April 13, 2018 Brethren Letter

Dear Brethren,

I read an article this week whereby a “Christian Numerologist” believes that on April 23rd, Christ will take His faithful to “Paradise” and the Great Tribulation will begin. Now, there’s another example of a man who has prophesied a SPECIFIC date for exact CLIMACTIC, END-TIME events. In 2010, I wrote a letter on this subject, and have decided to resend it tonight (with a few edits).

Please have a wonderful Sabbath!

Your Brother in Christ,
Gary Liebold

October 22, 2010
Dear Brethren,

A few days ago, I was reading an article entitled “10 Failed Doomsday Predictions.” This article was written to show how various groups or individuals have falsely predicted an imminent worldwide Armageddon, coupled with an expectation of an immediate return of Jesus Christ. 

The article covered some different events in history, such as the story of “The Prophet Hen of Leeds,” which occurred in 1806. During that year, a chicken was supposedly laying eggs inscribed with the words “Christ is Coming” on them. Though some of the townspeople apparently believed this was a miracle hen, they later began to realize this was nothing more than a cackling, crowing hoax.

Other events in history that falsely declared Christ’s imminent return were also discussed. The most notable of the statements from what I read was the very last paragraph taken directly from a pastor who is living today and who adamantly declares himself to be a “prophet” of God. It’s interesting to note that he also heads one of the current (corporate) Churches of God. This pastor was quoted as saying…
 “ ‘…By the fall of 2008, the United States will have collapsed as a world power, and no longer exist as an independent nation.’ As the book notes, [the man’s name] places his reputation on the line as the end-time prophet of God.” 

We must never forget that false prophets are often easy to recognize, as we learn from the book of Deuteronomy. “When a prophet speaks in the name of the ETERNAL, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the ETERNAL has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:22). This man also taught that Christ would return on Pentecost, 2012. 

Brethren, we know that Christ IS prophesied to return to this earth (Matthew 24:27, Mark 13:26, Mark 14:62 Luke 21:27). That is prophecy we can count on! But, God’s people are not to set specific dates for Christ’s return. Matthew 24:36 reveals Christ’s own words… “But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Only the Father in heaven knows the given day of Christ’s return. No man has some “inside scoop” that Christ or the angels don’t have. 

However, I will also point out that we should be able to discern the overall time-frame of where we are in prophecy! We must NEVER fall asleep spiritually!!! As Christ said “…ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:3) 

Man has been allotted 6000 years (by God) to rule himself. To better understand, this is what was written in a correspondence letter in 1989 and taught by God’s apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong.

    “Thank you for your recent inquiry in which you asked where the Bible mentions man’s having 6000 years of self-rule…
    Where are we now in this great plan? Charts which list biblical events in time order (these can be found in some Bibles) are     accurate enough to show that HUMAN LIFE was created about     4000 years before the birth of Christ. History makes it clear     that almost another 2000 years have elapsed since then — making a total of nearly 6000 years of human civilization to     date. In short, man’s “week” is nearly over, and God’s great     millennial rest will soon be here.”

Brethren, that’s not all that shows where we are in prophecy. We can look at other points Biblically as well, such as…

    –The end-time “Elijah” coming on the scene restoring God’s doctrines and Government to the Church (Malachi 4:5, Matthew 17:11)

    –The preaching of the gospel by God’s apostle (Matthew 24:14)

    –The scattering of God’s Church in this end-time (Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel 34)

Remember, Christ told us we are to “…watch and pray…”

Mark 13:32-37 “But of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left His house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house comes, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”

It IS important to watch world events and to pray fervently to our Father in Heaven, asking Him for His Spirit to dwell in us abundantly! We must grow in GODLY character and produce GOOD spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-25). God’s Kingdom will soon be here! Let’s all continue to WATCH, PRAY and GROW, developing Holy righteous character! These are the things that are important for us to be doing!!! 

Have a wonderful Sabbath!

Your Brother in Christ,

Gary Liebold