Hope of Israel Ministries (Ecclesia of YEHOVAH):

What Does the Bible Teach about

No question has caused more anguish, heartache, and misery than this one! Racial prejudice is a very real and growing phenomenon in our world, today, with hatreds intensifying between peoples of different races, sub-races and tribes around the world! Racial violence threatens in India, South Africa, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, and even in the United States. Yet it is all so unnecedssary, so foolish, and so stupid, in the sight of YEHOVAH God!

Whatever happened to the first commandment that Yeshua said would characterize His disciples and followers -- "love one another"? Whatever happened to the primary law of YEHOVAH God, which states, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"? The flames of racial hatred are being fanned, exacerbated, and stoked around the world -- and in many cases even churches have contributed to the melee and madness by their false teachings, prejudice, and perversion of the truth of YEHOVAH God!

I received the following letter illustrating the pain this subject causes:

"Also, would you tell me what the Bible really says about interracial marriage. Mr. Tkach said in his personal column in the August 13, 1990 Worldwide News that 'We recognize and teach that interracial marriage is seldom wise. But we have come to realize that to use the Bible as a tool to forbid it is not only a misuse of the Bible, but is, in part, the perpetuation of a cultural fiction designed by so-called Christians long ago to brand blacks as inferior. Racisim in any form is contrary to all that Jesus taught.'

"This is NOT what Herbert W. Armstrong taught. He absolutely forbad interracial marriage because it was a LAW OF GOD he said. He forced families to separate that were interracially married. I KNOW!!! This doctrine was an absolute LAW OF GOD. Anyone married interracially was living in sin. This was a personal issue for me and I was forbidden to marry the person I intended to marry because that person had mixed blood of two races. If the Bible does not forbid interracial marriage, then I was forced into obeying doctrines that were made by men. That decison hurt me and my family a lot and now that the doctrine is changing it makes me feel sick inside at how I separated from my mixed-race friend, only because of her race."

What about this matter of interracial marriage? The truth, as usual, is essentially simple. Herbert Armstrong went to one extreme and fell into the ditch with his absolute prohibition of many marriages which would NOT have been a sin in the sight of YEHOVAH God! Apparently, if he had lived in the days of Moses, he would have CONDEMNED MOSES, the man of YEHOVAH God, who was married to an Ethiopian woman. Notice the story.

We read, "Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 'Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?' they asked. 'Hasn't he also spoken through us?' And the LORD heard this. (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)" (Num.12:1-3).

The story goes on, showing that YEHOVAH calls the three of them to appear before Him. YEHOVAH then said to them:

" 'When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?'

"The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them.

"When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam -- leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy; and he said to Moses, 'Please, my lord, do not hold against us the SIN we have so foolishly committed. Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother's womb with its flesh half eaten away.'

"So Moses cried out to the LORD, O God, please heal her!'

"The LORD replied to Moses, 'If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.' So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back" (Numbers 12:4-15, NIV).

Notice! YEHOVAH God did not rebuke Moses for this marriage to a black woman; rather, He exonerated Moses, saying, "My servant Moses . . . is faithful in ALL mine house" (Num.12:7, KJV). Moses had NOT SINNED. But YEHOVAH did punish Miriam and Aaron for their wrong, self-righteous attitude about Moses' marriage. "And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them" (verse 9). YEHOVAH struck Miriam with the loathsome disease of leprosy (verse 10), and it remained on her seven days until she was forgiven her transgression (vs.11-15).

Herbert Armstrong was, unfortunately, a bigot on the subject of interracial marriage and enormous evil was wreaked under his self-righteous jurisdiction. He even misquoted Scripture to attempt to justify His teaching. Herman L. Hoeh, his chief apologist on this issue, wrote the major article on the "Race" issue for the Worldwide Church of God. In his article, he claimed that racial integration and desegregation was a "Communist plot" to destroy America. Evolutionists, he claimed were advocating the free intermixing of the races! Since Herman Hoeh, like Hitler's propagandist Goebbels before him, had a knack with words and a scholarly "appearing" writing style, his circumlocutions swept many people off their feet. He sounded convincing.

To bolster Herbert Armstrong's belief that the races must not intermarry, Herman Hoeh quoted Deuteronomy 7:3, "Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son." Or, as the New International Version says: "Do not intermarry with them [the Canaanites]. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons."

On the surface, that surely sounds like YEHOVAH God was prohibiting intermarriage -- not only between races, but between Israel and other nations! The peoples they were specifically forbidden to marry were the Hittites, Gergashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites -- the seven nations occupying Canaan of that time (Deut.7:1). But why did YEHOVAH God make this command? And notice -- these verses say nothing whatsoever about Orientals, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipinos, or Indians, Hawaiaans, Samoans, Melanesians, or even Africans, Ethiopians, or people of the Black race. Rather, it specifically prohibits only intermarriage between Israel and the seven nations of CANAAN!

Why was that? The answer is simple. First of all, these people were so wicked that it was YEHOVAH's intention to destroy them UTTERLY! In verse 2 we read, "And when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have DEFEATED them, then you must DESTROY THEM TOTALLY" (verse 2). Those degenerate and abominable peoples were to be wiped out -- annihilated -- by the judgment of YEHOVAH GOD! They had committed every possible sexual perversion and degenerative practice, so YEHOVAH told His people to destroy them completely.

The Canaanites were wicked idolaters. They practised horrible sexual perversions in the worship of their gods and goddesses, Baal and Ashtoreth (pronounced "Easter"!). Halley's Bible Handbook says of them:

"The Oriental Institute, excavating at Megiddo, which is near Samaria, found, in the stratum of Ahab's time, the ruins of a temple of Ashtoreth, goddess wife of Baal. Just a few steps from the temple was a cemetery, where many jars were found, containing remains of infants who had been sacrificed in this temple . . . Prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth were official murderers of little children. This is a sidelight on Elijah's execution of the prophets of Baal, and helps us to understand why Jehu was so ruthless in his extermination of Baalism" (p.198)).

Why did YEHOVAH God forbid His people to intermarry with Canaanites? Race had nothing to do with His prohibition! Notice!

This law prevented Israelites from marrying Canaanites in the land (verse 1). But there are two problems with using this verse to "prove" interracial marriage is wrong. First, many of the Canaanites were WHITE --- NOT BLACK -- as archaeology shows! Secondly, this prohibition had NOTHING WHATEVER TO DO with the question of "race." Rather, as verse 4 explains,

"For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve OTHER GODS . . ."

Or, as the New International Version has this verse:

"Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, FOR THEY WILL TURN YOUR SONS AWAY FROM FOLLOWING ME TO SERVE OTHER GODS."

In other words, this entire prohibition was BASED ON RELIGION -- NOT RACE!

But what was so bad about the religion of the Canaanites that YEHOVAH God would make such a vehement prohibition and command? Notice again! Halley's Bible Handbook says:

"Religion of the Canaanites

"Baal was their principal god, Ashtoreth, Baal's wife, their prncipal goddess. She was the personification of the repro- ductive principle in nature. Ishtar was her Babylonian name; Astarte her Greek and Roman name. Baalim, the plural of Baal, were images of Baal. Ashtaroth, the plural of Ashtoreth. Ashera was a sacred pole, cone of stone, or a tree trunk, representing the goddess. Temples of Baal and Ashtoreth were usually together. Priestesses were temple prostitutes. Sodomites were male temple prostitutes. The worship of Baal, Asthoreth, and other Canaanite gods consisted in the most extravagant orgies, their temples were centers of vice" (p.166).

Can't people see the plain truth?

YEHOVAH God wasn't concerned about the RACE question at all in these verses. He was concerned about FALSE, IDOLATROUS RELIGIOUS PRACTICES! To quote these verses out of context is a wicked and arrogant thing to do -- a reprehensible and abominable distortion of the Word of YEHOVAH GOD!

Halley's Bible Handbook continues:

"God's express command to Israel was to destroy or drive out the Canaanites (Deut.7:2,3). And Joshua went at the task in dead earnest, God himself helping with mighty miracles. GOD DID IT.

"In excavations at Gezer, Macalister, of the Palestine Exploration Fund (1904-09), found, in the Canaanite stratum, which had preceded Israelite occupation, of about 1500 B.C., the ruins of a 'High Place,' which had been a temple in which they worshiped their god Baal and their goddess Ashtoreth (Astarte).

"It was an enclosure 150 by 120 feet, surrounded by a wall, open to the sky, where the inhabitants held their religious festivals. Within the walls were 10 rude stone pillars, 5 to 11 feet high, before which the sacrifices were offered.

"Under the debris, in this 'High Place,' Macalister found great numbers of jars, containing the remains of children who had been sacrificed to Baal. The whole area proved to be a cemetery for new-born babes.

"Another horrible practice was that they called 'foundation sacrifices.' When a house was to be built, a child would be sacrificed, and its body built into the wall, to bring good luck to the rest of the family. Many of these were found in Gezer. They have been found also at Megiddo, Jericho and other places.

"Also, in this 'High Place,' under the rubbish, Macalister found enormous quantities of images and plaques of Ashtoreth with rudely exaggerated sex organs, designed to foster sensual feelings.

"So, Canaanites worshiped, by immoral indulgence, as a religious rite, in the presence of their gods; and then, by murdering their firstborn children, as a sacrifice to these same gods.

"It seems that, in large measure, the land of Canaan had become a SORT OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH ON A NATIONAL SCALE.

"Do we wonder any longer why God commanded Israel to exterminate the Canaanites? Did a civilization of such abominable filth and brutality have any right longer to exist? It is one of history's examples of the Wrath of God against the Wickedness of Nations" (Halley, ps.166-167).

Why can't people -- and especially modern-day "racists" and bigots -- get that simple truth through their heads? The reason YEHOVAH God forbad His people to intermarry with the Canaanites was RELIGIOUS! He didn't want His holy people to become defiled with the wicked excesses and abominable filth and degrading sexual perversions of the Canaanites!

How PLAIN!

Therefore, the hypocritical teaching of Herbert Armstrong, who claimed this verse was a primary proof against racial intermarriage, was pure folly and superstition -- bigotry and prejudice! His teaching on this subject wrought much evil in the lives of people, even as his false and horrendous teaching on "divorce and remarriage" for years caused wonderful, godly families to have to separate! Such teachings are of Satan the Devil! They are PERVERSIONS of the truth!

However, as in so many other things, Joseph W. Tkach and company have gone to the OPPOSITE EXTREME -- and have fallen into the other ditch! YEHOVAH does not approve indiscriminate marriages of any kind -- whether race is involved or not. Marrying the wrong person can lead to great hardship and suffering. People should be extremely cautious and careful about such matters. The plain truth is, nowhere in the Scriptures does YEHOVAH God prohibit interracial marriages, IF BOTH ARE SINCERE WORSHIPPERS OF THE TRUE GOD! The important thing is religious unity in the home -- not race! The color of one's skin is a very superficial matter in YEHOVAH's sight. It is the "color of one's heart" that is important to Him!

When ancient Israel went to battle against foreign nations, and they chose to make war against Israel, YEHOVAH God commanded His nation to smite the males, "But the women, and the little ones . . . shalt thou take unto thyself" (Deut.20:14).

YEHOVAH said further, "When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies . . . and seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife; then thou shalt bring her home to thy house . . . and she shall . . . remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife" (Deut.24:10-13).

Notice! There was no mention in this simple command concerning race, or the race question, at all. YEHOVAH simply said that if they saw a beautiful woman among their captives -- regardless of her race, whether it was Black, White, Brown, or Oriental -- they were permitted to marry her, if they desired to do so!

After World War II, many American G.I.s married Japanese women. During the Vietnam War many American soldiers married Vietnamese women. And after the Second World War, many other G.I.s married Italian, German, French, and Belgian women. So what? In YEHOVAH God's sight, that was perfectly all right -- the differences in race or nationality were not significant matters, in the eyes of YEHOVAH. What counts with Him is RELIGIOUS FAITHFULNESS, not race!

The truth is, in YEHOVAH's sight the real issue is RELIGION, not race -- obedience to HIS COMMANDMENTS, not the color of one's skin. Not a single one of the Ten Commandments, or statutes of YEHOVAH God, forbid racial intermarriage.

On the other hand, let's be practical. In some extreme cases such marriages can be a "disaster" if the two individuals have major cultural differences, differences in religion and belief, and could faced serious problems with their familes, in-laws, and other people in society. However, once we understand the TRUTH of YEHOVAH God, we should see that there is NO REASON at all why two people with racial differences shouldn't marry, if they both are devoted, sincere, devout worshippers of the True God! Just because a woman or a man has a mixed or different racial background should be no hindrance to a marriage where there would be love and unity of faith and belief.

The apostle Paul made this truth abundantly clear. He wrote, "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for ALL of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, THEN YOU ARE ABRAHAM'S SEED, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal.3:26-29).

Notice! In the Messiah, there is neither Jew nor Gentile -- all are "children of Abraham." That means that in the Messiah, then, there are no national or racial differences. Such things are merely of the flesh. But in the Messiah we are ALL IDENTICAL! There is neither White, nor Black, nor Brown, nor Oriental, but ALL are ONE! The Spirit of YEHOVAH God within us makes us all ONE!

Paul went on, "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir" (Gal.3:6-7).

How plain this should be! YEHOVAH God has made us all CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM! We become ONE FAMILY in the Messiah! Racial differences no longer matter. They fade away into insignificance. What matters is not race at all, but rather the Spirit of YEHOVAH God within us!

Some racist bigots claim that it is wrong for whites to marry blacks because, according to their theory, the blacks are not descended from Adam, but evolved, or are the remnants of a "pre-Adamic" race. Could this be true?

The Scriptures themselves refute this strange notion. The apostle Paul declared, in plain language, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. FROM ONE MAN he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the WHOLE EARTH; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:24-27).

How plain! All the races of mankind are descended from Adam and Eve. In the book of Genesis, we read, "Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the MOTHER OF ALL THE LIVING" (Gen.3:20). All the humankind are descended from these two people, Adam and Eve! Blacks, whites, Orientals, browns, and every kind of human being in existence today came from the bodies of these two individuals! That includes the tall Watusis, the Zulus, the Masai, the Hottentots, the Pygmies, the Aborigines of Australia, the Bushmen of Borneo, the Eskimos of Alaska and Siberia, as well as every other race of mankind!

When Yeshua was on the earth 2,000 years ago, he looked in appearance like the Father. He said to Philip, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). Yeshua was the "exact representation" of the Father (Heb.1:3). Yeshua looked like any other Jew of his day; therefore he was of the white or Caucasian race. He is called the "second Adam" (I Cor.15:45). The original Adam was also made in the exact image and likeness of YEHOVAH God (Gen.1:26). This shows us, then, that the original Adam was also Caucasian, of the white race.

How, then, did the different races develop? Did Adam and Eve have children of various races? Is it possible that YEHOVAH God created within the ovaries of Eve the basic materials and genetic blueprints for all the races of mankind?

Of course it is!

Consider the lessons of Nature in this respect. If you have ever grown roses, you know that there are many different varieties of rose -- called many different names by breeders. One of my favorites is "Mr. Lincoln," a beautiful, deep red and large rose, with a pungent and fragrant odor.

Or consider the cattle. There are many different varieties of cattle, from the Brahma bull to the Texas long horn; there are Jerseys, Guernsies, Herefords, Holsteins, etc. Likewise, there are many varieties of horse -- from Palominos to Shetland Ponies, Clydesdales to Arabians, Appaloosas to Belgians and Pintos.

There are hundreds of variety of the dog species. We used to have a lovely West Highland Terrier, whom we called MacDuff. My son recently bought a puppy (which weighs 80 pounds!), whom we call Chelsea -- she is a Rotweiller. Then there are Huskies, St. Bernards, Daschunds, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Collies, Bulldogs, and on and on I could go.

What, then, does Nature itself teach us? These examples show us that YEHOVAH God is a God of Beauty. YEHOVAH loves variety. He has created many species of animal and plant life, and within those species He has allowed for the development of many different VARIETIES!

The "races" of mankind are merely the varieties of mankind, all of which originally came from the parents of the human species -- Adam and Eve!

Animal and plant breeders are always trying to breed various kinds of varieties, to develop a NEW variety which has the strengths of both of its ancestors. Carefully controlled inter-breeding is the way varieties and breeds are preserved, strengthened, and created.

Even so, some of the Brown races of mankind are the result of the mixing of the three dominant races -- the Black, White and Oriental. The creation of new varieties makes for greater diversity and beauty in the Earth!

The lesson of Nature, then, teaches us that although we should definitely marry wisely, there is no prohibition against marrying a person of a different variety or race!

Some claim that it is wrong to marry between the races because YEHOVAH God said, "Do not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing clothing woven of two kinds of material" (Lev.19:19). Why did YEHOVAH issue this commandment?

Notice! This command is repeated in Deuteronomy. We read, "Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be DEFILED.

"Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.

"Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together" (Deut.22:9-11).

Indiscriminately planting different kinds of seed mixed together is wrong, according to this commandment. It causes defilement, or pollution. Farmers know that if you are not careful, cross-pollination can occur between different kinds of plants, leading to a degenerate offspring, and useless seed -- a "hybrid" which cannot even reproduce. YEHOVAH gave this commandment for our protection, so we can maintain vigorous and strong crops through maintaining strong seed! Hybrids that produce an inferior quality after the first year should not be used. YEHOVAH is not the author of "confusion" (I Cor.14:33). We should always strive for QUALITY in what we produce!

Similarly, the principle forbidding putting a strong animal with a weaker animal together is applicable not only to animals, but to human beings. If you yoke an ox and an ass together, it is very unfair to the ass since the ox is much stronger. The ass, or donkey, would be soon tired, and weakened. The principle is, let each bear their own fair share, according to their own strength. As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, "Encourage the timid, help the weak" (I Thess.5:14). He wrote to the Romans, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up" (Rom.15:1-2).

In the same fashion, the commandment against wearing garments with wool and linen mixed together means we should not mix two different types of materials with different chacteristics and strengths together. Wool doesn't absorb bodily perspiration as does linen. Wool retains body heat. Normally, you would wear wool garments in the cold, in winter, and linen or cotton more during the summer. By weaving two different materials together results in a cheapened garment and lesser quality. (This commandment is not talking about synthetics.)

The principle we should retain from these commandments of YEHOVAH God is that in all things we should strive for fairness, balance, and quality, and not seek cheap results or inferior solutions. We should not compromise with quality, or "cut corners" to save money, or to cheat our customers.

Insofar as marriage is concerned, the same principle applies. Although race itself is not the issue, any number of marriages could be very bad if the two partners are ill-mated and not suited for each other. This has nothing to do with race, necessarily, but it does have to do with intelligence, aptitudes, backgrounds, cultures, families, physical differences, and many factors, which should be considered before "falling in love" with the wrong person!

Some have claimed that racial intermarriage was forbidden by Nehemiah, and that this example is for us, today. What is the truth about this?

In the book of Nehemiah we read the words of Nehemiah, who said, "Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah. I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair" (Neh.13:23-25).

Why did Nehemiah do this? The descendants of Moab and Ammon were the people of Abraham's cousin Lot. They were, in effect, distant relatives of the Jews. These were not racially different people at all! Therefore, race itself does not even enter into this matter. Let's be honest with the Scriptures!

Remember, Ruth, the ancestor of David, who was the ancestor of Yeshua the Messiah, was herself of the tribe of Moab, and not an Israelite after the flesh, at all (Ruth 1:3-4). Yet she was married to Boaz, a very religious and godly man, whose very name means "strength." Ruth, a devout worshiper of YEHOVAH God, although Moabite, was the mother of Obed, who was the father of Jesse, the father of king David, through whose line Yeshua the Messiah himself was born (Ruth 4:16-22; Matt.1:5-16).

If YEHOVAH was so concerned about intermarriage, when why did He permit Boaz to marry Ruth? Both of them were very righteous, godly people. Obviously, race and nationality, themselves, were not the real issue at all.

Similarly, the grandmother of Boaz was -- guess who's coming to dinner? None other than the Canaanitess Rahab, the prostitute of the city of Jericho!

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

That's right -- Rahab, the repentant Canaanite woman who hid the spies of Israel when they were being sought by the king of Jericho -- Rahab the harlot (Joshua 2:1-21; 6:22-25). She married Nahshon, the father of Salmon, who was the father of Boaz (Matt.1:4-5). Again -- notice! -- race was not even a factor, even though technically Ruth was of one of the tribes YEHOVAH God said was to be exterminated. It was their individual and collective SINS that brought on that society the "death penalty" from YEHOVAH. But since Rahab had repented, and showed her willingness to obey YEHOVAH by hiding the Israelite spies, even at threat to her own life, YEHOVAH rewarded her by sparing her life, and even allowed her to be one of the ancestors of the Messiah, Yeshua!

But why, then, did Nehemiah forbid the Jews of his time to marry women of the nations around them?

Let's continue where we left off. Nehemiah goes on, saying, "I made them take an oath in God's name and said: 'You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves. Was it not because of marriages like these that SOLOMON king of Israel SINNED? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was LED INTO SIN by foreign women. Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying FOREIGN women?' " (Neh.13:25-27).

It is astonishing how someone can have the gall to quote this very passage as a "proof" against racial intermarriage, when race isn't the question here at all! What a monstrous perversion of the Scriptures and the Word of Almighty GOD! Surely those who do such things will be held in contempt by the High Court of Heaven, and severely punished!

It is obvious from these verses in Nehemiah that the foreign women in question, unlike both Rahab and Ruth, had not converted to Judaism, or the faith of the Jews. They were still pagan at heart. They still worshiped idols. Therefore, they constituted a grave danger and threat to the fledgling state of Israel, which was then being formed! No wonder Nehemiah reacted with such vehemence and anger at this diabolical SIN!

Solomon, the very son of David, had married many foreign wives. They had stolen his heart from serving the Lord his God. Even though the LORD (YEHOVAH) had appeared to Solomon in dreams, and had blessed him above any other king in history, with wealth, wisdom, and fame, Solomon still was over a period of time led into apostasy by his foreign wives. The writer of I Kings declares with sadness and grief:

"King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter -- Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.' Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his WIVES LED HIM ASTRAY. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did EVIL in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.

"On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same thing for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifice to their gods.

"The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD's commands" (I Kings 11: 1-10, NIV).

The sin of Solomon was in multiplying wives, and in marrying PAGAN wives! That was also the sin of many of the elders of Judah during the time of Nehemiah, who rebuked them for their laxity and foolishness, and commanded them to separate from such pagan wives!

Race simply was NOT the issue, here -- religion was the issue!

This very same, identical principle, is brought out by the apostle Paul in the New Testament. It also applies to true Christians, true worshipers of YEHOVAH God, today! We, also, should NOT marry men or women of different beliefs, or religious faiths! Such a marriage would very likely constitute a grave danger for the believer, could involve great hardship and duress, and would certainly lead to severe conflicts involving the faith, the truth of YEHOVAH God, religious observances, and worship!

That is why the apostle Paul wrote to the church of YEHOVAH God at Corinth, "Do not be YOKED together with UNBELIEVERS. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.'

" 'Therefore COME OUT FROM THEM, and be SEPARATE, says the LORD. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.'

" 'I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty' " (II Cor.6:14-18, NIV).

Paul strongly recommended against inter-faith marriages, so-called. They work a distinct hardship on the believer, and can be disastrous. Many end in divorce. Others have serious problems when it comes to rearing children. Whose faith shall the children be taught? What can the believer teach the children about the truth of YEHOVAH God? What does the uncoverted mate think about it?

If one is already married to an unconverted mate, then Paul says he or she should make the most of it. Paul wrote, "Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

"To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife."

Paul goes on, "A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is -- and I think that I too have the Spirit of God" (I Cor.7:8-11, 39-40).

Any minister who in the past prohibited interracial marriages merely due to the difference in race was SINNING against YEHOVAH GOD! He was not serving the true God, but false religious taboos of Satan the devil, who seeks to destroy marriage and instill racial hatreds and animosities in human beings.

I am sorry for the pain and suffering many have been put through because of such heinous false teachings, but remember -- "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom.8:28). If you have suffered grievous wrong due to false teaching in this matter, in the past, then I suggest you commit this pain and trial to YEHOVAH in earnest prayer, and seek His inspiration and guidance in your life. It is never too late for YEHOVAH God to intervene, help, and provide deliverance!

Tremendous suffering, anguish and loneliness and heart-break has been caused because of false teaching concerning the race question. Further suffering has been caused by churches and ministers who refuse to admit their mistakes of the past, who refuse to "come clean" with YEHOVAH's people, and who deny they ever taught falsehood and false doctrine in this area!

In another letter I received from a member of the Worldwide Church of God, the writer said:

"If someone would have told me I would be defying my minister and my Church and writing to you -- a disfellowshipped ex-member that publishes things against the Worldwide Church of God -- I would have told them they were crazy. I just can't keep still any more. I've thought about this and the anger is building in me. I know I must not feel anger because it is of the devil, but the only way I can express myself is to write to you and verify what I am saying so that I know I'm not going crazy.

"In the Worldwide News of July 30, 1990, Mr. Tkach wrote a person column regarding interracial marriage. I quote:

"Paragraph: 'Interracial Marriage Not a Sin'

'God does not give a 'Thus saith the Lord' in answer to the question of interracial marriage. In fact, if the Bible had said, 'Thou shalt not marry interracially,' many people in God's Church (whose racial characteristics are less clearly defined) would be at a loss in knowing how to abide by God's directive.'

"Excerpt:

'By recognizing that the Bible does not call racial intermarriage sin, the Church is not promoting or encouraging interracial marriage.'

"Please tell me, didn't Herbert W. Armstrong say that GOD FORBIDS INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE? Didn't he repeatedly forbid people who were of different races to marry. Didn't he in fact force couples to separate if they were of different races?

"Joseph Tkach said: 'Herbert W. Armstrong did not require interracially married converts to separate.'

"This is a lie. How do I know it is a lie? I know it is a lie because I was forced to separate from my beautiful, loving, wonderful wife -- only because of her skin color!!!!

"I have suffered untold misery over the years, repenting of my longing for this woman, never fully being able to get her out of my memory. Now the Church is telling me that no one was ever forced to leave their mate because of interracial marriage.

"I am going crazy. I can't stand this. My beautiful wife is now married to someone of her own race, and every time I think of her living with another man I have to repent of my anger and sorrow in the loss of the best thing that ever happened to me.

"If Joseph Tkach is lying about this doctrine, is he also lying about the other doctrines and all the changes he is making in the Church? I just can't believe this! Please help me.

"I can't sign this. I'm still a member and couldn't take being disfellowshipped because it would mean spiritual death -- the lake of fire! I can't take any more lies though. This is too much. Help me. Tell me that HWA did really forbid interracial marriage and that he said it was FORBIDDEN BY GOD. Was I following a man? Not God? I don't know how I can live with this."

I wrote to this person, pointing out to him that, first of all, he can document that Joseph Tkach has lied about MANY things -- it is a proven fact. If you would like this documentation, then write for our three articles, The Plain Truth about Joseph Tkach, Is Joseph Tkach an Apostle of Christ? and The Mafia Apostle.

Secondly, I told him that he doesn't need to worry about disfellowshipment meaning the "lake of fire" -- that is not true at all! He stands far more chance of suffering the "lake of fire" if he remains a member of such an apostacizing church! I know many people who were "disfellowshipped," and they are much closer to YEHOVAH God NOW than they ever were, and more BLESSED of YEHOVAH, and STRONGER spiritually, as well. The Church falsely holds "disfellowshipment" as a threat over people's head, causing much guilt and mental torment -- but the Church ministers who do that are themselves deceived, deluded, and/or spiritual hypocrites like the Pharisees who disfellowshipped the blind man healed by the Messiah, because he acknowledged the Messiah and the truth (see John 9:17-34).

Thirdly, I wrote and told this man that Herbert Armstrong taught one serious extreme error, and the ministry was WRONG and SINNING when they "forced" him to divorce his wife. Such a heinous sin will be answered for before the Throne of Almighty GOD who says, "I hate divorce!" (Mal.2:16). Such ministers, unless they bitterly repent, will THEMSELVES be hurled violently into the Lake of Gehenna Fire!

Let's consider Jacob's blessing upon Manasseh and Ephraim again. We read, "He (Manasseh) shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he and his seed shall become a multitude of nations" ( Gen.48:19).

The word "nations" in this verse is goy and means; (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence a gentile; also (fig.) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts, and is generally translated "Gentile, heathen, nation, people."

Historically, Britain did amass together into it kingdom a troop of Gentile nations but those nations have never considered themselves as "British," although many have migrated to England and would consider themselves as "British," but America has become a "melting pot" of nations (Gentiles and Israelites, including Judah) who consider themselves "American." Ephraim's "seed" (his descendants) would become a multitude of nations. We have the greatest variety of peoples, nations (Gentiles and Israelites) that the world has ever witnessed, who consider themselves "Americans," becoming, the "seed" of Israel, the seed of Abraham, thereby also fulfilling the promise to Abraham, "And in thy 'seed' shall all the nations (Gentiles and Israelites) of the earth be blessed" (Gen.22:18).

Therefore, we in the United States are actually a forerunner, a type of the kingdom of YEHOVAH God, for the seed of Abraham through whom the true fulfillment of this promise to him will be fulfilled is the Messiah. His kingdom is the period of time when all nations will truly be blessed.

But what nation in like America which opens its doors to great numbers of Gentiles with overall equal opportunity for success, equal treatment, equal rights? Even though we still have many problems in our country with discrimination, we have made far more progreess in this country in integrating and providing equal opportunity for all races. We welcome Vietnamese boat people, refugees from Central America, Jews from Russia, Blacks from Africa. They all become "Americans." Many of their descendants eventually intermarry and become of Israelite heritage, but they are all called "Americans," amd become the "seed of Israel."

Believe it or not, YEHOVAH God is the One who has caused this immigration of vast numbers of foreigners to the United States to occur. It is part of the Plan and overall Purpose of the Almighty!

Consider!

There is an amazing prophecy in Gen.48:19 which is as follows: Jacob prophesied that his (Ephraim's) seed would become a multitude of nations. The word "multitude" is the Hebrew word melo and can also mean "fulness."

This is an end time prophecy, meant for our day, today! Does this fit in with Paul's writings? Consider! Paul wrote, "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this 'mystery,' lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the gentiles be come in" (Rom.11:25). The words "fulness" and "gentiles" used here by Paul can also be translated, "multitude" and "nations" respectively. This verse could also read, "until the multitude of nations be come in," and could be an allusion to the fact of many nations coming into modern-day "Ephraim," or the United States, and thereby becoming PART of the "seed of Israel"! On the other hand, Jacob's words in Gen.48:19 could be rendered, "His seed shall become the fullness of gentiles."

America's population explosion is not because of the sexual prowess of our founding fathers. It is because we opened our doors to emigration. Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of immigrants flooded into this country from virtually every nation or peoples on this earth.

No other symbol in the whole world so vividly portrays the hopes and aspirations, the deep human yearning for freedom and liberty, than the statue of liberty in New York harbor. Presented to the fledgling United States by France on July 4, 1884, this magnificent emblem of peace and liberty was unveiled and dedicated on October 28, 1886. In 1903 Emma Lazarus wrote a poem which was inscribed on its pedestal. It said:

"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conqering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles.
From her beacon-hand
Glows worldwide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
'Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!' cries she
With silent lips. 'Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamb beside the golden door!'"

Just what is "America"? Where did its name come from?

It is said that America's name came from Americus Vespucii, an Italian who came to visit but never lived here. However, it is very unlikely that this is true. A whole continent would hardly be named after one itinerant traveler who was not even a famous explorer! However, the Celts, descendants of Israel, at one time lived in an area of western Europe called 'Armorica.' As they were pushed out of Europe into England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, etc., they had to leave that land behind but not in its memory. As the English language changed so would the word 'Armorica.' It became 'America' which is what our recent ancestors fondly named this new land in memory of that which was lost long ago.

But the name "America" goes back far beyond the time of the Celts. It goes back to the time of ancient Israel! It goes back to the famous dynasty of an important king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Here is the astonishing truth!

During the time of ancient Israel, the Gentile nations called the northern ten-tribed kingdom of Israel the "land of the Amorites," or "Amorica." The people of the land -- blond haired and blue eyed -- were known as "Amorites." The Israelitish towns captured by the Egyptian pharaoh depicted on the temple Amon at Karnak show prisoners who were "Amorite and not Jewish," says professor Sayce in Races of the Old Testament (p.115, 116). By "Amorite" he meant they were of a blond, Nordic type. He notes, "It is plain that the Amorite belonged to the blond race. His blue eyes and light hair prove this incontestably" (p.167, 168). The Amorite chief of Kadesh had a white skin, Sayce noted. These peoples were the tribes of ancient Israel -- not the dark-skinned descendants of Ham (Gen.10:15-20).

How did the people of the northern kingdom of Israel come to be known as "Amorites"? The Egyptian raid into Israel circa 920 B.C. during the reign of Rehoboam has been documented by archeological discoveries at Megiddo, in northern Israel. Most of the towns the pharaoh captured, depicted on the walls of Karnak, were located in northern Israel. Part of his stele was excavated at Megiddo, showing he took this city also (Unger's Bible Handbook, p.2l5).

The Israelites were called "Amorites." The term "America" comes from this amazing ancient identity of these Nordic peoples! Jessel, in The Unknown History of the Jews, shows that the Egyptians depict the people of Palestine as being blond or reddish hair and blue eyes (p.107). The Babylonians, he said, considered the land of Palestine as "a land of the Amorites." The most dominant people located there were the peoples of Israel. Says Jessel, "A study of ethnology leads to the conclusion that these people were the bond or red-haired white race, of the Amurra or Amurru we hear of occasionally in the Egyptian campaigns in the direction of the Amanus mountains. That the Amorites were Caucasians in appearance and physique leaves no room for doubt, and some of their habits and forms of worship point to their being a Keltic sub-race" (ibid.).

The usual term for the kingdom of Israel in the Assyrian inscriptions was not "Israel," but rather "Land of Omri," or "Omri Land," named after the Israelite king of the northern kingdom, Omri, who founded one of the greatest dynasties in Israel. Notes the Encyclopedia Britannica, "Although little is preserved of Omri's history, the fact that the Northern Kingdom long continued to be called by the Assyrians after his name is a significant indication of his great reputation" (11th ed., article "Jews," vol.XV, p.377).

Unger's Bible Dictionary points out that Omri "ushered in a new era of Israelite power. He was an astute politician, cementing ties with Phoenicia to offset Aramaean commercial monopoly. . . The Moabite Stone from Dibon discloses that it was Omri who conquered N. Moab. Omri's brilliant capital, Samaria, has been excavated. . . The foundations of his palace and other evidence attest he was the founder of the city . . .

"Omri's fame in the world of his day is attested by the Assyrians' reference to him on the Black Obelisk of Shalmanesser III over a century later in connection with King Jehu of Israel, who is styled 'son of (i.e., royal successor of) Omri,' although Jehu belonged to an entirely different dynasty. After Omri, Israel moreover is styled Bit-Humri ('house of Omri') in the Assyrian cuneiform texts" (Unger, p.217).

Omri was a great general and captain of war. His son Ahab was one of the wickedest men who ever lived. Omri followed the idolatries of Jeroboam, and was more wicked than any of his predecessors on the throne of the Ten Tribes. He made such an impression on history outside of Israel, that "after his death and the annihilation of his family the Assyrians for a time still attached his name, which they wrote Humri, to the reigning monarch and land of Israel" (New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible, p.686). Before ascending to poer, Omri was captain of the host or commander of the army of Israel for the dynasty of Jeroboam. Jeroboam was an Ephraimite, and I suggest that Omri, also, was very likely from the tribe of Ephraim.

In Europe, some of the Celts were called by such names as "Ombri" and "Umbri." When the northern ten tribes of Israel were carried into captivity, they were known as the Cimmerians (Gimiri), in Babylonian, and as "Scythia" or "Sakka" (phonetically) in Persia. There were clearly the people of "Omri." Says Rawlinson in History of Herodutus, "the Babylonian title of Gimiri, as applied to the Sacae, is not a vernacular but a foreign title, and . . . may simply mean 'the Tribes' " (Bk. IV, appendix, note 1). This is a reference to the "tribes of Israel."

The name "America" comes from the ancient name of our ancestors, the "Amurra" or "Amurru." The name "America," has been corrupted from the name "Amorite," and "Omri," and goes back to the name of our ancient ancestors, as well as the name of the great king of Northern Israel, who founded the capital city of Samaria, and whose greatness was legendary in the Middle East. The suffix "ca" in ancient Hebrew, and Middle Eastern languages, means "people."

Our forefathers knew that we are descendants of Israel. Too many of their recorded statements and writings exist to substantiate it. They knew that this vast land was given us by YEHOVAH God, in order to fulfill His purpose, to fulfill prophecy. However, they didn't understand "why." A term was even coined as we were being raised up and expanding called "Manifest Destiny"

We in America are actually a spiritual type of the spiritual concept of Gentiles being "grafted" into Israel, becoming, in effect, the seed of Ephraim, Israel, Isaac, Abraham.

Paul writes the whole chapter of Romans eleven to show that God purposely blinded the overall majority of Israel, verse 7, casting them away for the RECONCILING of the world! The word reconcile actually means ATONEMENT! This casting away is a sacrifice! Israel's casting away is a physical type of the sacrifice of the Messiah.

Look closely at Rom.11:15. Here we read, "For if the casting away of them [Israel]be the reconciling (atonement) of this world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead?" Paul is speaking here of Israel being blinded, cast away in sacrifice for the atonement of the world. Doesn't he say that if the root is holy (The Messiah is the root of the house of David but Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are also being referred to here) then the branches are also holy.

YEHOVAH blinded Israel (Rom.11:7, II Cor.3:1). He did not give them a believing heart (Deut.29:4, Isa.6:9-10). YEHOVAH God will, however, resurrect Israel and take away their ungodliness (Rom.11:26). Most of Israel are enemies of YEHOVAH's gospel today (Rom.11:28), but for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob's sake, as well as YEHOVAH's Word, and His promises, Israel is still beloved (Rom.11:28-29)

Modern America also is blinded to the fact that YEHOVAH GOD in His ultimate wisdom has brought over to this country millions of Gentiles, to share in the blessings of the house of Joseph -- the birthright blessings of "Israel." YEHOVAH is engrafting them into this nation, as part of His people. It is not His intention that they someday "return" to their continent of origin, or nation of origin. YEHOVAH does not intend for the Africans to return to Africa, or the Irish to Ireland, or the Italians to Italy, or the Poles to Poland, or the Vietnamese to Vietnam. Not at all! His purpse is far more grand and glorious than that! YEHOVAH God has made us to become the "Melting Pot" of the world, to show forth His glory, to illustrate for all mankind that ALL PEOPLES AND RACES CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN HARMONY AND LOVE! Intermarriage, from time to time, would be a natural result of the coming together of widely separated peoples into one homeland. As a principle, it would not be wrong, of itself. In the Kingdom of YEHOVAH God there will be no notice taken of race, for we are all ONE in the Messiah. And that's the way it should be! We should rejoice in our differences, as well as in our similarities. "Strength through diversity" can become a fundamental truth!

Consider! Those Gentiles who live in America are greatly blessed, compared to their cousins and relatives back in their former countries. Mercy, salvation, faith has come to Gentiles who have not previously believed YEHOVAH God because of the purposeful blinding and casting away of Israel, for YEHOVAH has shut them all up in unbelief that He might have mercy on all (Rom.11:28-30). YEHOVAH says that the diminishing of Israel, as well as their fall, is the riches of the Gentiles.

The prophet Isaiah wrote, "I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then said I, 'Here am I; send me.' And He said, 'Go, and tell this people, "Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat [who is as fat as the U.S. today], and make their eyes heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." '

Isaiah continues: "'Then said I, 'Lord, how long?' And He answered, 'Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great "forsaking" in the midst of the land,' " (Isa.6:8-12). The term 'forsaking' means 'desertion' or 'falling away'! Hasn't America greatly fallen away from, forsaken, deserted the word of YEHOVAH God today? This prophecy is being fulfilled right before our very eyes!

YEHOVAH's truth has been, is being published today. Our people see and hear it, but their eyes and ears are heavy with slumber, hearts fat with physical living. We are disinterested with YEHOVAH's way. We don't believe it. We have been given a vast, rich, productive land but we, in the absence of Yeshua the Messiah, just as Israel in the absence of Moses, have made this wilderness a vast playground as it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play" (I Cor.10:7). We, also, as ancient Israel, have a mixed multitude among us.

YEHOVAH God is calling a people out of this mess today to stand up and be loyal to Him, just as Moses called and Levi responded!

Isaiah continues, "But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves; so the Holy seed shall be the substance thereof" (Isa.6:13). This verse in the KJV is not properly translated and therefore, difficult to understand. It should read, "But yet in it shall be a tenth (a remnant), and it shall return (to turn back, repent), and shall rekindle: as a teil tree, as an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled: so the Holy seed shall be the stump thereof."

Here is the true gospel of the Kingdom of YEHOVAH God! Yeshua the Holy seed, is our root, our trunk. We are the branches. Just as the stump of a tree that has been felled can revive, even so the Messiah, as our stump, will revive Israel.

YEHOVAH's true message should be going out in POWER for our people to REPENT! Because the end-time, the time of Jacob's troubles is coming swiftly upon us! YEHOVAH's message has been soft-peddled! Even the watchmen (so-called) have been asleep, gotten too comfortable, taking it easy. It is time to WAKE UP! Before the disaster strikes and the people's blood is required to be put on the head of these careless, smooth, slick, fat, comfortable, sleepy watchmen!

Part of the true gospel message is that God fearing men and women of EVERY RACE can live together in brotherly love and harmony, can dwell together in unity and oneness, can live in peace and godliness, caring and sharing, giving and serving, with one another!

YEHOVAH God is concerned about the spirit in man, not the flesh. Even as physical circumcision doesnt matter in YEHOVAH's sight, but rather circumcision of the heart, even so racial color or differences don't matter one whit to Him, but rather keeping YEHOVAH God's commandments, and loving one another, is what is important to Him!

Do we get the message? Do we get the point?

YEHOVAH God intends for ALL RACES to be blessed, eventually, in His people Israel! He intends for ALL RACES to become "children of Abraham," and heirs of the promises made to Abraham -- both the promises of Race AND Grace -- both physical and spiritual promises!

Let us learn to truly "love one another," as the Messiah commanded, and to "love our neighbor as ourselves," as the Law of YEHOVAH God declares. There should be no room in our hearts for racial anger, hostility, prejudice, hatred, poison, friction, strife, or jealousy.

Each one of us will appear personally before the judgment seat of YEHOVAH God. Each one of us will stand before the throne of the Messiah. Let us not, therefore, judge or condemn our human brothers and sisters, or think any less of them because of their skin color, any more than we would because of their feet, or anything else. Let us truly learn to LOVE our brothers and sisters around the planet Earth!

I am reminded of an old song I used to love -- "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands." That's the truth, you know. He really does. He's got you and me, brother, and you and me, sister, and even the little bitty baby, in His hands!

Whatever our race, we should be thankful for it, and grateful to YEHOVAH God for having given us life and having created us. YEHOVAH does all things according to His great, inestimable wisdom.

Isaiah wrote under divine inspiration, "Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'? Woe to him who says to his father, 'What have you begotten?' or to his mother, 'What have you brought to birth?'

"This is what the LORD says -- the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? It is I who made the earth, and created mankind upon it. . . .

"Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself have I sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.' All who have raged against him will come to him and be put shame.

"But in the LORD alsl the descendants of Israel [both physical and spiritual] will be found righteous and will exult" (Isaiah 45:9-12, 22-25).

Years ago we used to sing a song, "Jesus Loves the Little Children." It goes something like this:

"Jesus loves the little children,
"All the children of the world,
"Red and yellow, black and white,
"They are precious in His sight,
"Jesus loves the little children of the world."

When I see the suffering babies of every race, my heart yearns for them and goes out to them. Their color doesn't make any difference. They are all precious -- equally so. YEHOVAH loves each one with complete, total love. There is no racial discrimination with YEHOVAH God. There is no favoritism with Him whatsoever. As Paul wrote, "For God does not show favoritism" (Rom.2:11). The gospel message of the GOOD NEWS of the Kingdom of YEHOVAH God is for everybody!

What about you? Are you ready to turn to YEHOVAH God, and give your life over to Yeshua the Messiah, to use in His Work and service, as He sees fit? Are you ready to repent of your sins, and racial slurs, and slanders, and wicked thoughts, and turn to YEHOVAH God for forgiveness, mercy, and pardon?

Are you ready to "take up your cross," and follow the Messiah?

Let us all join together, in complete harmony and love, and FINISH the "Work" of YEHOVAH God Almighty!

Hope of Israel Ministries (Church of YEHOVAH)
P.O. Box 6772
Thousand Oaks, CA 91359-6772
U.S.A.