A good friend of mine once said, “Jack, the most important thing is not when Jesus is coming, but that He is coming!” And I would have to agree with that, wouldn’t you?
I receive several newsletters from various ministries every month or two, and by and large it seems like most of them are competing to see who can come up with the most shocking bit of information that would show that the time of trouble is just upon us.
Now don’t get me wrong! I believe it is important for us to know that we are living in the last remnants of time, but what good will it do us to know this if we are not also learning to become more Christlike in character?
The signs of the last days are not designed to cause an excitement among us, but to inspire us to “get ready, get ready, get ready” by getting sin out of our lives and reproducing the character of the One who is coming back to receive us unto Himself.
Our focus at this time is not to be so much about when the Lord is coming, but that the four winds should be held a little longer. Check this statement from 5T 717:
“The prophet saw ‘four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.’ Another angel, ascending from the east, cried to them, saying: ‘Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.’ This points out the work we have now to do. A vast responsibility is devolving upon men and women of prayer through-out the land to petition that God will sweep back the cloud of evil and give a few more years of grace in which to work for the Master. Let us cry to God that the angels may hold the four winds until missionaries shall be sent to all parts of the world and shall proclaim the warning against disobeying the law of Jehovah.”
When you think about it, it’s rather selfish of us to pray that Jesus will hurry up and come when there are millions who have not heard about the truth that will save their souls for eternity.
Really, the best way to kill two birds with one stone is to “preach this gospel of the kingdom in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then the end will come!” By forming our character in righteousness and helping others to do the same, we will also be hastening the return of Jesus to this sin-cursed earth: for Christ’s Object Lessons, pg. 69 tells us plainly that “when the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.” So what are we waiting for?
We now offer proof in support of the foregoing propositions. If they are sustained, they establish the fact that the present generation is that one to which the angels’ messages are addressed. We earnestly invite all who wish the truth, to weigh this part of the argument with especial care.
1. Has the proclamation of the hour of God’s Judgment come, been made in any past age? If such a proclamation has never been made in past centuries, there is an end to controversy on this part of the subject. No persons have ever been able to show any such proclamation in the past. The apostles did not make such a proclamation. On the contrary, they plainly inform us that the day of the Lord was not then at hand. Martin Luther did not make this proclamation; for he thought the Judgment about three hundred years in the future. And finally, the history of the church presents no such proclamation in the past. Had the first angel preached to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, that the hour of God’s Judgment had come, the publicity of such a proclamation would be a sufficient guaranty that the history of the world would contain some record of the fact. Its total silence respecting such a proclamation, is ample proof that it never was made, and should put to silence those who make such an affirmation.
2. We are on firm ground, also, when we say that had such a proclamation been made to the world in past ages, it would have been a false proclamation. Four reasons sustain this statement. 1. There is no part of the Bible on which such a message, centuries in the past, could have been based. Hence had such a proclamation been made, it would have been without scriptural foundation, and consequently not from Heaven. 2. It would have been in direct opposition to those scriptures which locate the Judgment, and the warning respecting its approach, in the period of the last generation. The scriptures which sustain these two reasons we shall presently cite. 3. The history of the world amply evinces that the hour of God’s Judgment had not come ages in the past. 4. Nor would it be true of past ages, if limited to Babylon. For Rev. xviii, 8-10, clearly shows that the hour of Babylon’s Judgment is yet in the future. It is certain, therefore, that the angel with the proclamation respecting the hour of God’s Judgment, has not given it at a time when it would be not only destitute of scriptural support, but would absolutely contradict their plain testimony.
3. The prophecies which give us the time of the Judgment, and which present the succession of events leading down to that great crisis, were closed up and sealed till the time of the end. We refer particularly to the prophecies of Daniel. See chap. viii, 17, 26; xii, 4, 9. Hence it is evident that God reserves the warning to that generation which alone needs it. Noah’s warning respecting the flood, was alone applicable to those who should witness it; thus also the warning respecting the Judgment is alone applicable to that generation which lives in the last days.
4. The Bible locates these messages in the period which immediately precedes the second advent, and plainly warns us against the proclamation of the Judgment at hand prior to that time. Here we join issue with our opponents. Instead of finding that the apostles gave this proclamation, as some teach, we shall find indubitable evidence that they located this warning far in the future, and that they admonished the church to heed none that should precede a given time. If we recur to the book of Acts, we shall find Paul preaching before Felix, of the Judgment to come; and before the Athenians, that God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ. Acts xxiv, 25; xvii, 31. But that book nowhere intimates that Christ was immediately coming to Judgment. Peter points his hearers to the future, saying, that the heavens which had then received Christ, must retain him until the times of restitution. Acts iii, 21.
--to be continued
The torn and ragged one-dollar bill discovered that it was about to be retired from circulation. As it slowly moved along the conveyor belt to the shredder, it became acquainted and struck up a conversation with a fifty-dollar bill that was meeting the same fate.
The fifty began reminiscing about its travels all over the country. “Life has been good,” the fifty exclaimed. “Why, I’ve been to Las Vegas, the finest restaurants in New York, political fund raisers, and just returned from a cruise on the Caribbean.”
“Well,” said the one-dollar bill, “you’re fortunate to have been able to visit all those places.”
“So where all have you been in your lifetime, my little friend?” says the fifty.
“Well, I've been to . . .
the Methodist Church,
the Baptist Church,
the Presbyterian Church,
the Lutheran Church,
the Catholic Church,
the Orthodox Church,
the Assembly of God Church,
the Brethren Church,
the Quaker Church,
the Pentecostal Church,
the Charismatic Church,
the Mennonite Church,
the Church of Christ. . ."
“Excuse me,” says the fifty, “but what’s a ‘church’?”
If you would like to receive the newsletter via email rather than snail-mail, please email us.
I learned that what they are telling us is only part of the story. What they should be saying is low “simple” carbs. The simple carbohydrates are your refined and processed foods—the foods that give the short-lived energy bursts. What we should eat more of is the complex carbohydrate—fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole grains-the foods that supply a constant flow of energy.
The complex carbohydrates will also aid in weight reduction or weight control. A diet of at least 90% raw is excellent. If that seems a little too much, try 80% raw. If you still don’t like that, try at least 50/50. I remember my grandmother telling me years ago to eat at least 50% of my diet raw.
--Cindy Jones
We were particularly interested to see that there were a couple hits from Israel in January as well as Norway, Poland, and Ireland to name a few.
We want to thank you for your support to this ministry. Without you it would be impossible to do this mission work. And because of your support, this becomes your mission work as well.
We also received some nice letters from prisoners since our last newsletter—
Jack & Cindy Jones
I’m writing to thank you for the Bible study
lesson. And to help me get closer to the good Lord and the spirit as well. I also read
that you all could help me out with a Bible as well. If you could please send me one
if possible. As the lessons come for I could get the good Lord on my mind. And also
that I would have question that come to mind and maybe that you could answer them as we
go along with the lesson in the future. I guess that I’ll let this letter end for now.
May the Lord keep you all save and healthy out there in the free world. My prayers go
out to everyone out there as well.
Your New Found Friend, CM, Texas
Dear Jack & Cindy,
Hope all is well with both.
Well, I completed several more programs that
were supposedly required by the parole board. They kept me very busy. The sad part is
that I do all these programs and then some with flying colors and still get set-offs.
This time, my second time up, I received a
three-year set-off. They always use the same reasons for anyone who gets one. Makes
no sense.
Nearly everyone who comes up for review the
same time I did received set-offs.
It’s all in God’s very capable hands. He
knows all about it. With Him, I’ll carry on as usual.
I hope you have not given up on me.
Please keep those lessons coming!!
May God continue to bless you both beyond measure.
Yours because He Lives! AS, Texas
Thank you for the graded lessons and the wonderful book Steps to Christ. An
excellent book. I can understand why it has went through so many printings. I am
enclosing the remaining lessons. I never knew if I should send them all at once or
what. I really enjoyed them. And of course any supplemental material you may offer to
give me knowledge of the Scripture truth, I’d love to have. I was blessed by a
wonderful Study Bible with the notes of Mrs. Ellen G. White. Quite an outstanding lady.
God bless you and this wonderful ministry.
In Prayer, ST, Florida
Hello Jack,
Well, I’m writing to let you all [know]
thanks for sending the Bible studies. Also thanks for the new Bible that you all send
me. I was wondering if there’s any way that you could send a Bible study to a friend
out in the free world so he could get to know the good Lord and to learn the Bible as
well. (gives name & address of two friends)
Maybe they could get to know the Lord a
little better in life and maybe could change their ways in life. You know sometimes a
person hurts inside their heart because the things that we did in life and to others.
Sometime I pray for other people but I don’t know if the Lord hears me or not. I hope
that a lot of things change for people and for me as well. I thank you for the Bible
study and for having an ear for listening. May Lord keep you all safe and healthy in
the free world.
CM, Texas
Dearest Jack and Gospel Workers Ministry,
I hope and pray this letter finds you all
happy, healthy, and with Grace! I myself am doing well and appreciate all your help in
my path. I do have two cousins who are like brothers who I’d like to share this Bible
study. We are no longer allowed to write any other inmates so maybe you could send
them these studies and a kind word of encouragement from me and your fellowship. I
know how much it has helped me.
I can’t tell you how maddening it is to be
so close yet have no contact because we’re not actually brothers. I appreciate any help
you could give in this matter. I also have a few Christian brothers who would like to
start and a few understand Spanish very strong, but English not so well. Please keep
me in mind as well as my family and new family of believers when you pray.
Your friend in Christ, LDM
Because of some changes in the focus and direction of our ministry we will be sending only a monthly cassette from now on. Occasionally there may be more than one per month, but for the most part we’ll try to get one out around the first of each month. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.
If you have not been receiving at least our monthly cassette but would like to, please let us know and we would be glad to add you to the list.
In His Service,
Jack and Cindy Jones