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PASTOR GENERAL'S
REPORT
VOL.2, N0.40
TO THE MINISTRY OF THE
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
SPECIAL SABBATH FOR
GIVING THANKS
by Herbert W. Armstrong
OCTOBER 17, 1980
I am appointing a special Sabbath, November 15, worldwide, for giving
grateful THANKS to ALMIGHTY GOD and the Head of the Church, the living
JESUS CHRIST, for causing the attorney general of California to "LET MY
PEOPLE GO!'' by dropping the unconstitutional lawsuit against GOD ALMIGHTY,
against JESUS CHRIST, and against GOD'S CHURCH!
In this battle we were forced to defend the rights of separation
from state domination and total takeover of all churches of this world.
Most of the major and several minor established churches came to our legal
aid, for which we are grateful to our GOD.
I wonder if we have realized fully the real significance of this
major persecution?
First, although I personally have suffered considerable opposition
and persecution in the raising up and building of the Philadelphia era of
God's Church, and many of our people have met with trouble and persecution,
yet this was the first time THE CHURCH, as an organized Body, has been
persecuted directly by Satan, who controls this world's governments. The�e
fore I have wondered, does this mean that Revelation 12:7 has now been
fulfilled--the war in heaven, and Satan cast back down--and also verse 13,
Satan's persecution--NOT of individuals, but of the CHURCH AS A BODY,
prior to the Great Tribulation (verse 14) and his final persecution of
the Laodicean Church, verse 17?
Plainly, verses 13 and 17 show two different persecutions against the
whole church, in two different eras, the final one, and the 6th or Phila
delphia era.
Second. Also consider Revelation 3:9, where those of "the synagogue
of Satan, which say they are Jews and are not, but do lie; behold, I will
make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have
loved thee. "
The Book of Revelation speaks in symbols. Paul writes that in this
dispensation he is a Jew who is one inwardly--SPIRITUALLY--in other words
in the CHURCH.
In this lawsuit, the Catholic and leading Protestant churches, as
well as the Jewish Synagogue Council of America, came to our legal aid.
IT WAS THEIR POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE AND THE
GOVERNOR which passed the Petris bill, forcing the dismissal of the law
suit.