Sabbath 23/9/27/120
Dear Friends,
This Sabbath we would like everyone to look forward to and plan for the Feasts of Tabernacles for both 2005 and 2006.
As we are all aware the year 2005 is the 28th year of the 120th Jubilee since the closure of Eden and the cursing of the earth. It is the last Jubilee of Satan’s rule on the planet. It is a Sabbath Year and thus the Law has to be read in accordance with the instructions given by God to Moses and Israel at the Mountain of God after the Exodus.
We have decided to locate the International Conference of the Reading of the Law in Canada for 2005. This will assist the North Americans but cost more for the rest of the world. The Feast will be located in Ontario at Niagara Falls area. Leaders of national conferences outside of North America will be assisted to attend. It will also be the assigned feast site for Europe, South Africa and Australia.
At that conference, the World Conference and international leaders will assign duties and decide priorities for the next seven-year period. It is thus an important feast.
At that feast we will issue a report of the last seven years and an assessment of the attaining of the performance objective of the previous World Conference in 1998. We hope to be able to comprehensively show that we have met and exceeded all performance objectives. We also hope to be able to introduce new programs that will result in more extensive growth in the Church’s influence and teachings.
To date we have been doubling in access and exposure every year. Each year has 100% growth in the previous year’s exposure. The combined exposure of all of our web sites exceeds that of all the other churches of God in all nations. I think we can be proud of that achievement.
We have developed a plan for the Reading of the Law in 28/120 or 2005. In addition to the reading in Canada by the ministry to the Churches assembled, we have the explanation of the Law and the Testimony translated into as many languages as possible and recorded in those languages by competent linguists. These recordings will be placed on the internet in audio files and be able to be downloaded in MP3 or like format for the series, and advertised so that the material is accessed in as many nations as possible. To that end we invite as many people as possible to volunteer for test recording in their native languages.
To that end I would also remind us all that we asked for readers of Children’s Bible Studies and recordings and they are not as yet complete. Please get on with this important task.
For the Reading of the Law we were faced with a dilemma in that the extensive study over the Feast would have impinged on our desire to go to Turkey and visit the sites of the Seven Churches. So we decided to go to Canada for the Reading of the Law and to Turkey in 2006.
In 2006 we intend to visit each of the Seven Churches and the areas of interest. It is suggested that we fly into Istanbul and depart by cruise liner down the Dardanelles to the area of ancient Troy, and then on to the ports that service the Seven Churches such as Smyrna (or modern Izmir) and Kusadasi, which is the port for the area of ancient Ephesus. That ancient city is now a few miles inland due to the falling of the earth’s water levels over the last 1500 years. This is a suggestion at present for seeing the ancient church areas more easily each day.
Over that time we will have lectures on the Churches and the people connected with them, and we will be able to see the places and understand more readily what was involved. We will be able to see the places that Paul visited and even identify the gates and roads that he would have used. We will be able to see the areas John was operating from and even the probable place of burial of the mother of Christ and the rest of the Church there. We will study the epistles in great detail both before and after visiting the sites.
I know an eminent archaeologist in Turkey. We have had discussion on site in Turkey. We are fairly confident that we can locate the area of her burial if not the exact place. We have already identified the location. It is nothing like what is imagined by the mainstream system. That of itself is good in that, if they knew where it was, they would simply turn it into another idolatrous shrine. When she is resurrected Mariam, will no doubt be nauseated with the idolatry surrounding her. Her sister Maria will find it both amusing and horrifying to see that she and Mariam had their names confused and became objects of idolatry.
We might all refresh our memories on this subject by looking at the paper The Virgin Mariam and the Family of Jesus Christ (No. 232).
It may be possible to go on to Patmos and return via the Greek islands to depart for home. Costs are a major factor. This promises to be the most educational program of any feast we have held aside from the Reading of the Law itself. Our advisors in Turkey will help construct a program for us and we will advise everyone later of the costs and vacancies. I ask that you all consider going. To this end, the feast in Canada was structured so that as many as possible can get there with not a great deal of cost and have enough funds over to the following year for this feast. The following year will be needed to prepare for the third year as well.
I hope that we can prepare as many experts as possible on each of the locations so that we are able to explain as much as possible. We will prepare the lectures in advance and then publish the documentation for all who are unable to attend. It is one thing to read of the commotion in Ephesus by the silversmiths but it is quite another to stand in the ancient temple area and have it explained by an expert on the subject.
To this end we will also make it disabled/age friendly so that we can all get around most areas. The young will no doubt have a marvellous time. It will be the opportunity of a lifetime no doubt for many.
It is planned that we would meet at Istanbul for the First Holy Day and Sabbath and depart Sunday on the cruise. That way and in that year the entire cruise has no Sabbath or Holy Day to worry about in the travel arrangements and catering. The Last Great Day will be at the end of the activities and we can depart from that final location. No matter how we decide to arrange the transport and accommodation, it will be a lot of fun.
Please pray that we are able to have a successful Sabbath Year and arrange for the Reading of the Law with maximum attendance.
Pray we are all well and able to attend with no impingements on our ability to do so by home crises.
Pray also for the Spanish work and the translation activities. Pray that we are added to and able to continue in growth in love and harmony.
Wade Cox
Coordinator General
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