“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Heb. 13:8)

CIRCULAR LETTER March 2008

We want to send heartfelt greetings to all of you worldwide in the precious Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, with the follow ing Scripture from Isa. 14:26-27,

“This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”

The Lord God has a plan that He will undoubtedly bring to fruition with all nations, with Israel, and with the Church. We can gather from the news reports since the beginning of January 2008 that the world of politics is increasingly concentrating on the Middle East. In particular, Jerusalem is now becoming the focal point of the debates and negotiations. George W. Bush would like to crown his presidency with at least one success, namely with an agreement between the Jewish state and a new Palestinian state. The question is whether it can be accomplished in the time he has left. On January 11, while on his tour of the Middle East, he met Tony Blair, who recently became the European Union’s special envoy for the Middle East. Tony Blair officially converted to Roman Catholicism on December 21, 2007, thereby ensuring the backing of the world power. He chose December 21, 2007, the very day on which the last borders between Eastern and Western European countries fell. Now the last world empire, as seen and foretold by the Prophet Daniel (Dan. 2:40 and 7:23), is taking on its final shape.

The Roman Treaty of March 25, 1957, signed by the six founding na tions, is the basis for the United Europe. Every one of the twenty-seven countries currently part of the E.U. has signed the Roman statute. Even the “world court,” the highest court on earth, is based on the “Roman statute of the international court of justice.” Right after the 128 para graphs, we read at the end, “Transpired in Rome on July 17, 1998.”

Vatican Radio announced via the Internet on February 18, 2008, that Pope Benedict XVI will visit the USA April 15-21. On the agenda are planned talks with President George W. Bush about the “peace efforts in the Middle East.”

The Vatican intends to place Jerusalem under international status. The exterritorial area is to inlude the Temple Mountain and go right up to the Mount Zion. It is about two things, which actually belong to gether: One is an “agreement” in regard to the dividing of land, which is foretold in prophetic Scripture and brings judgement with it,

“… and will plead with them there for my people and for my herit age Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” (Joel 3:2).

The other is a contract about the status of Jerusalem. This year Israel is celebrating its 60^th anniversary since becoming a state in 1948. The peace agreement is now within reach and will include the three world religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and their “holy sites.” The Bible speaks about a covenant, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week …” (Dan. 9:27). The Temple Mountain is claimed as a holy place not only by the Jewish people, who do so with their God-given right – for the third Temple will be built once again on its original foundation – but it is also regarded as a holy site by the Islamic religion, along with Mecca and Medina. This will indeed be a religious peace treaty. Then the Scripture in 1. Thess. 5:3 will be fulfilled, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

We will not go into further detail with this subject at this time. I am writing under the impression that the last phase for Israel is commenc ing; hence the final phase for the Church is even closer. With all the things happening right now, those of us who know the prophetic Scrip tures can hear the end-time bells ringing. Once again it can be said, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” The time for the Church is certainly nearing its end and God will turn to Israel, according to His plan of Salvation (Acts 15:16; Rom. 11:25). The Bride Church may see the first phase fulfilled, but not the realisation of the covenant, as re corded in Dan. 9:27, because she will be taken up before that. Brother Branham said on March 18, 1963, “And after the church is taken away, Rome and the Jews will make a covenant with one another.” We are asking, “Watchman, what of the night?” The answer is, “The morning cometh …” (Isa. 21:11-12). The cry is growing ever louder, “Behold, the Bridegroom comes.” The countdown is on.

It is essential that we recognise God’s plan of Salvation and that we take our foreordained places therein. From eternity (Acts 15:18), before time began, that is before the foundation of the world, God made a plan for humanity and a plan of Salvation for His Church.

The Redeemer was ordained before the foundation of the world (Jn. 17:24; 1. Pet. 1:20).

The chosen ones were also foreordained before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4).

Their names were written in the Lamb’s book of life before the foundation of world (Rev. 13:8).

Jesus began to teach the things which had been kept secret since the foundation of the world (Mt. 13:35).

This plan stretches from the first moment of time to the last, when time merges into eternity.

In the Scripture quoted in the introduction, the concern is the plan of God and the principal question, “… who shall disannul it?” Since the very beginning the enemy has tried to disannul this plan. It started with his rebellion in heaven and continues on earth until this day. Everything is written in the Bible, from the first to the last chapter, even the facts about the fall of Lucifer and the fall in the Garden of Eden, although it is conveyed to us in parables and natural pictures. There is only one of two possibilities: Either God Himself reveals His plan to His divinely called messengers, apostles, and prophets, who must proclaim His counsel, or the theologians and scribes give their manifold interpretations. There is always only one right answer, but there are many interpretations. We are solely interested in the one correct answer that is confirmed in the Word of God.

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7).

“Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit …” (Eph. 3:4-5).

“… the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” (Rev. 10:7).

The great tragedy of the attempt to disannul this plan began in heaven. There Satan gave in to his own will and placed it above the Will of God. The angel of light, the anointed cherub, the son of the morn ing exalted himself and desired to establish his own throne beside the throne of the Almighty, wanting to be equal to the Most High. Since the beginning his aim has been to disannul God’s plan. In the 14^th chapter of the Prophet Isaiah we read about Satan’s fall (vv. 12-21), and then we are told about God’s purpose in verses 26-27, as quoted in the intro ductory Scripture.

Although encoded, the fall of Lucifer is also described in Eze. 28:11-15. Nevertheless, the description is plain enough when it is re vealed to us by God’s Holy Spirit. Created by God, decorated with pre cious stones, he was the picture of perfection and he was already in Eden, the Garden of God. From the beginning he had access to heaven and to paradise on earth. “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” (Eze. 28:15).

What happened in paradise is likewise reported in vivid detail and mysteriously encrypted. There Satan, the fallen angel, in spirit form possessed and misused the serpent in order to deceive Eve and to there by sneak himself into the human race through beguilement and, as a result, pull all of mankind into the fall – the separation from God. Until then there had been no trace of sin, sickness, or suffering. No one had ever heard of any pain or death before. Since the fall, every human be ing is begotten in the same way as in the original sin. David cried out, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Ps. 51:7). The Lord God created angels and human beings as a free moral agency – as with Adam, who listened to Eve, just as Eve had listened to the serpent. Eve had the opportunity to decide one way or the other. The same applies to all of us.

From the first deception in the Garden of Eden, every deception goes back to the archdeceiver, to Satan, regardless of whether it is in the natural or spiritual realm or through whom it happens. The enemy has obviously retained the power over the earth. He is the deceiver of the whole world (Rev. 12:9); he has become the prince and the god of this world of darkness, until the moment when the following Scripture shall be fulfilled, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Rev. 11:15).

On account of the decision that the first humans made under the influence of the evil one, death found its way to all of mankind. Through Jesus Christ, the second Adam, eternal life was restored unto us. “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1. Cor. 15:21-22). God, Who is Spirit, came into humanity through Christ, His only begotten Son. That was the only way that we could be redeemed out of the fall.

Only those who have received eternal life by the personal experience of Salvation can and will live eternally. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1. Jn. 5:11-12).

Even after the fall, Satan, as a spirit being, still had access to heaven and there participated in the meetings with the angels. In Job 1:6 we read, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.” The Lord spoke with him and the topic was the servant of God, Job. The same is reported in chapter 2: “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them …” Not just once, but repeatedly the enemy of God was present with the angels, the sons of God, that had gathered in heaven.

During the time of the New Covenant, the enemy, as the accuser of the brethren, still has access to heaven. However, there our Redeemer is present as the Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 8:6), and he speaks for us as the Advocate (1. Jn. 2:1). Although our Lord conquered Satan and saw him fall from heaven (Jn. 12:31), he finally will be cast out for good when the overcomers are taken up: “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Rev. 12:7-12). Satan has pulled down with him the part of the angels who submitted themselves under his influence. Therefore we now have to battle the principalities and forces of darkness, which have been conquered but do not want to surrender, and we have to continue the fight with the help of the full armour of God until we reach our destination (Eph. 6:12-20).