Living Church of God World Ahead Weekly Update

While fall colors spread over North Carolina, a freak snowstorm blanketed the Northeast USA, floods ravaged Thailand and northern Italy, earthquakes rocked Turkey and Peru and the ongoing financial crisis in Europe is bringing about significant events that will impact the future of that continent and the world. It seems like we are watching prophecies come alive on an almost daily basis! Here in Charlotte, we are “back in the saddle again.” Mr. Meredith held several meetings this week, finished a semi-annual letter and is heading to the Baltimore-Washington area where he will conduct services and two Tomorrow’s World Special Presentations this weekend. Mr. Ames and some others here at Headquarters have been a bit “under the weather” since the Feast, but they are mending. Mr. Wayne Pyle reports that while we were away the Tomorrow’s World telecast produced the highest festival-period count with nearly 14,000 responses in North America—almost 20% over last year’s count. This weekend, I will conduct TWSPs in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Akron, Ohio, and Mr. Dan Hall will conduct TWSPs in Abilene and Midland, Texas. Dr. Scott Winnail will be in Kingston, Jamaica for services and a short conference. Your prayers for these important activities to preach the Gospel will be appreciated. Please remember God’s people who are in need of prayers for their healing and for serious challenges they are facing.—DSW

We would like to request the fervent prayers of the brethren for Leona Bonjour, Judie Lowe and Glenda Stephenson. Mrs. Bonjour was diagnosed this week with Stage 4 cancer; Mrs. Stephenson was also diagnosed this week with cancer (cervical); and Mrs. Lowe was also recently diagnosed with advanced cancer. Both Mrs. Bonjour and Mrs. Stephenson serve tirelessly here at Headquarters, in the Mail Processing and Duplicating Departments, respectively, and Mrs. Lowe serves alongside her husband, Mr. Jack Lowe, who is the Area Pastor in Georgia and Alabama. The intercessory prayers of the brethren for their complete healing are greatly appreciated.

You are invited to a delightful weekend of activities being planned for December 23-26 in Charlotte. Friday night Bible Study and Sabbath services will be held at the Hilton Charlotte University Plaza Hotel. Saturday evening we will have a dinner and dance, and Sunday’s activities for all ages will be held at a local gymnasium. This will be an excellent opportunity for fun and fellowship! Rooms are available at the Hilton Charlotte University Place Hotel for a discounted rate of $69 (plus tax) per night. When making reservations, be sure to identify yourself as being with the Living Church of God. This discounted rate will be available from Friday, December 23 until Monday, December 26. Costs for the Saturday evening dinner/dance will be announced in the coming weeks.

Take the Online Feast Survey!We want to thank all those who filled out the festival survey (online as well as by paper). If you have not yet had an opportunity to fill out the festival survey form, you can still go online at http://fotsurvey.lcg.org to take the survey and record your comments. Your comments and suggestions are extremely valuable!

As we move into the fall Season, we are continuing our weekly On-Line Bible Study each Sunday evening. Last Sunday, we reviewed the celebration of Halloween, and why we avoid taking part in it. For notes, a recording of the study, or to take our “What do you know about Halloween?” challenge quiz, go to livingyouth.org!

This Sunday evening, November 6, we will be continuing our study of the scriptures... step by step! However, before we get into the study, we will begin by doing a special live “web-cam call in” segment where you can share your Favorite Feast Experience with other teens—right from your computer. All you need to do is show for the Bible Study for more instructions! The room will open at 7:00 p.m. (ET), and the action will begin at 7:30 p.m. (ET). To participate, just go to www.livingyouth.org and look for the Bible Study icon and instructions. Don’t miss it!—Jonathan McNair

Are You a Peacemaker? Jesus Christ explained a fundamental aspect of Christianity when He told His disciples, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). The Apostle Paul advised brethren in Rome that Christians should do all they can to “live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:17-21). Paul explained that we can become peacemakers by not seeking revenge, by not mistreating others when we are mistreated and by overcoming evil with good. Solomon wisely observed, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Solomon also stated, “He who covers [overlooks and forgives] a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats [keeps talking about or won’t let go of] a matter separates friends” (Proverbs 17:9). Jesus warned that reacting angrily to a brother or sister is the same as murder, beca use it breaks the spirit of the law (Matthew 5:21-26). Real peacemakers are willing to go to their brother or sister when problems arise and talk things over in a spirit of meekness (Matthew 18:15; James 3:17-18). One important lesson we must learn as Christians is that peace comes when we follow and learn to apply the laws of God. David wrote, “Great peace have those who love Your law” (Psalm 119:165).

EU Splitting and Germany Leads. When 27 EU leaders met in Brussels last week to discuss how to save their common currency, the ten non-members of the eurozone (including Britain, Denmark and Poland) were asked to leave the eight-hour meeting that followed a reception! The debt crisis in Europe is being used to move the 17 eurozone members toward political union and the formation of a European state. “Under an agenda forged by Sarkozy [France] and Merkel [Germany], the eurozone is to develop into a powerful core of the European Union, with new institutions that were unforeseen in EU treaties and never legitimized by European voters” (Sunday Times, October 30, 2011). A German news source reports, “This new Europe [‘Merkel’s Europe’] has a nearly hegemonic leader, namely Germany” (Spiegel Online, October 31, 2011). However, this 17-nation core of the eurozone may be short-lived. Northern European nations favor free trade, while the Mediterranean countries favor state-run industries and protectionism. The financial crisis in Greece could reduce the numbers in the core group if Greece leaves or is expelled from the eurozone (euobserver.com, November 3, 2011)—and other nations could follow. Bible prophecies have long foretold that at the end of the age a group of ten kings would surrender their sovereignty to a centralized European Beast power, overseen by a powerful church (see Revelation 17). The events in Europe are bringing these ancient prophecies into sharper focus.

Vatican Calls for World Financial Governing Body. A recent report by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace proposes the “establishment of a supranational authority to oversee the global economy” (New York Times, October 24, 2011). Although the Vatican suggested that this new governing body be housed within the United Nations, a leading French financial regulator suggested to a meeting of Roman Catholic bishops in Brussels that the role of this world financial body could be played by a United States of Europe. He stated further, “Euro-using countries should establish joint economic governance despite the ‘unease’ of non-euro EU members over a ‘two-speed’ union or resistance among EU voters to a ‘federal leap’” (euobserver.com, October 28, 2011). While calls from the Vatican for an international financial body may sound strange, Bibl e prophecies foretold such a move thousands of years ago. The Apostle John records that at the end of the age, the “merchants of the earth” will become rich through the activities of a European Beast power overseen by a great church (Revelation 18:3, 15). This system will be given authority over every “tribe, tongue, and nation,” and no one will be able to buy or sell without its sanction (Revelation 13:1-18). This global system called “Babylon the great” will only last a short time before it is brought down by the return of Jesus Christ (Revelation 18:1-11; Daniel 2:44-45). For more information on this topic, review our booklet The Beast of Revelation.—Scott Winnail, Daniel Bennett, Deborah Lincoln-Strange