Can We UNDERSTAND?
Many people become frustrated and turn away from religion altogether because their ministers do not understand the meaning of these turbulent times. They seem able to preach only empty platitudes which have no connection with the dramatic happenings about us.
The obvious reason is that these ministers do NOT study or understand whole sections of the Bible. The vital one third of the Bible which is devoted to prophecy is particularly neglected. But many other parts which make possible a right understanding of prophecy are also considered "unimportant" and unknown.
Shocking as it may seem, even the very plan of salvation is not considered "important" to understand by some of the well known evangelists touring the nation and the world!
A while back, on a radio broadcast, I was surprised to hear one such well-known evangelist say in effect: "You say you can't understand all the complexities of God's plan as revealed in the Gospels? Well, you don't need to understand it. Don't TRY to understand it now. Just come to God through simple faith in Jesus Christ."
Without being sarcastic, I would like to ask — how "simple" can your faith be when you don't even attempt to understand the truth on which God's Plan is founded?
The apostle Paul was inspired to write: "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but UNDERSTANDING what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17).
The instruction he gave Timothy is recorded for Christians of all ages: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15).
We can understand the Bible if we will study it, and if we will OBEY it. The lack of willingness to obey God has caused many a minister and many a church to close their eyes for all time to basic scriptural truth.
All too often, ministers hire themselves out to the people and preach only what the people want to hear. As a warning to ministers of every age, God says: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children" (Hosea 4:6).
If any church or any individual is willing to OBEY God's law, and to walk in the light as God reveals that light, God's plan and purpose WILL be understood.
But the Holy Spirit is given only to those who OBEY God (Acts 5:32). "A good understanding have all they that Do his commandments" (Psalm 111:10).
And an inspired understanding of Bible prophecy is available to those who will obey God's law! You can KNOW what lies just ahead, and understand the real meaning of the dramatic age in which we live!
God's Prophetic Warning Is Being Preached
God has NOT left this confused, divided, war-torn world without an in-spired PROPHETIC MESSAGE revealing the exact course of future events — and the vital meaning of these times in God's great Plan.
There is one work — one Church — which alone is preaching to the nations the same message of repentance and obedience which Jesus preached, and which is being used and empowered by Almighty God in preaching His prophetic WARNING to the entire world.
It is not a big, popular, organized denomination of men — because God NEVER used such an organization to carry His prophetic warnings. You will search the Bible in vain for an example of this.
God's Church today is not "accepted" by the ecclesiastical organizations of men. And it should not be! Jesus said:"woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6:26).
Christ called His Church the "little flock" (Luke 12:32). He said it would be scattered and persecuted (John 15:20). But God always describes His Church as an obedient Church — keeping ALL of His commandments. "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Rev. 14:12).
Because of their willingness to obey, God has opened wide an understanding of the Bible prophecies to His servants. His Church is now preaching with Divine AUTHORITY the exact, specific and DEFINITE prophesied events that lie just ahead in world affairs. His Church is the only one that is warning America and Britain of the imminent DANGER that looms just ahead for our peoples — of where that danger lies, when it will manifest itself, how it will come about, and WHY God is permitting it.
No, God's inspired prophets have NOT vanished from the earth! In specific terms, His servants are now beginning to THUNDER His warning message to a misguided, heedless world!
You are NOW reading part of that message! Within this present living generation, men and nations will come to realize that the message you hear over The WORLD TOMORROW broadcast and read in The PLAIN TRUTH magazine is directly from Almighty God, the Creator-Ruler of the universe!
"Responsible" Ministers?
Regardless of the PROOF of fulfilled prophecy and the evidence of an inspired understanding of God's Word, carnal human church leaders will always seek to justify themselves. They will viciously attack, slander, and label as "irresponsible" anyone who disagrees with their basic doctrines and who will not join or "co-operate" with their ecclesiastical-political machine.
The charge of "irresponsible" is the one most frequently leveled against those who refuse to conform. In actual fact, by "irresponsible" ministers they mean those who are not appointed or elected by some board or human organization of men which, in turn, is elected by the lay church members.
Also, to be considered "responsible" the minister and church must be an active part of the ecclesiastical organizations and councils of the land. They must show an attitude of going along with and co-operating with the various church agencies established and controlled by the major Protestant denominations. In order to have a "clean bill of health," their doctrine must not be considered "offensive" to any of the major denominations.
The "responsible" minister must also take an active part in the political and social life of his community. He should be a member of the Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary Club or similar organizations. In all things, he should demonstrate his approval and participation in the community's civic and social organizations.
In plain language, to be considered "responsible" a minister must be PART AND PARCEL WITH THIS HELL-BENT WORLD!
In the final analysis, he must be "responsible" to the people and preach what THEY want to hear, take part in their PAGAN traditions, and approve of their SINFUL ways!
Now let's get this straight once and for all!
God's true ministers are NOT called by men. They are called and inspired by Him. They are NOT responsible to men — but to God!
They are to serve the people by preaching God's message whether the people like it or not!
God's ministers must come OUT of this world — its human organizations and societies (James 4:4). They must preach the TRUTH — regardless of whom it offends.
A true minister must be totally SURRENDERED to the rule and will of Almighty God. He must STUDY the Bible humbly as a little child to drink God's will out of it — not to read his denomination's doctrine into it. He must let God's Word CORRECT and REPROVE him where he is wrong.
He must obey ALL of God's commandments through Christ in Him. Not trying to argue or reason around it, he must strive to LIVE by EVERY word of God. He must surrender to let God guide him, use him, speak through him.
Is such a man a "responsible" minister?
Yes, he is totally "responsible" to Almighty GOD!
Now do you understand?
As proof, turn and read some of the other fascinating articles in this magazine! In each issue are prophetic articles and they will tell you EXACTLY and SPECIFICALLY what is soon going to occur. The doctrinal articles will reveal a depth of understanding of God's Word, plan and purpose that is unsurpassed. This is the ONLY work on earth where this spiritual and prophetic understanding is available. There is NO OTHER source!
Many of you have realized this and have wondered why. That is because the ministers in this Work of God are truly "responsible." They are God's ministers — and this is the work of God's true Church!
"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."