In this Issue
From the Publisher
All Herbert W Armstrong letters collected from the 1930s now available
Church of God News - New York
Portfolios now all scanned and uploaded
John Halford’s Notebook
Wilbur Church of God Member logbook
Is Matt 25:31-46 a Spiritual or Literal Parable, or Both?
The Forgotten Chinese Sabbatarians
Should Christians be celebrating New Year's?
Rare Items Sought
Church of God periodicals - latest editions online
List of our Websites and Blogs
How to Navigate the Friends of the Sabbath site
From the Publisher
Dear friends and supporters,
The journey continues as more and more items are discovered or information flows in. Let us continue unabated with this quest and your ongoing prayers for the continued success for this project are so appreciated!
Articles Published
Ezekiel contains a very serious and potent message for the House of Israel today. In particular, he warns of God’s punishment on our peoples, culminating in national collapse, invasion and even slavery.
My recently published article “A Warning to our Readers: Will YOU Heed Ezekiel’s Prophecies?” in the Jan-March 21st Century Watch magazine on the subject can be found online here. And my other articles and studies relating to the Ezekiel Warning Message can be downloaded here.
An excellent article on this titled “God’s Urgent Message to You” appeared in the Jan-Feb 2025 Beyond Today magazine. Also, the Eternal Church of God promoted this message on YouTube under the title A Watchman.
Another “The “Beast” Is Not Globalism or “Woke” Doctrine” has been published on the World News & Prophecy Review blog.
In addition, I have recently written three Bible studies that may be of interest:
Matt 25:31-46 a Spiritual or Literal Parable? (is it dual or only spiritual?)
Will the Saints Rule from Heaven or on Earth? (do all or some saints rule from heaven during the Millennium?)
A Note on Ezekiel's Warning to Israel & Judah (shows how Ezekiel took his message to Judah and some Israelites in captivity with Judah initially; but his greater warning message via the Church must now be proclaimed today)
Further Items Coming Soon!
I am hoping to receive 100s more items from various sources in Jan/Feb for adding to the website. These will be analysed and uploaded as I fill in the gaps in our history from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s.
The collation and preservation of Church of God history has been woefully neglected and to gain an accurate and more complete picture of our history, gathering and interpreting the ‘lost’ or missing literature is paramount.
Donations
Some have asked if they can donate toward the ongoing costs involved with this project. Donations are gratefully accepted and needed. However, I have always said that no donations must be sent if you and your family have needs. Nor must they be sent in lieu of tithes to your church or fellowship group. Only if you have the means, then you should donate. The preferred means is via PayPal here.
Sincerely,
Craig M White
Publisher
PS: Check ‘What’s New’ regularly for updates and new uploads. Remember, you can view past editions of this newsletter (vol. 1 no. 1 to vol. 2 no. 2) here and vol. 2 no. 3 onward here.
All Herbert W Armstrong letters collected from the 1930s now available
I have now made the last of the 1930s letters from and to HWA available online here.
As announced a while back, these were to be analysed and referenced which they have now been and relevant information from them has now been included in a number of articles such as ‘Just what do you mean Ezekiel's Message"?’; ‘Herbert W Armstrong's Early Beliefs and Doctrines’; ‘Lists, Charts & Letters of the Early Years of the Ministry of Herbert W Armstrong’. These articles can be found here.
Church of God News - New York
I have finally managed to obtain a copy of the first edition of WCG's New York Church of God News. Alas, I do not have any further editions.
Those from other congregations you can find here.
If anyone has other copies of the New York editions or those I don’t have from other congregations, please scan and e-mail to me or post to me.
Portfolios now all scanned and uploaded
All those Portfolios from Robin Jones library sent to me a few months ago are now scanned.
It was a tedious process to scan 100s of them, but I got into a rhythm - after all my foot was injured and all I could do was sit down and just scan relentlessly.
As one goes through these issues, one can pick out a lot of interesting tidbits which can be incorporated into a history of the WCG and AC.
You can find them here - just scroll down to Pasadena Portfolio.
Alas, not all editions are available, so if anyone has any of the missing editions, do let me know.
John Halford’s Notebook
Scott Ashley (former Beyond Today Managing Editor sent me the following early January this year regarding John Halford’s Notebook. Should anyone know what has become of it, please let me know.
I knew John Halford from my time in Pasadena in the late 70s and early 80s. John was one of the best spokesmen for the church’s beliefs at that time. During that time, I remember him making a trip to the Pacific Northwest to research the roots of HWA’s ministry. He produced a notebook with photos of some of the various buildings the early church met in and photos of people, the early feast, etc. I remember that he even came across some ads HWA had produced in his career in advertising. They were typical HWA style with lots of all caps and exclamation points. One such ad was for laundry soap, but I don’t remember the others. They were included in the notebook as well.
and
I wish I knew what happened to that notebook. To the best of my memory it was a standard vinyl binder notebook with pages showing photos of the various old buildings where HWA had held services, Feasts, etc. It wasn't complete because many of the structures no longer existed. But John Halford had done a remarkable job of trying to document all he could find, including some of the old ads HWA had created.
Wilbur Church of God Member logbook
In a recorded study ‘History of the Work 1927-35’ (West Valley, 8 May 1993) Herman L Hoeh mentions at 4:43mins from the end that he visited the Salem West Virginia Church of God (Seventh Day) group in the early 1980s (fyi I have been receiving literature from them on and off since the late 1970s). You can listen to his message here.
He stated that he liked a lot of what they were publishing. He wanted to see the oldest building for the Church of God located at Wilbur, West Virginia and met the owner whose family had given it to the Church in the 1850s (it was received back from the church). She gave him a gift: the closing logbook of the church 1947-52 which included photographs of people attending long before she was born.
If anyone knows what happened to that logbook and if photographs were taken of the Wilbur building, please let me know.
====================
James Phillip Arnold provided the following additional information:
Circle of Seekers ca 1900
Tidbits:
I noticed in the Arnold's Gleanings that thanks to you I can now "search" a Sabbatarian from Texas named Rusk ca. 1910 says that he wrote Charles Russell about Sabbath. Also says that Rusk believed in Israel identity.
So the circle of these Bible seekers included many that knew of one another even if they never formed one group.
Noticed too that an E. Bee in West Virginia was a Sabbatarian and non-pork eater who was said to be with the "Bible students" which is a term used for Russell's large circle. But the Bee family for generations were in SD Baptist circle (South Fork was more Mosaic than most SDB) and later in Church of God Salem. In early 70's I sort of randomly called a Bee in West Virginia who confirmed he and family were now in Church of God Salem.
Each had their own publication/paper much like today we have web sites and circulate emails on these topics. It was an exciting time for these seekers.
One may imagine they were scurrying this way and that seeking new truths, sharing a sort of Adventist background, but all the while avoiding and decrying the specter of EG White trying to gobble up these outliers.
—
I found these names at Find A Grave. They are members of the Wilbur church in Wilbur, WV from page 312 of Dugger and Dodd's History of the True Church.
Notice how someone says on page 312 in the first person plural: "Of these we recall:......."
My old note there asks who is recalling? If these are contemporary with Dugger, Dodd and Armstrong then the names that follow are around 1920 to 1936 publishing date. But if they are contemporary then they tell us nothing about how far back the Wilbur church actually goes.
But if they are from a much earlier date and are being recalled by some unknown source that Dugger/Dodd is using, then we may have some primary source evidence that the Wilbur church existed prior to the 20th century, as Dugger/Dodd claim. But how far back?
I decided to use as method typing in the names of each of the members listed on page 312 to see if i could find when they lived. The impression from the wording and context of the paragraphs is that the source is claiming that the members go back into the 19th century.
But do they? If they die in the 40's or later, then they would be contemporaries of Dugger/Dodd and sort of stuck into p 312 to give the illusion of the early existence of the Wilbur sabbatarian church.
Each one of the members that i could find buried in West Virginia all were born in the mid 1800's and most die around 1900 or so.
I conclude that Dugger/Dodd are using a source who personally knew these dead members, and that source, male or female, affectionately recalls their names remembering them and their wives.
Second, I conclude that this text and the grave markers prove that the Wilbur church had members who were active from ca. 1830 to 1910. Therefore, it is possible that Dugger/Dodd source is correct stating that the church was founded 1859 because the members would have been old enough to be part of it at that time; or their parents. It is possible of course that the church started as late as 1880 with the members all joining when they were past, say, 60; but that is very implausible.
Whether the Wilbur church was sabbatarian as early as 1859, I do not know. Since Dugger/Dodd and their source include it in their history of the true church, it would appear that it was.
I still have some "sense" that it may not have been under Niles because I do not see a direct statement to that effect. But the evidence indicates that it was.
Is Matt 25:31-46 a Spiritual or Literal Parable, or Both?
Some believe that the charitable deeds in Matt 25:31-46 are only or mainly metaphorical. Which leads to my recalling sermons on the subject and our traditional understanding which is a dual application of this passage.
My Bible study on this subject can be found online here.
The Forgotten Chinese Sabbatarians
By Ryan Cooper
Hong Xiuquan (1814-64), the often-misunderstood prophet of 19th-century China, is a figure whose life and legacy continue to resonate deeply within the annals of Chinese history. Known locally as Hong Tian Wang (pronounced Hong Tian Wong), he was not only a gifted student but also a talented village teacher, dedicated to the education of his community. I had the unique privilege of visiting his hometown, nestled just on the outskirts of Guangzhou, where the echoes of his extraordinary journey still linger.
Hong Xiuquan’s Spiritual Awakening
It was in this very village, after a series of unsuccessful attempts to pass the Imperial Examinations, that Hong Xiuquan experienced a profound spiritual awakening. During a trance-like state, he claimed to have received a divine revelation from Jesus Christ, Who made His will known to him. This moment marked the beginning of Hong's mission to eradicate the false idols that had ensnared the hearts and minds of the Chinese people for centuries. In a time when the true God, known as Shang-Di or Shang-Ti—the Heavenly Emperor—had been largely forgotten, Hong sought to restore the knowledge of this Creator to his fellow countrymen.
In this pivotal period, it is claimed that Jesus Christ revealed Himself to Hong Xiuquan as the Heavenly Emperor, endowing him with a sense of divine authority and purpose. Inspired by this revelation, Hong Xiuquan founded the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, a movement that aimed to establish a new order based on Christian principles and to liberate the Chinese people from the oppressive Qing Dynasty.
However, the Taiping movement soon attracted the attention of foreign powers, particularly the British Empire, France, and America, who viewed the burgeoning Christian empire in the heart of China with both intrigue and trepidation. While some Westerners recognized the nobility of the Taiping cause, many others aligned themselves with the corrupt Qing government, which was steeped in idolatry and oppression.
The Taiping Army, composed of fervent believers and skilled martial artists, achieved remarkable victories in battles that relied on hand-to-hand combat. Their martial prowess, combined with their unwavering commitment to their cause, often led them to triumph against seemingly insurmountable odds. However, the tide began to turn against the Taiping Kingdom when the Qing forces, bolstered by cannons and military support from the British and French, gained the upper hand.
One might ponder the motivations behind the British and French support for the Qing Dynasty, a government they ostensibly opposed. The answer lies in the lucrative opium trade, which these foreign powers sought to protect and expand. The Taiping movement, in stark contrast, implemented strict laws prohibiting foot binding and the use and sale of opium, positioning themselves as champions of social reform and moral integrity.
Among the many figures associated with the Taiping movement, one hero stands out, though he remains largely forgotten in the West: Augustus F. Lindley. A former British officer who became a staunch supporter of the Taiping cause, Lindley chronicled the events of this tumultuous period in his seminal works, Ti-Ping Tien-Kwoh: The History of the Ti-Ping Revolution, Volumes 1 and 2. His writings provide an invaluable account of not only his experiences in the region but also the broader narrative of the Taiping Kingdom, shedding light on a pivotal chapter in Chinese history that deserves greater recognition and understanding.
Sabbath Day Observance!
Hong Xiuquan, inspired by his divine revelations, took significant steps to establish a new religious order within the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, one of which was the observance of the Sabbath day. He emphasized the importance of rest and spiritual reflection, designating Saturday as a sacred day dedicated to worship and community gathering. Under his leadership, the Taiping movement sought to educate the populace about the tenets of Christianity, promoting teachings that emphasized love, compassion, and the rejection of idolatry. Hong and his followers organized communal worship services, where they sang hymns, read the Bible, and engaged in fervent prayer, fostering a sense of unity and purpose among the people. Through these efforts, Hong Xiuquan not only sought to transform the spiritual landscape of China but also to instil a sense of hope and renewal among those who had long suffered under the weight of oppression.
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Publisher’s Observations
The movement was short-lived (1850-64). It should be noted that as interesting and exciting as this history is, only God knows whether it can be regarded as legitimate. Its claim to direct Divine revelations and militaristic approach places a question mark over the movement.
Further Readings on Chinese Sabbatarians
Augustus F. Lindley, Ti-Ping Tien-Kwoh: The History of the Ti-Ping Revolution (Vols 1 & 2).
Benjamin G. Wilkinson, Truth Triumphant. The Church in the Wilderness. (Chapters 21 & 22).
Franz H. Michael, The Taiping Rebellion History and Documents.
Herman L. Hoeh, “The Dramatic Story of Chinese Sabbathkeepers,” Good News, December 1955, pp. 5-7.
Should Christians be celebrating New Year's?
The Church of God has always taught that New Year’s Day observance is to be avoided.
How does the observance of New Year’s differ from Christmas and Easter?
Is New Year’s observance somehow ‘less pagan’ than the other days such as Christmas and thus okay to celebrate? So, should Christians be celebrating it and watching the fireworks at midnight?
Here are some articles and sermons on the subject:
==================
Are New Year Celebrations Pagan in Origin?
MP3 Audio (3.33 MB)
Simply put, the answer is yes—New Year celebrations did originate in paganism.
In the earliest days of the Church (the first and second centuries after Christ) there were no such celebrations as Christmas and New Year’s Day.
The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “According to the hypothesis … accepted by most scholars today, the birth of Christ was assigned the date of the winter solstice (December 25 in the Julian [Roman] Calendar, January 6 in the Egyptian), because on this day, as the sun began to return to northern skies, the pagan devotees of Mithra celebrated dies natalis Solis Invicti (birthday of the invincible sun)” (1967, Vol. 3, p. 656).
Those customs carried over in the observance of Christmas (with its many traditions and practices steeped in paganism), and the “birth” of the “new year” of the sun. This is why the Roman calendar in use today designates Jan. 1 as the beginning of the new year as opposed to God’s designation of the spring month of Abib or Nisan on the Hebrew calendar as the beginning of the year (Exodus 12:1-2).
Much of the symbolism associated with New Year’s celebrations today has very definite pagan origins. Kissing at the moment of transition to the next year is rooted in pagan sexual practice and superstition. And evergreen wreaths associated with Christmas were originally part of the pagan Calend celebration of Jan. 1.
Because we live in this secular society and most of the world operates according to the commonly used Roman calendar, it’s common to think of a new calendar year as beginning Jan. 1. Yet involvement in the celebration of that is not appropriate.
That said, one should be careful not to become too judgmental if, for example, someone is viewing a football game or parade at that time of year—as opposed to actually celebrating a New Year festival.
If you’d like to learn more, many resources are available that show the pagan origins of New Year’s Day celebrations. You can find related material in reference encyclopedias and online research resources as well.
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The Truth About NEW YEAR'S!
How did the celebration of New Year's Eve begin? Why is the beginning of a year placed in the middle of a dead winter? And where did the many customs surrounding it originate?
by William H. Ellis
The Plain Truth - December, 1964
MOST people carelessly assume that celebrating New Year's Eve is a Christian custom.
But did the practice of "waiting the old year out" really come from the Bible?
Is January 1 the true beginning of a new year? Who has the AUTHORITY to determine when a new year begins?
An Ancient Pagan Custom
New Year's is one of the oldest and most universal of all pagan TRADITIONS! The custom of celebrating it has remained essentially unchanged for 4,000 years!
"There is scarcely a people, ancient or modern, savage or civilized," writes Theodor H. Gaster, in his definitive book "New Year", "which has not observed it ... in one form or another. Yet no other festival has been celebrated on so many different dates or in so many seemingly different ways."
In ancient Babylon, New Year's festivals were closely bound to the pagan feast called "Christmas" today. The little-known connection of New Year's with Christmas is made clear in our free booklet, "The PLAIN TRUTH About CHRISTMAS!" If you haven't read it before, write for it immediately.
When and how did New Year's celebrations originate? Who began the custom?
Notice the proof of history.
"Mesopotamia," writes Earl W. Count, "is the very ancient Mother of Civilization. Christmas began there, OVER FOUR THOUSAND YEARS AGO, as the festival which renewed the world for another year. The 'twelve days' of Christmas; the bright fires and probably the Yule log; the giving of presents; the carnivals with their floats, their merrymakings and clownings, the mummers who sing and play from house to house; the feastings; the church processions with their lights and song -- all these and more began there centuries before Christ was born. And they celebrated THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW YEAR!" ("4000 Years of Christmas", pp. 20-21.)
That is how it began. The celebration of New Year's began in ancient Babylonia in Mesopotamia. It was a pagan custom of ancient sun-worship 2000 years before the birth of Jesus.
The celebration of New Year's is never once commanded in the Bible. Jesus and the apostles never observed it. Moses forbade it!
Don't say "it doesn't matter." It does matter to God whether we adopt the customs of the heathen. Your Bible says, "Learn not the way of the heathen" (Jeremiah 10:2).
A Pagan Roman Feast
The New Year's festivities that had originated in Babylon found their way to Greece and finally to Rome. The Romans called it "Saturnalia" -- in honor of Saturn. Among them it was extremely popular -- a time of revelings, drinking bouts, orgies -- finally ending in HUMAN SACRIFICE!
"The first day of the Saturnalia shifted during the lifetime of Rome ... it began around the middle of December ... and continued until January first. In its midst was December twenty-fifth, the day, as the Romans calculated, when the sun was at its lowest ebb ...." (E. W. Count's "4000 Years of Christmas", page 28.)
It was Julius Caesar, Emperor of pagan Rome, who instituted the New Year's festival on January first. In 46 B. C., Caesar adopted the Julian calendar. He transferred to the first of January ALL of the licentious customs surrounding the Roman Saturnalia!
Accepted by "Church Fathers"
But how did such a thoroughly pagan day ever insinuate itself into our modern "Christian" calendar?
Read the answer from church history -- about 375 A.D. This is the period Emperor Constantine imposed "Christianity" on the Roman world.
"There were many immigrants into the ranks of the Christians by this time," writes Earl W. Count. "The Church Fathers discovered to their alarm that they were also facing an invasion of pagan customs. The habit of Saturnalia was too strong to be left behind. At first the Church forbade it, but in vain" (page 31).
Rather than resist the influence of pagan customs, the Catholic Church fathers compromised!
"The Church finally succeeded in taking the merriment, the greenery, the lights, and the gifts from Saturn and giving them to the Babe of Bethlehem .... The pagan Romans became Christians -- but the Saturnalia remained!" (E.W. Count, page 31.)
Modern Christians have gone A STEP FURTHER!
Rather than present a gift to Jesus Christ on the day they falsely assume to be His birthday, the world is busily trading presents among themselves! Christ has been not only forgotten at Christmas time, but is not so much as toasted amidst the partying of New Year's Eve!
During the Middle Ages many of the ancient Roman customs were maintained and augmented by the incoming heathen rites of the Teutonic peoples. It was during this period that the customary yule log and mistletoe were added to the popular New Year's festivities. The yule log is a carry-over from the bonfires of sun-worship, and mistletoe is a parasite used in Druid rites as a symbol of sex-worship!
As Teutonic customs were added, the date of New Year's celebrations was temporarily changed to March 25, to coincide with the Germanic spring rites of fertility.
Finally Pope Gregory re-instituted the ancient pagan Roman date of January first. He imposed it on the whole Western world in 1582 when his Gregorian calendar "reforms" were accepted. All Roman Catholic countries accepted this change AT ONCE! Sweden, Germany, Denmark and England, the strongholds of Druid customs, finally acquiesced to Rome in the 1700's!
The Modern Attitude of Compromise
Today, New Year's Eve has become a time for people to wallow in excesses of liquor! The modern attitude seems to be, "have a wild time on New Year's Eve, and turn over a new leaf on New Year's Day!"
New Year's resolutions are empty and meaningless, usually trifling matters of jest! Few people make a lasting change.
Most people seem to have convinced themselves that God is out of the picture for good. That God is not concerned with their modern revelings, drunken parties, promiscuous behavior!
What does God have to say about New Year's? Does He condone observing a pagan festival? practicing pagan customs in the name of Christ?
God Labels New Year's "PAGAN"!
God Almighty does not compromise! Notice the Eternal's stern warning to Israel as they conquered the pagan nations of the promised land:
"Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thouINQUIRE NOT AFTER THEIR GODS, saying 'How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.' THOU SHALT NOT DO SO UNTO THE ETERNAL THY GOD: forEVERY ABOMINATION to the Eternal, WHICH HE HATETH, have they done to their gods ...." (Deut. 12:30-31.)
What were the customs God hates and condemns in Deuteronomy? What are those pagan rites that are an ABOMINATION to Him?
These very rites and customs practiced in ancient Canaan and Syria included the NEW YEAR'S FESTIVALS! From the ancient Canaanites the Greeks learned the same rites.
Greek God of WINE!
Theodor H. Gaster writes concerning the familiar "New Year's babe":
"Actually the New Year babe is FAR OLDER than he looks. In ancient Greece, it was customary at the great festival of Dionysus to parade a babe cradled in a winnowing basket. This was taken to symbolize the annual (or periodic) rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility!" (New Year.)
Who was this Dionysus?
None other than Bacchus -- the god of wine! In his honor the Greeks held a festival called the "Festival of the Wine-Press" at the time which corresponds to our months of January-February!
Today more alcoholic beverages are consumed during the "holiday season" than at any other time of the year! New Year's Eve is noted for its licentious, wild, and wanton partying. People are deceived by riotous pagan holiday spirits -- for the most part emanating from liquor bottles -- all the while calling it "Christian"!
"Father Time"
Another symbol of New Year's celebrations is equally pagan! It is the familiar figure of a white-haired man carrying a scythe. What does he represent? The ancient Greek god Cronos. It is from the name "Cronos" we derive our "chronograph" which measures time.
Among the Greek gods, Cronos originally cut a swath of HUMAN SACRIFICE with his sharpened scythe! The "silent reaper" anciently "reaped" little children in horrible episodes of mythical CANNIBALISM! This Greek rite of human sacrifice was adopted by ancient Rome, where human sacrifice was practiced at least until 300 A. D.
No wonder God Almighty warns the pagan New Year's celebration is AN ABOMINATION to Him! See Deuteronomy 12:31.
Strange as it seems, the professing Christian world praises and practices customs and days of pagan origin -- thinly cloaking them in "Christian" sounding names! You too, may have accepted these vain traditions of men, never realizing they are PAGAN TO THE CORE!
"In VAIN do they worship me," said Jesus Christ, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men!"
Jesus said it is possible to WORSHIP GOD -- to venerate the NAME of Christ -- and still do it ALL IN VAIN!
"Full well YE REJECT THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, that ye may keep your own tradition," He continued, "... making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered!" (Mark 7:7, 9, 13.)
Many people will confess, when forced to, the pagan origin of these days. But they stubbornly REFUSE to stop observing them! God is their Judge!
Don't you make this mistake!
When Does God Begin the New Year?
Remember! It is God Almighty who created the Universe. He set the heavenly bodies in their courses at Creation. It is by His "master-clock" that time is determined.
The earth's rotation regulates the length of a day -- the lunar phases indicate the length of a month. And the orbit of the earth around the sun dictates the length of a year!
But ONLY GOD has the AUTHORITY to set the date of the beginning of the new year!
God's sacred calendar year begins in the spring -- not in the middle of a dead winter! Notice Exodus 12:1-2, "And the Eternal spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR TO YOU."
The first month of God's sacred calendar is called, in the Bible, "Abib". It means the month of "green ears." Later, the Jews called it "Nisan" -- a Babylonian word having the same meaning.
It was in the month of Abib or Nisan that Israel came out of Egyptian captivity under Moses (Ex. 34:18). The Hebrew month Abib overlaps the months of March-April on the pagan Roman calendar in use today.
God placed the beginning of the sacred year in the early spring to mark the beginning of the seasonal harvests. The two annual harvests in Palestine foreshadowed God's Plan for the twofold SPIRITUAL harvest of souls to be born into His Kingdom.
Your Bible speaks of a great false religious system which will "think to change times and laws" (Dan. 7:25). This system has deliberately thought to change the beginning of God's calendar year in an attempt to hide God's Plan for the salvation of mankind! But man has no authority to change God's "master-clock."
Satan, however, has cleverly deceived the world into believing the new year begins on January first!
Why National Captivity?
The very same pagan practices God condemns in the Old Testament are being perpetuated in our modern world today!
The very same festivals of paganism adopted by ancient Israel have become an integral part of this modern society!
Read, in II Kings 17:15-18, the reason why God Almighty took ancient Israel into captivity: "And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged them, that they should not do like them!"
What was the result of Israel following the customs of the heathen nations around them?
"Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight .... and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight ....SO WAS ISRAEL CARRIED AWAY OUT OF THEIR OWN LAND TO ASSYRIA UNTO THIS DAY!" (II Kings 17:18, 20, and 23.)
Israel NEVER returned as a nation to the land of Palestine!
Israel was lost! Its true identity was concealed until modern times! Now there is proof that the lost ten tribes of ancient Israel migrated to Northwestern Europe. The chief peoples among them have become the United States and British Commonwealth today! (If you don't already have your copy of our free booklet, "The United States and the British Commonwealth in Prophecy", send for it immediately.)
Modern Paganism Will Be Punished!
Do you suppose God has changed His mind about compromising with paganism?
"For I am the LORD, I CHANGE NOT!" warns the Eternal in Malachi 3:6. This same reminder is repeated in Hebrews 13:8.
Speaking to the modern nations of Israel today, Almighty God says, "As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Eternal God; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols and thereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but POLLUTE YE MY HOLY NAME NO MORE with your gifts and with your idols" (Ezek. 20:39).
In other words, God is saying, "Be pagan if you insist; but quit calling it Christian."
God continues to warn modern Israel against the holidays of paganism, in Hosea 2:11:
"I will also cause all her mirth to cease, HER feast days [days THE PEOPLE chose], HER new moons [marking the beginning of the pagan New Year], and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts." Notice that these were Israel's feast days -- those Israel had acquired from the pagan nations around them -- NOT those God had originally instituted through His Bible! "And I will visit upon her the DAYS OF BAALIM, wherein she burned incense to them ..." (verse 13)!
The very same punishment awaits any nation today that forsakes God's law as revealed in His Holy Bible, and turns to the customs of pagan nations -- observing pagan days of worship!
Does it make any difference if YOU continue observing pagan customs -- like New Year's? IT CERTAINLY DOES! God says so!
What You Should Do
God Almighty prophesies a final revival of Babylonian religion in great power just before He cuts short man's misrule of this earth. Read His warning in Revelation 18:
"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he said mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen.
"Her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues!"
New Year's celebration began in Babylon 4,000 years ago. It is practiced today by almost every people on the face of the earth. Satan the Devil has indeed deceived the whole world! (Rev. 12:9.)
But God Almighty has sent His ministers to warn this world -- to cry aloud, and spare not, and SHOW HIS PEOPLE THEIR SINS(Isa. 58:1). Punishment will not be forever withheld!
May God help you to HEED THIS WARNING, and FORSAKE THE PAGAN PRACTICES of this modern world!
Rare Items Sought
I ask you to join me in praying for the following to be found and made available to us:
Late 1800s/early 1900s Church of God (seventh day) booklets and tracts.
Ministerial conference materials (handouts, notes, agendas) 1950s-1990s.
The Portfolio (first editions).
Ernest Martin’s paper on Pentecost (1961).
Videos of evangelists’ sermons, AC lectures, Bible studies (especially Herman Hoeh).
Ministerial Letter from the 1960s (precursor to The Bulletin, Pastor’s Report and Pastor-General’s Report).
A long list of what is sought can be found here.
Church of God periodicals - latest editions online
Below are links to a number (but not all) Church of God periodicals:
Beyond Today - United Church of God.
21st Century Watch - Intercontinental Church of God.
Tomorrow’s World - Living Church of God.
Advocate of Truth - Church of God (Seventh Day), based at Salem, WV.
Bible Advocate - Church of God (Seventh Day), based at Denver, CO.
International News - Church of God, International.
List of our Websites and Blogs
History Research Projects Foundation (a tax exempt foundation)
Friends of the Sabbath
Friends of the Sabbath (Facebook group)
Friends of the Sabbath Telegram channel
Origin of Nations
Origin of Nations news and information (Facebook group)
Lost Tribes (Facebook group)
Origin of Nations & World News Discussion Forum (e-mail group) [NB: click on the link and search for the forum]
HWA Library & Archives
HWA Library & WCG Archives (Facebook group)
HWA Library & WCG Archives (YouTube)
WCG & HWA News, Library, Archives Discussion Forum (e-mail group) [NB: click on the link and search for the forum]
My Articles & Papers
Globalresearchera1 (Academia site with select articles only)
World News
Global Newsa1 (X page - formerly Twitter)
GlobalNewsa1 Telegram channel (world news)
Bible Study, Church History and Other
Work of God through the Ages (Facebook page. Note: this page will be closed after the almost 700 members transfer to the new group referred to below)
Work of God through the Ages (Facebook group)
Global Bible News, Studies and Information Telegram channel (Bible history, archaeology news etc)
Sharing and Giving (currently inactive)
How to navigate the Friends of the Sabbath website
The website is vast with over 350 gigs of information, periodicals, articles, papers, photographs, audios and videos. The information has taken years to build (since the 1990s) and decades to collect the information (since the 1970s).
Due to its size, the huge number of categories and sub-categories, pages and sections it can be daunting to navigate or to find the relevant information the browser or researcher may be seeking.
So, what I recommend to everyone is to simply go to the Explore by Alphabetical Order section. In that you will find the most important areas to explore. Try it and see how you go - you never know what fascinating and helpful information you will come across!