witch doctors) to see if they can cease my life. Please pray for me because even my own mother is on my wife due to this truth because she is not of my faith.

The work in ____ Zambia is spreading rapidly and many of our brethren are now coming back to their senses and are seeing how their former churches have been infiltrated by force (of) false prophets and teachers. Elder, allow me to report to you that our Zambia has been set ablaze by the separation messages which came (to) us, and I truly believe that God's hand is in the midst to separate His people in readiness for the heavenly garner (EW 69). (Editor's note: Praise God indeed!)

Moreover, need is there for more tracts and booklets...Moreover, we also need to be helped with a second hand computer or some money to buy one here which is going at about $400 US dollars. I recently visited brother ____ and ____ in ____ whom I had find busy interpreting our tracts to our local language but are lacking the computer to print these tracts. I was with the brethren for three days, including the Sabbath, which I came to discover that the Home Church has really expanded with other two families.