App
November 13, 2019
Dear Brethren,
God has once again blessed us with a tremendous Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day! This was true at all the Feast sites, as well as at the dozens of smaller gatherings and among those who had to stay at home for various reasons. Think on this: What a fantastic time it will be when Jesus Christ and the resurrected saints are ruling the world!
This will begin at the instant of the first resurrection, when the last trumpet sounds. At that time, all kingdoms and nations will be given to Christ, as He is “King of kings and Lord of lords.” Notice: “Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign into the ages of eternity.’ And the twenty-four elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; for You have taken to Yourself Your great power, and have reigned. For the nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and to give reward to Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to all those who fear Your name, the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth’ ” (Rev. 11:15-18).
All the resurrected saints will be spirit beings—the sons and daughters of God the Father—and we will reign with Jesus. God has promised this: “Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power. But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years…. And [He] did make us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 20:6; 5:10).
The World Today: President Donald Trump is truly putting the people first, above politics, and he believes in the Creator God. As a result, things have improved a great deal over previous administrations and economies. These “better times” may continue through his next term. But, because of the sins of so many people, once he is no longer president we will probably experience a continuation of our nation’s decline, hastening its destruction. Only time will tell.
We need to remember that we are still living in the end times and that the prophecies of God will continue to be fulfilled. As you know, the greatest problem in the world, which the world doesn’t know, is that Satan is actively deceiving the whole world (Rev. 12:9). As a result, lawlessness, crime, and corruption are intensifying everywhere in nearly all nations—bringing wars and death to thousands of people; generating political and financial upheaval; breeding perversion and hatred; as well as causing poverty, sickness, disease, mental illness, and homelessness. All of these—coupled with drug addiction, abortion, and gross immorality—will lead to the collapse of this nation! These massive sins will overwhelm every aspect of life in nearly all nations—affecting their governments, education, economics, and religions. Thus, by rejecting the true God, mankind is rushing headlong down the path toward destruction. As a result, God will send His judgments and correction on all nations and peoples.
The apostle Paul describes the world without the true God: “Exactly as it is written: ‘For there is not a righteous one—not even one! There is not one who understands; there is not one who seeks after God. They have all gone out of the way; together they have all become depraved. There is not even one who is practicing kindness. No, there is not so much as one! Their throats are like an open grave; with their tongues they have used deceit; the venom of asps is under their lips, whose mouths are full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes’ ” (Rom. 3:10-18).
Men have rejected the true God and have followed Satan the devil. Therefore, in spite of their best intentions, everything that men do will eventually come to nothing. Moreover, there will be a great deal of pain and agony—culminating in the “Great Tribulation”—because men have trusted in their own ways. Jesus prophesied: “For then shall there be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until this time, nor ever shall be again. And if those days were not limited, there would no flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be limited” (Matt. 24:21-22).
The Great Tribulation ends with the greatest battle in the history of the world—centered in the holy land. Christ and all the resurrected saints will descend from the Sea of Glass and destroy all the armies gathered to fight against them. Without a doubt, the nations will believe that this tremendous army descending to the earth is an alien invasion from outer space. Here is a prophecy from Zachariah: “For I will gather all nations to battle against Jerusalem…. And the Lord shall go out and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.
“And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall split in two, from the east and to the west, and make a very great valley. And half of the mountain shall move toward the north, and half of it toward the south…. And the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with You.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark. And it will be one day which shall be known to the Lord, neither day nor night; but it shall come to pass that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them shall go toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea. In summer and in winter it shall be. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth; in that day there shall be one Lord, and His name shall be one” (Zech. 14:2-9).
Once these battles have ended, Christ will set up the rule of God and the saints beginning at Jerusalem, which will in time spread to the whole world. “But it shall be in the last days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come and say, ‘Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob. And He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths’—for the law shall go forth out of Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among many people, and will rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Micah 4:1-3).
Jerusalem will be the capital of the world, with Jesus Christ as King and Priest. He will create a fantastic Tabernacle. There will be no temple and no animal sacrifices, as the Lamb of God will be the sacrifice for the whole world. Isaiah writes: “In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious [the salvation work of Christ and the saints], and the fruit of the earth excellent and comely for those who are the survivors of Israel. And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion, and he who remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even everyone who is written unto life in Jerusalem. When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from its midst by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. Then the Lord will create over every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be a canopy. And there shall be a tabernacle for shade by day from the heat, and for refuge, and for shelter from storm and rain” (Isa. 4:2-6).
Notice what people will declare when Christ and the saints rule the earth in love and truth: “And in that day you shall say, ‘I will give thanks to You O Lord; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You do comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.’ And with joy you shall draw water out of the wells of salvation.
“And in that day you shall say, ‘Praise the Lord! Call upon His name; declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the Lord; for He has done gloriously; THIS IS KNOWN IN ALL THE EARTH. Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst’ ” (Isa. 12:1-6).
The Kingdom of God will rule the world for 1,000 years, bringing unprecedented peace and prosperity: “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be the Root of Jesse standing as a banner for the people; to Him the nations shall seek; and His rest shall be glorious…. For bronze I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver; and for wood I will bring bronze, and for stones, iron. I will also make your overseers to be peace, and your rulers to be righteousness. Violence will no more be heard in your land, neither wasting nor ruin within your borders; but you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise” (Isa. 11:9-10; 60:17-18). That will be awesome, indeed!
The apostle Peter admonishes us to always be diligent so that we can attain the goal of entering into the Kingdom of God: “For this reason, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure; because if you are doing these things, you will never fall at any time. For in this way, you will be richly granted an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ…. [B]e growing in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and into the day of eternity” (II Peter 1:10-11; 3:18).
Which is the True Calendar of God?: We are sending you the booklet Which is the True Calendar of God? This is a vitally important booklet because for many years we were taught that the original calendar of God had 12 months of 30 days each, and that a year had 360 days. However, we cannot find any such calendar in the Bible. The teaching was based on the false assumption that a “prophetic year” was only 360 days long. But that does not automatically transfer over to God’s “Sacred Calendar.”
In the ages of eternity past, there was no need for a calendar—as is needed today. Even before the creation of the angels and their subsequent rebellion, God was no doubt devising His plan for mankind—before the “ages of time.” Paul writes concerning this: “Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling—not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the ages of time” (II Tim. 1:9).
After the angels’ rebellion led by Satan, as God prepared to recreated the earth for human beings, He first reestablished the daily cycle. Then, on the fourth day, God set the “Sacred Calendar” for timekeeping on the earth. In doing so, He had to reset the earth and moon in their relationship to the sun for the proper determination of time: “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide between the day and the night, and let them be for signs, and for [the] appointed seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so.
“And God had made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night; and God had made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide between the light and the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were day four” (Gen. 1:14-19).
Everything needed for accurate timekeeping on the earth is named: Day and Night, the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. Notice that God refers to time being set for “appointed seasons, and for days and years.” The “appointed seasons” are the holy days and feasts of God, listed in Leviticus 23. But the first special day God revealed to Adam and Eve was the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week—also an “appointed time.” It is to be kept for all time, as verified in Exodus 31: “Therefore, the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a PERPETUAL COVENANT” (verse 16).
In Leviticus 23, God lists His appointed Feasts—beginning with the weekly Sabbath. He designates these annual appointed times by their month and day of the month: Passover: 14th day of the first month; Feast of Unleavened Bread: 15th to the 21st days of the first month; Wave Sheaf Offering Day: the day after the weekly Sabbath during Unleavened Bread; Pentecost: count seven weeks, plus one day—the 50th day; Feast of Trumpets: 1st day of the seventh month; Atonement: 10th day of the seventh month; Feast of Tabernacles: 15th to the 21st days of seventh month; and Last Great Day: the “eighth day”—the 22nd day of the seventh month.
During the age before the children of Israel, God must have revealed His method of calculating time to the patriarchs. The Genesis seven account of the Flood shows that it was specifically calculated according to God’s “Sacred Calendar.” In the booklet, we carefully examine the entire account and discover that the year of the Flood was exactly 385 days. This proves that, according to the calculations of God’s calendar, the year of the Flood was a leap year containing 13 months. As the booklet demonstrates, the theory that the biblical calendar originally consisted of twelve 30-day months, with a total of 360 days in a year, is impossible. On the other hand, the account of Noah’s Flood does demonstrate that God’s “Sacred Calendar” was in full effect from the beginning.
Finally, God did not leave it to every person to determine the days, months, seasons, and “appointed times” for himself or herself. That leads to chaos—to everyone doing what is right in their own eyes. Rather, God gave to the priesthood the authority to determine the “Sacred Calendar.” They used the mathematics God revealed to them. They alone had the responsibility to calculate the “Sacred Calendar.” Just as the priests and Levites within the Jewish community preserved the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament, they likewise preserved God’s method of calculations for the “Sacred Calendar.”
Please carefully read the enclosed booklet—Which is the True Calendar of God?
Brethren, thank you for your prayers for us and for those who work with us. We pray for you daily—that God will bless you, heal you, watch over you, and help you grow in love, grace, and knowledge. We thank you for sending in your tithes and offerings. We watch every penny so we can use God’s sacred tithes and offerings to serve the brethren and preach the Gospel.
With love in Christ Jesus,
Fred R. Coulter
FRC
2019 Feast of Tabernacles Reports
Ocala, Florida—We had a wonderful Feast in Ocala, focusing on the messages presented by Fred. It was a small site, hosting about 18 throughout the Feast, including children. We did have some wonderful activities, special music, sharing of meals, and making of new friends—but the primary value of the Feast was the messages and how they pertain to our lives in relation to our Creator and His plan for us and for mankind.—NJ
Panama City Beach, Florida—The only word I can think of to describe the Feast in Panama City Beach this year is fantastic. Our attendance varied from the mid-20s to the mid-30s. The weather was fantastic. We enjoyed an atmosphere of godly love throughout. We all felt that we were well fed spiritually, as well as physically. The Spirit of God was evident and was reflected in the attitude and fellowship of the brethren. An evening social and a church picnic were enjoyed by many. Without a doubt, the people attending made this Feast the blessing and success it was. I have never felt more part of a family than I did at this Feast. My thanks to all.—RK
Tulsa, Oklahoma—The messages were great, and being able to follow along with the sermon transcripts books was great. We had our Feast fellowship meal on Wednesday after services. Then we played Bingo, with some prizes—everyone really enjoyed the day. Our high attendance was 39 and the low was 22—so the average was 30, which was down a little from past years. We had one visitor from Kansas, and another from Texas; the rest were from the Tulsa area. The weather was great with cool mornings and warm afternoons—nice fall weather. We hope all of Gods people had a great Feast. We now look forward to the spring holy days.—LB
Hollister, California—We had a fantastic Feast here in Hollister. We had an absolutely full house. We had 45 people attending, and for the first time we had a good number of children: 10 boys and 6 girls. We had tremendous meals right here in our meeting room—and we could all stay and fellowship as long as we wanted. We had a family here from Chile, the family of Mauricio Esteban Olivares. That included Mauricio and his wife and two children. They had a great Feast. And Stephanie Elizondo got the younger children together and they practiced for special music, which turned out to be very delightful.
This turned out to be a fantastic Feast—very inspiring and uplifting for all. Now we’re ready for the “dark age” of the holidays of this world, well fortified to resist it all.—FC
Pasadena, California—Twenty-four excited brothers and sisters shared a very meaningful Feast in Pasadena. Along with Fred’s excellent messages covering the Job and Solomon syndromes (among other powerful messages), Michael Heiss, Durrell Brown, and Byron provided insightful and thoughtful messages to kick off most meetings. Several visitors who do not normally attend with us added a new spark to the group, which was enjoyed by all.
We truly feasted on spiritual and physical food, shared a fun show (where most participated), barbecued in the park, and enjoyed lots of “God talk.” We were very thankful for the spiritual Feast that God provided for us!—BN
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee—We had another tremendous Feast in Pigeon Forge. The brethren arrived with a loving spirit, which made our fellowship and activities all the more inspiring. We averaged 90 in daily attendance and had 103 on the first day. And we were blessed to have several new brethren attend the site.
The Feast messages were excellent. We were able to spend a lot of time together, and our activities included a luncheon, cookout, ice cream social, family evening, and nightly fellowship. We had the baptism of Denise Mitchell in the motel pool on Friday night, and many of the brethren were there to witness it. On the Sabbath we had the blessing of the children. We want to thank everyone for their help in making this year’s Feast so successful. God has truly blessed our Feast and we give the thanks and praise to Him.—TF & RF
Payson, Arizona—We started out with 12 on opening night, had 16 on Monday, and by the middle of the week we had 26 in attendance. Wayne did a wonderful job with his four sermonettes. We had a movie night and two game nights—and good food all week. The brethren loved the messages each day. Carol and I made up printed, bound transcript books for everyone to use during services, which made it easy for everyone to follow along. Brethren came from Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina, and Florida.—LR
Houston, Texas—Thanks for another spiritual education concerning our future. We had 25, and three of them were children. We appreciated Ernest Istre’s visit. We had to fight for our space this year. It all worked out peacefully. Thanks for everyone’s prayers.—TF
Branson, Missouri—We had a marvelous Feast. Our new venue was appreciated by everyone, even though we did have a few hiccups with our room. We had a total of 44 attendees, with a daily average of 30 to 34. Our Yellville (Arkansas) group sponsored a wonderful BBQ, affording us with a longer opportunity for fellowship. We were further blessed to have three singers for special music almost every day. We had good food, both spiritual and physical, good fellowship, and a venue with something for everyone.—BW
Kalispell, Montana—The highest attendance in Kalispell was 15, three of which were children. It was a family Feast where everyone spent a lot of time together going places and having meals. We had a movie night, a game night, a visit to Hockaday Art Museum, and trips to Big Mountain and Whitefish Lake. The Feast was filled with much love and fellowship.—JV & HV
Bellaire, Michigan—Following a wonderful opening night, we had 48 in attendance on day one, with an average of 38 each day. The weather was cool and rainy the first few days, but gave way to lots of sunshine. The fall colors were spectacular and everyone was in a festive spirit. And the fellowship was just as you would expect from God’s people when they get together—a most rejoicing spiritual family reunion with heartfelt fellowship, good food, and laughter.
Highlights included one baptism, the celebrating of one couple’s 53rd anniversary, and a renewal of wedding vows for a husband and wife after 15 years of marriage. Group activities included a Lady’s Tea, a Pizza Party, a Bible Study, a Potluck meal and game night, and a bowling outing. The brethren commented on how they enjoyed the beauty of the area, the forested setting, the walking trials, and the great fellowship. They especially appreciated the spiritual meat provided by God in the messages. We truly felt God’s warm embrace as we rejoiced in His Feast on the Northern Shores of Lake Michigan.—AJ
Lake George, New York—Thirty happy and contented brethren gathered to keep the Feast in Lake George. Everyone expressed great joy and appreciation for the many blessings that God poured out upon us. The weather was fantastic, with sunny temperatures in the mid to high 60s. The fall colors were at their peak, which only added to the beautiful scenery of the region. Fred’s messages—which focused on God’s plan to bring His kingdom to this captive world and our part in ruling under Christ—were much appreciated. We enjoyed meals together on the holy days, and the daily fellowship expressed the love we have for one another. We all got together for a game night, and later for a movie. The brethren enjoyed the many activities and attractions in this historic area, especially the scenic tour of the Saratoga National Historic Park. —RK
Guelph, Ontario, Canada—We had a wonderful Feast here in Guelph. We thank you Fred for your inspiring messages, which get meatier every year. It was rewarding, family oriented, and God’s Holy Spirit was evident. All the brethren were loving, kind, and sharing, and fully participated in everything! Outings included a Riverside Park picnic, visiting the Butterfly Conservatory, and a walk through the Elora Gorge. We also enjoyed a turkey dinner and much fellowship. We had live music for services, where everyone got involved. Everyone showed their own special love in their own special way!—R & T
Vernon, B. C., Canada—Our Feast this year in the beautiful Okanagan Valley was most rewarding and inspiring—with an average of 74 people attending. The weather was pleasantly cool, but the warmth and fellowship among the brethren was outstanding. The presence of God was most evident, as was the godly love among the brethren. There was great participation in all of our activities and several people provided special music throughout the Feast. We were blessed with a good number of children and teens, as well as young adults, which certainly contributed in a special way. The messages were outstanding—the highlight of another outstanding Feast in western Canada.—NB & DB
Prince Edward Island, Canada—Between 15 and 19 people had a fantastic Feast on Prince Edward Island. We enjoyed the fellowship, and we were very much aware of God’s presence. We thank Him for all His many blessings. Canadian Thanksgiving was Monday the 14th, and we celebrated it as a group. The following Thursday we enjoyed a catered meal, consisting of Roast Beef with all the trimmings. Saturday evening we had a pizza party, which included a jam session of guitars and drums and voices to match. Fred, thank you for the inspiring and uplifting messages during the Feast.—GN & SN
Caloundra, Australia—Attendance at Caloundra averaged around 30 each day, peaking at 38 on the first holy day. Given the severe drought conditions throughout Australia, it was uplifting to see the number of country brethren who made the effort to attend.
Feast-goers enjoyed a hearty lunch with dessert, as well as barista style coffee, free each day—and, of course, great fellowship in a relaxing and friendly atmosphere. A number of first-time visitors remarked positively on the free daily meals.
The recorded messages by Fred are always the highlight of the Feast, and brethren were given greater understanding from God’s Word on the meaning of the Feast and the Last Great Day. The messages were both positive and sobering, helping members to understand the importance of God’s calling and our part in God’s plan of salvation. Members were given a bound copy of the printed transcripts, which were used in services and which will provide a valuable tool in reviewing the Feast material.—PS
Moama, Australia—We had 26 in attendance in Moama, southeastern Australia. Nearly everyone stayed at the same resort. Being surrounded by a beautiful vineyard gave the brethren an enjoyable millennial atmosphere.
A spirit of service and cooperation abounded, along with a spirit of peace and unity that showed in every activity. Fred’s messages were moving—excellent food in season. In particular, the “Solomon syndrome” and the “Job syndrome” and the LGD message were all well received, provoking much thought. Two inspiring and insightful video presentations were held: one by Maurice Dodson on the creation and another sent in by Adrian Harris on the amazing scientific proof of God’s existence. Joe Pezzaniti gave a Sabbath afternoon sermon on “encouragement in the little things” and the “relevance and connectivity” of the commandments. (If the world kept just one of the commandments, what a difference it would make.) Also, Lindsay Stephens gave an inspirational, thought-provoking message on Psalm 111.
We were glad to have Roy and Manola Assanti with us this year, with Roy giving two messages about our calling—“Be ye ready” and “If we do not faint”—that emphasized our need to be diligent, urgent, ready, and alert. We also had a new innovation this year, where some members, who were unable to attend, joined in via a phone link-up—allowing them to share in the singing, announcements, and the live messages.—JP
New Zealand—This is our second year at this site, and we have been truly blessed with a near perfect location to hold God’s Feast. The site is a holiday park with a professionally equipped meeting hall. The cabins were most comfortable. This year we had a lot of rain, which gave us the perfect excuse to meet for extra fellowship and meals together—as well as for services. The accommodations were close to the meeting hall, so it really was a very family-oriented Feast.
The highlight was the messages about the meaning of the Feast, and related subjects. The brethren continually expressed their appreciation for the biblical knowledge and inspiration we were given. No one was in a hurry to leave the hall, and we frequently stayed on for fellowship. We had catered meals on the two holy days, so no one went hungry—physically or spiritually.
We had 19 in attendance, with several unable to be with us for health and other reasons. Activities included a lady’s afternoon out, and John brought his boat and two canoes.—O & J
Melaka, Malaysia—The Malaysian brethren had a wonderful Feast in Melaka. The weather was great and our activities went through without a problem. Group activities included numerous meals, outdoor trips, a bible quiz, and an entertainment night competition. A highlight again this year was the spiritual fulfillment we received in the extraordinary sermons by Fred. I also gave two sermons.
We were pleased to have members from Australia—Mr. and Mrs. Peter Carson; New Zealand—Mr. Rogan Webster; Myanmar—Hkawn Din; London—Mr. Daniel Lawrence; and other guests from Myanmar. Their company made a great Feast even better. We had 44 in attendance, including children, throughout the eight days. It was our biggest CBCG Feast in 20 years. I officiated a wedding (my first) for Mr. Rogan Webster and Hkawn Din during the Feast on the 2nd day. Overall, a memorable Feast was had by all!—AM
