Circular letter 12/2003
/ Ewald Frank
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2. Very important
The promise of the one who should prepare the way of the LORD at the first coming of Christ,which was fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist,was therefore so important,because through it the inauguration of the Plan of salvation took place.It is the same now with the promise of the final part before the Return of Jesus Christ, whereby all things are restored and brought back into the original state (Mal.4:5-6;Acts 3:19-21; a.o.).John the Baptist was not a man of the Temple or of synagogue serv- ices,he was a man sent from God with the message of God to the people of God.The leadership could not place John,because he did not fit into their religious tradition.He did,however, fit all the better into the Kingdom of God,which was on account of his ministry making its breakthrough at that time (Lk.16:16).The LORD Jesus placed the ministry of John the Baptist scripturally,as can be seen in Mt.11:12-15.Mark,the evangelist,did so in the first three verses of chapter 1,Luke in chapter 3 and in chapter 7:24- 30.In the gospel of John,chapter 1:19-28,the man of God gave his testimony.He replied to all three questions with a “No!” and confessed that he was not the Christ,not the prophet Elijah,and not the promised “Messiah- prophet ” ((Dt.18:15-18).The beginning and the conclusion of the New Testament were each to be introduced with the ministry of a promised prophet.
There are general predictions for the end-time that are believed by many, regardless of their church affiliation.World-famous TV-Evangelists and preachers in local churches speak about end-time events under the terms “apocalypse ”,“eschatology ”. All expect the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ in this or that way.But they remain in their own pre-conceived ideas and interpretations.It is not given unto them to recognise the promised ministry,therefore they will not experience the actual preparation occurring in the Bride Church just before the return of the Bridegroom.
It should be worthwhile to consider this for a moment:For four thousand years believers waited eagerly for the Messiah to come,but because of their own imaginary concept they did not recognise Him! Mainly because the spiritual leaders did not believe that John the Baptist ’s ministry was a direct fulfilment of the promised Word.They rejected God ’s plan of salvation for themselves and also kept the people away from it (Lk. 7:27-30).The LORD came to His Own,but His Own received Him not.Just the few who believed the way-preparing message received Him and were given power to become the sons of God (Jn.1).Amen.