The first shall be last, the last shall be first

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><B>Church of God, In Truth</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>   |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church of God, In Truth"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Edification Articles"><U><B>Up Level</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id294.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Called to be A Kingdom of Priests"><U>Called to be "A Kingdom of Priests"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id293.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of decep"><U>The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of deception</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id290.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A rare find"><U>A rare find</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id289.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Focus on God"><U>Focus on God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id288.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Nation must Honor God"><U>A Nation must Honor God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Faith?"><U>What is Faith?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id285.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abrahams family"><U>Abraham's family</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Women of the Bible"><U>Women of the Bible</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id279.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How important are Gods Holy days to you?"><U>How important are God's Holy days to you??</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I am the resurrection and the live"><U>I am the resurrection and the live</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id259.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Man made traditions have infirtrated God"><U>Man made traditions have infirtrated God's church</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id258.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to cope with todays realities"><U>How to cope with today's realities</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id257.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trials and discouragement"><U>Trials and discouragement</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id256.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love and defend Gods truth"><U>Love and defend God's truth</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id248.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id252.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear"><U>Fear</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Differing Opinions"><U>Differing Opinions</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id250.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are you a Profitable Servant?"><U>Are you a Profitable Servant?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id249.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id247.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Listen to God"><U>Listen to God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id246.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy"><U>Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MANS TRADITIONS VS. CHRISTS TEACHINGS"><U>MAN'S TRADITIONS VS. CHRIST'S TEACHINGS</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id241.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Following the footprints of Christ"><U>Following the footprints of Christ</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angels?"><U>Angels?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Alabaster Box"><U>The Alabaster Box</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id218.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="War and Peace"><U>War and Peace</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spiritual winers AND spritual losers"><U>Spiritual winers AND spritual losers</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id213.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Lawless Spirit"><U>America's Lawless Spirit</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Snare"><U>Satan's Snare</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life Comes From:"><U>Life Comes From:</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Examine for Passover"><U>Examine for Passover</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Su"><U>The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Sunday</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Points To Ponder!"><U>Points To Ponder!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Price Unity?"><U>What Price Unity?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Moon New Month!"><U>New Moon - New Month!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Creation ... His Silent Gospel!"><U>God's Creation ... His Silent Gospel!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who or What is Elijah?"><U>Who or What is Elijah?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?"><U>Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Watching the Signs! ... News"><U>Watching the Signs! ... News</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Anointing All with Oil?"><U>Anointing "All" with Oil?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the O"><U>Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the Oil?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tradition or Gods Word?"><U>Tradition or God's Word?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What was the Korah Thinking?"><U>What was the Korah Thinking?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You a Blue Angel?"><U>Are You a Blue Angel?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth"><U>Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover or Lamb?"><U>Passover or Lamb?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Scriptural Definition of Apostasy"><U>Scriptural Definition of "Apostasy"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conjunction vesus Molad"><U>True Conjunction vesus Molad</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Hebrew Language"><U>The Hebrew Language</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Brief History of Judaism"><U>A Brief History of Judaism</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism is not the Religion of the Old T"><U>Judaism is not the Religion of the Old Testament</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Let it be seen"><U>Let it be seen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whos Command?"><U>Who's Command?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is the Abomination that Causes Deso"><U>What is the Abomination that Causes Desolation?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?"><U>Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?"><U>Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are we pure in Heart?"><U>Are we pure in Heart?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dark Moon"><U>Dark Moon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prophet Jonah"><U>The Prophet Jonah</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two can be One"><U>Two can be One</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!"><U>Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conversion"><U>True Conversion</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Petra!"><U>Petra!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear, The Pit and a Snare"><U>Fear, The Pit and a Snare</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Five Foolish Virgins"><U>Five Foolish Virgins</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="One Hour"><U>One Hour</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7Steps to DisasterLessons from the Titan"><U>7-Steps to Disaster-Lessons from the Titanic</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Appointed Curriculum for Mankind"><U>God's Appointed "Curriculum" for Mankind</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Army of Chosen"><U>An Army of Chosen</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kingdom of Priests"><U>Kingdom of Priests</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jewish Roots?"><U>Jewish Roots?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galatians CoverUp Part Series"><U>Galatians "Cover-Up" Part Series</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What does it mean to be sealed?"><U>What does it mean to be sealed?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Awesome Power"><U>God's Awesome Power</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 1"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Will God Bind Error?"><U>Will God Bind Error?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 2"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17th Restored Truth Fact or Fiction?"><U>17th Restored Truth - Fact or Fiction?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?"><U>Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harmony in Gods Creation"><U>Harmony in God's Creation</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign of the True Church! "><U>Sign of the True Church! </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Temples of God"><U>Temples of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id181.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Way of Life"><U>The Way  of Life</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id182.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why we must fast?"><U>Why we must fast?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id183.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jesus Christ"><U>Jesus Christ</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id189.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Exploring the two Churches of Revelation"><U>Exploring the "two Churches" of Revelation 12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resisting Gods Authority!"><U>Resisting God's Authority!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God"><U>Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blistering Warning"><U>Blistering Warning</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id197.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Three aspects of the gospel"><U>Three aspects of the gospel</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elijahs voice message!"><U>Elijah's voice message!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id205.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Time to Probe and Test"><U>Time to Probe and Test</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id206.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Write it in a Book"><U>Write it in a Book</U></A>   |   The first shall be last, the last shall be first</div> <div>    |   <A HREF="id223.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keep the Sabbath Holy"><U>Keep the Sabbath Holy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lagging Behind"><U>Lagging Behind</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id229.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gratitude Toward God"><U>Gratitude Toward God</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Truth?"><U>What is Truth?</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Church of God, In Truth</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id294.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Called to be A Kingdom of Priests"><U>Called to be "A Kingdom of Priests"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id293.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of decep"><U>The Sprit of Truth vs the Sprit of deception</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id290.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A rare find"><U>A rare find</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id289.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Focus on God"><U>Focus on God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id288.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Nation must Honor God"><U>A Nation must Honor God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id286.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Faith?"><U>What is Faith?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id285.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abrahams family"><U>Abraham's family</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Women of the Bible"><U>Women of the Bible</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id279.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How important are Gods Holy days to you?"><U>How important are God's Holy days to you??</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id278.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="I am the resurrection and the live"><U>I am the resurrection and the live</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id259.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Man made traditions have infirtrated God"><U>Man made traditions have infirtrated God's church</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id258.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to cope with todays realities"><U>How to cope with today's realities</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id257.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trials and discouragement"><U>Trials and discouragement</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id256.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love and defend Gods truth"><U>Love and defend God's truth</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id248.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id252.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear"><U>Fear</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id251.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Differing Opinions"><U>Differing Opinions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id250.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are you a Profitable Servant?"><U>Are you a Profitable Servant?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id249.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roadmap to peace"><U>Roadmap to peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id247.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Listen to God"><U>Listen to God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id246.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy"><U>Remember the Sabbath to kepp it holy</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id244.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MANS TRADITIONS VS. CHRISTS TEACHINGS"><U>MAN'S TRADITIONS VS. CHRIST'S TEACHINGS</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id241.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Following the footprints of Christ"><U>Following the footprints of Christ</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angels?"><U>Angels?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id232.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Alabaster Box"><U>The Alabaster Box</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id218.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="War and Peace"><U>War and Peace</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id217.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spiritual winers AND spritual losers"><U>Spiritual winers AND spritual losers</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id213.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Americas Lawless Spirit"><U>America's Lawless Spirit</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Satans Snare"><U>Satan's Snare</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Life Comes From:"><U>Life Comes From:</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id174.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Examine for Passover"><U>Examine for Passover</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Su"><U>The Wave Sheaf, And the Importance of Sunday</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Points To Ponder!"><U>Points To Ponder!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Price Unity?"><U>What Price Unity?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Moon New Month!"><U>New Moon - New Month!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Creation ... His Silent Gospel!"><U>God's Creation ... His Silent Gospel!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who or What is Elijah?"><U>Who or What is Elijah?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?"><U>Who are the Three Beasts of Daniel 7?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Watching the Signs! ... News"><U>Watching the Signs! ... News</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Anointing All with Oil?"><U>Anointing "All" with Oil?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the O"><U>Where is Your Faith? In God, or in the Oil?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tradition or Gods Word?"><U>Tradition or God's Word?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What was the Korah Thinking?"><U>What was the Korah Thinking?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You a Blue Angel?"><U>Are You a Blue Angel?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth"><U>Passover: Beginning or End of Fourteenth</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passover or Lamb?"><U>Passover or Lamb?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Scriptural Definition of Apostasy"><U>Scriptural Definition of "Apostasy"</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conjunction vesus Molad"><U>True Conjunction vesus Molad</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Hebrew Language"><U>The Hebrew Language</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Brief History of Judaism"><U>A Brief History of Judaism</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism is not the Religion of the Old T"><U>Judaism is not the Religion of the Old Testament</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Let it be seen"><U>Let it be seen</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whos Command?"><U>Who's Command?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is the Abomination that Causes Deso"><U>What is the Abomination that Causes Desolation?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id135.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?"><U>Are You Begotten? Born Again? Confused?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?"><U>Why Calculate Time fro Jerusalem?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Are we pure in Heart?"><U>Are we pure in Heart?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dark Moon"><U>Dark Moon</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Prophet Jonah"><U>The Prophet Jonah</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Two can be One"><U>Two can be One</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id144.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!"><U>Fishers! Hunters! Watchers!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="True Conversion"><U>True Conversion</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id146.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Petra!"><U>Petra!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id147.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fear, The Pit and a Snare"><U>Fear, The Pit and a Snare</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id148.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Five Foolish Virgins"><U>Five Foolish Virgins</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="One Hour"><U>One Hour</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id150.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7Steps to DisasterLessons from the Titan"><U>7-Steps to Disaster-Lessons from the Titanic</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Appointed Curriculum for Mankind"><U>God's Appointed "Curriculum" for Mankind</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Army of Chosen"><U>An Army of Chosen</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kingdom of Priests"><U>Kingdom of Priests</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jewish Roots?"><U>Jewish Roots?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Galatians CoverUp Part Series"><U>Galatians "Cover-Up" Part Series</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What does it mean to be sealed?"><U>What does it mean to be sealed?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Awesome Power"><U>God's Awesome Power</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id162.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 1"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 1</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id163.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Will God Bind Error?"><U>Will God Bind Error?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id164.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gods Divine Laws Part 2"><U>God's Divine Laws - Part 2</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id165.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17th Restored Truth Fact or Fiction?"><U>17th Restored Truth - Fact or Fiction?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id166.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?"><U>Just what do you mean ... the MEAN?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Harmony in Gods Creation"><U>Harmony in God's Creation</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id168.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign of the True Church! "><U>Sign of the True Church! </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Temples of God"><U>Temples of God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id181.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Way of Life"><U>The Way  of Life</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id182.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why we must fast?"><U>Why we must fast?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id183.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jesus Christ"><U>Jesus Christ</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id189.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Exploring the two Churches of Revelation"><U>Exploring the "two Churches" of Revelation 12</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resisting Gods Authority!"><U>Resisting God's Authority!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God"><U>Building a Dream of the Kingdom of God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Blistering Warning"><U>Blistering Warning</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id197.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Three aspects of the gospel"><U>Three aspects of the gospel</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Elijahs voice message!"><U>Elijah's voice message!</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id205.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Time to Probe and Test"><U>Time to Probe and Test</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id206.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Write it in a Book"><U>Write it in a Book</U></A></div> <div> <B>The first shall be last, the last shall be first</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id223.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keep the Sabbath Holy"><U>Keep the Sabbath Holy</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lagging Behind"><U>Lagging Behind</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id229.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gratitude Toward God"><U>Gratitude Toward God</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id233.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Truth?"><U>What is Truth?</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>The first shall be last, the last shall be first</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> When reading chapter 19 of Matthew, first we find Christ's teaching about divorce; He then goes on to bless little children. Next, Jesus talks to the rich young ruler, and then ends this chapter in a discussion with Peter about rewards. "Then answered Peter and said unto Him, behold, we have forsaken all, and followed You; what shall we have therefore?" (Matt 19:27). </div> <div> Peter, as the spokesman for the rest of the disciples, asked Christ, "What is in it for us? What will be our reward?" The disciples felt they had basically fulfilled the requirements Christ set before the rich young ruler who had just asked about how to obtain eternal life. What did Christ say to the rich young ruler? "Why call you me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if you wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto Him, which? Jesus said, you shalt do no murder, you shalt not commit adultery, you shalt not steal, you shalt not bear false witness, honour your father and your mother: and, you shalt love thy neighbour as yourself." "The young man said unto Him, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, if you wilt be perfect, go and sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me" (Matt. 19:17-21). </div> <div> The rich young man went away sorrowful. Christ exposed this young man's failure by reading his heart! He had a serious defect remaining, selfishness and greed. He was unwilling to share the blessing God had given to him. He was not willing to stop robbing from God's treasure. He was not willing as the apostle Paul, "To suffer loss of all things in order to win eternal life." He was not willing to "purchase the pearl of great price." He was not willing to follow the example of Peter, Andrew, James and John when they were called. "And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him" (Luke 5:11). </div> <div> The painful discovery that he could not serve both God and mammon was too much for this rich young man. His possessions constituted the most important thing in his life. Without Godly wisdom in administering his finances, this rich young man found them to be a curse, rather than a blessing, because he fell short of God's holy requirements. </div> <div> God truly did read this rich mans heart, just as He read Peters heart. Peter said, "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed you; what shall we have therefore?"(Matt.19: 27). Then Jesus answered Peter and the others, "Verily I say unto you, that you which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life" (Matt. 19:28-29). This is not said in the sense of leaving their families destitute, but in the sense of making service toward Christ their primary objective. "But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first" (Matt. 19:30). </div> <div> What does this mean, "Many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first? Is it as it sounds an order, or sequence of events that have to take place in order for the last to be first? </div> <div> The parable of the householder in Matthew 29, will set the stage for the answer. In this parable we find laborers being hired to work in a vineyard. They are all hired at different times of the day, from early morning, to late in the afternoon. This parable will give the answer to the question Peter asked Christ, "What shall we have, therefore?' (Matthew 19:27). </div> <div> What is the reward for our stead-fast devotion and duty? "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; go you also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, why stand you here all the day idle? They said unto him, because no man has hired us. He said unto them, go you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall you receive" (Matt. 20:1-7). We can better understand this parable Christ is giving Peter and the other disciples, by identifying the "householder" and the "vineyard." Christ Himself is the householder who went out "early in the morning" to hire laborers to work in his vineyard for a penny a day. He hired laborers to start working at different hours of the day; from early morning, 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 12 noon and then more at 3 p.m, and 5 p.m. The last were hired one hour prior to paying the workers for services rendered. </div> <div> What is meant by His vineyard? The vineyard Christ is referring to originated at Mount Sinai, by the planting of God's law, statutes and judgements into the lives of physical Israel, who were to administer those laws in their lives. But we find when Christ came declaring the kingdom of God was at hand and looking for the fruits of righteousness in His vineyard, He found none! Judah, Benjamin and Levi, had been "hired" in the early morning hours. The prophet Isaiah prophetically addresses them, "... now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, between Me and My vineyard. What could have been done more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?" (Isa. 5:3-4). Judah, as Israel, also failed to produce righteous fruits, they only brought forth fruits of the flesh, found in Galatians 5:19-23 [dishonesty, deception, immorality, and disregard for God's truth]. "And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and brake down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down." Judah was being told, God is going to remove His protecting hand and their enemies were going to attack and scatter them, because of their transgressions. "And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor plowed; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it." </div> <div> Care is essential if a vineyard is to be productive. Without pruning and cultivation, it will eventually deteriorate, instead of producing grapes it would produce nothing but briers and thorns [prickle plants]. "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant: and He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry" (Isa. 5:5-7). This message is primarily for Judah, but this message of rebuke and coming doom incorporates all Israel as well. Judah's failure in keeping their vow, and their promise to God cost them the government of God working through them. </div> <div> Jesus Christ said, "Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God [the Government of God] shall be taken from you [Judah] and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" (Matt. 21:43). Spiritually speaking, Christ is speaking of a coming nation of spiritual Israelites, called and put into His spiritual church to receive the privilege of being God's chosen people. </div> <div> Throughout the centuries of Christian witnessing, there have been three distinct types of activities, or three phases to God's work and three types of workers. Each one was to fulfill a specific task assigned to them. </div> <div> Through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord declared He would call for "fishers and for hunters." "Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks" (Jer. 16:16). Jesus Christ Himself identified the beginning of the fishing period when He called Simon, Andrew, James and John. "And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And He saith unto them, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him. And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him" (Matt. 4:18-22). </div> <div> History has proven, the greatest number of years, have been devoted to the "fishing" period. A fisherman patiently waits as he undertakes to snare the fish in a net or catch it on a line. The early workmen called to work in the vineyard during the day symbolize that great body of Christians who were hired at different hours throughout the day to work God's vineyard. These were the fishers of men, who for over 1900 years have worked faithfully in God's service, laboring in His vineyard, even after their death. This is made clear from the statement in the book of Revelation. "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Rev. 14:13). </div> <div> God's gospel does not stop with the death of one of His servants, but continues on while the second phase, called the "hunter" period is introduced. "Afterwards will I send for many hunters" (Jer. 16:16). </div> <div> A hunter is one that is searching for something and is pursuing it with intent, in order to capture his prey. He exerts great energy and strength, as he works in search of his goal. This hunter period demonstrates the activities of those who have sought to establish the identity of Israel in these last days. Hunting out the evidence and tracing the history of the lost 10 tribes of Israel, to make the true identity of Israel known today. </div> <div> As you know, the most asked for book, over the years, from the Church of God has been; "The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy," written by Herbert W. Armstrong. It identifies modern Israel today, as the Anglo-Saxon- Celtic people. Herbert Armstrong fulfilled the hunting period, along side the fishing period. This period, represents those that had been hired earlier, in the heat of the day to work in God's vineyard. During this hunting period, many of God's truth's have been restore as well as the meaning of God's Holy Days and how they picture the plan of salvation. God's true gospel has been preached around the world. This period has fed spiritual food to God's called out ones through the building of three Ambassador Colleges that hallmarked the recapturing of true values and in the process supplied the students and Church with the missing dimension in education. Ambassador College featured the building of Godly character, using the Bible, God's word, as its foundation. Carved in granite over the west door of the Ambassador Hall, in Pasadena, California are the words: " The Word of God is the Foundation of Knowledge. " </div> <div> This foundation of knowledge ties in with the third phase or group that God hired to work in His vineyard. This group was hired just prior to the end of the day. "And about the eleventh hour He went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, why stand you here all the day idle? They said unto Him, because no man has hired us. He said unto them, go you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall you receive" (Matt 20:6-7). </div> <div> This eleventh hour group only had to work one hour because it was now 5 p.m., the last hour of the work day. Evening was about to start. An hour in prophetic time is 15 years. This is a much shorter time than the fishers and hunters had in working the vineyard. With the change of time, the message for Israel also changed. </div> <div> The third and final hour calls for a "Watchman and Warner," to warn the spiritual called out ones to wake up. It is their responsibility to sanctify God's people with truth and make them aware of the time in which they are living. </div> <div> The watchman is identified in Matthew 25, waking up the ten virgins, who were slumbering and sleeping. A watchman and warner have the guard duty most don't want. Speaking trut h from God's word makes their words of warning extremely unpopular with those who are still slumbering and sleeping. </div> <div> How are the slumbering and sleeping recognized? They put great emphasis on the pursuit of a social life in God's church, calling it "fellowship." They are neglecting daily prayer and study of God's word. They ignore God's appointed Holy Day Sabbaths by postponing them! They are warned in Jeremiah 7, "For the children of Judah have done evil in My sight, saith the Lord: they have set their abominations [their calendar] in the house which is called by My name [Church of God], to pollute it" (Jer. 7:30). </div> <div> This unpopular message is given to the blind, who are leading the blind. These blind people of God are building on mans traditions. The watchman's message also proclaims the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. "The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hastens greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of waste and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness [darkness always happens before a major event], A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers [does that sound similar to the Twin Towers in New York?]. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy ridding of all them that dwell in the land" (Zephaniah 1:14-18). </div> <div> As expressed before: the watchman and warner's job is not a popular one. Often those who should support the watchmen and warner shun them as a voice of doom. People do not want to hear truth. They do not want to be told they are breaking the fourth commandment and practicing syncretism [the mixing of religions]. Most are not willing to endure the loneliness caused by the end time scattering of God's chosen people. They have found a "comfort zone" and feel that there is safety in numbers. Pursuing personal pleasures, buying and selling on the Sabbath, and socializing have become more important than meditating and studying on God's Sabbath days. </div> <div> When reading the parable of the 10 virgins we understand a watchman must stay awake and alert. The "watchman and warner" must resist slumbering or sleeping. The Apostle Paul recognized this tendency to sleep or become indifferent when he warned the Thessalonians. "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. [Paul is saying here to watch against temptation , laziness, lethargy and distractions]. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night" (1 Thes. 5:6-7). Meaning: the blind are leading the blind, they are confused to what direction they are going. Why is this happening? Because they are not letting the Bible interpret the Bible. </div> <div> The prime requirement for a watchmen or warner is vigilance. They must be constantly alert in the performance of their responsibility. </div> <div> Continuing in Matthew 20, we read the rest of the story, that involves the householder and his hired hand's: "So when even was come, [sunset] the Lord of the vineyard [householder] saith unto His steward, call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, saying, these last have worked but one hour, and You have made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. [After seeing the eleventh hour worker paid one penny they thought that they should receive a bigger reward, maybe 12 time that amount]. But He answered one of them, and said, friend, I do you no wrong: did not you agree with Me for a penny? Take what's yours , and go your way: I will give unto this last, even as unto you" (Matt. 20:8-16). </div> <div> Remember what Matthew 19:30 said, "But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." We as God's people are now in the last period of labor. We have been called to be firstfruits. First fruits are always going to be the first fruit harvested. Could this be why the Church of God, In Truth always keep God's Feast days first? Matthew 19:30, is a warning -- meaning, it just is not enough to start out well on the path of discipleship. It's how we finish that counts! Christ continues in verse 15 of Matthew 20 to say, "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is the [minds] eye evil, because I am good? The lesson here is: It is better to leave our reward up to God than to try and strike a bargain with Him. What God pleases will always be right, just and fair. </div> <div> This proves that in God's kingdom we must adopt an entirely new kind of thinking. Man must learn to abandon their selfish, greedy, competitive spirit and begin to think like the householder [God]. </div> <div> Christ finishes in verse 16, with these words, "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." Jesus reserves for Himself the prerogative of selecting each one He deems best qualified for the positions of authority in His spiritual Kingdom. God teaches fairness of rewards within His calling. Each one accounted worthy will be rewarded, but not according to the length of service, but upon his faithfulness in rendering a full measure of devotion to the work assigned to Him! </div> <div> In God's kingdom greatness is manifested by obedient service! A servant of God must serve and give of himself freely. Those serving with zeal and out of love and gratitude are going to be chosen and highly rewarded. God looks down from heaven and considers a man's work. "Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous: for praise is befitting to the upright. For the word of the Lord is right; and all His works are done in truth" (Psalms 33:1,4). "The Lord looks from heaven; He beholds all the sons of men. From the place of His habitation He looks upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashions their hearts alike; He considers all their works" (Psalms 33:13- 15). </div> <div> James Russell </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>