September 6, 2012 Member Letter

September 6, 2012

Dear Brethren,

I have just returned from a very successful trip to Asia. David Baker (senior pastor for most of Asia, Australia and the Philippines) and I met up in Sydney, Australia, and spent two weeks visiting with the brethren in this region of the world. We traveled from Sydney to Brisbane, from Brisbane to Singapore, from Singapore to Manila, from Manila to Naga, and then back to Manila before returning home. We traveled more than 25,000 miles in the two weeks.

While sitting in the airport in Manila waiting on my flight back to the U.S., I noticed that my flight was scheduled to stop in Nagoya, Japan. Since we did not change planes, this stopover was not listed on my itinerary. This brief layover in the airport was my first time to visit Japan.

Over the years, I have visited a number of World War II memorials around the Philippines—Corregidor, Bataan Peninsula, the American cemetery to name a few. World War II had a lasting effect on this part of the world. The Filipinos suffered alongside the Americans while fighting the Japanese. But as I sat in Manila waiting on my flight, I saw a number of Japanese waiting as well. I reflected on how different things are today compared to those days in the 1940s. This was before I was born, but when reading the history you can easily understand the animosity that existed between the Philippines and Japan in the years following the war. Another generation has come on the scene, and what a different picture there now is in this part of the world. Two countries that were bitter enemies now seem to relate comfortably to each other.

Additionally, while flying from Nagoya to the U.S., the announcements, naturally enough, alternated between English and Japanese. Considering that it was the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor that marked the official entry of the U.S. into the war, I found it ironic that today one can fly on an American airline from Japan to the U.S. and have flight attendants speaking both English and Japanese. Truly the world has changed since 1945.

World War II brought together evil forces that had not been seen to such an extreme in recent human history. Today the memorials of the war are still around; but nations, leaders and a new generation of people look at things much differently—although prophecy assures us that it won’t last. Sadly another combination of evil will come on the scene (and, of course, is already here) to produce a time of destruction that has never been seen before (Matthew 24:21-22). World War II and all the trauma of the 20th century were just a warm-up for what lies ahead.

But in the Church we have a brighter future to look forward to. This will not come to pass because evil can be destroyed by winning a war or because the views and perspectives of nations can actually change for the better. This bright future will occur because Christ will return and bind the forces that have caused evil since the Garden of Eden. Satan and his demons will be bound for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-2), allowing the world to enjoy true peace and happiness. In a few weeks we will be celebrating this time of joy at the Feast of Tabernacles. Just prior to the Feast, we will celebrate two very special days—the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. The return of Jesus Christ and the binding of Satan are represented by these two days. The evil that will engulf this world at the end of this age will be stopped. It will be a very short battle when Christ, His angels and the saints descend on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:1-4).

As God’s people, we should celebrate these upcoming holy days with joy and enthusiasm. Each year our goal should be to make these days a turning point in our lives. How many more Feasts of Trumpets will come and go before the fulfillment takes place? On one hand, it really doesn’t matter whether there are a few or several. The key is whether we are truly ready for that day. Look back on your life and history in the Church. Have you overcome sin in your life, or are you overcoming sin in your life? If not, then why not?

Can this Feast be a turning point for each of us? When I think about the history of Asia and World War II, I marvel at how much things have changed. I hope we can look at our own history and say that we have also changed—from what we were when God called us to a group of people well-grounded in godly principles.

As we began to taxi from the terminal at the Manila airport, I found it interesting that Delta Airlines ran an introductory video in which its CEO commented that the airline was founded on the principles of “honesty, integrity and truthfulness.” These are timeless values on which we should base our personal lives. They do require change. We live in a world that is filled with evil, in the midst of which we must shine as lights (Philippians 2:15), not because we are better than others but because with the help of God Almighty, we have changed our lives and stand out from the darkness all around us. We must live in the world, but we must not be of the world (John 17:15-16).

This will be my last member letter until after the Feast. I hope each and every one of you will have the best Feast ever—one of change and overcoming as the end gets ever closer. Please don’t forget about our brethren who will be unable to attend the Feast this year—a card, a phone call or our prayers mean a lot. There will be some who will miss their first Feast after many years of observance. Whether we are forced to keep the Feast at home or we are able to travel to one of our sites, the meaning should be the same—a foretaste of the future world of peace and happiness.

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

 

Jim Franks