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Site Last Updated Sunday, May 11, 2008
May 9, 2008
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the earth tremble; for the Day of the LORD is coming, for it is at hand” (Joel 2:1).
Dear Brethren,
There seems to be no question but that end-time prophecy will be fulfilled in this coming election!
Over the past few years it has been thought that the presidential election in this country would be a strong indicator of where we are in time in respect to the end-time prophecies that would affect the Church of God and the House of Israel – all of which would lead to Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ back to this earth.
To use an example: While pastoring the Church area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dr. Herman Hoeh gave a sermon in 1987 in which he stated we, meaning the Church of God, could probably tell where we were in time by the next election.
It was his feeling at that time we were very close to the end; and we could possibly know by who might be elected into the office of the President of the United States in the coming year.
We came to realize the one who was elected was not the real indicator of the end-time as was believed it might be.
The years were not right; but the thought was a correct one.
The Three Elijahs
 Chapter One
Chapter One has been edited and revised
This site is dedicated to preserving the writings and messages of Herbert W. Armstrong
Here we provide a conduit for the work Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong spearheaded, the work of reaching out to people worldwide with the message of the soon coming Kingdom of God through the preserved writings, recorded telecasts and sermons, and Bible Study messages that Jesus Christ used him to do in his human ministry!
All materials provided are brought to you as a Study Resource by the Church of God Faithful Flock. Please Click Here to see our full usage agreement.
Internet Sabbath Services
Our weekly Sabbath and Annual Holy Day services are broadcast live on the Internet. For times and access to the services and for our Family Fellowship Hour on Friday evenings one will need access through the Sabbath Services page in the Members Only area of our web site.
For the information needed to gain access to the live services or the family fellowship hour, please call: Don Billingsley 209.772-0737 or Joe Duncan 209. 402-7075.
NEW ADDITIONS OF NOTE
New Audio and Video Services for February and March 2008 have been added to the site.
An RSS Feed is now available for those of you who use News Readers, it will give you automatic updates on what has been added to the site each week. Just click on the RSS Icon.
Mr. Billingley’s Auto Biography has been updated. We now have an Interactive Events Calendar that will show you what events are scheduled and when on the Holy Days Calendar Page..Video Services for January 19, 2008 have been added
Does the great God who sits at the controls of the whole glittering universe really understand human FRAILTY and WEAKNESS? Does He KNOW what it is like to be HUMAN? Is God unreasonable in His dealings with humanity as some claim? Does He expect TOO MUCH of us? Does He really care?
IN AN increasingly cynical and disillusioned world it seems some have concluded that the Creator expects far too much of His creation! Some have claimed God to be unfair and unjust in imposing allegedly impossible standards on mankind! His laws are too difficult to keep and His way requires more than mere men are capable of giving, they assert. "How can God understand?" they reason. "He doesn't have to worry about sinning and being punished for it! He can do anything He wants! He doesn't have all the pulls and drives of human nature. He isn't subject to temptation. How can God know what it is like to fight against the pulls of a morally decadent society and resist the temptations of an angry devil?"
Perhaps some have felt that if God could come down here and just be human for a while, He'd understand and not be "so hard" on humanity. So the reasoning goes!
Of course, such reasoning is humanly understandable, but it is also incorrect and not based on fact. It is mere emotion and self-pity!
Let's understand!
 The Philadelphia Remnant Magazine for MAY-JUN 2008 is available online here, in PDF Format.
You can read about the Magazine, its purpose and goals. Our Magazine now has it’s own Internet Address.
http://philadelphiaremnant.org
We will keep the current issue as well as archived issues linked from this new site.
There are many excellent articles in this issue, learn about:
'There have ALWAYS BEEN false prophets, wars and rumors of war, famines, pestilences and earthquakes . . ." some will claim. "It's nothing new.' How can you KNOW whether this really IS the end-time generation? Can you PROVE it?
You are living in the time of the end. But people have said that for centuries, haven't they? Yes, they have.
And, surprisingly, we say it again today.
You are living in the time of the end — at the close of an age.
But, where do we get off telling you we are living in the end time when people have been saying the same thing for centuries?
After all, we could practically fill a room full of old and ancient books about predictions of the end of the world. As the story goes: "There have always been people who have said that." There have been people wandering around in religious and astrological circles talking about "the end of the world" from time immemorial.
Bible Study (last updated: March 14, 2008)
Our New Bible Study area contains many new study tools to help you understand and internalize the word of God.
 Mini-Bible Study Series:
Each Week we will be putting up a Mini Bible Study that had been developed as a Good News Series. These are brief excursions into the study of the Bible, delving into topics relevant to the development of the future members of the God Family. Bible Study is one means by which Christians are renewed daily (II Corinthians 4:16). so lets refresh ourselves with more of the precious truths of God's word!
Instructions: The format of these mini-studies is similar to that of the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course. Look up and read in your Bible the scripture references given in answer to the questions. Comments following the questions elaborate on the scriptures just read. That's all there is to it! (These studies are based on the King James Version of the Bible, unless otherwise stated.) Since this is an online study series we have made the scriptures available as "hot links" within the text of the study as a study aid.
This Weeks Lesson: 
Nicodemus was a high-ranking Pharisee deeply interested in the teachings of Jesus Christ. One night he came to Jesus secretly, not wanting to be seen talking to Him.
During that meeting, Jesus revealed a profound truth — something that completely mystified Nicodemus. "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," said Jesus (John 3:3).
Totally perplexed, Nicodemus asked: "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (verse 4).
Nicodemus understood what it meant to be born. But he did not understand how anyone could be "born again." He thought Jesus was referring to a second human birth.
But Christ was actually describing two different kinds of birth — one physical, the other spiritual. He was comparing spiritual birth to physical birth, the physical being a type of the spiritual.
When one is born of his mother he is composed of flesh. But "that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," said Jesus (verse 6) — no longer composed of flesh, but of spirit.
That's the plain teaching of the Bible. The second birth is not some kind of emotional experience, as so many have erroneously believed! Let's begin to understand the awe-inspiring truth revealed in the Bible.
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Topical Index “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.” How true this seems to me. This Topical Index is not finished and cannot be. It is simply an effort to list basic related scriptures under subject headings to assist in bible study and in answering questions. It has been compiled with input from many individuals but it has inherent limitations. There is simply no right or complete set of scriptures except the Bible itself. Also, different people take into account different things. This is a start though and I hope a profitable one to you.- Mark Mickelson (December 2002)
New Booklets and Brochures have been added to our site as Study Resources and can be reviewed via a Graphical Index located here. A number of Reprinted Articles from the magazines are included in Booklet Form.
We have added a new Scripture search tool that is powered at this site. The Scripture Search Tool can be accessed from the left margin of any page. You will be able to look up word or phrases in the King James Bible along with the String’s meanings of the Hebrew or Greek.
Use our new Online Bible Hymnal to sing along with us during the Live Sabbath services or Feast Day Broadcasts.
(updated for August 2007)We now have a Daily Bible Reading resource for your Bible Studies. Each month we will post links to each day’s bible reading. It will be completed in one year.
We now have available from our site a series of 7 Bible Classes recorded at Ambassador College. These are mp3 format. These class tapes are a range of subjects from the major and minor prophets, the acts of the Apostles, A study of the Ancient Culture of Israel, Church History and the Psalms and Proverbs.
We have archived the list of difficult scriptures developed at Ambassador College to prepare you to give answer to the faith that lies within you. 1Pe 3:15 . The link above will take you to the completed list for a quick answer to some of the puzzling questions that arise from time to time.
There is also a list of Scriptures that have been recommended by Mr. Armstrong for us to commit to memory. We will provide them one a week with review questions to help you memorize them over time.
This week - False Prophets
Here is a link to the Fundamental Doctrines of the Church. This listing of scriptures relating to each of our primary doctrines was composed by ministers of the Worldwide Church of God approximately 1984 or before and was used in the Graduate Spokesman's Club in the Chicago area and is presented here unchanged. While this listing is very detailed, it is not an exhaustive listing of the doctrines of The Church of God.
If you have any questions about the bible, what it says please use feel free to ask. biblestudy@cog-ff.com
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Here is the new Online Version of the 58 Lesson Correspondence Course. The free bible study course features interactive tests with each of the lessons. The word of God is the foundation of knowledge. This online course is offered free without tuition cost to those who earnestly desire to understand the bible.
Free Bible Tools
Here is a link to several tools that you can use online to study the Bible. Look up Strong’s Numbers, words or phrases anywhere in the bible as well as some searches in topical indexes and dictionaries.
 New Bible Study Tools Online:
In addition to the many files located below we have added 300 World Tomorrow Broadcasts cataloged by primary subject matter in Real Audio format.
The Robert Taylor Collection of a series of 80 Daily World Tomorrow Broadcasts form April - August of 1979 has been uploaded to our site as well. These are being presented to you each week below.
We have uploaded 668 audio files recorded by Mr. Armstrong. This is a three disk set, a compendium of Mr. Armstrong’s recordings. You can see a linked list here, or you can search for a specific audio file by title or subject here.
If you have a problem using the database tool you can also find links to the 3 disk set in html format in the Audio Page of this site.
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 We now have a searchable index of over 13,000 articles printed in the Plain Truth, Good News or World Tomorrow magazines. You can browse the entire list, browse by Subject listing or search using keywords for an article of interest. Once you find the magazine and Date of publication use the link at the bottom of the page to go to the online version of the magazine to print or read the material
We have an index of over 500 articles and booklets available on this site. You can scan down the list of these html and text formatted documents for any of interest. We will be placing these and the PDF-Word Documents in a searchable index like the articles above shortly.
Prayer Requests
We welcome anyone seeking a prayer request to contact Mr. Billingsley by E-Mail, or by phone, at (209) 772-0737 to have their request posted on our prayer requests page.
Articles of Interest
 The primary target in life for some has become the things of this life — its fulfillment and its security, its rewards and satisfactions. Without realizing it, we often let this happen. But this is extremely dangerous! Just what are God's primary purposes for His people? How much should we expect to get out of this life?
WHEN trials, tests and problems arise in people's lives, the immediate human tendency is to think things have somehow gone wrong, that things aren't the way they ought to be.
Irrationally, when we don't have the peace of mind, security, happiness, recognition or stability we may expect and desire, we automatically tend to feel that things are off kilter, that something has gone awry and that nothing is right!
Perhaps doubt begins to enter our minds, we begin to doubt God's promises, His Word, or His love and concern. And always when trials really get "hot," some begin to question, "Is God really concerned about me? Does He care? Or is He far off and uninvolved with my problems?"
Special Topics
If God truly loves His spirit-begotten children, why does He sometimes permit suffering and pain? Perhaps we have failed to understand just HOW God expresses His divine love.
IF God is wiser than we, His judgment must differ from our own on many things. What seems right to us may be wrong to God and vice versa. We are told by Isaiah: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord" (Isa. 55:8). Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the manner in which God expresses His love is not always what we might expect.
Teachings of the Apostle
What HAPPENED January 7th
What My Commission IS!
SIGNIFICANT THINGS DID happen on January 7th! In this Personal I want to tell you what happened- but also to make PLAIN and CLEAR:
1) What our Commission IS, and what it is NOT!
2) What are the criteria for determining through whom God is carrying out that Commission which is His WORK on earth today.
Thousands know that I, personally, have been called and chosen for a very definite commission in God's service. But I have definitely NOT been called to be a PROPHET - except as that word, Biblically used, does sometimes refer to a minister or speaker - one who proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Emphatically I am NOT a prophet, in the sense of one to whom God speaks specially and directly, revealing personally a future event to happen or new truth, or new and special instruction direct from God separate from, and apart from what is contained in the Bible. And I never have claimed to be.
Audio Broadcast from Mr. Armstrong each week
The Value of Human Life
MP3 Format
This Sermon by Mr. Armstrong covers the Value of Human Life.
It is the same sermon that we heard last week at services but I thought those who may have missed it, might like to hear it, as it was excellent.
A new Series of Sermons, Bible Studies and World Tomorrow Broadcasts are being shared here. They are high quality and cataloged by topic
Open Letters
Mr. Billingsley's Open Letters that have appeared in The Journal.
True Womanhood
(Titus 2:3) The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
(Titus 2:4) That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
(Titus 2:5) [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
True Womanhood - Is It a "Lost Cause"?
(Plain Truth article - November 1965)
’Ruling on Womens Dress
(Good News Article 1962 Herbert W. Armstrong)
Truth About Makeup
Here are the eye-opening FACTS -- where, when, by whom, and why the use of makeup began -- its history, and what the BIBLE says about it!
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Archived Article Index
How Is God's Love For Us Expressed?
The 19-Year Time Cycles 
