THE JERUSALEM SENTINEL

Feast of Tabernacles 1999

Open Letter to the Church

What Did Jesus Wear?

A Family Model

Satan's Plot Against The Church

The Star of David

Mailbox

We have made reservations at the beautiful Palace Resort in Myrtle Beach and we hope you join us there. We have reserved the banquet room for our exclusive use. We look forward to eight days of worshiping God with singing, wonderful sermons, great Bible studies and fellowship with old friends & hopefully some new ones.

We have a special program planned for the children called, "We Shine For Jesus". We have reserved a room for the children and teen classes. If you have children and/or teens planning to attend, please let us know so we can order the appropriate supplies for them. Contact Mary Carr 7daycog@esper.com, Linda Lewallen emw@esper.com, or Pat Myers pmyers@esper.com, or mail them at PO Box 70635, Knoxville, TN 37918

The Palace is an oceanfront resort that has 1 room oceanfront sunsuites with a living area & kitchenette. They have 1 queen bed, queen sofa sleeper, 1 bath and a private balcony for $32.20/night tax included.

The 1 bedroom (2 room), oceanfront condo includes a living area with sofa sleeper & full kitchen, 1 bath and a private balcony for $39.86/night tax included. The 2 bedroom (3 room) oceanview condo has a living area with a sofa sleeper and full kitchen. One bedroom has a queen bed, the other has twin beds. These units also have a private balcony and are $47.53/night tax included.

We have arranged for these beautiful accommodations through Myrtle Beach Connections. Call Mariane to make your reservations. I’m sure she will be very helpful. Her number is (1-800-867-8525), tell her you are with United Biblical Churches of God for the group Package. If you need a brochure you can call the resort at (1-800-334-1397).

All the rooms at the Palace have comfortable, well appointed living rooms. The full size kitchens offer the comforts of home with refrigerators, ranges, ovens, microwaves & dishwashers. They come complete with cooking utensils, pots, pans, dishes, glassware and silverware. The resorts amenities include: a full-service restaurant, indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpools, its own putting green, a fitness room and the banquet hall which will be set up for our services.

If you have any questions about the Feast, wish to volunteer for helping out or speaking, or have an idea to share, contact Charles Kimbrough at 352-621-7888 PO Box 547, Crystal River, FL 34423 unbc@sunco.com or Mark Carr 423-922-5420 PO Box 70635, Knoxville, TN 37918 jersent@esper.com

We hope to see you there!

For those of you who choose south Florida, Neville Gilbert and the Lake Worth Church will be observing the Feast in Lake Worth again. They are a loving and caring group who welcome everyone. Give this site serious consideration, for more information, call Neville at (561) 585-4580.

Many years ago (1953-54), we tuned in listening to all of the different stations from Mexico that broadcast the World Tomorrow. Herbert W. Armstrong spoke with power and authority, and it was easy to see that he believed what he was teaching, we started to believe everything that Herbert W. Armstrong taught. I was in the baking business, and that kept me from being baptized for a long time. The first booklet on our coffee table was The US and Britain in Prophecy. The Plain Truth magazine came every month for ten years before we were converted and knew that we had to be baptized. I had to be fired from the presidency of a large baking company. That job was keeping me from being converted. However, it was the best thing that happened to us. I still needed counseling on baptism because of my previous Baptist belief about the thief on the cross. I cried at the first Worldwide Church of God service that we attended because of the songs that were sung. I some how knew that the church would not be singing The Old Rugged Cross. At that first service we heard, Blest and Happy is the Man (Psalm 1), and it is still one of my favorites. I was completely dedicated to Mr. Armstrong and the Church’s teachings.

One Friday night in 1973 or early 1974, Herbert Armstrong took the Bible study in the old gymnasium, and it was packed with people that some had to stand up in the back. His topics were divorce and remarriage, and Pentecost. As usual, he spoke with much power, authority, and conviction. It lasted at least ninety minutes.

Herbert Armstrong used his notes as a drum and banged them on the table each and every time he wanted to drum home a point. He never used anyone’s name, but said that he had restudied divorce and remarriage and that the men who wanted to change the Church’s doctrine should "GET OUT OF THE CHURCH!" It was yelled just that loud. Mr. Armstrong said that the subject of Pentecost was settled. It would be on a Monday just like it always had been. Herbert Armstrong’s attitude was, "If you don’t like it to get out of the Church."

After the service was over, our good friend Keith Wells asked us what we thought, and I said, "Boy wasn’t that something." When we got back to the car to go home, I remarked to my wife Nadine that I did not know whether Mr. Armstrong was right or wrong according to the Bible, but I did know his attitude was wrong.

Before that Sabbath evening Bible study, Nadine used to tell me that Pentecost was on Sunday, not Monday. She was so adamant about Pentecost being on Sunday and not Monday that I became afraid she would say something to someone in the Church and get us kicked out. My answer was, "I have checked out the Church on most of their doctrines and they have been correct so far and I am not going to check them out on Pentecost". That was a bad mistake. That whole episode caused me to go into an in-depth study not only on the divorce and remarriage issue, but on Pentecost, the Holy days, and clean and unclean meat.

Later in 1974, when doctrines concerning divorce and remarriage and Pentecost were changed, Mr. Armstrong put the blame on the translators of the Bible for missing the meaning of the word "on" or "from". If the translators had translated the Bible wrong, then how was my wife able to get it right in the first place? My in-depth study led me to something that I would like to share with all of you. Christ is the first of the firstfruits of the grave. Jesus went to the Father on the first of the week. The Wave Sheaf is always harvested on the morrow after the Sabbath in the Days of Unleavened Bread. The Wave Sheaf is always taken before the Eternal. Christ is our High Priest and He went to our Father on the first of the week. That is why we observe Pentecost on the first day of the week, regardless of whether the word "on" or "from" has or has not been mistranslated.

Our oldest son, Mitchell, graduated from the University of Texas and also spent 6 years as a US Naval Officer in the Viet Nam War. Mitchell got out in 1974 on a conscientious objector’s discharge and then went to Ambassador College as an older student, graduating in 1977. In 1975 our son spent some time at the archeological dig in Jerusalem with Chris Patton. While they were there, Mr. Armstrong came and gave a testimonial dinner. Mitchell and Chris were at that dinner, where Mr. Armstrong’s total message was about how an, "UNSEEN hand from some place" was going to have to take charge and bring about world peace. Chris was asked a question by one of the Jews from Hebrew University, "What does Mr. Armstrong do?" Chris told him that Mr. Armstrong was a minister. Then this Jewish student asked Chris, "What does he [Armstrong] believe?" Chris said he believes what you believe: the Sabbath, the Holy Days and the food laws." This Jew from the Hebrew University said, "Why doesn’t he tell us that?" The Plain Truth reported that Mr. Armstrong had preached the Gospel forcefully to the Jews in Jerusalem. Is there still anyone out there that thinks that you can preach the Good News in the name of an "unseen hand from some place???"

At the dinner that Mr. Armstrong had with all the Ambassador graduates, Mitchell asked him this question: "Should not a Christian prove all things?"Mr. Armstrong’s answer was "Yes, however I have already done that so you don’t have to." It seems that Mr. Armstrong thought that he had more power over people than the Apostle Paul did with those Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily to see if the things that Paul was saying were true. In 1978 or 1979, Mr. Armstrong had published in the Worldwide News that "yes I did say to those who were listening to me on radio, who were not in the Church ‘prove all things in the Scriptures’, but I never said that to the Church." I have begun to believe that a large portion of the former ministry of the Worldwide Church of God have parked their brains at the door and they expect those who listen to do the same. Garner Ted Armstrong, Herbert Armstrong’s son, used to say when you go and listen to some, if not all preachers, you have to do three things: (1) Think (2) Think (3) Think. The Scriptures say to prove all things, all things.

Ted Armstrong was kicked out of the Church in 1978 for preaching a sermon in Montgomery, Alabama that the Gospel had to be preached in the name of Jesus the Christ, it cannot be preached in the name of an "unseen hand from someplace." In June of 1978 we were in Montgomery and heard his sermon. It was all the more inspiring because of what was being taught by Ted’s father about an "unseen hand." Ted went through 1^st Corinthians chapter fifteen, showing that the gospel had to be preached in the name of Jesus the Christ. Gerald Waterhouse gave the closing prayer and thanked God for the "new truth." As we left the building, I remarked to an Atlanta, Georgia member that I had waited seven long years to hear that sermon. He did not like what I said. You see, that sermon was not "new" truth to my wife, Nadine, nor to myself.

We recently heard a minister make the comment that all Dr. Martin had to do was just wait and Pentecost would have been changed. The minister said that Dr. Martin was just in a bad attitude, and if he had just waited, Pentecost would have been corrected. It was not Dr. Martin who was in bad attitude, but Mr. Armstrong, who had gotten the idea that ONLY HE received the truth from God. Most of the ministers, even today, are of that same attitude that they have all truth. The Worldwide Church leadership from the late fifties up to the early seventies were conveying to the membership that they had arrived at all of the truth. The ministry taught that any and all new truth would be revealed through one man. The changing of Pentecost and of the doctrines concerning divorce and remarriage did not change that thinking. Now that the Worldwide has gone a whoring after the Catholic Church and her harlot daughters, when is the remnant going to wake up and quit quenching the Spirit of God? When that temple veil was rent, the access to God the Father through Jesus the Son of God became available to all of those who have repented.

I thank God for Herbert W. Armstrong and the truth about the Kingdom of God, and our being born into the family of God, and the fact that we will be the sons of God, and brothers of Jesus our Messiah. When Jesus returns to this earth to set up His thousand-year reign, then we will rule and reign with him on this earth. We recently learned that Herbert Armstrong did not originate the Worldwide Church’s former doctrinal belief that true Christians become the literal sons of God at the first resurrection. The first five members of the original class at Ambassador College were the originators of that doctrine, based on their study of the Scriptures. It has been said that Herbert Armstrong’s first comment was that it sounded like blasphemy, but at the end of that year Herbert Armstrong said it was true and they adopted it as doctrine. [In fact, Armstrong’s book on that subject, The Incredible Human Potential, became required reading for anyone counseling for baptism in the Worldwide Church, until they rejected the doctrine after his death.] We wonder, what changed the attitude between 1947-48 and 1973-74?

That attitude shift has been the problem in the Church of God. Did God leave one man in charge? Can one man set doctrine? Was Herbert W. Armstrong God’s Apostle and head of the Church of God on earth? Does God have one man that is the spiritual leader on this earth? Does the truth come only through one man? Has all truth been given to just one man? The answer to these questions is a loud NO! However, this leads to the problem within the Churches of God even to this very day.

Can one man do a work of God? Was Herbert Armstrong correct when he kept the Holy Days for seven years and then presented a paper to the Church of God (Seventh day)? Did he do the correct thing when he went on his own and started the Radio Church of God? Was Ted Armstrong correct in 1978 when he said that the gospel had to be preached in the name of Jesus of Nazareth? Did Ted do the right thing after being kicked out of the Worldwide Church of God, when he went on his own, started the Church of God, International and preached the good news to this dying world? Was Ted Armstrong correct after after he was kicked out by the Church of God, International in 1998 to go out on his own again and start a new work, Intercontinental Church of God, to preaching the gospel to this sick world? Did both Herbert and Ted Armstrong preach the truth as they understood it? Was Gerald Flurry right when he went on his own and started a work of preaching the gospel and declaring the United States and the British nations as being Israel? What about Rod Meredith when he left the Worldwide Church of God and stated to preach the good news of the coming kingdom of God to this dying world? Was Rod Meredith right, when the council of Global Church of God kicked him out, to go and start on his own again to preach the gospel to this sick world? Was the group of ministers led by David Hulme correct when they left the Worldwide Church of God in 1995, because of heresies about the Sabbath and the Holy days, and started the United Church of God to preach the gospel to this sick world? Was the United Church correct when they started publishing the Good News magazine? Was David Hulme correct, after the United Church of God kicked him out, to start on his own, preaching the gospel to this sick world? Is it right for a group of God’s people to get together and do the work of God?

The answer to all of these questions is a resounding YES! That is, as long as they do not claim to be the only work that God is doing and show respect and fellowship for others which are also doing the work. Then what has been the problem? It is a two fold problem:

No.1) The governmental regulations of giving a tax break to everyone who contributed to a charity. The Church has been taken over by and put under the control of the American laws which are a part of this world. That means we are directly under the laws of man and not of God. The excuse is that people will not contribute unless they receive this goody from the Feds. They give alms to be seen of men, at the IRS. Verily, they have their reward (Mat 6:1-4). This corporate structure is actually the governing body of most of the Churches of God, not the ministry and the body of Christ (the members). The law states there must be a president, a vice president, a treasurer, a recording secretary, and a board of directors. This corporate structure runs the Church, the ministry does not. This corporation in most cases controls the so-called Church Council. Just look at the corporate soul that was established in the Worldwide in 1979. One man had the sole say about doctrine and all things connected with the Church. The ministry had nothing to say and there was nothing that they could do, with one exception. They could leave and start the work over again.

No. 2) We do not understand the government which should be in the Churches of God. We say that we do. We say that Jesus is the head of the Church. However, we do not practice what we preach. A man goes out and starts to preach the truth, then he gets followers who support his preaching. The work grows and prospers because they are preaching the truth. This group is also trying to live by every word out of the Bible, which is good. Their understanding of the Scriptures for the most part are correct. Then someone comes up later and says something like this: "Pentecost should be on Sunday," or "Divorce and remarriage should be taught according to 1^st Corinthians 7, because in certain cases one can be divorced and then remarried and still be in the Church." Then is when the fat hits the fan, and the leader says, Who is running this Church anyway? After all, did I start this work or did this young upstart start it? Then the power struggle is on the way about who is in charge. The first thing that happens is the powers that be, start to discredit the one who brings this truth. They do not attack the new truth, they attack the messenger of this new truth. If it was not new truth, there is no need to attack the messenger, but to expose the false-hood of his teaching from the scriptures. We always blame some one else for our mistakes.

If God sent a messenger, a prophet, to the Churches of God with a prophesy, what do you suppose would happen to him in most of the Churches of God? He would be escorted to the door and asked not to come back. How about your church group?

Is there a man or group of God’s people on this earth that has all truth? The answer is obvious, yet it bears repeating. No! No, a thousand times no!!!

What then is the Church of God? We know that it is not a "corporate" church, because the church cannot be incorporated. It is not Biblical to bow down to this world’s king as the head of the Church. We do this in order to get the money and a tax break for the donor (Matthew 6:1-4).

If we, in the Church, are ever going quit this infighting and start looking like our Savior, then we are going to have to understand that the church consists of those who have the in-dwelling of God’s Spirit. The Church consists of the whole body of Christ where ever it is. The work of Christ was going on at the same time as John the Baptist’s work. Both were going on while the Levitical priesthood was ministering daily in the Temple. The Apostle Paul’s work was separate from the work of Peter. Paul makes it very clear that God did not leave one man in charge. Christ told Peter in John 21 that John was no concern of Peter’s, in fact, He said it was none of Peter’s business. The prophet Elijah had to be told that God had 7000 that had not bowed down to Baal. However, Peter, John , James and Jude, even with their differences, spoke in the same church or synagogue.

We should recognize that we are separated by government regulations called incorporation. Each corporation sets up its own statement of beliefs, which is good if they are at the trunk of the tree. Therein lies the problem: everything is tossed in, even the twigs out on the limb. The Churches of God agree on The Sabbath, the Holy Days, the food laws. We all agree that Jesus is the Messiah. We all agree that Jesus was crucified and that He was resurrected from the dead according to the scriptures. We all agree that we will be resurrected from the dead in the first resurrection. We all agree that there is a second resurrection after the 1000 year reign. We all believe that the Kingdom of God will be on this earth. We all believe that we will be kings and priest with Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

Question: Then why are we separated?

Question: Would a minister from another group be allowed to speak in your church {corporation} or would he be asked to sign a statement of beliefs or support before he could speak? If Jesus Himself walked into your church unannounced and said, "I would like to say some thing to this group" and started teaching Biblical truth, what would be the reaction of your leaders? Would they even ask Him to give an opening or closing prayer in your group?

Well in most groups even Jesus would be escorted to the door and asked not to come back. A minister from another group might be allowed to attend, but would never be allowed to give an opening or closing prayer and would never be allowed to speak. That is my own personal experience. Sad but true.

One final comment; the church as a whole has all of the truth that is needed to preach the final warning message to this sick and dying world and the message of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. When are we going to quit fighting one another and do what we were called to do? I wonder!!!!!!

Many people in the Church study and try to observe the laws in the Bible because they understand they are instructions from God on how to live. They understand that the dietary laws are for our health, etc. however there is one law that has been largely ignored by us. In Deuteronomy 22:12 God told Israel to "make tassels on the four corners" of their clothing. Numbers 15:37 tells them to, "...make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners".

So why would God command His people to wear strange looking strings on their garments? The Hebrew word for fringe or tassel is tzitzit. Many people view a ring or watch as a special symbol of their relationship with their spouse. When my wife looks at her ring, it reminds her of me. That is what God told His people to do with the fringes or tzitzit. He gave this as a perpetual law to be observed forever. Numbers 15:39 "And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, :40 and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God."

Some people in the past have mistakenly thought this law was just for the priests. The priestly garments are not the same as the tztizit that was attached to the clothing, the priestly garments were to be worn only in the temple (Exo 28:1-4) Many people today have prayer shawls, a rectangular garment with fringes on each of the four corners. It is my belief that these are symbolic of a miniature tent of the tabernacle. Exodus 26:1-4 tells us the tabernacle was covered by tent of ten rectangular curtains of fine woven linen woven together. On each corner there were loops of blue yarn, just like God commanded the tzitzit to have a blue thread in them.

It is a little more than interesting that in 1 Corithians 6:19 Paul said our bodies were the "temple of the Holy Spirit". That is why I believe they are symbolic of the tent of the tabernacle. When a Jew prays today he will pull his prayer shawl or tallit over his temple.

It is also my belief that Elijah's mantle was a Tallit made of camel's hair. He also wore a wide leather belt like the priests. 1Kings 19:11-13 tells us when he heard God’s voice, "he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave." When Elijah met Elisha, he " passed by him and threw his mantle on him" verse 19. In 2Kings 2:8 Elijah and Elisha were traveling and, "Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that". Just like the Exodus, the waters parted and they crossed over on dry ground! In verse thirteen when Elijah was taken up, he threw down his camel’s hair mantle to Elisha who then took it and struck the Jordan river and crossed over on dry ground just like Elijah.

There is a legend that says when Elisha died they searched the hearts of all the men in Israel for a man faithful like Elijah and couldn't find one, so they put the tallit and belt on the right side of the altar of incense. This could be significant because when Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, an angel of the Lord appeared, "standing on the right side of the altar of incense" and told him his wife Elizabeth would have a son, and he should name him John. This is where Elijah’s mantle and belt were stored! So look at what John wore, "and John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist..." Luke 1:4. It really shouldn’t surprise us that the man who Jesus said was Elijah in Matthew 17:12-13 had Elijah’s tallit.

In Luke 8:43-44 a woman with a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind Jesus and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. Why touch the border of His clothing and what did she touch? The Greek word used for border here is kraspedon and means fringe or tassel. The word for garment is himation and is an inner or outer cloke or robe. This is proof that Jesus wore a robe with fringes or tzitzit! Why has this been hidden and ignored?

There were many people healed who touched Jesus’ tzitzit, Mat 14:35, "...brought to Him all who were sick, :36 and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well." Mark 6:56, "Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well."

Why did they try to touch the Tzitzit if they were sick? In Exodus 15:26 God told Israel if they obeyed His commandments, they would be free from the diseases he gave the Egyptians. In order to understand why this caused the people to touch Jesus’ tzitzit we need to understand what they represent. Each Hebrew letter serves as part of the alphabet and at the same time has a numerical value. For example, the first letter Aleph is one, the second letter Bet is two, etc. The numerical value of tzitzit the Hebrew word for fringes is six hundred. The tzitzit has eight strings and five double knots, 600 + 8 + 5 = 613. So why should 613 remind you of the commandments? That is the number of commandments contained in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.

But there is more, in between the five double knots there are four different sets of windings. The 1^st has ten, the 2^nd has five, the 3^rd has six and the 4^th has five. This is the numerical value of the letters in God’s name, Yod Hey Vav Hey or YHVH. This is to tell us whose commandments they are. Every time God’s people looked upon their fringes on the four corners of their garments, they saw God’s name and all the commandments of the Torah. It was a testimony of the covenant between God and His chosen people and obedience of the law was freedom from sickness.

Remember I said the tallit was without seams? It is made from fine material, is beautiful and valuable. This is the tunic they took from Jesus. John 19:23 "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. :24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be, that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots."

When a Jew is buried their heads are covered with a prayer shawl. Look at how Jesus was buried. According to the Jewish tradition, they would have wrapped His body in linen and covered His head with a prayer shawl. When Jesus was resurrected he sat up, removed the tallit from His head, folded it, kissed it and then removed the linen wrapped around His body. John 20:3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. :4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. :5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. :6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, :7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself." If the commandments on the garments were meaningless, why did Jesus fold the shawl that symbolized them so carefully? Why didn't He throw it by the linen?

Does Jesus wear a prayer shawl and tzitzit today? Revelation 19:13 tells us when He returns He wears a robe dipped in blood. I believe this is His Tallit that He wore. After the beatings, when it was thrown on Him it would have gotten covered with blood.

For more information, request my 1994 Feast tape, "Funny Looking Garments" for a detailed explanation.

Could a model help THE CHURCH solve some of the problems that tend to separate us? I feel it could, if it came from Gods word. Church organization is one of the biggest bones of contention among Christians today. As soon as an organization begins to form, the problem of division appears; something is wrong. It occurs to me that the question of "authority" is at the core of many if not most of our problems. We seem to agree as to what authority Moses had and where it iminated from, and that David was the king of Israel. No one disputes Pauls emphatic statement "Christ is the head of the church". Church problems arise today because Christ is not here to sit at the head of a corporate board, accept the tithe, authorize payroll checks, have his name on recorded deeds to property and explain dispirited scriptures to us mortals. Most of us also realize that persons who do these things tend to become "head" or authority figures to some degree. Now if we all have the Holy Spirit,-----the spirit of unity, power, understanding and truth----why so much division among us? Perhaps we have missed something. I think most of us feel we have the freedom in this nation to organize and operate with great latitude, thus the problems are some how of our own making. I also doubt that God has left us with no clear model of organization to pattern the Church after today. Have we overlooked something under our very noses, I think maybe we have. Could "FAMILY" be it?

One of the most emphatic statements made in Gods word is that, "GOD IS ONE".

THE FIRST FAMILY MODEL

Jesus, spoke of his FATHER many times. He also called us his CHILDREN and said that he was an HUSBAND to Israel. We, the covenant people are called the children of Israel and the church is referred to as the BRIDE, WIFE of Christ. Therefore we conclude, GOD is a FAMILY.

THE SECOND FAMILY MODEL

Gen.2:24 and 3:16 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall be one flesh." "Be fruitful and fill the earth". Eph. 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church." I think we would all agree that these instructions establish THE FAMILY OF MAN. Beginning with a father figure who begats its children and has the primary responsibility for its needs and well being. ONE IN UNITY whose members are together on a daily basis.

THIRD -- THE CHURCH FAMILY MODEL

Lev. 23:3 "Six days shall work be done; but the seventh day is a SABBATH of rest, an HOLY CONVOCATION---------." I think we would also agree that this instruction establishes a weekly gathering of families on the Sabbath. In other words, the church family.

When God established Israel as a patrichial system a church family, he was it's spiritual head. He then chose certain ones as his servants, their assignment was to serve the rest of the family.

Numbers 3:12 (last part)---- "the Levites shall be mine."verses seven and eight. "the Levites shall keep the charge of the whole congregation of the children of Israel." NOTE THIS, Levi was one of twelve. This ratio of one to serve eleven is likely significant as the number of people or individual families that can be effectively served by one. It also may be the model we should consider in reference to a pastors income, because the tithe From each of the eleven was the amount God gave them as their inheritance. All this seems significant to me as a guide line for weekly gatherings where real property, money, a pulpit and a congregation is in question. ONE MINISTERING PASTOR in charge of ONE CHURCH FAMILY made up of about eleven families that meet on the Sabbath, just as One Father is head of the family of God, and just as One Father is head of a single human family that is together on a daily basis.

THE FORTH MODEL

Lev 23:33-44, "And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, speak unto the children of Israel saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord". They are to dwell in booths, the first and the eighth day are Sabbaths on which they are to hold holy convocations". Verses 35, 36 & 39. This model is perhaps the least clear, however we do know that feasts were held in Jerusalem, and that the temple was a central focal point with Aaron presiding, also the Levites were to tithe to Aaron, the high priest of God. Everyone is to rejoice and participate in this feast at the end of the harvest in the place that God chooses. We have here an annual gathering of CHURCH FAMILIES who in obedience to God, while still in physical tabernacles, are fulfilling Jesus prayer found in John 17:21 "that they may be one in us".

CONCLUSION

For many years I have wondered, WHY IS THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY SO IMPORTANT to those who espouse it? Could it be because it confuses the model of the FAMILY? Man is made in the image of God. The word-model is a synonym for image. The pattern for all life forms is the same. Father, mother and children. To insert a third mythological entity into this reality is completely outside the parameters of good reason. The family and the way it is structured is very clear in God’s word.

It appears to me that the Church, as a structure, is patterned after the same model, the family. If this is correct, a person who shepherds a flock, i.e. a pastor, should follow this same family model or pattern in his organization, work and thinking.

I have deliberately quoted few scriptures in order to support the premise set forth in this thesis, because it has the possibility of having far reaching consequences and should to be studied carefully by anyone who considers it.

"...Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time" (Rev 12:12). After reading this verse of scripture, we should consider the results of what can occur from someone among us with such great wrath. Most theologians will blindly say that Satan is not among them. Some even go so far as to deny the existence of Satan. Many view Christianity as more productive today than in the days of the apostles. We must admit there very well may be more professing Christians today, but there are also more false doctrines, false prophets, traditions and commandments of men. Whenever one sets out to completely live for God, or decides to make a commitment to God, he puts himself in a position of an attack from Satan. As Rev 12:17 explains, "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Yes in our strongest state in Christ, when we've overcome and gained a victory over Satan whether it be by trial or tribulation. One can just feel the hatred of our adversary, simply because we are trying to obey God. What we have to realize is that Satan is very clever. Because of this it makes it sometimes harder to detect him. Satan cleverly mixes truth with lies and many people consume it with delight without discernment.

Let's examine Christianity for a moment. Turn on the radio on Sunday morning. Turn on the television on Sunday morning. What do we hear and see? We see that many times preachers will be teaching the same subject, but how many agree with one another, and how many agree with scripture? Truly, there are problems lying within modern Christianity which will probably continue to grow worse and worse unless Christians will pick up their armor and fight for the truth! Many are being lulled to sleep thinking no harm will come to them. Isaiah 52:1-3 exhorts, "Awake, awake; put on thy strength; put on thy beautiful garments, ... shake thyself from the dust... loose thyself from the bands of thy neck o captive daughter of Zion." We must wake up and fight Satan or we will be overcome.

DIVISIONS

The major scheme Satan uses against the church is through divisions. Therefore, we must heed the words of Paul when he exhorted the Corinthian brethren in 1 Cor 1:10, "Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement." Knowing how different we all are and all of our different opinions that we possess, this order from Paul is certainly a tall one. However, it is one that we must try to strive to achieve if we want to win the battle against Satan. Paul knew what devices Satan had and was going to use against the church. Just examine the divisions or differences that keep churches separated or even battling against one another today. Many times the conflicts are a result of nothing but a difference of opinion. Sometimes the Bible is silent or unclear to us on certain subjects that are not that important. No doubt these are the very things which will be used to make war with the saints. After all, it is always easy for our adversary to find willing participants to give him an upper hand. However, when we realize what Satan is up to we can put a stop to him by refusing to fuss and fight over trivial matters that have nothing to do with our salvation.

Paul instructed Timothy in 2 Tim 2:23, "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes." Today, there are people who totally give themselves over to foolish and unlearned questions. They also believe that they alone have complete truth or all the right answers. In many religious magazines, I have noticed that the letters to the editor contain nothing but strifes. One person writes in to give their opinion on some gray area in the Bible and then ten others write in to contradict the first. Furthermore, when someone's opinion is refuted, ten more write in to condemn the one that disagreed with the first. It goes on and on until most forget what the original author even said in the first place. I know that we most certainly have to correct people of their errors. However, we are told how to go about doing this in 2 Tim 2:24-26 which states, "The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." I too often see the lack of love in these magazines, and too many times all of the battling and condemning is done over a subject that is really of no importance.

People today are still debating over which came first, the chicken or the egg! Why can't we just realize that it doesn't matter which came first as long as they are both here now, who cares? Consequently, if we look between the lines we will find a clue to where all this stems. As James 3:16 and 1 Cor 14:33 state, "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace as in all churches of the saints." Let's not be on Satan's side of the war against our own brothers and sisters! Remember that an opinion is never a fact and always pray that: God will give us all more understanding. "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." 2 Pet 3:17.

Consequently, we should be able to see some of the ways that Satan as a roaring lion is trying to seek us out to do us harm. We are given many descriptions of Satan in the Bible to let us know of his dangerous character. Besides being described as a lion, he is also a subtle serpent, a dragon, a deceiver, and an accuser of the brethren. All of this should show us not to underestimate and not to overestimate him, because we are also told that we can overcome him with the help of God, if we are willing to use the weapons that God gave us.

Therefore, let's recognize the ways Satan is trying to get into the church and thus put a stop to him by refusing to cooperate with him. If we can be willing to put a stop to divisions and unlearned questions, we most certainly will get the victory over Satan. The only way we can do this is by loving our brothers and sisters, being able to accept someone with a different opinion and leaving subjects that have nothing to do with our salvation out of the church.

This article is being published in response to the many letters written asking why we end each article with the Star of David. Some people mistakenly believe that the Star of David is a pagan or occult symbol, this is not true. There is, however enough misinformation to make it easy to get confused on this subject. The Star of David has 6 points made up of two interwoven triangles. This symbolizes the union of man and God. Many people believe that David had this symbol inscribed on his shield. There is nothing evil or pagan about it.

However, lets look at a symbol that some people confuse with the Star of David. Satan has not forgotten this area in his counterfeiting. Just like he has a counterfeit for the Sabbath, holy days and most other Godly things, he also has devised a counterfeit for the Star of David, the hexagram. A hexagram is an evil counterfeit that is made from two triangles. However instead of one interwoven with the other, a hexagram has one triangle laid over the other symbolic of man over God. This symbol is surrounded by a circle of bondage. The hexagram also has 6 points, however it is an occultic symbol and is used for evil purposes by those who worship Satan.

When the two stars are examined, it is easy to see the difference between them. Although Satan has been clever to try and counterfeit a religious symbol and make it into an evil one, he always leaves evidence there for those who look to see what is his and what is God’s. After all, he wants recognition and worship. That is what lead to him being thrown out of heaven.

Another interesting aspect of the Star of David is that within it’s design you can see the entire Hebrew alphabet. Each of the letters can be contained within the star. I have included an example of this for you that I found.

After much thought, I have decided that we will no longer use the star after each article because some people do not understand the differences between it and a hexagram. I am basing this decision on 1 Corinthians 8:13 and Matthew 17:27, not wanting anyone to stumble. In its place we will use the Hebrew Aleph and Tav, the first and last letters of the alphabet. This is fitting because of Jesus statement in Revelation 1:8, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End..."

As a final point of fascination, there is a design in the American dollar bill that most people are not aware of that incorporates a hexagram. Because of the interest some of you have shown, I have decided to include this information for everyone. The first point is the seal on the left side of the back of a dollar bill. There is a pyramid with the Satanic all seeing eye. Many people notice this however there is much more hidden. In it’s design there is a hexagram concealed with the circle of bondage. Each of the tips of the triangles point to a scrampled word, MASON. The number 13 is also integrated into the dollar. This seal has 13 letters in Annuit Coeptis and 13 levels of the pyramid. Many people think this is because of the 13 original colonies. That was not the intent of the evil men behind the design. The 13 levels stand for depravity and rebellion. This seal announces the New World Order. The other seal on the right has much more.

The second seal has 13 stripes on the birds shield. It is disguised as an eagle but is really an Egyptian mythological phoenix. It holds an olive branch with 13 leaves and 13 olives in the right talon and 13 arrows in the left talon. It’s beak has a 13 letter banner, E Pluribus Unum, "One out of Many". There are 13 stars that form a hexagram above its head. The points of the design has a large hexagram incorporated in this seal.

I bring this out to show everyone that Satan has hidden many evil things in our everyday lives and we should take nothing for granted.

Dear Friends:

In your last newsletter you told that an article on "David’s 6 pointed star" would be forecoming. I would be most apprciative of receiving this article.

Please continue sending me your newsletter as I find it most helpful with my studies...

... I am always trying to improve my knowledge, and to be more faithful. I have always found your articles to be very knowledgeable.

M.F.

[Editors note: See the Star of David article on page 3]

Dear Pastor Kimbrough,

Thank you very much for your letter, newsletter and other information sheets.

Over the past five (5) years, some churches in the Caribbean started a new theory that the Star of David or the Israel Star is pagan. We in St. Thomas don't believe that one bit but I would need some information on this matter. I know that this Star is pure in what it symbolize. If you have any info or know where I can get some info I would surely be happy to receive it.

I thought you would be the best person because after every article in your newsletter, there is that star.

Thanking you in advance for your response in this very grave matter.

God Bless You!

Shining as a Star in God’s Light, G.T.M.

[Editors note: See the Star of David article on page 3]

To select other archived issues of The Jerusalem Sentinel, Click Here