By Robert J. Pruitt, former General Overseer, 92nd Annual Address, 1997
…after the Solemn Assembly of 1993, we are the “third part” mentioned in Zechariah 13:8, 9, which states: “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” …
After the reorganization of July 24, 1993, we came to a better understanding of Zechariah’s prophecy. The history of The Church of God since its “Arise, Shine” of June 13, 1903, after the Dark Ages shows us plainly that Zechariah was speaking of the disruptions of 1923 and 1993, when in both cases there was a departure from government and doctrine, cutting off the apostate elements and leaving only a remnant to continue in the old paths of divine revelation. According to the prophet, the two parts which were cut off were destined to die.
We, as The Church of God, the divine institution of God, the espoused bride of Christ, unique and exclusive, accept the distinction of being the “third part.” We will not deny nor reject the divine appointment of being the continuation of the Church which Jesus set in order on Mt. Hattin about 28 a.d., almost 2,000 ago, the indomitable, invincible Church against which the very gates of hell cannot prevail. We, with the distinction of being the “third part,” will also accept the identity of the speckled bird of Jeremiah 12:9, who was shunned by her companions. We accept the reproach of being the exclusive one, as Moses did, in “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt…” (Heb. 11:26).
The Church must also be aware that it is destined to go through the fires of refinement, a necessary part of the perfecting process. It seems we have already begun it and are in some stage of its progress. Physical afflictions
have stricken many of our people; others have been going through trials, tribulations, and persecutions of the devil. Some have been unjustly tried and imprisoned. Some have suffered from the violent effects of weather and lost all their possessions in storms and floods. There are many whose former friends have turned against them and now say all manner of evil against them. Families have split apart and loved ones have stopped speaking to one another. Everywhere there is agony of heart and soul for all the violence and wickedness around us. The enemies of The Church of God will stop at nothing to inflict pain and sorrow against the innocent, God-fearing people who love the truth and holiness.
We recognize this as the working of Satan who knows his time is short and he is determined to cause as much damage to God’s people as he can in the time that he has. Thank God, in the Rapture they will be beyond his reach. We see these times of trouble as a part of the refining fires which will prepare us for the perfecting process from which we will emerge as refined silver and pure gold, as the prophet Malachi also wrote, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness” (Mal. 3:3).
Another astounding fact of being the “third part” is that we are going to have to advance further into spirituality than any other generation of the Church has. We must reach the state of perfection. No other generation of the Church has ever reached the state of being of the same mind and the same judgment. We must forget about what others say about the impossibility of being perfect and keep striving toward that goal until we have reached it. God will accept nothing short of it. It is His plan and commandment for us to do so. It is this generation who will do it. In the Scriptures we cannot find any place for a “fourth part.” We cannot find any place for the failure of the “third part” to be spiritually refined to pure gold and refined silver. That charge has been given to us—this generation—and we must not fail. It is within our reach. By the grace of God we will attain it. God will not require of us something that, by His grace, we cannot attain. Behind every commandment He puts the omnipotence of heaven and the power to attain it.”