God Commands Our
Presence At His Feasts!
Here's Why!
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It is a fascinating phenomenon! Especially to me, personally, for I well remember when the only people on earth keeping the Feast of Tabernacles so far as we knew was my own family and a tiny group of church members in Eugene, Oregon, in the early 1930's! Later, my father found a mountain resort on the Mackenzie River in Oregon called “Belknap Springs” (which is still there, although the original old building was burnt down) and a little group of perhaps fifty or sixty began keeping the Feast there.
From those humble beginnings, the Feast of Tabernacles grew until my father and I would appear at eleven different US sites; from Long Beach, California to Big Sandy, Texas, and from St. Petersburg, Florida to Squaw Valley, California; at our facilities in Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania, The Dells, Wisconsin, and Lake O’ The Ozarks, Missouri. We spoke before crowds of 8,000, 11,000, and even 15,000 at a time!
Today, as a result of the disintegration of the Worldwide Church and the spin-off of dozens of smaller organizations, there are people who will be meeting in hundreds of sites on every continent, sometimes within only a few miles, or a few blocks of each other, and “ne’er the twain shall meet.” While that is sad, one can nevertheless rejoice that many have not abandoned their custom of keeping the Feast!
Why do so many continue to cling to the custom of Feast-going?
Because these people know God COMMANDS their presence at His Feast!
Those who have experienced previous feasts know what a wonderful, rewarding and uplifting time it is; as if God has designed His special “vacation plan” for our families. Having once experienced the Feast, each one of God’s children is eager to repeat the experience each year — zestfully looking forward to yet another “best Feast ever!”
God has especially BLESSED the Intercontinental Church of God by providing TWO NEW FEAST SITES for us this year! The two new sites are right here in our new Headquarters offices and auditorium near Tyler, and in beautiful Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
All the information you will need about all EIGHT sites can be found at our Feast of Tabernacles information page.
CHRIST IS COMING BACK TO EARTH!
Jesus Christ is on a countdown from heaven!
Even now, a heavenly clock is ticking away, inexorably moving toward a
time which only the Father Himself knows (Matthew 24:35); a time when
Christ will launch Himself from heaven toward this earth at the helm of
countless millions of powerful angels!
While we cannot know the “day nor the hour” of that stupendous event, we
CAN know the general time, from Christ’s own prophecies.
We know that America could once again be targeted by insane, hate-filled
Islamic terrorists! We are constantly being warned about “dirty bombs,”
or the dangers of biological and chemical weapons; about possible cyber
warfare; about poisoned food and water supplies; about terrorists
wanting to kill as many Americans as they can.
We know that the Palestinians continue horrifying suicide bombings
against helpless men, women and children in Israel, and we know that a
PALESTINIAN STATE may be just ahead! We know that presages terrible
DANGER for Israel. We know that Christ said we are to WATCH JERUSALEM,
and that when the “Abomination of Desolation” is set up, and when
Jerusalem is “surrounded with armies” then the TRIBULATION is about to
begin!
We know that the tribulation will put DOWN AND OUT any further organized
attempts at preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God to a rebellious,
Satan-deceived world, and that the ministry of the “two witnesses”
(Revelation 11) will begin! God’s people, the MODERN nations of the
so-called “Lost Ten Tribes,” will be viciously attacked, and CONQUERED
by an enemy they do not now suspect! Only about ONE THIRD of them will
remain alive— as CAPTIVES by foreign conquerors!
Then will come the heavenly signs (Revelation 6,7), and the DAY OF THE
LORD.
We know God will then INTERVENE in the course of these horrible human
events, and tell His Son and our soon-coming King, “It is time!”
Christ will then hurl Himself toward this earth! He is coming as A
WARRIOR, to MAKE WAR!
Isaiah prophesied, “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and
reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite
the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips
shall he slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4).
John saw a vision of this stupendous event: “And I saw heaven opened,
and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful
and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and
he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is
called The Word of God.
“And the armies which were in heaven [millions of angels!] followed him
upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword [metaphor for
His commands], that with it he should smite the nations: and he
shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress
of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice,
saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather
yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
“That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the
flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on
them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and
great.
“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies,
gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse,
and against his army.
“And the beast was taken [seized; arrested!], and with him the false
prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them
that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his
image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with
brimstone.
“And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat
upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the
fowls were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:11-19).
Though millions profess to “worship” Christ, it is not THIS Christ they
worship!
Millions of nominal, professing “Christians” cannot IMAGINE that Jesus
Christ would administer the DEATH penalty to rebellious, satanic,
brutish murderers, and to false religious posturers who deceive the
masses!
Notice further: “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings,
which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one
hour with the beast.
“These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the
beast.
“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall
overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they
that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation
17:12-14). The ten nations to finally form the BEAST power in central
Europe will assay to FIGHT the returning, conquering Christ!
Satan the devil is PREPARING the nations to do just that! With millions
in many nations fascinated by concepts of extraterrestrial beings; with
the incredible interest in astrology, witchcraft, demonism and Satanism
today; with the introduction of “star wars” concepts; anti-ballistic
missile missiles and “Strategic Defense Initiatives,” the satanic armies
of the Beast power will be deceived by Satan to believe they are
defending themselves against an INVASION FROM OUTER SPACE!
They will aim their lasers, their anti-aircraft batteries; their
anti-missile forces and all their guns and aircraft toward the skies,
where they will see mind-boggling displays in the heavens; the sun
“black as sackcloth of ashes,” and the “moon as blood.”
Christ will DESTROY the armies of the Beast! Notice, “And this shall be
the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought
against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand
upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and
their tongue shall consume away in their mouth” (Zechariah 14:12).
As if with powerful laser-type rays, with Divine POWER, Christ will
cause the bodies of His enemies to simply DEMATERIALIZE! Their helmets
and uniforms will collapse; sink to the ground with only a pile of white
bones inside!
No, THIS Christ is NOT the Christ of millions of professing “Christians”
today!
CHRIST’S FIRST GREAT EDICT
Soon after Christ stands once again on this earth, the FIRST
GREAT COMMAND to all the survivors will be issued! Notice God’s
prophecy: “Then shall the LORD go forth, 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 cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the
west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain
shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south...And it
shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which
came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship
the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
“And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the
earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon
them shall be no rain.
“And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain;
there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen
that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
“This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all
nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles”
(Zechariah 3-19). If you have not yet heard it, write or call (903)
561-7070 for your FREE copy of the tape “The
First Great Edict.”
Christ’s edict will not be a casual invitation. It is not optional.
Today, all too many people are CASUAL about God’s Holy Days and
Sabbaths. Some allow any small excuse or difficulty to come along and
decide not to attend! But then, after Christ sets up His world-ruling
government on this earth ALL NATIONS WILL BE REQUIRED to come to the
FEAST OF TABERNACLES; to sit at the feet of the King of Kings and be
taught of HIS new world order!
As I have explained for many years, you and I, as “new creatures in
Christ,” are living only TEMPORARILY in these human, physical bodies.
The time is coming when only the SPIRIT creature being formed within us
will survive!
God’s Special
Savings Plan For The Feast
For many decades, those of God’s people who have chosen to OBEY
God have known about what came to be called “the second tithe.” This
SECOND ten percent of ones’ income is to be set aside for the specific
purpose of attending God’s Feasts. It is for US, not for the work, or
the church — but for us and our own families!
God commanded, “Thou shalt truly tithe [the word “tithe” means “one
tenth”] all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year
by year.
“And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which
he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe [this is not
the FIRST tithe, which God claims for Himself, but a “second” tithe
which WE are to consume, ourselves!] of thy corn, of thy wine, and of
thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou
mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
“And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry
it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall
choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
“Then shalt thou turn it [agrarian produce or cattle] into money, and
bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the
LORD thy God shall choose:
“And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth
[earnestly desires] after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for
strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat
there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine
household” (Deuteronomy 14:22-26).
It is OUR money, to spend on ourselves, our families, and our loved
ones! Yet, it is to be set aside for a HOLY PURPOSE!
Those who have OBEYED THEIR GOD in faithfully setting aside this SECOND
ten percent of their annual incomes have been able to greatly REJOICE in
God’s feasts! Thousands, over the decades, have been able to travel
overseas to a different Feast site; have been able to take their
children to Europe, or Britain, the Philippines, or Australia, or some
other country, and to meet and come to know and love their brethren of
different countries and difference races.
Others have decided to see different parts of the United States. Some in
Canada have traveled all the way to the sugar white beaches of the
Florida panhandle, to Destin, to enjoy God’s Feast there.
Some from the eastern states have flown to beautiful Lake Tahoe, high in
the majestic Sierra mountains of California, to observe the Feast there.
Those who have done so can tell you, “Obeying God PAYS OFF!” They are
able to dine out in restaurants, selecting the best of the menus; to
participate in the many special events at the Feast, such as beach
parties, skating parties, picnics, barbeques, or the “family night fun
show.” They are able, because they have faithfully SAVED toward the
Feast, to purchase special gifts and special clothing for their children
and themselves!
Many find they have enough that they can GIVE to those of poorer
circumstances, helping them rejoice in the Feast!
You will know why God commands us, “...and YE SHALL REJOICE before the Eternal your God.” (Leviticus 23:40).
PLAN NOW to attend one of the EIGHT U.S. Feast sites, or one of our sites in other countries.
