September 2016

By Pastor Don Elmore

The first and last verses of the short second epistle of John has caused much speculation as to the identity of the elect lady and her elect sister:

2 John 1, 13:

1) “The elder unto the elect lady and her children,…”

13) “The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.”

Most scholars are in agreement that the children of the elect sister was the church at Ephesus where the Apostle John was a leader for many years in the latter part of his life. But there are many other views.

Sermon notes of Pastor Mark Downey

Scripture Reading:  Revelation 2:25-29

September 4, 2016

The end of the Church Age commences with the collapse of Mystery Babylon. It is this interim of time from the fall of our great enemies to the Second Coming of Christ that we “occupy till He comes” Luke 19:13. It's true that for the last 2000 years, the generation that followed the Apostles have had the wrong kind of occupation. The overcomers will rediscover the original intent of the 1st century command, which was not the establishment of a state church or a church state, like Mormonism in Utah or the Vatican, but rather an expansion of spiritual values in Israelite (White) societies. Nor did the parable imply that the “nobleman” (Christ) expected financial gain through usury from the nominal “ten pounds” that He gave His servants. In verse 14 it mentions citizens who hated Him and said, “We will not have this man to reign over us.” This, of course, are the jews who historically have made their wealth and power from the avarice of being the world's foremost temple moneychangers and control freaks of a born again Babylon. Why would Jesus tell His servants to do the same thing His enemies were doing? Well, He wouldn't. The overcomer will know that the word “occupy” did not mean the occupation of nations defeated by unjust and ungodly wars, such as the occupation of Germany by America since the aftermath of WWII. WWII was simply one of many jewish wars in which “The kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force” Mt.11:12. The command Jesus gave His servants was spiritual and it's still in effect today. His servants could only be those who He identified as such: “But you, Israel, are My servant” Isaiah 41:8. The ten servants were the ten tribes of the northern house who became lost sheep. That's who Jesus said He came for (Mt. 15:24).