As 2025 draws to a close, we look back on a year filled with so many tragedies in this world – mass murders, natural disasters, famines, warfare, disease etc etc. And adversities and afflictions aren't restricted to the world ... God's people also suffer severe hardship and heartaches. But having been given the understanding of what this human life is all about through God's Plan, these adversities don't become "tragedies". We mourn for the world's miseries – and for each other's, but not as those that have no hope, as Paul emphasises to the brethren in Thessalonica:

This Pastor's Report was originally written in 2020, but I felt it was worth reproducing this week, because of the numerous and varied trials currently being suffered by God's people. I do hope it brings encouragement to all.

The Duality of Life

In 1 Corinthians 15 – the 'resurrection chapter' – the apostle Paul makes very clear the dual nature of our life. The aim of both Christ and the Father is to enable us to have inherent spirit-born life, of the kind they themselves enjoy and referred to in this passage as "that which is spiritual" (verse 46). But before this is possible, it is important that we both understand and appreciate the life we presently experience – "that which is natural, from the earth, earthy."

From "dust thou art" at Adam's physical creation, and on throughout the Bible God reminds us of our humble beginnings. Job referred to "... them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?" (Job 4:19) And as God points out in Isaiah 45, we're not much more than broken pots ...

Job understood that there was more to this physical life than just a temporary, fleeting existence and that a key reason for being made thus is so we can change.

But there are also other aspects we should keep in mind ...

Life's Purpose

Each year in the church we rehearse the very meaning of life as we celebrate the Holy Days, which are very forward looking – focused on the spirit life that is up ahead for us as members of the very Family of God, and rescue for the human race. But I wonder if we sometimes fail to truly grasp the necessity of understanding and fully appreciating our current physical existence – and the reason we draw breath?

In our day-to-day lives we are faced with challenges, problems and often severe trials. What we really long to do – and often pray to that end – is to have them rectified ... ie. escape them as quickly as possible. Whereas God looks at the situation in a very different way from us, and we find that many times 'escape' doesn't come about as speedily as we'd like! When Christ uttered the immortal words in the garden of Gethsemane "... take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." (Mark 14:36) He humanly would have appreciated a 'get out clause' – any possibility of escape from what He knew was coming, but He also recognised that the very purpose of His existence was nearing its conclusion, as the Saviour for all mankind.

Do we in similar fashion, as mere earthen vessels, keep in mind that the very purpose of our physical chemical existence now – as the end time around us approaches its conclusion – is to be fully ready as the teachers of the future, alongside our Elder Brother?

Old Age

Many of us are now finding ourselves in a position we never expected, that of having to deal with the problems of old age. When we first came into the church we certainly foresaw the need to overcome the world as Ambassadors of a New Age, which we anticipated was just over the horizon. But it didn't quite work out that way! And God has not seen fit to allow us to escape all the frailties, disabilities and bereavements that so often accompany the ageing process. But we shouldn't be surprised – as with the exception of those that were martyred, (see Hebrews 11:33-40) most of God's people before us have had to face the same trial.

By the time Isaac decided to give the blessing to his son Esau, he had become blind in his old age, enabling Jacob to deceive him. In a similar way, before Jacob died, he too went blind, crossing his hands when it came time to bless Ephraim and Manasseh. In the case of king David, at the age of 70 he was described as "old and stricken in years" (I Kings 1:1). But in spite of old age, illness, bereavement etc, our Creator God who knew us "'ere before we were born" (Psalm 139: 13-16), never stopped working and caring for those He has called over the millennia, and promises it will be the same with us;

As we age our physical strength diminishes, and 'the bloom of youth' certainly fades! Our mind becomes more tuned towards what is beyond this life and the vital necessity of God's help to not only get through each day, but to continue to achieve and grow. Often it's only the ageing process that drives home to us how short this life is and what really is important, and it's definitely not 'things'. If there is one chapter in one book of the Bible that addresses the shortcomings of ageing, it has to be Ecclesiastes 12, which encourages us all to "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;" (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

Even though the coming Millennium is likely to be free of the sicknesses that so often accompany ageing, the indication is that during this time also there will still be old men and women – having to use a cane or staff for support – as there will still be much for them to learn from the ageing process:

"That you might have Peace"

How can we possibly effectively handle the trials, heartaches, challenges and stresses, when simultaneously limited by this very physical body that is basically dying each day we live? This is a reality that particularly hits home as we approach – and pass – the threescore and ten generally allotted to mankind. But Jesus Christ Himself encourages us with a promise of peace when we have to face such things:

The things He had just spoken to them about concerned the actions of the Holy Spirit, and specifically the way it would not speak of itself but would impart to them the information Christ Himself wanted them to have (John 16:13,14). And as He then continues a few verses further on:

Again – we're encouraged at the end of the gospel of Matthew that He would be with us always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20) And the way that is possible is through the Holy Spirit. This is why – even though He points out that we'd all have trials in this world – we can still be of good cheer and have peace because we are not facing them alone.

The Power of God

The analogy of likening us to an earthen vessel comes from a passage in II Corinthians 4. In the preceding chapter the apostle Paul is explaining the ongoing process of conversion – changing the basic self-centred character of a carnal human being into that of a God-being:

He then elaborates on this concept in chapter 4, explaining how the light of the character of Christ can then be expressed in each of the faces of those going through this conversion process, ending with the verse "But we have this treasure [this priceless process and the godly reactions that flow from it] in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" (II Corinthians 4:7).

The key point is not merely the weakness of the earthen vessels but what those vessels are daily being filled with ... the power of the Holy Spirit! Paul then goes on to explain how our reactions and perceptions in the trials we face should correspondingly change as our understanding and conversion grows. And for Paul, what he then points out in the next two verses of chapter 4, was not just book learning – mere academic understanding – by any means, but what he himself was having to regularly deal with. (For a list of some of the things he personally went through, check out II Corinthians 11:24-29!)

"Yet not Distressed"

The translation in the King James version does not carry the full intent of the original. The words translated as "troubled on every side" would be better expressed as being squashed or squeezed from every direction. And the phrase translated as "not distressed" carries with it the inference of not being totally crushed. One particular translation that carries this concept well is the Aramaic Bible in Plain English, which says: "For we are squeezed in all things but we are not strangled ..."

Naturally speaking an earthen vessel is easily broken – either by too hot an oven, or dropping it onto a hard surface. And in the outside world today, the 'heat is on' to a great degree for so many, with job insecurity, family breakdown, soaring inflation, disease, disabilities. A wretchedly hard time and for most, without hope. However, the source of OUR strength cannot come from ourselves as mere "houses of clay", and it's vital that we recognise this, or we too will suffer mentally and emotionally. We have to remember the TRUE source of our strength:

"But Not in Despair"

Once again, the original two words being used carry a little more meaning which links them together. "Perplexed" (Gk aporeo) carries with it the idea of "being without resources" ... i.e. not knowing which way to turn when things are going wrong. But we're not in despair ... "utterly destitute of measures or resources" (Strongs 1820) because we know that God, as the Master of Timing, will step in and see us through. With God nothing is impossible and nothing too hard for Him to do:

A classic example of God stepping in and rescuing His people was at the Red Sea. "Petrified" more than "perplexed" would probably describe the feelings of our forefathers, ancient Israel as they heard the shouting of the horsemen and the thunder of probably the best part of one thousand chariots, as Pharaoh's army advanced ever closer. (Exodus 14:7) Imagine Israel's panic, their dilemma – which way to turn, how to escape when hemmed in by this massive body of water? They were totally "without resources", but the impossible did happen and was recorded for our learning, and confidence when we feel boxed in by a hopeless situation:

And many of us, over the years can attest to the truth of the following encouragement given to the church in Corinth. This escape from our personal 'box canyon' happens in a multitude of ways, and varies from person to person. It might not be quite as dramatic as the crossing of the Red Sea, but it will be rescue nevertheless, because Jesus, (Joshua – YHWH is our Rescuer) gives us His word:

"But Not Forsaken"

We can see this in action in the Book of Acts when Paul and Silas, having been beaten were then thrust into prison. But their reaction was not a normal human reaction – and the surrounding prisoners certainly noticed this, as recorded in Acts 16:

Why could Christ encourage us to have peace in verse 33 of John 16, even in such difficult circumstances? The previous verse explains:

And that is what Paul and Silas also understood "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:18). At the end of the book of Hebrews, no doubt through personal experience, Paul was able to write:

And as God encourages us through the prophet Isaiah:

"But Not Destroyed"

Or as another translation graphically puts it: "We are knocked down, but we aren't knocked out" (II Corinthians 4:9 CEB)

How many times have we felt "I can't take any more ... ", "this is just too much pressure ... ", "this is just not working!" We might feel we just can't go on – life has become too hard, but we are able to call on supernatural help, as the apostle Paul understood:

At times it can seem beyond our physical resources to even approach the throne of grace, let alone being bold! Sometimes, being so overwhelmed with our problems we can find it hard to verbalise our needs in prayer, but our merciful High Priest even has this eventuality covered:

And it's not just physical circumstances that can get us down, but also realising just how far we fall short of the perfection required for God's family members. But God – through the apostle Paul in Romans 7:21-25 even has this scenario covered and encourages us to keep on keeping on, as He reminds us once again, we are not fighting this battle alone, and He is not willing that any should perish.

God the Master Potter

We're all earthen vessels – vividly described in Hebrew as "dust, earth, powder, rubbish, ashes, mortar, ground" (Strongs 06083). Indeed, "... if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing he deceiveth himself" (Galatians 6:3) And what we need to keep in mind too is that our fellow brethren – our fellow potsherds – they too are struggling in this life. We need to give each other space and time to change ... as we are all merely 'a work in progress'. Some may be a little further along the 'production line' in certain areas, often depending on age and experience, and even personality and family background. And some – as we have witnessed this past year – have had their final 'firing' and are now being safely stored by God, to be used in the near future when Christ returns. But meanwhile, we who have yet to arrive at that point, need to have confidence in the fact we're not having to battle through this life alone and should learn to relax in God's most capable hands – as Mr Armstrong, who himself was certainly no stranger to the trials and problems of this life, explains:

Back in July 2005 catholicnewsagency.com reported the following:

The Unchanged Catholic View On Europe

Back in 1982, Pope John Paul ll had told Europe to “revive its roots”. “Experience again those authentic values that made your history glorious and your presence in other continents beneficial.”

Over 30 years later, the message from Pope Francis was very similar:

The message that he is sending out is that unity can be achieved - only through the Catholic Church.

The roots to which he refers are the roots of the Holy Roman Empire (554-1814 AD).

The ‘Roots’ And ‘Authentic Values’ Of The Roman Catholic Church

The Pope is referring back to the time of the Holy Roman Empire - a time when Catholicism ruled much of the world. Doctrine was imposed. Those who did not obey were branded as heretics - and handed over to the civil authorities for punishment - which was usually severe!

The Period Of The Inquisitions

Between the years 325-1800 AD there were various ‘Inquisitions’ in several countries. It is difficult to obtain an accurate figure of those who were exterminated – the low end of the scale is around 50 million – with other estimates of over 100 million. While the Jews seem to have been a special target – the Roman Catholic Church HAD THE CIVIL AUTHORITIES murder anyone who went against the teaching of the Church.

We understand from Prophecy that there will shortly be another great Inquisition – the Bible refers to it as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21) – when once again many will be killed for going against the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church (Revelation 6:9-11).

The Roman Catholic Church is headed back to its “authentic values”!
We have been warned…

Roman Catholic ‘Roots’

Mr Armstrong explains:

2025: The Catholic Way To Peace

Pope Leo’s Whopping Lie On Religious Freedom

Pope Says Trump Is Trying To ‘Break Apart’ Europe-US Alliance

Pope Leo Chastises Trump

Pope Leo Calls For Dialogue

Note The Direction Of The Catholic Church

The goal of the Roman Catholic Church has always involved world government!

A New Kind Of Politics

In God’s Name: The Rise Of Weaponised Christianity

The End Time Crisis

The Formation Of The Medieval Holy Roman Empire

Revise The Lessons Of History

Back in 2013, Europe was struggling with financial problems. When there’s a crisis, all roads lead to Rome.

May 16th, 2013: “Pope Francis has called on world leaders to end the ‘cult of money’ and to do more for the poor, in his first major speech on the financial crisis.” (telegraph.co.uk)

Just 2 days later…

On May 18th 2013: “German Chancellor Angela Merkel flew to Rome to meet Pope Francis just days after he made a speech calling for financial reform.” (euronews.net)

A few years later in 2017, in another crisis:

End Time Chaos

With the financial system broken, banks close, trade stops …the whole world will be in upheaval, civilisation will start to break down…

The last major financial crisis (2017) saw European leaders go to the Vatican for help - will history repeat?

The Arab/Muslim confederation will attack Europe (Daniel 11:40)…

Somewhere in amongst all this, the Jews start the morning and evening sacrifices.

The Beast’s army roars down into the Middle East, all but Turkey and Jordan taken over (Daniel 11:40)…

The sacrifices are stopped and the Holy Roman Empire sets up its headquarters in Jerusalem (Daniel 11:31 , 45)…

Then the great tribulation begins (Daniel 12:1)…

With Britain and the US conquered (The United States And Britain In Prophecy)…

It seems that all these events and more all occur in a very short space of time - we need to be watching!

Unam Sanctam

We need to understand how the Roman Catholic Church thinks. What many will not realise is that it teaches that to gain salvation a person MUST be subject to the Roman Pontiff, as the previous article points out, but where did the quote originate?

Pope Boniface VIII: 1294-1303

April 29th 1945 - Unam Sanctam in Action

Excerpts from The Plain Truth Magazine, December 1948:

Their Message Is Unchanged:

Europe must “Revive Its Roots” and “experience again those “authentic values” that made their history glorious”

“It is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.”

As the situation becomes more desperate … “Only the Catholic Church Can Deliver Nations from Chaos”

…But So Is God's!