THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, & c.

Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honour of the King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation, and furtherance of ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal laws, ordinance acts, constitutions, and offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet convenient for the general good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.

IN WITNESS THEREOF we have here-under subscribed our names at Cape Cod 11 of November, in the year of our sovereign Lord King James, of England & France and Ireland, and of Scotland. Anno Domini 1620.

Written and signed in the Cabin of the Mayflower, on Cape Cod, Nov. 21, 1620 (Nov 11, Old Style) as recorded by GOVERNOR WILLIAM BRADFORD in his History of the Plimoth plantation.

"Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord and the People whom he hath chosen for, his own Inheritance" - Psalm 33 v 12

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"The Power of the Holy People Scattered" - Daniel 12 v 7

PRETORIA TO BE RENAMED: In a most recent signal from Africa that the European man is not wanted on the African continent and that memory of him should be erased, is the South African government's proposal to change the name of Pretoria, its capital, to Tshwane (pronounced "chwaaneh" and meaning we are the same).

The change could come into effect by the end of this year. Already changed is Salisbury in Zimbabwe, former Rhodesia (named by Cecil Rhodes). It is now called Harare. Kinshasa, in Democratic Republic of Congo was formerly Leopoldville (named for King Leopold of Belgium).

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(excerpted from the "Covenant Report", BIWF, New Zealand)

Zechariah 14 prophesies that when the Second Advent occurs it will end a war for possession of Jerusalem. Verse 4 states that our LORD'S feet will touch the Mount of Olives, and the following verses state that this action sets off the greatest earthquake the world has ever known. The Mount of Olives will split in half with a deep valley separating the two halves. And of the hill country east of the Holy Land, including the lower Jordan River and Dead Sea area, from six miles north of Jerusalem to forty miles south of it, will be reduced to a level plain. This convulsion will also bury the armies attacking Jerusalem.

Reference to the earth's Tectonic plates will show that the Holy Land lies very close to the main earthquake plate boundary between the African and Eurasian plates. This boundary stretches from the Atlantic Ocean west of Portugal along Morocco, up the full length of Italy and then on through the Balkans, Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan to Pakistan. We know from frequent news media references to the San Andreas fault line near San Francisco that a major earthquake in this area may be heralded by a series of smaller but damaging earth movements along the fault over a period of months and years. It follows, therefore, that if there is to be a huge earthquake when our LORD returns to the earth, then this event could also be heralded by other lesser but still damaging earthquakes along the African/Eurasian boundary.

The US National Earthquake Information Center locates approximately 35 earthquakes per day and an average of 18 earthquakes per week of magnitude 5.0 or greater. Few of these are important to rate a mention in the world's news. Therefore it is interesting to note that of approximately 30 earthquakes mentioned in the world news in recent years, more than half have occurred along the African/Eurasian boundary. It is also interesting to look at the distribution of all earthquakes on Earth with a magnitude 6.5 or more, for each year, over the past twenty years (from the US Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center): In this period, the highest proportion of earthquakes in the region in question was 16.7% in 1986. The lowest incidence was 4.0% in 1984.

It would appear from the location of these earthquakes and the frequency of them that the African plate is actively on the move against both the Arabian and Eurasian plates. Therefore a major earthquake such as that predicted by Zechariah is now both an imminent and likely outcome of all this concentrated seismic activity. In other words, the earth is now ready - or making itself ready - for that convulsion which will accompany the LORD'S Second Advent.

Zechariah 12 also predicts the political and military situation in Jerusalem at the time immediately preceding the Great Earthquake. He says Jerusalem would be a cup of trembling to all the nations in that area, but he warns that any nation trying to possess Jerusalem will not only burden itself with a problem that it cannot handle, but will in fact be bringing about its own termination of existence as one of the world's nations.

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Back to the Basics of our Message

Marks of Israel

DURING THE CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION LOST ISRAEL WAS TO POSSESS CERTAIN MARKS OF IDENTIFICATION

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Take Up the Cross and Follow Me

'..he was sad at that saying and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.' - Mark 10: 21,22

When Christ struggled to Calvary with His heavy cross, He was humiliated before the jeering church and world. Down through the ages Christ's example has inspired thousands of His followers to carry their cross and reap also the derision and persecution of the world. Despite the warning in I John 2:15, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world", prosperity has always brought the world into the church, along with a multitude of professed followers. Over time, the church has neglected to buy the eyesalve that would enable it to see its present condition, repent and again carry the unpopular cross of Christ.

Why do we shrink from the responsibilities that God has laid upon us? Is it because it requires us to carry the unpopular cross? Is it because we want our Christian walk to be one of convenience, ease and popularity? It required a desperate struggle for those who would be faithful to stand firm against the deceptions and abominations... After a long and severe conflict the faithful few decided to absolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God.

They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls... To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war... From the days of Christ until now His faithful disciples have excited the hatred and opposition of those who love and follow the ways of sin... There is another and more important question that should engage the attention of the churches of today... Why is it then, that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber? The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world's standard and therefore awakens no opposition. The religion which is current in our day is not of the pure and holy character that marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the word of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled.

Christ said that he brought a sword to divide. Now as in former ages, the presentation of a truth that reproves the sins and errors of the times will excite opposition... As men see that they cannot maintain their position by the Scriptures, many determine to maintain it at all hazards, and with a malicious spirit they assail the character and motives of those who stand in defence of unpopular truth. It is the same policy which has been pursued in all ages. Elijah was declared to be a troubler in Israel, Jeremiah a traitor, Paul a polluter of the temple. From that day to this, those who would be loyal to truth have been denounced as seditious, heretical, or schismatic. Multitudes who are too unbelieving to accept the sure word of prophecy will receive with unquestioning credulity, an accusation against those who dare to reprove fashionable sins. This spirit will increase more and more. To the servant of God at this time is the command addressed: "Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." So far as his opportunities extend, everyone who has received the light of truth is under the same solemn and fearful responsibility as was the prophet of Israel... The great obstacle both to the acceptance and to the promulgation of truth is the fact that it involves inconvenience and reproach. This is the only argument against the truth which its advocates have never been able to refute. But this does not deter the true followers of Christ. These do not wait for truth to become popular. Being convinced of their duty, they deliberately accept the cross... "esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt." ... Whatever maybe their profession, it is only those who are world servers at heart that act from policy rather than principle in religious things. We should choose the right because it is right, and leave consequences with God. To men of principle, faith, and daring, the world is indebted for its great reforms. By such men the work of reform for this time must be carried forward.

The lives of Elijah, John the Baptist, Christ, Paul and others were lives of turmoil and innuendo. The unbelievers and the indolent rejected the servants of God and claimed they were of the Devil. ... Neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God.

"To stand in defence of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few - this will be our test... We must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason."

Most today have a very convenient religion, yet they pride themselves that they are right with God because everything is going smoothly and they are popular. Those who have excused wrongs have been thought by the people to be very amiable and lovely in disposition, simply because they shunned to discharge a plain Scriptural duty. The task was not agreeable to their feelings, therefore they avoided it.

Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin?... Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the church. Oh, must Christ... bear the heavy cross, wear the thorny crown, and drink the bitter cup while we recline at ease...

God always has men to whom He entrusts His message... they enter upon the performance of their duty without coldly calculating the consequences of speaking to the people... But the servant of God is soon made aware that he has risked something. He finds himself and his message made the subject of criticism. His manners, his life, his property, are all inspected and commented upon.

Those who have been thrust out to bear a plain, pointed testimony ... have too often received censure instead of sympathy ... while those who ... have taken a non-committal position, are thought to be devoted, and to have a mild spirit. God does not thus regard them... In this fearful time... God's faithful preachers will have to bear a still more pointed testimony than was borne by John the Baptist... and those who speak smooth things, God will not acknowledge as His shepherds. A fearful woe is upon them. There is a stupor upon God's people because Satan has laid every measure possible that nothing should come among us as a people to reprove and rebuke us.

Eli was gentle, loving, and kind, and had a true interest in the service of God... But he was wanting; he did not have firmness of character to reprove sin and execute justice.... The worship of God will become corrupted unless there are wide awake men at every post of duty. Eli's cowardice led to the loss of God's Holy Ark. Today, the Eli's in the church have shirked their unpleasant duty of rebuking worldliness in the church for fear of their reputations being tarnished, and consequently, God's Ark has again been taken.

The Lord will soon intensify the Latter Rain. It will fall on the faithful who love not the world and are carrying their unpopular crosses. May each one of us arise and trim our lamps.

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Taking the Message beyond Northern Ireland

During the first two weeks in August Pastor Campbell was once again able to make an Evangelistic Tour to the U.S.A. It began with a most successful Conference at Laurenceville, Atlanta, Georgia, then to a great Reformation Rally at Gaffney South Carolina, and concluding with a packed and spiritually vibrant Convention at Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In recent editions space has prevented us reporting on Pastor Carnpbell's mainland tours. Well attended rallies and conferences and have been held in Glasgow Scotland, Shipley, Yorkshire, N.W England, Wellington Somerset, S.W England and the B.I.B.T.F. Conference in London together with church services at Orange Street Church.

Although it seems impossible to fit in any more outreaches as well as maintain the full programme of meetings in Ulster, other openings are coming up, so let us be much in prayer regarding all of this.

MATTHEW 24 v 14

Think About This

"Blindness to the existence of an Enemy makes it impossible to Conquer Him"

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CRADLE AND THRONE

Earth gave Thee a cradle, 0 Christ, and a cross,

Hard roads for Thy journey, reviling and loss;

Earth gave thee Thy wounding, Thy shroud and thy tomb,

But earth no welcome and earth gave no home.

Oh, Wronged One, return to the land, thou hast left,

The land that is desolate, lone, and bereft;

The world is a chaos of comfortless woes;

Men's wisdom has failed them, no help they propose.

Thou art the one hope, Lord, oh, lend us Thine aid

And save Thy creation - the world thou hast made.

A new earth shall greet Thee, a new world shall sing

The greatness and glories of Jesus its King.

Earth that once gave Thee its scorning and shame,

Its thorns and its scourging, shall yet hail Thy name,

The earth, once rebellious allegiance shall own,

Shall give Thee a sceptre, a crown, and a throne.

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ISSACHAR

One of Jacob's sons migrated to the geographic area now known as Finland. We ought to remember the valiant and brave conduct of the Finns prior to, and during World War II. In the face of an overwhelming Russian invasion of their country in 1939, Field Marshall Mannerheim was quoted as saying, "Sons of Issachar, stand and die, but let only scorched earth fall into the hands of the antichrists!" Obviously, Mannerheim was both aware and knowledgeable of the Israel truth.

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