Ministers of Jesus Christ
Church of The Lord Jesus Christ
Assemblies of The Apostolic Faith
Atlanta, Georgia - USA
Apostle Dennis G. Smith, Pastor and Spiritual Overseer

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APOSTLE'S MESSAGE

Date: October 18, 2020

To all the Saints of God,

Grace and peace be unto all the Saints of God around the World.  As this Coronavirus Pandemic continues, we are continually reminding the Saints of God that we are obeying the magistrates and following the guideline of the health and governmental authorities for the safety of all people. 

      Health authorities and governmental officials continue to strongly encourage people to wear face coverings in public and use social distancing, wash your hands, and get tested to help stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus.  In some places wearing face mask is mandatory in all indoor and outdoor public spaces.  

     At this present time, the City of Atlanta, Georgia remains in Phase II of the Reopening Plan.   Large gatherings of more than 50 people are banned in Georgia unless there is at least six feet between each person. We are continuing limited in-person gatherings to maintain the requested social distancing and increasing our online service through Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube. The medically fragile are advised to continue to shelter in place.  Baptism and prayer service is continuing using personal protective equipment.

      As we obey the Magistrates, we have complete faith that God will continue to hear our prayers and provide a way for us through these uncertain times.

 Romans 13:2-4 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

 TITUS 3:1-2 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.  
   

This week’s encouraging words of growth focuses on:

The Events in the Day of the Lord (Part 2)

      We would like to continuously remind the Saints of God and all people throughout the world that we who are living today during these modern times will need to focus our life on salvation by grace though faith in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Because as knowledge and science have greatly increased, we can easily be offset and perhaps deceived into turning to the scientific knowledge of man as the dominant power today.  The need for education from birth, makes all of us spend a substantial amount of the moments of our life in a school setting.  Education institutions has become the most dominant part of the lives of most people around the world.   And some of these educational institutions promote science as the controlling power in the world today rather than God almighty.  It is true that we must always grow in knowledge because people perish because of a lack of knowledge, but we must examine what we learn to understand whether or not it is the truth and is it according to the word of God.  As the bible reveal future events which gives us a foresight of the things happening around us, we then should be able to recognized the development and increase of the man of sin, the antichrist sinful ways.

 Daniel 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

       The Apostle’s  Doctrine taught in most of the Apostolic Churches do not define the exact timing of the events in the Day of the Lord, but emphasize the main events that relate to the Saints of God and the world wide condition at the present time and in the future with regard to these facts in a numerical order: 1)The catching away or Rapture of the Saints is drawing near as sorrows increase, 2) The great tribulation is a future period of time occurring after the Rapture, 3) the return of Jesus Christ to the earth in a glorified physical body and the Millennium Kingdom following the Great Tribulation.  These points assume that these three events will occur in the future and have not occurred at any time in the past as recorded in history.  

       Most view the Events of Revelation and the premillennial view of the second coming of Christ to earth as occurring in the future. The exact timing is not defined even though there is a numerical order of the events called the timeline because the bible tells us “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night”.

 2 Peter 3:3 - 14 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

      There is no specification that the Rapture will be pretribulational, midtribulational, or posttribulational, although the placement of the “Translation or rapture of the Saints” is usually spoken of first in the numbering order of the events which may be seen as implying and favoring the pretribulational Rapture view, though it should only reflect the fact that most Apostolic believers tolerate various views of the Rapture because the scripture teaches that the Day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night, it is not given for even the Apostles and Prophets of God to know the time and the seasons therefore no man knows the exact date and time of the various events.  For this reason, you should not become depressed if things are not happening in the time that you expected, and you should focus on God’s deliverance and the promise of salvation by grace through faith.

 Matthew 24:32 - 37 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 Mark 13:30 - 33 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 
 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

 Most people will continue on in their daily lives as usual in unbelief and sin until the events overtake the entire planet. This is the sad conclusion for most of mankind.

 Acts 1:6 - 7 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

      The Saints of God should be fully aware or informed that there are different views of the various events as if pertains to the events in the Day of the Lord.  Some of these views clearly sells many books and excites great productions in the media but can lead to serious deception as we know from some recorded historical happening of people doing all kind of foolish things in preparation for what some false prophets have lead them to do expecting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ at some specific time or date or the rise of the antichrist if one believe that these events have not occurred and will occur in the future.  Or if one believes that most of these events have already occurred based on the history of the Jewish people and the Roman Catholic Church you may be deceived into rejection of a holy lifestyle.   

      The views are divided into three overall categories based on the return of Christ which are:

 Premillennial( those who believe in the rapture of the church and the return of Christ before the 1000 year physical reign on earth which is the view of most Oneness Apostolic Pentecostal believers), 

 Amillennial( those who believe that there will be no physical reign on earth for 1000 years because the millennial is the spiritual church age which is going on now, and Christ will return for the general judgement), and

  Post Millennial( those who believe that the spiritual kingdom is going on now and will lead to a change in the world producing 1000 years of peace after which Christ will return for the general judgement).

 There are also differing views among the Premillennial viewpoint about what will happen to Christians during the Tribulation:

 Pretribulationists believe that all righteous Christians (dead and alive) will be instantaneously transformed into a glorified body and taken bodily to the midair heavenly meeting (called the rapture) before the Tribulation begins. According to this belief, every true Christian that has ever existed throughout the course of the entire Christian era will thus escape the trials of the Tribulation. Those who become Christians after the rapture will live through (or perish during) the Tribulation. After the Tribulation, Christ will return to establish his Millennial Kingdom.

 Midtribulationists believe that the rapture will occur halfway through the Tribulation, but before the worst part of it occurs. The seven-year period of tribulation is divided into halves—the "intensifying of sorrows" and the "Great Tribulation".  Those who become Christians after the rapture of the Church will live through (or perish during) the Great Tribulation.   After the Tribulation, Christ will return to establish his Millennial Kingdom. The period of each year may not be exact timing during the long Day of the Lord.

 Prewrath Tribulationists believe the rapture will occur during the Tribulation, halfway through or after, but before the seven bowls of the wrath of God.

 The events again are summarized as 1) the Lord Jesus Christ coming to take away his Church also called the ending of grace where the saved are to be 'caught up, also called the "rapture" and meeting in the midair which is the Bridal Feast or Marriage Supper of the Lamb,   
2) The Great Tribulation of wars, famine, pestilence etc.. on earth,  3) the descent of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth with the Saints which is described as the second coming also called the “revelation”, 4) no exact date or timing is known by any man.

 1Thessalonians 5:1 - 11 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  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.  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

      The Saints of God must be able to understand that in the world we will have trouble and tribulation in our life and should not be disheartened because the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will comfort us and give us the victory.  This is the reason why when the implication is given by some that we will escape all of life tribulations it leads to deception and false doctrine.  Which cause some to become depressed and backslide in heart due to a lack of faith.  The emphasis of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Apostles is on us to living a holy life and remaining watchful, prayerful and ready at all times. This is usually expressed as being Rapture Ready at all Times.

 John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 The tribulation period is generally considered to be the seven-year period which is the final week of Daniel's Prophecy of Seventy Weeks, found in Daniel chapter 9.  

 Daniel 9:21- 27  Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. DAN9:22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. DAN9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.  DAN9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. DAN9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. DAN9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. DAN9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

 Each week represents seven years, with the timetable beginning from Artaxerxes' order to rebuild the Second Temple in Jerusalem. After seven weeks and 62 weeks, or 69 weeks the prophecy says that the messiah will be "cut off", which is taken to correspond to the death of Christ. This is seen as creating a break of indeterminate length in the timeline called the gap period or Church age, with one week remaining to be fulfilled.  For all believers this gives Bible proof that God is in complete control of all things and knows all things including the future as these prophesies spell out the things that will happen to the world.  This should strengthen the believers and bring joy in the mist of affliction, encourage a holy life style, give knowledge of life and death, give proof about the end of the planet, prove that the Bible is truth, and cause believers to worship and rely on God for all their needs because he is in complete control of all things even as he give all men free will and freedom of choice.

   The Great Tribulation is a period mentioned by Jesus that would occur in the time of the end indicating the period of the tribulation with increased afflictions, hardness of life by flight from the abomination of desolation usually though to refer to the armies of the antichrist and the calamities of war.

 Matthew 24:14 - 22 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.  And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!  But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 

     It perhaps brings some people to many to tears to come to realize that the nuclear bombs and all the advance weaponry will be used one day in the battle of the governments and nations of the world, but the Saints must prepare themselves as this time draws closer.  Many of us living today will see the first launch of the nuclear missiles and the devastation that it will bring upon all the world as wars continue to escalate.  It is a better conclusion in our hope for mankind to think that as a result of the gospel of Jesus Christ preached in all the world, that the world would change for the better and not commit this terrible carnage, but unfortunate for pleasant thoughts and hopes for mankind this is not what Jesus Christ who is the all-knowing God said would happen.  For those us who know something about the fall out from nuclear war, we know that the prophecies of Joel are correct concerning the sunlight, the moon, and the stars from heaven.

 Revelations 7:9 - 17 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;   And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.  And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,   Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?   And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  Therefore, are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

     From these prophecies which project the foresight of God almighty, we can understand without human influences or any persuasion from other entities that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the only hope for the entire planet.  Jesus Christ is the answer for the world today and for all eternity and above him there is no other answer.

 MAT24:29 – 31  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

      Even after the devastation of nuclear world war and the catastrophes that result Jesus Christ will come back with his Saints and restore order and love to the planet and usher end 1000 years of peace and righteousness for the remnant of mankind.  This shows God’s everlasting love, grace, and mercy for all who choose a righteous holy life. But tribulation and persecution will happen and we must hold on to God building our hope on things eternal.

 Matthew 13:20 - 21 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

 The simple fact is the Saints will have to prepare themselves to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ…

We continue with a Message from Apostle Shelton…… Prince Michael and the Time of Trouble……… 

PRINCE MICHAEL AND THE TIME OF TROUBLE (part 2)

By Bishop S. McDowell Shelton

     From the beginning of time, since the Garden of Eden, there has always been but one Church.  When you speak of it in reality, it is the same Church but at each time God would ask a particular thing from the people.  When I say the same church, it means it is the same God and the same Spirit that directed this Church from the beginning of time.  And now, at this time under the dispensation of grace, we have a new testament church.  In other words, the Church has been renovated and done over, but is still keeping part of its old structure as evidenced when Jesus quoted some of the prophets. The church moves on and beckons to you: "Come, . repent and be baptized". Who? White and black people, Orientals and brown people, everyone must come.  Men, women, and children—all of you from all over the world must come into this one place, one Church. Come and separate yourselves from the activities of this world. Come and save yourselves through the obedience of the Word.

     Their ears are becoming increasingly heavier and the Word' is falling on deaf ears.  But He is still calling and with the same call.  He is calling you, saying: "Now that you have done the principles of the doctrine, you must go henceforth to perfection".   Each step of your road to perfection or your climb towards it, spells death for you and your natural instincts, your natural ways of doing things.  Perfection means death to the wants of the flesh.  Whatever it is that you have so inclined yourself and engrossed yourself about, you are going to have to give it up.  You are going have to surrender it.  You must be willing to do it even if you are not asked to. You must be willing to give it up. With most human beings, their joy is receiving everything but not giving up anything. Read Daniel 10:10-21.

 Daniel10:10 - 21 And behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.  And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.  Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.  And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.  And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.  For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.  Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.  Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.  But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.

      It is showing Michael's involvement.   As prince, and archangel, Michael typifies in scripture that which Jesus Christ became in flesh.   It was he who stood in defense of the integrity of the living God to fight against the dragon until there was no more place left for them in the heavens. You can read that in Revelation 20:4-6 & 11-15).

 Revelation 20:4 - 15 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

     There are more things which I want you to understand, if I can get you understand the preliminary teachings about the troubled times, the terrified and hostile times, I will praise God.   It is coming.  It is coming before we leave this earth.  Some of you feel it now and all of you who live holy shall feel it, Yet in the midst of everything, deliverance will come.  Deliverance will always be somewhere for the people of God.   Sure, it will, even out of the great war that shall be fought during this time in the tribulation, deliverance will come." In this war, there will be an hundred and forty-four thousand of the descendants of Jacob who will be saved.  Those who take a stand for the will of God and His word will also be saved. God will always have a way for the righteous or the pure in heart and those who repent to redeem themselves. Read Revelation 14:1 - 5

 Revelation14:1 - 5 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

Revelation 16:13 - 16 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.   Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.  And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

      You will have your battle.  You will have your war.  You have it now.  You will have your time and you will have your victories.  How will you survive it?  Each day, each experience, each time you are tempted and overcome you will gain strength by that experience and the experience of a previous battle and a previous victory. Some of you who have had victorious experience do not thank the Lord and testify about them.  I don't care how small they appear to be, begin to thank the Lord about it.  You might think you don't want to be up there in front of these people all of the time.   Don't you know that it is a part of your salvation to testify?  If it is small, testify to it and greater things will come.   

     If the Lord has spared you to live to be in your 70's or 80's or whatever and you can still move about, it is a testimony unto you.   When you have passed through this world without such pain that would stop your movement and you are still able to do and to say; to go and to come, you, too, have a testimony.

Read the 19th chapter of Revelation.  Read these scriptures in Revelation and particularly Revelation 19:17-21 and the rest of it also.

 Revelation 19:17 - 21 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

      Read it and set yourself for those things which shall come. Set yourself for these things which shall come. Set yourself for those times when, as you age and become afflicted with disease or pain, and no one will come to see you, no, one to offer you any kind of relief, you will be able to withstand temptation.  Set yourself to believe and hold fast to the living word of God.  You can see the unconcerned attitude of mankind.  You see saints are mankind, too, although they were born again and should be separated from that massed mankind.  They came from them and when they become callous and uncaring, they go right back to that same personality, and sometimes even worse.  So, you must set yourself.  Set yourself for the change that is surely going to come. 

          Some are so foolish that they will give up and not even continue in the Apostolic standard get forth by this Church.  If someone does something to them or overlook them or act as if they don't care about them, they will give up.  You should have told yourself long ago that not only will people turn their backs on you, but your children, your wife or husband and even your mother and father will turn their backs on you.  If you have someone who shows you some concern, you should be thankful and, from time to time, tell them so.  People might say: "Well the word says you ought to do….”  Of course, the word says it.  The word says many things that should or should not do, but how many people do you know who is doing it?  Are you doing it?  When you find someone, who is obeying that part of the word, from time to time you should mention it to them.  When times come, even though I am hoping you won't be here during the tribulation, I want you to be able to stand.  You will be here in part of the trouble, Yes you will.  You will be here, and you will be shaken, stirred, afflicted, and neglected.  Yes, you will.  You will be here, and you will be in pain.  

     I would like for you to read the 14th chapter of Revelation, especially verses 1 – 5 where you will find out about the 144 thousand.

 Revelation 14:1- 5 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:   And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

We will continue with these messages in part 3…….

 May the Lord Bless you and Keep you and eternally hold you in the center of his will, may he open your understanding that you will come to know that you must repent of your sins and be baptized by immersion in water in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, then continue in prayer, tarrying until you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost with the sign following speaking with other tongues as the spirit gives you utterances.  Then you must leave the principles of the doctrine and go on to perfection overcoming the love of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and continue steadfastly in the Apostle’s Doctrine remembering always that he that endures until the End, the same shall be saved.  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who is God Almighty. Amen

With perfect love,
Apostle Dennis G. Smith

 

Coronavirus outbreak in Churches from health reports:   October 18, 2020

·      “Our churches have followed protocols — masks, go in one door and out the other, social distancing,” said  a bishop with the United Methodist Church in Louisiana, where three churches closed again over the last week. “And still people have tested positive.”

 Present Guidelines for Individuals and Businesses in Phase 2:

 

 Social Distancing guidelines:

·         Social distancing means staying away from close contact in public spaces. It includes actions like staying out of places where lots of people gather and maintaining distance — approximately 6 feet — from others. 

·         Social distancing also includes minimizing contact with people by avoiding public transportation when possible, limiting nonessential travel, working from home, and skipping social gatherings. 

·         All people should practice social distancing — not just those who are seriously ill or at high risk. 

·         Social distancing is a proven way to slow the spread of pandemics. 

When to Wear a Mask:

Those who are staying home and have no close contact with people who are infected with COIVID-19 do not need a mask most of the time. However, wearing a nonmedical or homemade mask may be helpful in certain situations or for certain populations. Wear a Mask when:

Because homemade masks protect everyone else from the droplets created by the wearer, it is important that as many people as possible wear these masks when leaving their homes. This helps prevent those who may be infectious but are only mildly symptomatic or not symptomatic from spreading the virus to others in the community.

Everyone should remember the phrase: “My mask protects you; your mask protects me.” By increasing the overall number of people who are containing their coughs, sneezes, and other droplets, it will help us control the overall spread of the virus.