Pastor's Corner - September 16th, 2022

We're only 10 short days away from the beginning of the Fall Holy Day season for 2022 and the first of those days, the Feast of Trumpets. 

It's hard to believe that they are already here -- and as often happens, before we know it they will have passed, and we'll be into the late fall and winter months again awaiting the beginning of the cycle again in the Spring.

These Days - focusing on the movement of God's plan from personal, and internal in the hearts and minds of His believers at this time begins to turn a corner with the start of the Fall Holy Days into the plan He has for the remainder of mankind. 

• The return of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the saints
• The reconciliation of God's creation and His people to Him through the sacrifice of His Son, and the putting away of Satan the Devil--for the first time in mankind's history - removing the evil influence of our adversary.
• 1000 years of peace and prosperity, and the rule of Jesus Christ on this earth - with all Kingdoms and Crowns placed at His feet.
• After that Millennium, the release and eventual banishment of Satan the Devil for good...

Then and only then, can the final steps toward eternity be taken, with the Kingdom of God coming down from heaven, following the Day of Judgment pictured by the 8th Day.

At this time, and in this life - God has selected, chosen, and called His children... those who He desires to be His sons and daughters. He has revealed His truth, provided His spirit to them as a part of the baptismal covenant, and given them the opportunity to be inheritors alongside Jesus Christ, inheriting the spiritual promises that have been provided.

But beginning with the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement which follow shortly thereafter, the beginnings of the plan which God has in place for the rest of mankind begins to take place. The opportunity and purpose for which mankind has been created will be finally fully realized.

Our God is a God of many peoples.

Many nations, many tongues.

He created them all, provided for them all, and sent His Son to make salvation available to them all.

One of the most incredible things for me in the opportunities that I've been provided to travel and serve around the world is hearing the Word of God, and the praises of God spoken in Fante, Twi, Yoruban, Igbo, Spanish, and even though I can't always understand the languages at face value - knowing that we are through the Spirit of God speaking the same thing has always left me in awe of God and what He is doing. 

That we are unified--we are together--in our praise and worship of God. Despite the language barrier, despite the geographical distance... that we are family.

2nd Peter 3:9 states that He desires that none should perish, but that all should have everlasting life. That He isn't slack concerning His promise - but He is longsuffering. Providing the needed time for repentance, to call those He is working with, and bring still others to Him through His Son.

That patience is for us, and for the world around us because there are some that will come to God in these last days all the way through the time of the tribulation. Revelation 7 describes this incredible time in God's plan.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

    "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
    Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
    Be to our God forever and ever.
    Amen."

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. [Revelation 7:9-14, NKJV]

As we come into this Fall Holy Day season, let us focus and study on the meaning of these days, that they might inspire us, and strengthen us all to renew our faith, our focus, and our commitment to the work God has called us to perform in these last days as a people.

I hope you have a wonderful Sabbath. 

With Love,
Ben