October 2012

October 17, 2012

Dear Brethren,

We hope everyone had a tremendous Feast of Tabernacles! With the feast just ending and everyone returning home, it will take some time to get all the feast reports in. As a result, we will not be able to include them in this month's letter, but will include them next month.

Today, the world is in almost universal turmoil and upheaval, exactly as Jesus told us it would be. Without a doubt, these conditions are the result of the rampant corruption and wickedness of the governments and religions of this world. Jesus summarized it this way: "Because lawlessness shall be multiplied, the love of many [the majority of people] shall grow cold" (Matt. 24:12).

This world is becoming more and more like Sodom and Gomorrah, and we feel oppressed and frustrated much like Lot did. Lest we become discouraged, we need to keep in mind what the apostle Peter wrote:"And [God] having reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, condemned them with a catastrophic destruction, making them an example for those who would be ungodly in the future; and if He personally rescued righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the lawless ones living in licentious conduct;(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, through seeing and hearing their lawless activities, was tormented day by day in his righteous soul);

"The Lord knows how to rescue the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unrighteous to the day of judgment to be punished; but particularly those who walk after the flesh in corrupting lust, and hold in utter contempt the lordship of God. They are audacious and self-willed. They are not afraid to blaspheme the divine powers" (II Pet. 2:6-10).

Yes, when lawless deceivers are in authority and bear rule, they oppress the people—and it affects every single person. King David expressed how he felt when he saw this in his day. Notice how he cried out to God:"Help, O Lord, for the godly man ceases; for the faithful disappear from among the children of men. They speak falsehood each one with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things, who have said, 'With our tongue we shall prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?' 'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, I will now arise,' says the Lord. 'I will set him in safety from him who puffs at him.' The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. You shall keep them, O Lord; You shall preserve them from this generation forever. The wicked walk on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of men" (Psa. 12:1-8).

It is amazing how accurately these words describe the governments and religions of our world. It is absolutely true that only the intervention of God and the return of Jesus Christ—with the resurrected saints as kings and priests—will rescue this world from Satan the devil and wicked men.

Proverbs 29 has a number of verses that succinctly contrast the rule of the righteous with the rule of the wicked. In fact, these passages also draw a distinction between the rulers of thisworld and how Christ and the resurrected saints will rule in the age to come. "When the righteous are in authority [the saints as kings and priests], the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, [under Satan the devil] the people mourn" (verse 2). "The king [Jesus Christ] establishes the land [world] by justice, but he who takes bribes tears it down [the current rulers of this world]" (verse 4).

We know that Satan the devil is a liar from the beginning and is the "father" of liars (John 8:44). He is also called the "god of this world" (II Cor. 4:4). As such, he is actively "deceiving the whole world" (Rev. 12:9), and spreading his lies "as a covering which covers all people, and [a] veil that is woven over all nations" (Isa. 25:7).

When rulers are given over to Satan and live by lies—which certainly applies to most governments today—notice what happens: "If a ruler hearkens to lies, all his servants are wicked…. When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases…" (Prov. 29:12, 16). This is why there is so much corruption, cheating, bribery, and oppression of the people in this "Babylon the Great." But God says "the righteous shall see their fall" (verse 16), exactly as prophesied in Revelation 18. Notice: "And he [the mighty angel] cried out mightily with a loud voice, saying, 'Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a habitation of demons, and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hated bird; because all nations have drunk of the wine of the fury of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the power of her luxury.'

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 'Come out of her, My people, so that you do not take part in her sins, and that you do not receive of her plagues, for her sins have reached as far as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Render to her as she has rendered to you; and give to her double, even according to her works. In the cup that she mixed, give her back double. To the degree that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, give to her as much torment and sorrow. For she says in her heart, "I sit a queen enthroned, and am not a widow; and in no way shall I experience sorrow." For this very reason, her plagues shall come in one day—death and sorrow and famine; and she shall be burned with fire; for the Lord God, Who executes judgment upon her, is powerful' " (Rev. 18:2-8).

The Secret of the Lord: Nearly everything God has revealed to His people through His Word, Sabbath, and holy days remains unknown to the world. Indeed, God has "revealed these deep things by His Spirit to those who love Him" and are "called according to His purpose."

The message for day six of this year's Feast of Tabernacles was The Secret of the Lord. We have included the transcript of that message because it covers one of the most important truths we need to understand—how salvation will come to this world. Brethren, think about it: the Great Sovereign of the Universe, God the Father, has revealed to His people the awesome secret of the salvation of the world. It has not been revealed to the world, nor to its rulers. Our understanding of this secret should be a continuing source of inspiration during the dark days of trouble and turmoil ahead. Please read and study this transcript, as it will give us the "vision" of hope and encouragement we need.

Brethren, we thank you for your continued love and prayers—and for your service to new people and other brethren. Also, thank you for your offerings for the fall holy days of Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day.We pray every day that God will continue to bless you and yours in every way. Remember, every day we are to stand in grace, walk in faith, believe in hope, and live in love.

With love in Christ Jesus,

Fred R. Coulter
FRC

The Secret of The Lord: Day 6 - FOT 2012 Transcript

Updated-Oct. 19, 2012