Letter from The Editor

reetings to all: According to all the signs, we are getting very near the prophesied end-time, the end of the age of man and his colossal mis-rule. This mis-rule has been going on for the past 6,000 years, since Yahweh decreed that man would be a free moral agent, with the ability to choose to go his own way, or to submit to the loving kindness of his Almighty creator, Yahweh El Shaddai and enjoy His wonderful largess that He has prepared for us. But it is growing worse by the day, and has now reached a critical state. And, sadly, most do not even recognize it – well, except maybe when you stop to fill your gas tank, or when you learn that your job has been sent to India, China, Bangladesh, or maybe Mexico.

We hear of starving millions in places like Haiti, parts of Africa and Asia, and hardly give it a passing thought. But wait until it starts happening here, in your own land. We hear of brutal dictators terrorizing their own citizens with armed thugs (called “police” and “army troops”), raping, torturing and murdering anyone who voices opposition. Just wait until it starts happening here.

Just think – if man had not sinned by his willful and shameful disobedience to His Maker, there would have been no sickness, no disease, no wars, no famines, no natural disasters; nothing but peace and tranquility, with goodwill toward all. Yahweh planned that mankind would have rule on earth and all that is in it (Gen. 1:26), under His loving guidance by following the Torah (Law) that He gave for our good.

But man chose another way. Everyone followed his or her own evil desires, and soon the earth became so corrupt that Yahweh looked down on his creation with, I feel sure, a sick heart. So He decided to wipe them all out and start over with Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives.

Things were good for awhile. But it didn’t take long before despots arose, the chief of whom was Nimrod. We read of him in Gen. 10. He was a “mighty hunter” (Gen. 10:8-9), and a city builder (Gen. 10:10). Scripture says he was a mighty hunter “before the LORD (Yahweh).” This has been misunderstood by most. The true meaning of “before” in this instance, means “in place of.”

In other words, the people began to look to him instead of Yahweh. Satan used him to begin a pagan religion that, believe it or not, is still with us to this very day. It has spread its tentacles into every organized “religion” on the face of the earth. People everywhere now worship “God,” the deity of the nations, many of whom think they are worshipping the Creator, Yahweh, the true King of Heaven and Earth. Yes, they call him by different names, such as Allah, Krishna, “the LORD,” God, Jehovah, Kurios, Theos, Jupiter, Ba’al, and on and on.

It is not known generally, but all these names and titles do honor to none other than Satan the devil and have come to us through the despot, Nimrod, from almost 6,000 years ago.

I spoke of “according to all the signs,…” at the beginning of this letter. What are some of these signs? Let me name a few. Bear in mind this is not an exhaustive list. First, there is the time factor. We are very close to the end of the age of man – the 6,000-year period from creation until now. According to some estimates, we are now only a few short years away from that benchmark, 6,000^th year. One writer thinks Yahshua will return in the next Jubilee year, and that will be (Roman calendar) 2022 or 2023. This may well be correct. We are told that no one knows the day or the hour, “…but my Father only,” Yahshua said (Mat. 24:36), but He does not say we can’t know the year. He did strongly imply that it was a jubilee year when He first came, and that He will return in another Jubilee year, 2,000 years later, “…to set the captives free (Isaiah 61, quoted in Luke 4:18-19).

He was cut off in mid-week of both the 7,000 year “week” of  mankind’s 6,000 year sojourn on this earth, plus the 1,000 year reign of Yahshua (about 4000 BCE) and a literal 7-day week that we know as Wednesday. If this was a Jubilee year, it would have ended at the Day of Atonement that year (See Lev. 25). Or it could date from the beginning of His ministry, about 27 CE, or the end, about 30 CE.

At any event, anyway you look at it, we are near the end of 6,000 years since creation, and are on the threshold of that Last Great 1,000-year “Day” when Yahweh will send Yahshua back to earth to resurrect His Firstfruits and establish His Kingdom on this earth.

Then, we have the prophecies of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, in which Yahshua the Messiah outlined events that lead up to the great tribulation, Satan’s devilment, and finally, His triumphant return to put down Satan and his forces of evil, and to establish His government with the resurrected saints. Let us look at Matthew 24:

Verses 4 & 5 – false Messiahs (white horse of Rev. 6:2). We have these today. Verses 6-7a – wars and rumors of wars (red horse of Rev. 6:4). Have you heard of any wars lately? Verse 7b – famines, pestilences, earthquakes (natural disasters, which also includes flood, drought, tornados, tsunamis, hurricanes) (Black horse of Rev. 6:5-6, food shortages). The whole world suddenly seems to have combinations of these plagues. Mat 24:8 says that these are only the beginning of sorrows.

Mat. 24:9-10, “then they shall deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you…” Pale horse of Rev. 6:8).

Things will be so terrible that even brothers and sisters will betray one another (Mat 24:10). But notice verse 13,  “he that shall endure to the end shall be saved.” And those who die in the faith, will be resurrected at His return. What a wonderful promise! We may have to endure hardship and even physical death, but we will inherit a future so wonderful that our finite minds cannot grasp it.

So, brothers and sisters, let me encourage you to truly embrace the Scriptures as never before. Study and pray “to show thyself approved.” Everyone will have an opportunity for salvation. This is ours, so let’s not blow it. Remember that judgment has already begun for us who are being called now (1 Peter 4:17). Our judgment period starts from the time we are called and converted, until we either die, or are changed at His return, 1 Cor. 15:52, 1 Thes. 4:15-17.

Watch therefore, be alert. The hordes of destruction are already being massed in the Middle East. Subversives have been planted among us. Our time of tribulation has already begun. It can only get worse until Yahshua steps in to take charge and put down Satan and his evil cohorts. May Yahweh, through His Son, Yahshua the Messiah, take us under His wing and see us through to the end. HalleluYAH! ~                                                            

As I mentioned last month, we have once again reserved the White River Youth Camp at Taneyville, MO to host the 2008 Feast of Tabernacles this autumn. Expected dates are Oct. 15-22, including the Last Great Day. If the new moon is not seen on the night of Sept.30, then it will be seen the next night. In this case, all the autumn Feast dates will be one day later than shown on the “Schedule of 2008 Feast Days” on the next page.

For those of you who have not been there, the facilities include a 350-seat auditorium, a separate kitchen-dining room, men’s and women’s dorms, a pavilion, space for 10 RVs with water and electric (no sewer), and room for plenty of tents, several close enough to run an electric cord to your tent.

The cost for use of all these facilities is $5 per person per day (children under 6 free). Even if you stay off site, the cost for use of the camp is still the same. This is very reasonable, considering charges at other Feast sites. For example, for a family of 4, the total cost for the entire 8 days would be only $160 plus your food. If you elect to stay off-site in a motel, the cost is still the same for use of the facilities.

On the two High Sabbaths, the first day of the Feast and the Last Great Day, and the weekly Sabbath in between, there will be a communal shared noon meal in the dining hall. You are also welcome to use the dining hall for all your family meals. Just clean up after yourself.

There will be messages about the coming Kingdom of Yahweh, and what we have to do to qualify to be in it; how to overcome our own human nature; how to walk as Yahshua walked (He was and is our example). There will be personal and baptismal counseling, etc. There will be Bible studies, group discussions.

There will be special music and praise offerings, so bring your instruments and/or your singing talents. There will be free literature on many varied subjects. There will be two or three different versions of Sacred Name Bibles for sale at cost on non-Holy Days.

There will be activities for young and old, plus time to enjoy the local attractions as well. The camp is about 18 miles from Branson, MO, the country music capital of mid-America, and home of 3 or 4 family-oriented theme parks and attractions, including Silver Dollar City, White Water, Celebration City, Showboat Branson Belle, and lots of music shows. A new one this year that I want to see, is called “Noah.” It has a huge stage and live animals.  

All of good will are invited and encouraged to attend, so make your plans now to attend with us. If you have never kept Yahweh’s Festivals before, you have a treat in store. Read about them in Leviticus 23. Of course we do not do the animal sacrifices today. We sacrifice ourselves daily now. See Rom. 12:1 and Heb. 13:15-17.

Write for my booklet, “Yahweh’s Holy Days vs. Man’s Holidays,” for a more complete understanding of the importance of these days and what they represent. Step by step, they show Yahweh’s plan of salvation for ALL mankind, from Yahshua’s sacrifice to pay for our sins, to the time in the future, when all who have ever lived will have had an opportunity to know the Truth, repent, and be saved.

The year is flying by, and it is time to be making plans. Also, if you have not already, you can start saving some money now for that purpose, so that when the time comes, you won’t have to say, “I would love to go, but I can’t afford it.” Incidentally, we may be able to help a few who are truly indigent, but would like to come. Make a special request to me if you are in need of assistance.

It will be helpful to us in making plans, to know if you are coming, so please let us know as soon as possible. Clip the application form on page 11 and send it in.

Until next time, Shalom –  Frank Brown     ~