November, 2009

Fred R. Coulter

Minister

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November 17, 2009

Dear Brethren,

Dolores and I are happy to announce that we are grandparents once again. After two difficult days of pre-delivery, Chad and Rachelle called to let us know that she delivered their third son, Samuel Grayson Alexander, on November 3rd. Because of the extended delivery time, the doctors wanted to keep them in the hospital to conduct some tests to make sure everything was okay with the baby’s digestive tract. The tests came out fine, but Rachelle and Samuel had to stay an extra three days. They finally went home on the 9th. Samuel is a handsome, strong looking boy weighing in at 8 lbs.-1 oz., and measuring 18.5 inches long. Now that they are back at home, things can get back to a normal routine. We thank everyone for their love, prayers and concern.

Stunning Muslim Infiltrator’s Terrorist Attack on the Army: United States Army personnel at Fort Hood, Texas, were shocked on November 5th by a stunning terrorist attack that left 13 dead and over 30 wounded. The 39-year-old attacker, Nidal Malik Hasan, was a U.S. Army major and worked as a military psychiatrist. A devoted Muslim, Hasan often prayed five times a day at a mosque near Fort Hood.

Throughout his eight-year Army career, Hasan’s radical Jihadist views were well known to his military superiors—mostly through statements Hasan made while conducting numerous Army-sponsored seminars on Islam and terrorism. However, because of the military’s “politically correct” policy against “offending” Muslim enlistees, no investigation was ever held concerning Hasan. Rather, he was promoted to the rank of major.

Before Hasan entered the Army, he attended the same Mosque in Virginia as did the original Jihadist who organized the September 11 airliner attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. He was personally acquainted with three of the hijackers. As were the 9/11 terrorists, Hasan was in e-mail contact with Anwar Al Awiaki, the notorious, radical Jihadist cleric in Yeman who is known for encouraging his disciples to perform individual heroic acts of terror for the “glory of Allah.”

According to eyewitnesses, Hasan was attired in white Muslim religious garb and shouted “Allah Ackbar!” (God is Great) as he leaped on a table and started shooting at the unarmed soldiers in the crowded Army processing center. It is well known that radical Muslim terrorists nearly always shout “Allah Ackbar!” before their suicide attacks.

Experts and pundits are attempting to “explain” the attack by blaming it on ineptness, “political correctness” or the acceptance of “diversity” within the military; they point to “post-traumatic syndrome” or claim that Hasan had a psychological breakdown because he was being transferred to Afghanistan. However, the evidence clearly reveals that the incident was nothing less than a well-planned “inside” terrorist attack.

But the so-called “experts” will never understand the true causes of terrorism without one particularly vital key—the biblical knowledge of the ancient feuds between Isaac and Ishmael, sons of Abraham, and between Jacob and Esau, sons of Isaac.

Nor can they fully understand what is happening to Western Civilization without the knowledge of the modern identities of the descendants of the Ten Tribes of Israel. The Bible reveals that all of the troubles afflicting the West today are the result of the sins of these nations and their rejection of God—compounded by ancient family feuds! This is why I recently gave the sermons entitled Ancient Feuds/Modern Terrorism and Will Fickle Israel Repent? These two sermons reveal the true causes of today’s events.

One final note: The wounded soldiers from the Fort Hood massacre were taken to the Temple, Texas, hospital, the same hospital where Samuel was born. Rachelle and Samuel were still there when the wounded were brought in for treatment.

Born Again and Born of God

In our last mailing, we sent you the new booklet What Do You Mean—Born Again and Born of God? Also, I did two sermons, one on each subject, because this a topic plagued by false teachings based on misinterpretations and mistranslations of John 3:1-12 and I John 3:9. Typically, Protestants believe that when a person accepts Jesus as personal Savior, he or she becomes “born again.” Yet, this very teaching has recently been embraced by a noted church of God minister. I received several phone calls concerning this minister. One man said that he was nearly persuaded by this minister’s clever sermons on the subject. Since you have the booklet, please study it—because brethren from other churches of God may have questions. This way you will be fully prepared to give the correct biblical answer.

Key Points to Remember: The simplest way to understand the truth of Jesus’ teaching on “Born Again” and “Born of God” are these key points.

Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless anyone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Therefore, if a person is actually “born again” at the point of accepting Jesus as Savior, or at baptism and upon receiving the Holy Spirit, he/she must also be able to see the Kingdom of God. However, no one who is still in the flesh, whether converted or not, has ever seen the Kingdom of God, because Christ has not yet returned to bring the Kingdom of God to the earth!

Jesus said, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless anyone has been born of water* and of Spirit,** he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Consequently, if a person is actually “born again” or “born of Spirit” at the time of accepting Jesus as personal Savior, or at baptism and upon receiving the Holy Spirit, he/she has already entered into the Kingdom of God. However, even if converted, that person is still flesh and blood, and the apostle Paul wrote, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God” (I Cor. 15:50). Therefore, he/she has not entered the Kingdom of God and has not been “born of Spirit”—because he/she is not a spirit being. * To be “born of water” refers to one’s natural fleshly birth. ** To be “born of Spirit” refers to the resurrection from the dead to eternal spirit life as a glorified spirit being, not to an emotional “conversion experience.”

When a person is actually “born again” or “born of the Spirit,” he/she becomes invisible to human eyes and is like the wind. Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wills, and you hear its sound, but you do not know the place from which it comes and the place to which it goes; so also is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.” Anyone who claims to be “born again,” but is still a flesh and blood human being, he/she cannot appear or disappear at will, or walk through walls and doors as did the resurrected Jesus. Therefore he/she is not “born again,” but is making a false claim as a result of an assumption based on a misinterpretation of Scripture.

When the virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus in the flesh, He was called the “firstborn” (Matt. 1:25). That was Jesus’ first birth. Jesus was flesh and blood and subject to death.

When Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He was called “the firstborn from among the dead” (Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5). Therefore, His resurrection from the dead was his second birth—when He was “born again of Spirit.”

If you remember these five simple facts, you will never be fooled into believing the false doctrine that one is “born again” at conversion.

The Bible Project—Second Edition: Although the date for completing the Bible was delayed far beyond what we had anticipated, the first shipment is on its way in a 40-foot container on a cargo ship, due to arrive in the Port of Oakland on November 16. It will take three or four days to process and clear customs, then they will be delivered to Hollister. As soon as we receive them we will begin mailing copies to those of you who have placed orders. You should receive your copy/copies by the last week of November or the first week of December at the latest.

In this Second Edition, we have added Appendix Z, “Understanding Paul’s Difficult Scriptures Concerning the Law and Commandments of God.” This helps round out the appendices, which collectively restore the “original teachings” of Jesus Christ and His chosen apostles. As you will see, not only is this Bible “unique” because it is the only Bible ever published that arranges the books of the Old and New Testaments in their original manuscript order and contains a new faithful translation, but it is also the only Bible that does not teach the doctrines and traditions of men.

The purpose of the commentaries and appendices is to present the truth of the Word of God—to restore the original teachings of the Old and New Testaments. We have completely set aside all the traditional teachings and interpretations of Judaism in order to present the truth of the Scriptures—the truth and nothing but the truth! Combined with an accurate translation of the Hebrew, the original teachings of the Old Testament have been restored.

Likewise, in the New Testament, we have rejected all traditions, teachings and misinterpretations of Orthodox Christendom—Catholic and Protestant—in order to recapture the original teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles.

Never at any time did God the Father and Jesus Christ subject the writing of any part of the Bible to the devices of men! As we find in the Old Testament, God spoke directly to Moses, to the prophets, and inspired the writings of histories, psalms and proverbs. In the same way, God never left the writing of the New Testament in the hands of apostate, pagan religious leaders after the apostles had passed from the scene. As we demonstrate in the commentaries of this Bible, the original apostles, personally chosen by Jesus, began writing down Christ’s teachings from the beginning of His ministry, starting with the Book of Matthew, as found in Matthew 5-7. This was three years before Jesus was crucified!

After His crucifixion, death and resurrection, the apostles began to write down more of Jesus’ teachings, referred to as “the ministry of the word.” “And after calling the multitude of disciples to them, the twelve said, ‘It is not proper for us to leave the Word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brethren, search out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the Word’ ” (Acts 6:2-4).

The apostle John wrote that Jesus promised that He would send the Holy Spirit to inspire them to remember all the things He had taught them. Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in My name, that one shall teach you all things, and shall bring to your remembrance everything that I have told you…. But when the Comforter has come, which I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of the truth, which proceeds from the Father, that oneshall bear witness of Me. Then you also shall bear witness [in preaching and writing the New Testament], because you have been with Me from the beginning…. However, when that one has come, even the Spirit of the truth, it will lead you into all truth because it shall not speak from itself, but whatever it shall hear, it shall speak. And it shall disclose to you the things to come. That one shall glorify Me because it shall disclose to you the things that it receives from Me” (John 14:26; 15:26-27; 16:13-14).

The apostle Peter confirmed Jesus’ words when he wrote about the inspiration of the Word of God, which he also had a part in writing. “Therefore, I will not neglect to make you always mindful of these things, although you already know them and have been established in the present truth. For I consider it my duty, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by causing you to remember these things; knowing that shortly the putting off of my tabernacle will come, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has signified to me [how he would die]. But I will make every effort that, after my departure, you may always have a written remembrance of these things in order to practice them for yourselves” (II Pet. 1:12-15).

Peter knew that he had to record Jesus’ teachings before he died—which he did! He made it clear that the apostles, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were writing the confirmed words of Jesus Christ’s personal teachings—that they had not been redeemed by traditions of men, but by the sacrifice of Christ (I Pet. 1:18-19).

Notice how emphatic Peter was about the inspiration of the men who wrote the Holy Scriptures: “For we did not follow cleverly concocted myths as our authority, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His magnificent glory; because He received glory and honor from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I am well pleased.’ And this is the voice from heaven that we heard when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

“We also possess the confirmed prophetic Word [the God-breathed Scriptures, OT and NT] to which you do well to pay attention, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns [the return of Jesus Christ] and the morning star arises in your hearts [the resurrection from the dead]; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture originated as anyone’s own private interpretation; because prophecy [of Scripture] was not brought at any time by human will, but the holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (II Pet. 1:16-21).

Peter also confirmed that the epistles of the apostle Paul were counted as Scripture: “And bear in mind that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation, exactly as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has also written to you; as he has also in all his epistles, speaking in them concerning these things; in which are some things that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable are twisting and distorting, as they also twist and distort the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction” (II Pet. 3:15-16).

The apostle Paul, who wrote fourteen epistles, made it absolutely clear that “all Scripture was God-breathed.” They were not recording ideas and teachings of men, but the Spirit of God moved them to write what God wanted them to write—while, at the same time, retaining the individual style and personality of the writer. Here is what Paul wrote to Timothy concerning the Word of God, Old and New Testament: “And that from a child you have known the holy writings [OT and NT], which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture [each and every one—singularly and collectively] is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work” (II Tim. 3:15-17).

Furthermore, Paul also understood that what he wrote was the commandment of the Lord, not his own ideas. He dogmatically reminded the Corinthians of this fact: “WHAT? Did the Word of God originate with you? Or did it come only to you and no one else? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write to you are commandments of the Lord” (I Cor. 14:36-37).

There is no question that Paul fully understood that he was to be instrumental in “completing” the Word of God with his epistles: “Now, I am rejoicing in my sufferings for you, and I am filling up in my flesh that which is behind of the tribulations of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church; of which I became a servant, according to the administration of God that was given to me for you in order to complete the Word of God; even the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been revealed to His saints” (Col. 1:24-26).

From the publication of the New Testament in 2004 to the publication of the complete Bible in 2008 and this Second Edition in 2009, it has all been done according to the same spirit of the truth—the spirit that led John, Peter and Paul. We are thankful to God for these blessings and for the completion of The Holy Bible In Its Original Order—A Faithful Version With Commentary, the Second Edition.

Below is a sample of the advertising copy we are now using, which shows how we are currently promoting the Bible.

Restoring the Original Bible

Why this new Bible is making history!

With all due respect to the King James Version of the Bible, its books are quite out of order! The fact is, King James and his team of 54 translators missed a golden opportunity to produce a complete Bible in which the books follow the original manuscript order—which, ironically, was well known among those scholars. Why was the inspired canonical order intentionally ignored? Was it political/religious expediency? Was there a real fear of offending the “doctrinal sensitivities” of the Church of England?

Now, 400 years later, a new Bible is making headlines—The Holy Bible In Its Original Order. This extraordinary Bible is unique in three ways.

First, it is the only complete Bible ever published—with Old and New Testaments—that follows the original, canonical manuscript order. Today, nearly all theologians and scholars recognize this manuscript order, but overlook its importance. The Holy Bible In Its Original Order gives you, the reader, concrete, verifiable proof of the original, inspired manuscript order of the books of the Bible. Commentaries are included that trace precisely how the order of the books of the Bible was mysteriously altered by early church fathers in the fourth century, leading to the present 66-book format.

Once the original order of the 49 God-breathed biblical books is properly restored, God’s purposeful design of the Scriptures begins to unfold, substantiating its divine inspiration. Major portions of Scripture become “unscrambled” from an arrangement of neglect and disorder, unlocking vital keys to understanding. The Bible suddenly takes on a new sense of balance, symmetry and unity.

Second, this version is a new easy-to-understand translation, one that reflects the meaning of the original Hebrew and Greek with fidelity and accuracy. It combines current scholarship with the latest in archeological findings—yet, it is free from the influence of religious tradition and presupposition.

Third, The Holy Bible In Its Original Order recaptures the original, inspired teachings of both the Old and New Testaments through its translation and its extensive commentaries. Over the centuries, numerous doctrinal errors have developed from inaccurate translations and rigid adherence to religious traditions of men. Setting aside such traditions, this new Bible restores more than just the correct canonical order—it restores the very truth of God.

With its faithful translation and wealth of commentaries and appendices (over 280 pages worth), The Holy Bible In Its Original Order is designed to lead the believer to the unadulterated truth of the Old and New Testament Scriptures and into the “faith once delivered” by Jesus Christ and the original apostles.

Look what’s inside...

Included are Commentaries providing accurate accounts of the writing, canonization and preservation of the Bible. Various Appendices answer questions such as: When was Jesus born? How did Christ fulfill the Law and the Prophets? When was Jesus crucified? When was He resurrected? What does it mean to be “born again”? What are “works of law”? What are the true teachings of the New Testament Church Jesus founded? Also, biblical and historical Chronologies show an accurate timeline from creation to the present; detailed Footnotes explain hard-to-understand Scriptures. Includes center column references; word definitions and alternate renderings for key words; beautiful original artwork of the Temple in Jesus’ time; 280 pages of commentary; and various maps.

New in this 2nd Edition: A 32-page appendix “Understanding Paul’s Difficult Scriptures”—a vital reference tool for serious students of the Bible!

With 1432 pages, The Holy Bible In Its Original Order is only 1-1/2 inches thick—and measures 8-1/4 by 10-1/2 inches. Features a genuine handcrafted lambskin cover with gold stamped lettering; premium paper with gold gilded edges; wide margins for note-taking; triple bound for extra long life.

International Society of Bible Collectors:

“HEARTILY RECOMMENDED!”

The Holy Bible In Its Original Order “is an excellent translation for those desiring a literal one.... We heartily recommend this fine translation that will be a welcome addition to every Bible collector’s library.”

—Dan Decker, International Society of Bible Collectors (Published in Bible Editions & Versions, January 2009)

“What sets this product apart is Coulter’s decidedly conservative theology and highly literal translation, which represents the beliefs of a great number of Christians. The Holy Bible In Its Original Order is a great balance to the excesses of biblical higher criticism.” —Rev Magazine (March-April 2009)

“The primary thing I noticed when first looking at The Holy Bible In Its Original Order was that ... the Word of God is treated with proper dignity, respect and awe....

“Fred Coulter [has] stepped forward and led a team to accomplish [a] monumental task. The New Testament portion is Fred Coulter’s own translation from the Greek. The Old Testament [is] his translation as well, in collaboration with [Old Testament Hebrew Consultant] E. Michael Heiss....

“This is a very readable Bible ... developed with the ear in mind, designed to be well spoken and well read....

“[The Bible] is designed to be read from beginning to end, in the order God intended, like a great and large novel: progressing from simple to detailed, from beginning to completion, it presents God’s story of His love for man....

“[Having] a Bible like The Holy Bible In Its Original Order with the books of the Bible already set in the correct manuscript order will aid you to more quickly understand the plan of Scripture and the plan of God through Christ. Reading from Genesis to Revelation in the correct order makes for structured reading, orders the mind, and reinforces the proper sequence of information from God to you.... You begin to notice subtle relationships, such as between the last verses of one book and the first verses of the next, understanding that this is how God wanted [the Bible] to be read.

“I pray and hope that this will be the first of several such Bibles to be printed that will recognize and give credence to the order which God designed ... [an order] that gives the full message of the Word of God.... I wish The Holy Bible InIts Original Order great success. It is a landmark achievement, a first in history for an English version....”

—David Sielaff, Association for Scriptural Knowledge (ASK) (January 2009)

Thanksgiving

The United States of America is the only country in the world that has set aside a special day of “Thanksgiving” to the true God of heaven and earth, the God of the Holy Bible. While most of society has lost sight of the original meaning of this special day of thanks, we in the churches of God know its true meaning—that everything that we have, physically and spiritually, comes from God the Father and Jesus Christ.

We know that all of the many blessings God has given to this nation are not the result of our being more righteous than other nations, but solely because of the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, when we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, let us be truly thankful for all the physical and spiritual blessings God has graciously bestowed upon this nation, His people and His Church.

Brethren, we thank God the Father and Jesus Christ—and you personally—for your continued faithfulness in your love of God and one another, as well as in your personal prayers for us and all the brethren, and in your generosity in tithes and offerings. We know that God will continue to bless you and keep watch over you in every circumstance. We continue to pray for you daily—for your health, your healing and for God’s love and grace to be upon you in every situation and in every trial. We pray daily, as well, for all the brethren in Christ Jesus around the world.

With love, in Christ Jesus,

Fred R. Coulter

FRC