In this Issue
From the Publisher
Texts of Original 1933 Broadcasts now available
Views of Genesis 9:3
United Church of God and Eternal Church of God Combine for Holy Day Service
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,
As promised last week, the texts of Herbert Armstrong’s original 1933 radio broadcasts would be released online. Read more about this below.
It was also mentioned that the Ministerial Letters from late 1965 to 1970 were being scanned and analysed. This job is now complete, and all these items are now uploaded. Important policy statements and decisions have been noted and will be quoted or referenced in articles I have written on Church governance.
An excellent article by elder John Lemley explaining Genesis 9:3 is published below - be sure to read and digest it.
If you do not subscribe to the free Origin of Nations periodical, please subscribe - there will be a very interesting article on ‘The Coming European-Russian Axis’ in the next edition. I have held off releasing it for several weeks due to so many other articles of mine having been published during this period.
Articles for publication in Church of God and Sabbatarian News are always welcome.
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.
Texts of Original 1933 Broadcasts now available
Yet another scoop by Friends of the Sabbath! The texts of the initial broadcasts of Mr Armstrong’s on radio station KORE in 10-14 October 1933 were among the items received on 21 April, but the very first one from 9 October is missing. These messages were presented almost 92 years ago and are available here including conversion from text to MP3.
Mr Armstrong outlines how the broadcast came about and commenced 9 October 1933 (during the Feast of Tabernacles) in his Autobiography, Vol. 1, pp. 451-53 (1973 edition) and pp. 530-33 (1986 edition):
"In September—very soon after rejecting a salary and being controlled and muzzled by men, the living Christ began opening doors for the mass-proclaiming of His Gospel. It was then that someone brought to my attention the fact that the local radio station at Eugene, KORE, then the very smallest minimum-power of 100 watts, had a morning devotional program scheduled, but that they were having difficulty getting local ministers to conduct the program. It was free time, carried by the station as a public service sustaining program of 15 minutes, 7:45 to 8:00 a.m.
Immediately I went to the radio station. A woman secretary told me she felt sure they would be glad to have me take the program for a week. I was to call back later for the exact date.
On my second call I was assigned the week of October 9th.
October 9th was surely a great big day in my life—the day of my very first experience before a microphone, ON the AIR!
I took this opportunity very seriously. It was an opportunity to speak to several hundred people at once! I had never spoken to that many before.
I spent the preceding week preparing rather extensive notes and script. I might never again have such an opportunity, so I decided to strike directly at the very heart of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Since the Kingdom of God is based on the promises made to Abraham, I began, on Monday morning’s program with the promises made to Abraham."
Views of Genesis 9:3
By John Lemley, Church of God (Seventh Day)
The author of “A Study of The Clean and Unclean Meats as Food under the New Covenant” in the July-September, 2024 Ministerial Forum finds support for his position in Genesis 9:2-4. His crucial phrase in this text is “every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you…” (KJV). The author understands the words “moving thing” as literally referring to all animals that move. He concludes that God gave permission to Noah and his posterity to eat the flesh of any moving animal without any restrictions or exceptions.
The purpose of this article is to investigate the word “moving” and consider theories on how it is to be understood in Genesis 9:3.
Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies, p. 281, lists twenty-five different Hebrew words which are sometimes translated “move” in the King James Version of the Bible.[1] Which one of those twenty-five is the word in Genesis 9:3?
If the phrase “moving thing” in Genesis 9:3 is translated from the primary Hebrew verb “to move” as in “to walk or to go,” then the author referenced above might have a point. That word is halak. However, the phrase “moving thing” in Genesis 9:3 is translated from the Hebrew noun remes, not from its verb form, nor from the verb halak. Both the noun form and the verb form of remes each occur seventeen times in the Old Testament.
When remes occurs in a list, it identifies an animal-kind that is distinct from the other kinds in the list. Genesis 9:2 lists four animal-kinds: beast, fowl, all that moves (remes) and fish. Then, verse 3 gives more information about the remes category. The remes animals (an animal different from the beast, fowl and fish categories in verse 2) are for food.
What are remes animals?
Bible lexicons, commentaries and reference books predominately offer two theories – size or method of locomotion.
Proponents of size suggest a small animal that moves low-to-the-ground such as the mouse, weasel, rodent and ferret.[2] “…remes as a classification of animal life identifies primarily small creeping rodents and reptiles (creatures that move on the ground...).[3]
Proponents of method of locomotion offer two suggestions – (a) any reptile[4] or (b) animals that slither along the ground, such as snakes and worms.[5] “The verb [remes] describes the locomotion of various creatures that ‘creep’ or ‘crawl’ over the ground, either scuttling on very short legs or wriggling like a snake…many of these creatures are amphibians.”[6]
The author referenced at the beginning of this article seems to identify remes animals universally as referencing all moving animals.
After extensive and careful consideration Professor John H. Walton, author of The NIV Application Commentary: Genesis, offers another possibility. He states the following:
Note also that the category given for food is remes (NIV “everything that moves”). The noun (H1743) remes) and the associated verb (rms) each occur seventeen times in the Old Testament, ten times each in Genesis 1-9. This word group is distinct from both the wild (predatory) beasts and domesticated flocks and herds. Neither verb nor noun is ever used to refer to larger wild animals or to domesticated animals. In no place is remes a catch-all category for all creatures. It is one category of creature only. The division of the Hebrew terms used up to this point in Genesis reflects the nature of the animal (not the locomotion, genre, species, or the morphology). …These animals were typically characterized as being the prey of hunters and predatory beasts. The common members of this group were wild cattle, antelope, fallow deer, gazelle, and ibex…this verse (Genesis 9:3) only grants the remes group for food.[7]
Notice how similar Walton’s list is to the wild herd animals in Deuteronomy 14:5, “The hart, and the roebuck, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.”
According to Walton, rather than describing a type of locomotion or size, the Hebrew term remes typically refers to wild animals that travel in herds. He points out that they are a distinct category from (1) animals that hunt or scavenge, from (2) domesticated cattle, and from (3) docile beasts that do not tend to be found in herds
Another source which may lend credence to Mr. Walton’s conclusion is the Koehler-Baumgartner Lexicon in Veteris Testamenti Libros. It defines remes as “an animal that wanders about aimlessly in indiscernible plenty.”[8] This definition is rather broad when compared to Walton’s, but it does fit as a description of wild herd animals.
Hampered by scanty information
Did God, in Genesis 9:3, inform Noah that small mammals and/or reptiles can be eaten? Why didn’t God also give permission for eating the other categories in verse 2: beasts, fowl and fish? Other scriptures that list animals include cattle (Genesis 1:24-26). Why aren’t cattle included in Genesis 9:2 and 3?
It is disappointing that the pre-flood record of sixteen hundred-plus years is condensed into only five chapters. As a result of such brief information readers of Genesis 1-9 are left with many similar questions.
1. Did people eat meat prior to the flood? Some answer “no.”[9] Others believe only the wicked ate meat.[10] Still others find evidence that meat was eaten.[11] It is observed that Abel raised sheep (Gen. 4:4). Jabal raised cattle (Gen. 5:20). Sheep and cattle are both “clean” animals. Whether or not those animals were eaten is not recorded. What is told is that Abel’s offering was “of the firstlings of his flock.” Such offerings were eaten (Deuteronomy 12:6-7). If this sacrificial law given in Moses’ time was practiced in Abel’s time, then people were eating sheep then. If people before the Flood were eating animals in the “cattle” category, then that explains why cattle are not in the Genesis 9:2-3 list.
2. How many “clean” animals did God instruct Noah to bring onto the ark? Some teach that Noah brought onto the ark (Gen. 7:2-3) seven of each animal that was “clean for sacrificing” (cattle, sheep, goat, turtle dove and pigeon) as listed in Leviticus chapter 1.[12] Others view the phrase “of every clean beast” according to the list in Leviticus chapter 11.[13] Adherents in both groups must reach forward to Moses’ time for their list. The number of animals Noah sacrificed (Gen. 8:20-21) differs vastly depending on which interpretation one chooses.
The New Living Translation combines both teachings in its version of Genesis 7:2 thus: “take along seven pairs of each animal that I have approved for eating and for sacrifice”. The Good News Translation defines “clean” with a vague term that could apply to either or both teaching – “seven pairs of each kind of ritually clean animal.”
3. Did God reveal His laws prior to Moses’ time? Genesis 15:9 is fascinating! Abraham lived approximately 1,000 years before Moses. Yet, the animals God told him to sacrifice are the exact same five that He told to Moses – cow, goat, ram, turtledove and pigeon. How did Abraham know? There is no record that that law had been given? Or, had it? Genesis 26:5 records God saying, “Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” Abraham knew the five kinds of animals that were for sacrificing. That law was among the laws Abraham obeyed.
Was the law about clean and unclean meats one of the commandments, statutes and laws he obeyed? The answer is not as clear as Genesis 15:9 about sacrificing, but two hints are in his story. In Genesis 18 he fed his heavenly guests calf meat. A couple of generations later Esau hunts for venison and Rebekah cooks goat. Calf, goat and venison all meet the “clean meat” qualifications given centuries later on Mt. Sinai. These examples are compelling evidence that Abraham knew and practiced the dietary laws and taught them to his descendants.
Perhaps Professor Walton’s explanation of the word remes will help answer the questions posed above. If remes animals are wild animals that are neither scavengers nor predators and live in herds, then people living before the flood did not eat remes animals. Neither did they eat the flesh of animals in the beast, fowl or fish categories. They ate domesticated animals – those in the “cattle” category. Then, after the flood God gave permission to add remes animals. (Refer to the common members of this group in the quote from Professor Walton above). If humans were already eating from the “cattle” category, they can now add remes animals to their diet. For example, Esau hunted venison for his father, Isaac (Genesis 27:3).
The point of view in the Ministerial Forum article appears to depend on the word “moves” in Gen. 9:3 being a verb. It is a noun. The article also assumes a generic, all-inclusive definition for the English phrase “moving thing.” The Hebrew noun remes in this verse is a category of animal, not all-inclusive of all animals in general.
Even as the green herb
The corollary phrase “even as the green herb” (Gen. 9:3) is further evidence that remes is a particular category of animal and does not include all categories of animals. God gave man “every herb bearing seed…and the fruit of a tree yielding seed for food” (Gen. 1:29). Genesis 2:17, though, gives an exception. The word every in the phrase “every tree in which is the fruit of a tree” is not all-inclusive. God plainly instructed our first parents not to eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve saw “that the tree looked good for food.” God said, “No, it is deadly.” Six thousand years of history show that God was right! At first glance, Genesis 9:3 appears to place all plants and all animal flesh in the edible category. However, closer examination shows that neither the word “meat” nor the word “herb” are all-inclusive.
A representative list of twelve of the many poisonous plants includes: sumac and rhubarb leaves, hemlock, foxglove, English yew, jatropha and daphne fruit, nightshade, Manchineel Tree, Easter Lily, Lily-of-the-Valley and Oleander. They are not human food. Similarly, the flesh of some animals is not human food. Mankind has figured out that pufferfish, box jellyfish, striated sturgeon fish, rough skinned newt and the comb starfish are in the not-to-ever-be eaten category. God’s list takes away the guesswork. Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy14 clearly detail what meats are human food and what meats are not.
Words such as every and all need to be understood within the context of the passage where they occur. In his book “The Laws of Clean and Unclean Animals in Leviticus 11” Jiri Moskala states “Only context decides what is meant by it – whether all comprehensively, or a majority, or a certain group, etc.”[14]
Wrapping up
This article considers five theories for the meaning of the Hebrew word remes. Those theories are: (1) all animals, (2) low-to-the-ground animals, (3) reptiles, (4) animals that slither and (5) wild animals that are neither scavengers nor predators and live in herds.
When remes animals are in a list, they are always distinct from the others. This observation sets aside the “all animals” theory.
If categories such as “low to the ground animals”, “reptiles”, or “animals that slither” are meant it betrays all logic. Such an interpretation would have God adding these animals to the human diet while continuing to exclude the other categories of animals given in Genesis 9:2 (beasts, birds and fish). Perhaps, in an effort to understand remes in a way that make sense, Martin Luther concluded that, in Genesis 9:3, the Hebrew word is referring to only ”clean animals”.[15]
Walton’s explanation is closest to our current doctrinal statement on the Christian diet: “As a result – not a cause – of redemption, believers should…eat for food only those meats the Bible describes as ‘clean’.”
Applying to us
Throughout our 150+ year history we have been careful to find truth solely in the pages of the Bible. “The Bible and the Bible alone” continues to be consistently repeated by leaders and members alike. The basic principle of letting the Bible interpret the Bible is one of our foundational beliefs. We make it clear that we are not the Church of God (Seventh Day) of Luther, Walton, any of the other authors referenced in this article or any other mortal. We are the Church of God period.
Therefore, the nature and character of God is a necessary standard for discovering what He intended to communicate when He inspired His Word. The basic doctrine of God’s immutability is scriptural. The concept is used as evidence in a variety of contexts. As our God of mercy: He does not change – Malachi 3:6. As Creator: though all things change, He remains the same – Psalm 102:25-27. As the blesser of Israel: He does not “change his mind” – Numbers 23:19 NIV. As the trustworthy giver of good gifts: with God there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning – James 1:17. As one who punishes evil: “What God purposes, so it shall stand…who shall disannul it?” – Isaiah 14:24, 27. As the giver of eternal life: His “immutable counsel” gives us, His people, the assurance of eternal life. therefore we “lay hold upon the hope set before us.” It is that hope which we “have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” – Hebrews 6:17 – 20. God’s Word exemplifies His faithfulness. The Psalmist confidently declares, “All your commandments are faithful” (119:86) and “The testimonies that you have commanded are righteous and very faithful” (119:138 (119:138).
This foundational truth helps us discover what God meant when He inspired Moses to write “every remes that lives shall be food for you.” God is not fickle. He is dependable, reliable and fully consistent. We are not left to wonder what God expects. Where in the Bible does God say “this is what I want,” then say “this is not what I want,” then change His mind and say, “No, I do not want that anymore”? Where is a Bible example of God acting one way, then another, then changing to a different behavior altogether? Is there even one example of God acting like that? Does God ever say “eat this,” then later say “don’t eat it. It is an abomination to me,” than, still later change His mind and say “you can now eat this.”
The immutable character of God is compelling evidence that the permission to eat remes in Genesis 9:3 is to be understood within the context of the entirety of Scripture. It is to be interpreted in a way that is consistent with all passages on the subject of eating meat, Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 included. Keep in mind the basic principle of Bible interpretation that the meaning of any one verse must fit within the teaching of the entire Bible on that subject. Ambiguous texts must not be the basis for determining the truth on a subject. Instead, clear texts are the source for correctly discovering what the text meant in the mind of the original author for his intended audience.[16] “The ‘analogy of faith’ is the sum of all the prominent teachings of Scripture gathered from all its parts without regard to any diachronic (the way a language has developed and evolved through time) considerations. This ‘rule of faith’ was first set forth by Augustine and further defined by men like Chemnitz (Examen, VIII.!) to say that the articles of faith were to be derived from clear passages and in no case was a clear passage to be set aside in opposition to a difficult or problematic passage. Hence a principle of harmonization or proportionality was introduced”[17]
[1] William Wilson, Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies, MacDonald Publishing Company, McLean, VA 22102, p. 281.
[2] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Faucett and David Brown, A Commentary of the Old and New Testaments, Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1948, p. 105b.
[3] David Green, translator, Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, GrandRapids, Michigan, Vol. 13. pp 1127-1128.
[4] Benjamin Davidson, The Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI 49506, 1981, p. 685.
[5] R. Laird Harris, editor, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament Vol. 2, Moody Press, Chicago, IL, 1980, pp. 850-851.
[6] Willem A. VanGemeren, General Editor, New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, Vol. 3, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, pp. 512-514.
[7] John H. Walton, The NIV Application Commentary – Genesis, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2001. pp/ 341 - 342
[8] Ludwig Keohler and Walter Baumgartner, Lexicon Veteris Testamenti Libros, Wm. B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1951. p. 895.
[9] Adam Clark, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments, with Commentary and Critical Notes, Abingdon Publishing, Nashville, Tenn. pp. 79-80.
[10] Francis D. Nichol, The Seventh Day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington DC. 1953, p. 263.
[11] op. cit. Jamieson, p. 105a
[12] Why Strain at a Gnal and Swallow A Cammel, Meats, 8815 S. Ten Mile Rd., Median, Ida. 83642, about 1978, pp. 5-7.
[13] This We Believe – Teachings of the Church of God (Seventh Day), Bible Advocate Press, P. O. Box 33677, Denver, CO 80233, 2012, p. 144.
[14] Jiri Moskala, The Laws of Clean and Unclean Animals of Leviticus 11 – Their Nature, Theology and Rationale (An Intertextual Study), Adventist Theological Society Publications, P.O. Box 86, Berrien Springs, MI 49103, 2000, p. 240.
[15] Ibid p. 421 quoting from Martin Luther, Letters on Genesis – chapters 6-14, Luther’s Works, 2, edited by Jaroslov Pelikan, Saint Louis, Concordia Publishing House, 1960..
[16] L. Howard Marshall, New Testament Interpretation, William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 1979, pp. 11, 15.
[17] edited by G. K. Beale, The Right Doctrine From the Wrong Text – Essays on the Use of the Old Testament in the New, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, MI, 1994, pp 67-68.
United Church of God and Eternal Church of God Combine for Holy Day Service
This is good to see when similar Church of God groups combine and there should be more of such gatherings!
>Breaking Bread
Greetings and good Sabbath. Last week, we enjoyed being able have a shared service with a UCG congregation in Billings, Montana. Below is a copy of the email sent out this week by Mr. Deininger who is a pastor for UCG serving the entire state of MT. We look forward to breaking bread with them again!
Regards,
Terry Moore
===============
United Church of God - Montana
UCG-MT Sabbath Update
April 26, 2025
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Psalms 133:1
Dear Friends,
For many years the Billings brethren and elders of the United Church of God and the Eternal Church of God have been guests at one another's services and holy day get togethers. The relationship has grown over the years and last Sabbath, which also the Last Day of Unleavened Bread, the two congregations officially (ie with the approval of UCG President Rick Shabi and Steve Myers of Ministerial & Members Services, and & Steve Nutzman UCG Northwest Regional Pastor) combined for the Holy Day service.
Twenty eight brethren mainly from Billings but also including 7 from Wyoming and 2 from Helena rejoiced before God on His Holy Day. Terry Moore and Dan Deininger gave split sermons, Jesse Parman did the Offertory, and Mia Moore played a beautiful Chopin solo on the piano. Jesse Clanin ran the webcast and Kevin Kriskovich & Dan Deininger shared song leading responsibilities. After services many stayed to share a beautiful special Holy Day pot luck meal. In the midst of a world that seems to be fragmenting and full of division we were blessed with spiritual harmony, joy and peace. It was truly a delight to be together as God's Children, focusing on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and how we need to be putting sin our of our lives, to become truly "unleavened". (Both sermons are online at https://ucg-mt.org/sermons/.)
We look forward to the return of Jesus Christ when all mankind can be united together, no longer under the divisiveness of Satan. We pray that time comes very soon!
Warm regards!
Your brother in Christ's service,
Dan Deininger<
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 Letter from the 1956-65 (precursor to The Bulletin, Pastor’s Report and Pastor-General’s Report).
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).
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 Network
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 400 gigabytes 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 Subject 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!