Jerusalem: "A Burdensome Stone"

June 1990

"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."

How ironic that the "City of Peace" is the center of bitter world controversy! Not only is East Jerusalem contended between Israel and the Arab world, but world political and religious leaders also join in the fray. Christian leaders continue to ignore this warning of the Lord by the Prophet. What should be the "Christian attitude" now toward Jerusalem?

In March President Bush-an avowed born-again Christian-berated Israel for building Jewish "settlements" in East Jerusalem because, he claimed, the status of East Jerusalem is negotiable in Israeli-Arab peace talks. This statement was a startling change of U.S. policy-which many felt was the real reason for the collapse of Israel’s coalition government. Jerusalem’s Mayor Teddy Kollek, a solid moderate, observed that Bush’s comment resulted in an increase of violence in East Jerusalem.

In April when a group of Jewish families moved into the so-called Christian Quarter of Jerusalem, some Jewish leaders questioned the wisdom of the timing. But the media and church leaders whipped up world opinion into a hysteria. THE NEW YORK TIMES called the building sublet by these Jewish families an "occupied Greek Orthodox Church." The WASHINGTON POST spoke of it as "the Greek Orthodox Church complex." But the following quote from a letter President Chaim Herzog of Israel wrote to the U.S. Greek Orthodox Primate (JERUSALEM POST, May 26, 1990) clarifies the issues:

"I do not propose to go into the rights or wrongs of the action taken by those claiming a right to residence in the building, following the payment of a considerable amount of money. .. I am, however, very disturbed by the behavior of the Greek Orthodox Church on this issue. It is extremely alarming. .. to note the manner in which the neglected, abandoned, misused hospice, suddenly becomes a Holy Site.

"I must say that the sight of a priest in clerical garments standing on a ladder, ripping down a Star of David from a Jewish residence, cheered by an enraged mob, is a horrible reminder of what our people lived through in history. ...

"... the building was described as being a few meters away from the [Church of the] Holy Sepulchre. Any visitor to the site, with its enclosed streets, will confirm that this assertion is false." In an interview with Jordan television, Patriarch Disdoros, head of the Greek Orthodox patriarchate in Jerusalem, described Jerusalem as being "under conquest." During a visit to Greece he charged that this incident was part of an attempt by Israel to take over the Christian Quarter of Old Jerusalem.

Of course, the Vatican entered the controversy. THE NEW YORK TIMES reported that Pope John Paul II, in an audience which included senior officials from Arab countries and a representative of the PLO, "expressed ‘profound concern.’" Cardinal O’Connor, however, reflected the hysteria of the Roman Catholic church over the Jerusalem issue. In an article appearing in the CATHOLIC NEW YORK, he called the move "obscene" and the Israeli government’s role in the incident as "reprehensible." He characterized the move of 25 parents and 100 children and infants into the hospice as an invasion by armed men-part of "a conspiracy to grab land all over Israel currently occupied by Christians. ..[ and] a design to make it virtually impossible for Christians to function anywhere in the land."

To put this controversial incident in balanced perspective, it must be noted that Jews formerly lived in this area until they were violently expelled by Arab attack in 1936. In fact, it was during the same period of the British Mandate that the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem was drastically reduced. (Later the reduced segment of the Jewish Quarter-including its many Synagogues-was destroyed during the Jordanian occupation of 1948-1967.) Where was the Christian outcry then? Why is there Christian silence when Jews are abused? While the hospice is owned by the Greek Orthodox Church, the building was never used for religious purposes. Furthermore, the building was leased to an Arab and the ground floor was occupied by Moslem stores. Because the Christian Quarter is actually two-thirds Moslem, a Mosque nearby serves this active Moslem population. ...

As Christian and Moslem leaders gathered in the Greek Orthodox Patriarch’s offices, masked intifada youths began waving PLO flags chanting anti-Jewish slogans. The PLO flag was then placed at the top of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. (Who then actually desecrated a Christian holy site?)

Why are Catholics opposed to Jews living in the Christian Quarter yet are gladly living together with Arabs? Why is the Vatican so opposed to Israel possessing Old Jerusalem while insisting on Jerusalem’s internationalization?

When the world community was finally ready to grant Israel statehood in 1947, the specter of the Vatican loomed over the United Nations. Since Israel’s rebirth the Vatican has never recognized it as a nation. New York’s Cardinal Spellman, used all the powers of his office to keep Jerusalem out of Israeli control. Telegraphing the Papal nuncios (ambassadors) in South American countries, he demanded that they urge those governments to take an uncompromising stand at the U.N. for Jerusalem’s internationalization.

The Vatican’s apparent reason is that all three faiths will have free access to their holy places. However, from 1948 to 1967, Jordan desecrated Jewish holy places and destroyed synagogues while completely denying Jewish access to East Jerusalem. In all those years the Vatican never raised a cry for internationalization. Since acquiring Old Jerusalem in 1967, Israel has guaranteed and preserved for all (Christians and Moslems as well) free access to their respective holy places. Yet the Vatican is presently insisting on internationalization to provide a right that these three religions already enjoy. Obviously, a more fundamental reason for Vatican opposition to Israel’s possession of Old Jerusalem prevails.

The Roman Catholic Church maintains Israel’s right to be the Kingdom of God ended forever with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Roman Legion in 70 C.E. Growing to world prominence, the Roman Catholic Church claimed to be the rightful heir of the Kingdom of God with Rome as the "New Jerusalem." But this claim of Rome to be the "eternal city," was deflated when in 1967 Jerusalem, "the eternal city," became Israel’s capital.

Why does the Vatican act like a major world power-exchanging ambassadors with other nations, etc.? No other Christian church claims this prestige.

The only excuse the Vatican has to act as a world power is the claim that it is both the spiritual and temporal Kingdom of God, the "New Jerusalem." Israel’s repossession of the capital of its ancient kingdom is a galling challenge to Rome-a challenge which Rome seems compelled to remove. When Jerusalem is "internationalized," the Vatican plans to dominate its supervision and thereby cement its claim to be the Kingdom of God on earth. The Vatican will not rest until Jerusalem is wrested from Israel.

Other world powers, including the United States, insist that Jerusalem is "negotiable" in any Israeli-Arab peace talks. Jerusalem is not negotiable. Remember Zechariah’s prophecy-all who contend in the Jerusalem issue will be sorely hurt. National and religious leaders had better heed this warning.

Christian leaders who misrepresent Israel or Jews in issues such as this hospice rental incident may be betraying latent anti-Semitic attitudes ingrained in their organization. In any case, such leaders are certainly sowing seeds of bitter feelings of anti-Semitism. Christians should not be trapped by media hysteria, but should rationally consider the Scriptural and historical perspective

Jerusalem, indeed, will be internationalized! But it will belong to the Jew forever. People from all over the world will come to Jerusalem to worship, but it will be to enquire about the God of the Jews and to praise His holy Name.

"Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Zec 8:22, 23 (See also Isa 2:2,3; 60:10-12; 66:18-22)

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Isa 2:2,3

"Prepare War"

September 1990

"Proclaim this among the Gentiles, Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up"

The Iraqi conquest of Kuwait touched off worldwide troubles. The current crisis in the Middle East and its international implications provide the alert Christian with fertile ground for thought. Thank God that we can turn to His unerring word to guide us in the dark times. Truly "whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience (perseverance) and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Rom 15:4 We are confident in our Heavenly Father’s "sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts." 2Pet 1:19

The "dark place" the Apostle Peter speaks of is this present world. Under the leadership of the prince of darkness (2Co 4:4) humanity finds itself shipwrecked on the reefs of tragedy. The Christian can rejoice regardless of this world’s tragedies because of "the hope that is within us." We have a hope of glory. We have a hope in Christ’s kingdom. We have a hope in the eventual blessing of all mankind. Our hope, as Brothers Paul and Peter testified, is taught by the Old Testament prophets. In them we find that our great God was fully aware of what the conditions would be in our troubled times. In them we see that our Heavenly Father is in complete control of world events-shaping them to their grand culmination in the peaceable kingdom on earth.

How is the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait a fulfillment of Bible prophecy? Consider Joel the third chapter concerning The Day of the LORD:

"Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:

"Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

"Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye nations, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.

"Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about.

"Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

"Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision." (Joel 3:9-14)

The conditions of Joel’s prophecy are our headlines today. War preparations are supported with hundreds of billions of dollars that the community of nations devote to them. Especially interesting is the nature of war preparation. Joel 3:10 turns a very familiar text around and, in so doing, gives us greater insight regarding the Lord’s word. "They shall beat their swords into plowshares", but in Joel plowshares are made into swords and pruning hooks into spears.

The lesson is that sinful man will take the very tools that could make for peace and turn them into devices of destruction. Ample testimony of this fact is given in the use of nearly every "high-tech" development for military purposes. Nuclear energy provides for power to run cities and medical treatment to heal diseases. It is also fashioned into bombs that can vaporize a city and its inhabitants in one efficient flash of light.

Chemists bring forth from their test tubes miracle drugs that save lives, nutrients that induce fabulous agricultural production and, as well, poison gases that kill without conscience. Truly, our modern times are witnessing a profound fulfillment of Joel 3:10.

Why do men prepare so furiously for war? Why learn war at all? Invariably wars may be traced to one underlying cause. One group of people realize that another has more than they do and hence decide to "get their fair-share" by force. Whether that "fair-share" is money, food, oil, land or commerce, the problem comes down to one word-greed. Lust for wealth in some form or other has seduced many nations into war. Saddam Hussein lusted after Kuwaiti money and oil and therefore took it. That’s why he’s there now. President Bush saw the need to "protect the American life style." That is why American troops are awaiting war in the Middle East. Many other nations are represented there-each for self-interest.

The gathering together of the nations in the Persian Gulf is representative of a greater gathering on a much grander scale. That greater gathering together is spoken of in Joel 3:11,12,14. The nations of our time are being gathered together economically. No longer do economic leaders think in terms of national economy or even international economy. The current terminology is global economy.

Nations are scrambling for advantageous position in a global economy. Formerly communistic countries are shifting gears and converting to market economies. Why? To survive in global commerce. This drawing together of all nations has brought about a further fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. In Joel 3:10 the weak say "I am strong." Nations which in time past were mere nobodies on the international scene are now able to affect even superpowers. Iraq’s military exploits have resulted in severe economic tensions of a worldwide scope. Western nations slide into recession and stock markets plunge as a result of a weak one, Iraq, saying "I am strong." We, as Christians, feel much sympathy for the whole world and the problems that mankind faces. However, we rejoice that the process of establishing God’s Kingdom on earth goes grandly and surely onward. As a result of all nations being gathered together, the fulfillment of God’s word is occurring in our lifetime.

Besides allowing the weak to be strong, the LORD is accomplishing another purpose in the gathering together of the nations. Zeph 3 reveals that purpose to Bible students. "My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD to serve him with one consent." (Zeph 3: 8,9) After the fire of God’s jealousy has done its work of destroying all the sinful and enslaving institutions of man, the people will learn a pure language. That language of love will enable all those who had not known or served the LORD to do so-after the fire is over.

Re 16 parallels Zeph 3 and explains further what the fire of God’s jealousy is. As does Zephaniah, so also Revelation shows us that God is gathering the nations (Re 16:14,16) to a great battle. God pours out "all my fierce anger" in Zephaniah and in Revelation he pours out the seven last plagues "for in them is the wrath of God completed" (Re 15:1) The seventh plague results in the battle of the great day of God Almighty-the great earthquake of Re 16:18.

In scripture, an earthquake symbolizes revolution. On the basis of the earthquake which toppled a tenth part of the city (Re 11:13), students of scripture predicted the French Revolution (and many of its effects) 150 years before it occurred. The lessons of prophecy fulfilled give us a firm basis for interpreting prophecy yet to come. The great revolution of Re 16 will open the door to the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth.

"Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven." (Heb 12:26,27) Once more will God shake the earth (society) and heaven (ecclesiastical rulers) and no more after that because it will not be necessary. "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come." Hag 2:7 The true desire of all nations is peace, health, prosperity. That desire surely shall come because God has promised it.

In Satan’s kingdom men have beaten plowshares into swords and pruning hooks into spears (Joel 3:10), but the kingdom that the Lord Jesus Christ will reign over is quite different. Micah, the fourth chapter, describes the good King’s reign. In it all nations will walk in his paths and learn of his ways. Then shall they beat their weapons into the instruments of peace.

Peace will be possible then. Greed and the necessity for it will be abolished. We have an insight as to the economic nature of God’s kingdom in Mic 4:4. "They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid." Apparently, each person in that kingdom will be economically independent. Never again will they need to fear for their next meal, their wages or land. None shall make them afraid and for this reason "neither shall they learn war any more." Mic 4:3

That time will be beautiful. God’s kingdom will be a blessing to all. In the meantime while we groan and travail with war and its suffering, there is a paradoxical blessing in it. Of God’s kingdom, the Psalmist says "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." Ps 46:9,10 God will cause wars to cease unto the ends of the earth. Therefore we, as Christians, can rejoice. We rejoice because as long as there is war in this world, that is a testimony to us that this world, AS IT NOW IS, is not God’s kingdom. His reign of peace and righteousness and beauty and justice is coming soon. Then shall the world be still and know that he is God.

Bible prophecy is vital to us. It provides us a sure sense of direction. It gives us great hope. It gives us great comfort. The 656 page book "The Battle of Armageddon" presents 14 topical studies. These incisively examine the scriptures relating to that great battle which will both destroy Satan’s kingdom and establish Christ’s Kingdom. If you already have a copy of "The Battle of Armageddon", look up the preceding scriptures in the index and read the studied commentary on them. May the Lord bless you and comfort you as he is also doing with us.

Ghosts: Friends or Demons?

October 1990

Are the dead really dead?

What possesses a skeptical, educated Western society to hanker after ghosts and spirits?

The same kids who grew up on "Casper the Friendly Ghost" now identify with "Sam" (Patrick Swayze), the hero yuppie ghost. A celebrity like Shirley MacLaine has elevated the pursuit of connecting with the spirits of the dead from side-door parlors to a very sophisticated level. The going rate for any respectable "channeler" runs in the thousands of dollars.

Why are people so anxious to communicate with the spirit world of the dead? First of all, one would naturally long to communicate with a deceased loved one for many reasons... In the ad lines of the recent movie, "Always," now available in video cassette, "They couldn’t hear him. They couldn’t see him. But he was there when they needed him. Even after he was gone." But is a human longing a basis for a legitimate hope for reaching the dead? Another reason for expecting to communicate would be because most people have only a vague understanding of what death really means.

Only truth really satisfies-and comforts. The origin of death traces back to the Garden of Eden... the first man... and sin. God linked Adam’s continuance of life on earth on simple obedience. However, "In the day that thou eatest of the tree, thou shalt surely die." Satan, using the serpent, contradicted this stipulation, saying, "Thou shalt not surely die." When Adam did sin and did die, Satan-being the "father of lies" that he is-perpetuated his lie in every generation and to every people: "You don’t really die. You only seem to die. You are more alive than ever when you die!" The Egyptians believed it. Socrates and Plato taught it. And, unfortunately, many Christians adopted it.

Just how dead are the dead? And is there any precious hope for any life after death? When God created Adam, "Man became a living soul." Ge 2:7 After God had infused the "breath of life" in the body He prepared, Adam himself was "made a living soul." But sinning plunged the soul itself into death. Eze 18:4 The breath of life is not the soul. The breath of life is the life energy from God which causes a body to live. Take away this life spirit and the soul dies. True, Adam "died spiritually" in that his fellowship was cut off immediately in that first 24-hour day. But Adam also immediately began physically to die ("Dying thou shalt die"). And he did die literally within God’s 1,000-year day. 1Pe 3:8

But even as God pronounced the grim death sentence on Adam, a ray of hope pierced this judgment. "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head..." A fatal blow would fall on the great tempter, Satan. Later this "seed" was identified as the "seed of Abraham." Ge 22:17 Christians are heirs to this promise as part of the seed which will bless all families of the earth. Gal 3:29 They are with Christ, the "firstfruits of them that have slept." 1Co 15:20 Then, during Christ’s presence ("parousia," Greek), his 1,000-year reign with the church, all the families of the earth will be the "afterfruits" in the resurrection of the dead.

So the legitimate hope for reaching the dead will be in the resurrection in the "last day." Joh 11:24 If man possessed an immortal soul, he would not need a resurrection. To say mortal man is inherently immortal in some way is to disregard our need for Jesus Christ who is our life and resurrection!

Communications with the Dead?

If then, it is impossible for the dead to communicate, what accounts for the apparent communication with the dead? Aside from frauds, too many convincing experiences suggesting extra-human contact have occurred.

The Bible verifies the existence of positive spirit beings called angels. But they have their counterpart. The Mosaic Law soundly rejects any meddling with spiritism. De 18:10,11 The four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life have no less than forty-two references to negative spirit beings, fallen angels, called "demons." Where did these demons come from?

The account of Genesis 6 reveals that certain angels violated God’s law of keeping their own spirit nature separate from man’s human nature. These angels who "left their own habitation," (Jude 6, 1Pet 3:20) took wives of the women of earth. Although not destroyed in the flood, they were constrained in a condition where they could not return to heaven, nor could they materialize any more on earth. This state, called "tartaroo" (Greek, see Footnote), was to be endured until the Judgment Day.

In the meantime, these fallen angels or demons have been limited to working through willing human channels. They have operated through the bodies of these, instead of bodies of their own. Such "mediums," or human channels were in the past known as "fetishes," "shaman," "wizards," "witches," "necromancers," "medicine men." In dark seances they endeavored to gain control of people’s minds and bodies. Not able to materialize in bodies of their own making, they tried to possess the bodies and minds of others. When this happens a fate as terrible as drug addiction occurs. The individual enters a slavery to demons. They have misrepresented God. They have misrepresented God’s plan. They have misrepresented the dead. By claiming to be the dead speaking, they have promulgated Satan’s lie in Eden,

"Thou shalt not surely die."

The record shows that the restraints that have been placed upon the fallen angels have a time limit-"unto the judgment of the great day." As we now see about us the evidences of the climactic events of the "Day of the Lord," it should not surprise any that the chains of restraint on those evil spirits are gradually being loosened. The upsurge of activity of the fallen angels in the form of newly acceptable channeling sessions, devil worship, and spiritist inspired movies and music is part of the result of the relaxing of the "chains" of restraint. There is no question that Satan and his legions are more energetic than ever to do all the mischief they can.

Despite the clear warnings of Scripture regarding the occult, many Christians subject themselves and their families to be entertained by demon inspired themes. Much seems so harmless. Kindergarten children are taught, as part of a rigorous school curriculum, the friendly side of ghosts and witches. A proper understanding of the seriousness of the negative spirit world demands a healthy distance.

While speaking of the Lord’s return, the Apostle Paul (2Thess 2:8-12) says that although the Lord will consume Satan with the "brightness of his presence" (epiphania of his parousia), Satan will very energetically work deceptions "with all power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." So strong a delusion will it be that if it were possible it would deceive even the true saints of God-those who would "believe a lie," because they receive not the "love of the truth."

Demons are by no means our friends. But yes, we will see our friends and loved ones again-in the resurrection. Then too, know ye not that the saints "shall judge the angels?" Perhaps some of the fallen angels will have learned their lesson and conformed to God’s will. But those who used their greater liberty to wreck havoc on man will be destroyed in the second death. Re 20:10

Fotenote: Tartaroo-The Word tartaroo, used by Peter, very closely resembles tartarus, a word used in Grecian mythology as the name for a dark abyss or prison. But tartaroo seems to refer more to an act than to a place. The fall of the angles who sinned was from honor and dignity, into dishonor and condemnation, and the thought seems to be-"God spared not the angels who sinned, but degraded them, and delivered them into chains of darkness."

The Christian is admonished to especially put on the "whole armour of God" in the "evil day" that we live in today. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph 6:11-13

Is the U.N. Anti-Israel?

November 1990

Dear Christian Friend,

Once again Israel made headlines, even temporarily pushing the Iraqi crisis from front stage at the U.N. As Christians, we are deeply grieved by all the suffering and shedding of blood in the Middle East. No doubt there have been wrongs on all sides (Jer 3:11). Permanent peace will only come to the Middle East when the principles of Christ, the Prince of Peace, motivate all human actions and transactions (Isa 2:2-4).

The new State of Israel has been a miracle of history in fulfillment of Bible prophecy (Jer 30:3,9,10,18). It is the work of the Lord, but an unfortunate pattern has developed. The Arab nations, the United Nations and now the United States are all opposing Israel. Jer 31:16 has a warning for all such: - "... and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey."

Rocks large enough to kill rained down on 3000 Jewish worshipers and Israel was condemned for defending its most sacred place of worship, the Western Wall. Was excessive force used?

In 1987 Saudi Arabia slaughtered over 400 Iranian Pilgrims at the Moslem’s most holy site in Mecca. Of course, then it was open hunting season on Iranians; just as it was open season on Jews during WWII. Allied powers then knew of the holocaust but refused to bomb out the railroad tracks leading to the death camps. And boatloads of Jews, like the St. Louis, were denied entry to the U.S. and sent back to their doom in Europe. Unfortunately, 1989 and 1990 continue to be open season on Jews. Anti-Semitic acts are on the rise to an alarming degree throughout the world. Israel bashing by news media and world powers is a popular pastime.

A Double Standard

Where violence is concerned, neither Israel or any other nation is above scrutiny; but the persistency of the outcry against Israel by the international community is suspect.

When the Arab Legion defied the U.N. and seized East Jerusalem in 1948, Jordan desecrated Jewish holy sites and banned Jews from the city. The world powers remained silent. In 1970 Jordan massacred 20,000 refugees when it expelled the P.L.O. out of its borders. In 1982 Syria destroyed the Moslem Brotherhood stronghold in the city of Hama. Nearly 19,000 were slaughtered. There was no cry of outrage by the international community about either carnage.

In 1985-86 the Amal Arab forces waged total war against the P.L.O. camps in Lebanon. The world viewed the limited television reports with indifference but now cry with outrage at Israel’s handling of the Intifada. In the past year of the Intifada, about 50% of Palestinians killed were killed by fellow Palestinians. Intifada terror squads enforce Palestinian cooperation with the Intifada; a fact you don’t hear about in the news media. A month ago, the Syrians killed 200 Christian Arab prisoners in Lebanon (US News & World Report, November 12, 1990). Where was the outcry?

The United States helped Iraq defeat Iran, then courted the friendship of Saddam Hussein while he slaughtered thousands of Kurds. But when Iraq invaded Kuwait, the U.S. turned on Hussein. Why? The source of U.S. oil was at stake. Unfortunately, it is often oil power and not moral power that motivates the U.N. Since most world powers are dependent on Arab oil, the 21 Arab nations exert a dominant influence on U.N. policies.

Facts Of History

At the breaking up of the Turkish Empire by the Allies at the end of WWI, both Arabs and Jews requested independent states. The world powers were generous in the extreme to the Arabs by granting them 21 independent Arab states, covering over 5,250,000 square miles. The Jews asked for only 3 percent of this vast territory and finally received less than half of 1 percent.

In 1922 the League of Nations recognized the legal, moral and historic right of the Jewish people to a national home in Palestine, including Jerusalem. Since then, vast oil reserves were discovered in Arab lands. If the Jews had a right to Jerusalem in 1922, that right is valid today. But the nations are compromising Israel’s rights for their own oil interests. Consequently, the U.S. administration and the U.N. define East Jerusalem as "occupied territory." This is why Israel refuses to cooperate with the U.N. Resolution. No part of Jerusalem is "occupied territory." Jerusalem-indivisible-belongs to Israel.

The nations of the world would do well to heed the Biblical warning of Zec 12:3 -"In that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut to pieces."

Historic Rights

During the height of the Arab Empire’s rule over the land of Israel, the Arab geographer Muqaddasi wrote in 985 A.D. about Jerusalem: "Everywhere the Christians and the Jews have the upper hand, and the mosque is void of either congregation or assembly of learned men." (KNOWLEDGE OF CLIMES, page 167) The first recorded population census of Jerusalem was made in 1845 A.D. by Dr. Schultze, the Prussian Consul. He recorded a Jewish majority of 7,120 compared to an Arab minority of 5,000. From that year onward, the Jewish majority in Jerusalem increased.

Although there was a separate Jewish quarter in Jerusalem during the 1800s and early 1900s, the Jews, Arabs and Christians lived throughout the Old City until the Arab persecutions of 1929 and 1936. Then the Jews fled to the Jewish quarter or outside the wall. In fact, a large section of what is now referred to as the Moslem Quarter and Christian Quarter was called Hebron Square because so many Jews were situated there. In both the Moslem and Christian Quarters, there are many homes that evince a mezzuzah was removed from the front door post. Plaques written in Hebrew with dates going back to the 1800s have been found inside buildings, thus establishing their Jewish identity.

During the final phase of the "time of trouble" prophesied by Jesus (Mt 24:21), all nations will be gathered against Jerusalem (Zec 14:2; Eze 38-39). Then God will fight for Israel as he did in the days of old (Zec 14:3). Christ will reveal himself to Israel and there will be great repentance and mourning throughout the land of Israel (Zec 12:9-14). Those that have the faith at that time will share in Jerusalem becoming the capital of Christ’s Kingdom (Zec 8:22,23; Isa 60:10-12; 66:18-22).

Send for your free copy of the essay RESTORATION OF ISRAEL. Written in 1890, it gives remarkable insights about Israel today.

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." Isa 2:2,3

Countdown to ArmageddonùThen What?

March 1991

"And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them, to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Re 16:16, 14

The Communist Bloc collapsedùand the cold war has seemingly ended. But the euphoria of peace was soon eclipsed by the Iraqi War. The greatest array of armed forces since World War IIùrepresenting a coalition of 28 nationsùgathered together in the Middle East. What did this gathering portend?

Megiddo was the great battleground of Palestine, on which were fought many of the famous battles of Old Testament history. John in his symbolic book of Revelation represents the final battle between right and wrong, truth and error, as the Battle of Armageddon. Is this a symbolic battle? What significance is there in the literal gathering of the nations in such close proximity to the Mound of Megiddo?

Many expected a ground war scenario of chemical and nuclear warfare in which Iraq would "scud" Israel with chemical warheads. Israel would retaliate with nuclear bombs. The Arab nations would unite against Israel. Israel would soundly defeat her Arab foes and acquire more land. With Israel then dwelling in the peace posture suggested by Eze 38:8, the stage would be set for the battle of battlesùthe invasion of Israel by "Gog of Magog [Russia]" and the allied armies of Eze 38-39.

Russia Bears Watching

Whatever follows the Iraqi War, the Russian "bear" is up to its old tricks. Indications are that the makings for "Cold War" have broken out on another front. The alliance between the Communist Party conservatives and the army is thriving and gaining power as the bloody suppression of the Baltic Republics testified. Censorship is tightening. Domestic opponents of the regime are accused of treason in language all too reminiscent of the "bad old days." Red Army troops patrolling the streets of major cities are tightening control. Political liberals and advocates of economic reform are being dismissed. These ominous events appear to be the echoes of Shevardnadzes’ warning of "a coming dictator."

In foreign affairs, Russia is hedging on its troop withdrawal from Poland and East Germany. On the "Hot War" front, Russian military advisors are still in Iraq. A Soviet ship was caught with weapon parts destined for Iraq.

These alarming developments have been countered by the withholding of promised aid by the Western powers. The peace and arms control summit meeting was postponed.

The Countdown

The break in the Communist Bloc between Russia and her former satellites was a necessary prophetic shift. Poland, East Germany, Hungary, etc., will become a part of the "European Community" while Papacy attempts to revive the old "Holy Roman Empire" (Re 17:13-14; 13:14-17). [See NEW YORK TIMES, April 22, 1990, observations on this subject.]

The Battle of Armageddon will climax when the masses rise up and overthrow the soon-to-be-attempted church-state folly of Europe (Re 16:13-19).

Meanwhile, in the continuing "confederacy" of Psalms 83, Russia apparently will be a force among the Arab nations. Eze 38:4-8 indicates that Russia’s specific intention will then "turn" south to "Persia" (Iran), "Togarmah" (Turkey) and to "Libya" and "Ethiopia" (or Cush, parts of Africa) for an invasion "against the mountains of Israel."

The Mustering for Battle on the Home Fronts

Concurrent with the gathering of armies, an unprecedented "time of trouble" (Da 12:1) is mustering in the United States and around the whole world. Up to 15 million people die of starvation annually. There are 30 million refugees and 100 million homeless. Each day 40,000 babies die of starvation in Third world countries while Americans spend over $900 million yearly feeding dogs and cats.

Pollution: Solid wastes, radio active and toxic chemical wastes are contaminating our rivers, lakes and oceans. Air pollutants from car exhaust and industry are killers. Deaths from respiratory diseases doubles every five years. Skin cancer caused by the depleted ozone layer is rapidly increasing. Acid rain is destroying our forests, which in turn is producing "global warming." This "greenhouse effect" could melt polar ice caps causing oceans to rise and wipe out hundreds of thousands of miles of densely populated coastal lands (affecting 2 billion people). Also, it would dramatically increase temperature variations. This would trigger life-threatening droughts and heat waves turning "breadbasket farmland" (like our Midwest) into barren desert. Severe food shortages would result.

Economic Chaos: The U.S. entered the 1990’s with a staggering debt of $663.7 billion and a perilous foreign trade imbalance. The S&L Associations waver on the verge of complete collapse. Even the commercial banks are in serious trouble. Insurance companies are failing while 1,300 companies claim bankruptcy per week. Accentuating all of these problems, add a recession, which is affecting not only businesses, but families.

One out of five Americans (44 million people) are living below the poverty line of $9,435 yearly income. A third of Americans are "shelter poor." After paying for housing, they have nothing left for other necessities. Three million homeless wander the streets. Poverty drives people to desperation.

AIDS: Ten million people throughout the world are infected with AIDS. By AD 2000, the total number will reach 20 million. More than 3,000 new cases of AIDS are reported in the U.S. every month. An estimated one million Americans are infected. AIDS FAX (Vol. III, No. 1) claims ten million. Its death toll in the U.S. has been 83,000. By 1992 the cost of AIDS medical bills is likely to be $7.5 billion. It is estimated that 20% of the hospitals in this country will financially fault and close by 2000 AD when the medical needs of AIDS patients will peak. Hospital beds will be filled with AIDS patients while people with regular medical needs stand in line to wait for a bed.

Armageddon: a Natural Consequence

Humankind has sown the seeds of sin and reaped "the time of trouble" which will finally knock them flat on their backs so that the only way man can look is up to God. Man’s extremity will become God’s opportunity.

God’s side in the coming Battle of Armageddon is the side of the people. The frustrated, disillusioned massesùconscious of their weakness as compared with the establishmentùwill rise up in desperation. Normally the majority of the poor and middle class have no sympathy with anarchy but seek change by legislation or other peaceful methods.

On the other hand, wobbly governments will cling to some sort of stability offered by Christian churches and try to maintain the "status quo." The unlikely coalition between church and state in this very secular time will be a last-resort effort to preserve this old order of selfishness and greed. With this Battle erupts an "earthquake"ùa shaking and rising up from beneath the crust of established society (Re 16:18).

The Final Battle

The final battle between Right and Wrong, Truth and Error, will occur in the Middle East. What is left of the weakened governments of earth will focus their fury against Israel, "when Gog shall come against the land of Israel" (Eze 38:16). The result of this Battle is stated clearly: "Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord" (Eze 38:23).

After Armageddon: God’s Kingdom

Because Jesus died as "a ransom for all," all will have an opportunity to learn of God’s love in His Kingdom. God’s Kingdom will satisfy all the legitimate longings of humankind. Think of the parched drought belt of Africa where millions have starved to death. The climatic conditions of the Kingdom will cause all the earth to bring forth in abundance. (Isa 35:1,7)

There will be no unemployment, fear of automation, inflation, depression or other economic problem. The Kingdom will assure equality and justice to all. The Psalmist said, "He [God] will defend the cause of the poor, deliver the needy and crush the oppressor." (Ps 72:4; Isa 9:7)

Our history is one of bloody war, but in God’s Kingdom, "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Isa 2:4) Neither will there be any more crime and violence. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain [kingdom], for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Isa 11:9)

There will be no pollution or sickness, no crippling diseases. The blind will see; the deaf hear, and the crippled walk. Even the dead will be restored to life. (Isa 33:4; 35:5; Hos 13:14)

Yes, the nations are mustering internally and internationally for Armageddon, but true Christians need not despair. They know by faith in the "sure word of prophecy" that Armageddon’s chastening is the gateway into the Kingdom of God on earth.

Seed of Worldly Church!

April 1991

"An enemy hath done this."

In few words Jesus painted a broad panorama of Christian history. The parable of the wheat and tares, found in Matthew 13, describes the course of Christianity from the beginning, to its culmination in a harvest. The householder of the parable sowed good seed in his field. The anticipated fruitage was corrupted by the householder’s enemy. The enemy over sowed the wheat field with tare seed (false wheat) while the householder’s menservants slept. When the blade was spring up and brought forth fruit, the act of vandalization was manifest. The true wheat was choked in the midst of the imitation wheat.

The menservants asked if they should weed out the tares. The householder said, "Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them into bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." Mt 13:24-30

The Parable Explained

This lesson greatly interested the disciples and so they asked Jesus to explain it. What a great benefit to us that he did! The householder represented Jesus. The fieldùthe Christian world with its fruitages. The good fruit represented Christ’s true followers, his faithful disciples. Tares, which outwardly look like wheat, were imitations planted by the enemyùSatan.

The tares were not to be weeded out until the harvest. The harvest would take place in the end of this world or age (Greek-aion). Jesus’ work at the end of the Christian Age is as Chief Reaper. He will order his angels (messengers in the Greek), his disciples, to harvest the wheat in his second advent just as he did in the first. Lk 10:1-3; Joh 4:35,36

Two Seeds

The two fruitages are the result of two different kinds of seed. Wheat, the true Christian, springs forth from the Word of God. This is taught in the parable of the sower. "The seed is the word of God...they which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience." Lk 8:11,15 The apostles carried forth the ministry of Christ, preaching the word of life, sowing seeds of the kingdom. The Father "begat us with the word of truth". Jas 1:18 "In Christ Jesus have I begotten you through the gospel," said the Apostle Paul. 1Co 4:15

A sinister turn in church history occurred when the apostles fell asleep in death (compare Mt 13:25). In their absence Satan sought to corrupt the church. His weapon was error. Just as truth produces a true Christian, so error produces an imitation. Satan’s work of corrupting God’s truth in Christ began even during the apostles’ time. "Every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and thus is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now is already in the world." 1Joh 4:3

That anti-christian spirit spread throughout the Christian world sowing tares. Satan hoped to choke the spiritual life out of God’s wheat by surrounding them with tares. One of Satan’s principal instruments to sow bad seed were the Neo-Platonist Christians. These were philosopher Christians who sought to apply scientific methods in understanding scripture. Their methods were derived from Plato, a great manùalso a pagan.

The unfortunate result of bending scripture to fit human philosophy was the creation of bad seed and its fruitùnominal Christians. Human science did no favor to the church of God. How sad that the apostolic admonition was not heeded, "Avoid profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some (believers) professing have erred concerning the faith." 1Ti 6:20,21

A False Seed Close up

One such false seed was the Grecian philosophy of eternal torment for the wicked. Neo-Platonic concepts of the afterlife corrupted the simple truth of the Bible Hell. The New Testament Hades and the Old Testament Sheol no longer were perceived as the death state. They were instead transformed into a place of eternal conscious torment. (Space does not here permit an adequately thorough discussion of death and hell. We encourage you to order the booklet "Where Are The Dead?" offered at the end of this letter. The scriptures on these subjects are fully discussed in the booklet.)

The threat of such enormous and eternal suffering was (and still is) held over the heads of unbelievers. They converted to Christ under pressure. Thus many people, who would not otherwise bother being burdened with Christ’s name, have made a profession of faith.

God’s Purpose in Christianity

Conversion through coercion is not God’s purpose in Christianity. "True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Joh 4:23,24 In other words, God wants our hearts to yield in willing love to Him and His truth. Many unwilling converts, motivated by fear, have feigned obedience to Him. That is how a tare is created.

The purpose of Christianity is to call out a people for God’s name. Those called out are God’s elect. The elected ones, found faithful in this life, will serve in the office of priests and kings. Their ministry will be to the remainder of humanityùthose not called and willingly converted during the Christian Era. See Ac 15:14-17 and Re 5:10.

The confusion brought about by doctrines of fear have clouded over many important Christian doctrines. The doctrine of election, that God now calls a few to belief, is made horrible by trying to fit it in with Satan’s doctrine of eternal conscious torment. The great twists of mind, heart and conscience needed to grasp Satan’s teachings on hell bear an empty fruit at best. At worst, those twists bear a fruitage of hate, injustice and selfishness.

Hell in National News

"The Rekindling of Hell" was the featured cover article of U.S. News and World Report for March 25, 1991. "Record numbers of Americans now believe in a nether world and in a wide variety of after death punishments," it claimed. According to a Gallop survey done in November 1990, three out of five Americans now believe in hell. However, views of what constitute hell sharply differ.

Some try to understand hell philosophically and, through human wisdom, invent the hell of their choice. Others fall back on creeds of human invention and hold forth the hell of tradition. Some are returning to the Scriptures to study them anew. The Scriptures are shedding light on hell. "Such highly regarded theologians as Clark H. Pinnock, theology professor at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario; John R.W. Stott, president of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, and Philip E. Hughes, a noted Anglican clergyman and author, contend that rather than suffering endlessly, those who ultimately reject God will simply be put out of existence in the ‘consuming fire’ of hell."

"Those who subscribe to this viewùcalled ‘annihilationism’ùpoint to New Testament passages that speak of ‘eternal destruction’ and ‘the second death’ for those who know not God and to the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel’s declaration that ‘the soul that sins shall die.’"( U.S. News and World Report, March 25, 1991, p. 63).

These men are to be commended for looking back to scriptures to understand what the Biblical hell is. Hughes interestingly observes "that the traditional belief in unending punishment is linked to the erroneous belief in the ‘innate immortality’ of the soulùa belief, he says, that is based more on Plato than on the Bible."

On the other hand, traditionalists "argue that annihilationism takes some of the punch out of Gospel preaching. ‘To tell the unrepentant that the worst fate that could befall them is extinction,’ says Harold O.J. Brown, a theology professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, ‘makes continuing in sin seem less risky.’" And that is the very point of the parable of the wheat and tares. Wheat, the true Christian, rejoice to leave sin behind. They love righteousness and hate iniquity. They are not coerced by terror, but by love and the beauty of God’s Word.

Tares may look back longingly at "the good old days" of sin or may yet practice their old sins after coming to Christ. A popular phrase on T-shirts and bumper stickers today is "How much can I get away with and still get to heaven?" That is not the spirit that a true follower of Christ will have. "Love rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." 1Co 13:6

Forewarned is Forearmed

Our hope for all God’s people is that they will be led on to full Christian fruitage by God’s Word. We pray that His people will stand firmly for the truth even against the majority public opinion or entrenched human creeds. Remember that the tares in the parable are the overwhelming majority. Let us all, by the grace of God, receive the Word of God into good and honest hearts, bringing forth good fruit with patience.

"The Only Begotten God"

May 1991

John 1:28

What does John mean? Who is God? Of all the varieties of Christian beliefs, one centuries’ old belief claims to stand beyond the reach of logic.

It also claims to be separate from Scriptural interpretation. It also maintains it should not be judged because of the decisions and reverses of councils in church history. That doctrine is the belief that Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God, and these three are mysteriously one, co-equal, co-eternal.

Although the Holy Spirit is not mentioned, Joh 1:1 is called upon to establish the trinity, "The Word (Logos) was with God, and the Word was God." But the common translation contains a contradiction, for how can the Word both be God and with God at the same time? Aside from logic, this contradiction is not supported by the Greek text: "the Word was with God, and a god was the Word." (EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT, INTERLINEAR)

Contrary to some popular beliefs of his day, Apostle John was expressing the thought that Jesus had a pre-human existence as "a mighty one" ("a god"). The Everlasting God Himself had no beginning. "He is from everlasting to everlasting." But "in the beginning,"ùthe Word’s beginningùthe Logos was with God as the "only begotten God." (Vs. 18) The common version hides the correct translation by rendering "only begotten Son." But the Greek shows "only begotten theos" ("God"). Jesus in his pre-human existence, indeed, was "a mighty one" who received life (was "begotten") from the Father. Tertulian writing in the second century said, "There was a time when the Son did not exist." THE EARLY CHRISTIAN FATHERS. P.21

Jesus, A Son

John’s account of the Gospel is full of allusions to Jesus’ relationship to God as really a Son. Jesus acknowledged his Father as greater and whose will Jesus continually sought to do. Jesus was not God himself, but the obedient "only begotten Son," sent of God (1Joh 4:9):

"I go unto the Father, for my Father is greater than I" "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (Joh 14:28; 5:30)

Direct scriptural statements like these show us God is greater than Jesus and that Jesus was not God, but obedient to God who sent him. John also compares the Christian’s relationship to God as being the same as Jesus’ relationship to God:

"Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou has given me, that they may be one as we are" "As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you" "I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (Joh 17:11, 22; 20:21,17)

Just think! We are called to be part of this intimate oneness of God and His Son. Certainly, we are not part of a trinity too.

When Jesus claimed he was the Son, "The Jews sought the more to kill him, because he said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God" (Joh 5:18, 19). Jesus, first of all, never claimed to be God, but God’s Son and that was enough to infuriate the Jewish leaders of his day. They never assumed he was claiming to be God, but "similar" (Strong’s Concordance 2470 for "equal") to God as His Son. The Pharisees never said Jesus was "equal" to God. The translators did! In fact, Jesus disclaimed his own authority and rank saying, "The Son can do nothing of himselfà"

The Scribes and Pharisees could not appreciate Jesus’ prehuman existence when Jesus proclaimed he existed before Abraham. They took up stones to cast at him when he said, "Before Abraham was, I am" (Joh 8:57-59). Jesus was saying "I am" as the subject and verb of an ordinary sentence meaning simply that from before Abraham’s time until the present he had had a continuous existence. To make "I am" a title in this sentenceùas appears in Exodus 3:14 referring to God as the "I Am"ùis not possible. In any case, the word "Jehovah" does not really mean "I am" but "He Who Becometh," as J. B. Rotherham (a recognized Protestant authority) explains in his translation of the Bible. The popular rulers of the day could not tolerate Jesus’ claim that he existed before and was sent by God his Father in Heaven.

God’s Mind

The Holy Spirit was also sent of God. The Holy Spirit was not God Himself. The "Spirit of God," the "Spirit of Liberty," the "Spirit of Understanding" and the "Spirit of Love" are a few of the scriptural terms used to describe the one mind, the disposition or influence of God. These are not titles of one or more Gods, any more than the opposite termsùthe "Spirit of Bondage," the "Spirit of Fear" and the "Spirit of Antichrist"ùare names of one or more devils.

The Holy Spirit is the power that energizes the true Christian in the service of the Lord (Ro 8:11). Although Jesus had the Holy Spirit "not by measure" (Joh 3:34), we have impediments to the full working of the Holy Spirit in ourselves. So we are encouraged to be "filled with the Holy Spirit"ùnot a person, but the influence of God’s mind working in us instead of the "spirit of the world." "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1Co 2:11-16).

The Holy Spirit of God is vastly powerful, but its work in our hearts is a delicate operation, subject to our willingness to be led by it. Therefore, we are exhorted by Paul that we "quench not the Spirit," the influence of God in our hearts. (1Th. 5:19) It is not God that we are not to quench. Could God Himself be quenched? Rather, the influence or new mind of the one true God in our hearts should not be killed, but allowed to dwell in us richly.

A Mystery

Those who hold the trinity dear concede that the doctrine is out of the realm of logic to explain how a person could be sent of God and be God Himself. .. how Jesus could pray to God and be praying to Himself at the same time. .. and have Jesus say his Father is greater and yet be equal, etc. The scripture, they say, that says God and Jesus are oneùin the same way as Christians are to be oneùdoes not simply mean that at all. This is called the "mystery" of the trinity.

But what does the New Testament say about "mysteries" and Christian understanding? Nowhere is the term "mystery" attached to the unexplainable doctrine of the trinity. Rather, what is a mystery to outsiders, the Christian knows: "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given" (Mt 13:11). Paul asked prayers for help in preaching "that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel" (Eph. 6:19). What a profound privilege to be given the responsibility of understanding the mysteries of God: "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began" (Ro 16:25).

Our faith is reasonable and we accept scriptural language, unless symbolic, at face value. When questioned on our faith, we should be able "to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1Pe 3:15).

The History

If the trinity is not reasonable, logical nor taught in the Bible, where did it begin? Then what is the source of this doctrine? After the twelve apostles died, a gradual falling away from the original faith occurred. Great numbers of Pagans entered the Church, bringing with them Pagan ideas. The trinity is one of many Pagan concepts which corrupted Christian doctrine during the early centuries of the Christian Era. [Originating in Babylon, the "trinity concept" spread throughout the ancient world and became a prominent feature of the Egyptian, Persian, Grecian, Roman, Japanese and Indian mythologies.]

During the early years of the fourth century, a heated controversy raged between the Arians and the Trinitarians, led by Athanasius. The Arians maintained that Jesus is a created being, pre-existent, though having a beginning in time, a son in the normal sense of the word and subordinate to the Father. The Athanasian party argued that the Son is fully God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father.

Fearing that religious dissension might disrupt the political unity of the Empire, the Emperor Constantine summoned a general council of bishops to settle the dispute. The Council of Nicea in 325 AD chose the teachings of Athanasius and formulated the Nicene Creed. Arius was excommunicated and banished with the other bishops who resisted the decision of the majority. The decision was reversed ten years later in 335 AD But the basic trinitarian position was finally forged at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD The question, rather than settled by the Scriptures and sound reasoning by spiritual men, was settled by those who had more political power and the means to physically enforce a decision by use of arms.

Therefore, the tradition of the doctrine of the trinity is not validated by church history that would give one confidence to believe a doctrine, which is not reasonable or scriptural. Jesus was a mighty God, begotten, created of Jehovah, truly the Son of God.

Why are you a Christian?

June 1991

2Co 5:14, 15

Some become a Christian just to escape eternal judgment. But God saves us and forgives our sins "for His name’s Sake"(ps 25:11; 106:8). Then there are those who become Christians in order to gain health and prosperity, believing that faith in a "secret kingdom" and its power will grant their reward. How sad! The height of Christian concern should not be "what can God do for me" but rather "what can I do to glorify God." Remember the words of Psa 31:3ù"for thy name’s sake lead me and guide me."

Self-centered vs. Christ-centered Christians

Evidently the church at Corinth included many self-centered Christians. Paul had to chide them in 1Co 4:8-14.

"You are already filled, you have already become rich, you reign as kings without us; and I would that you indeed had become kings so that we also might reign with you... We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak but you are strong, you are distinguished, but we are despised. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even unto now. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children." (NAS)

The Apostle Paul expressed the essence of the Christ-centered life in 2Ti 2:11,12, "It is a faithful saying: if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him." The Apostle Peter said, "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you" (1Pe 4:12). In Mt 10, Jesus enumerates the trials, hardships and persecutions that his faithful followers would suffer; then he says, "But he that endureth to the end shall be saved."

The Secret Kingdom???

The time in which the Kingdom of God shall "rule from the rivers to the ends of the earth" is, of course, future. Yet, at Jesus’ first advent it was declared, "The Kingdom of God is at hand" (Mk 1:15). Some use Lk 17:21, "The Kingdom of God is within you" as proof of the secret kingdom concept. However, the Greek text literally means, "The King is in your midst." Since the faithful followers of Jesus are to reign with him (Re 20:4,6), Jesus also called them the "Kingdom of heaven" (Mt 13). Mt 11:12 shows that "the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence." Jesus and his church are to be the kings (Re 20:6) in God’s future Kingdom. The sufferings of the Christian walk are the training grounds for reigning in this future Kingdom (He 5:8,9; 2Ti 2:11,12).

Unknown to the world, Christ-centered Christians are now being trained for their future work of reigning with Christ in his Kingdom. They are not using prayer selfishly for physical and material prosperity. Like the Apostles, they pray for strength to endure privation knowing "that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried in the fire" (1Pe 1:7). By bitter experiences they are developing Christ-like love. "Love your enemies, bless them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you." Mt 5:44

The Purpose of the Kingdom

Most Christians have overlooked the main purpose of the Kingdom. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, born-again Christians, Mormons, etc., believe that all who do not accept Christ and/or the Gospel before "The Great Tribulation" is over are lost eternally.

How sad that Christians try to give God’s love a narrowness that He will not own. God has not been trying to convert the world. In Mk 4:11,12, Jesus showed that he purposely hid the Gospel from many "lest at any time they should be converted and their sins should be forgiven." Joh 1:9 speaks of Jesus as the "Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." Yet millions died before the time of Christ never hearing the only "name (Jesus Christ) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Ac 4:12). Despite all the missionary efforts since the time of Christ, other millions died not hearing the message of salvation. God is not trying to convert the world during the Christian Age. He is only selecting a little flock (Lk 12:32).

Ac 15:14-17 shows that "God for the first time did visit the Gentiles to take out of (not convert) them a people for his name (Christ-centered Christians, His Church)... After this I will return (second advent) and build again the tabernacle of David (Christ’s Kingdom)... that the remainder of men might seek after the Lord." Jesus said in Joh 5:28,29, "The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life (to reign with Christùre 20:6); and they that have done evil (the vast majority of mankind), unto the resurrection of krisis" (Greek for judgment or trial). Christ and his church will enlighten the "remainder of men" in the Kingdomùtheir crisis or probation, "for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isa 11:9).

This is the great "restitution" (restoration) project foretold by all the Old Testament prophets (Ac 3:19-21). This restoration of the willing of "the remainder of men" (Ac 15:17; Re 22:17) to mental, moral and physical perfection of life that was lost in Eden will not be completed until the end of the 1000-year Kingdom of Christ. For this reason Re 20:5 states, "The rest of the dead* ("the remainder of men" of Ac 15:17) lived not again until the 1000 years were finished." All not mentally, morally and physically perfect are dead in God’s sight. Thus Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their dead" (Mt 8:22). It will require the balance of the 1000 years to bring the willing up the highway of holiness (Isa 35:8) to perfect human life.

*Some ancient manuscripts do not contain the words "the rest of the dead."

The School of Christ

How do Christians develop the love, justice, sympathy, understanding, etc., to qualify for a share with Christ as kings, priests (blessers), judges (Re 20:6; 1Co 6:2) in His Kingdom? Christ-centered Christians learn Christ-like love through their sufferings and privations (1Pe 1:7; 2Pe 1:5,6; 1Co 13:5,6). In that way, they will know just how to help "the remainder of men" in their trial time for eternal life. If you are a Christ-centered Christian, you might be interested in the following ad:

WANTED: PECULIAR PEOPLE for Unusual Position

Not necessarily wise or noble, successful or socially accepted. Physical infirmities and heavy personal burdens can be an asset. The training for this position requires a commitment of all your time, all your effort for the rest of your life. Your instructor will insist upon absolute obedience while causing you to lose friends, reputation and personal fortune. These will be replaced by friends not of your choosing, reputation not esteemed by society and personal fortune not negotiable.

Your success or failure will be measured by how carefully you follow the instruction manualùa book which the greatest minds in the world cannot understand and have dismissed as "foolishness." Your course will inspire many hatreds, for which you will be obliged to offer a sacrificing love in return; and the more of this love you master, the more of its servant you will become. Wages offered during the training period consist of a few promisesùconsidered by most as highly doubtful of fulfillment.

Anyone who faithfully completes this course is guaranteed a position as an administrator in the Kingdom of Christ which by Divine intervention will shortly bless all the families of the earth. For further details, send for this free bookletùWHY ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?

Russia! The Nations! What Next?

September 1991

The eyes of the world are on the Soviet Union. Unquestionably, the events occurring there in the past few weeks are immensely significant. World leaders and the media are watching these events hoping to decipher their impact on mankind. We are blessed, as God’s children, to have His word of truth. The Scriptures have opened our eyes to the real significance and impact of current events.

The Scriptural Context of Today’s Events

The prophetic time context of today’s events is that of The Day of the LORD. "The day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come." "It is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion." Isa 63:4; 34:8 Thus the prophet Isaiah refers to that period which Da 12:1 describes as "a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation"; of which Mal 4:1 says, "Behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be as stubble."

This is the day of the LORD wherein Jas 5:1-6 says the rich men shall weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon them; the day which Joel 2:2 describes as a day of clouds and thick darkness; of which Amos 5:20 says is "darkness and not light, even very dark and no brightness in it."

Our Lord Jesus refers to this day in Mt 24:21,22 as a time of "great tribulation" so ruinous in its character that, if it were not cut short, no flesh would survive its ravages. But he will cut it short and flesh will be saved after the tribulation. Then he will turn to them and teach them a pure language that they may call on the LORD. Zeph 3:9

Nations JudgedùNot Individuals

"Therefore wait ye upon me saith the LORD, until the day that I rose up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth (social order) shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy." Zeph 3:8

That the dark and gloomy day thus described by the prophets is a day of judgment upon mankind socially and nationallyùa day of national recompensesùis clear from many scriptures. But, while noting these, we must bear in mind the difference between national judgment and individual judgment. While the nations are composed of individuals (who are largely responsible for the course their nation takes and who do suffer greatly in the consequences of that course) the judgment of the world as individuals is distinct from its judgment as nations.

The Apostle Peter says that Jesus Christ will be raised up as a prophet to the world after his second coming. Then during the times of restitution, when the Millenial Kingdom will bring earth’s restoration, those individuals who "will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people." Ac 3:20-23

Chief Cause of National Judgment

The day of vengeance stands naturally related to the benevolent object of its divine permission. That objective is the overthrow of the entire present order of things in preparation for the permanent establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, under Christ, the Prince of Peace.

The prophet Isa 63:1-6 viewing the present time saw a mighty conqueror clothed with authority and power riding forth victoriously over his enemies, with whose blood his garment is stained. "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength?"

Edom is the name given Esau after he sold his birthright to Jacob. Edom is an appropriate symbol of a group in this age who similarly sold their birthright; and that too for a reward as meager as the mess of pottage which influenced Esau. That reward has been respect of men, comfort and earthly power in the present time to the compromise of future rewards from God.

Edom is frequently used by the prophets in reference to the present so called Christian world or Christendom. By allying herself with the kings of earth, to prematurely establish Christ’s Kingdom, the Church unfortunately played the harlot. The result of this illicit union was the "Holy" Roman Empire. The ensuing centuries of her reign were filled with ignorance, corruption and bloodshed on a massive scale. Far from being the light that lightens the Gentiles Isa 42:6,7) we refer to that period of history as The Dark Ages.

The prophet Daniel gives a vision of five universal empires. Four are of this present evil world. The fifth is God’s Kingdom in Christ. These empires rule earth uninterruptedly. Each succeeding kingdom is present before it overthrows its predecessor. In the seventh chapter of Daniel we see the rise of the "Man of Sin." 2Thess 2:3, 8, 20 This man, the "little horn" of verses 8 and 20, speaks great things, changes times and seasons and persecutes the true saints of the most high.

Notice that the little horn, the "Man of Sin," is obviously not the fifth universal empireùwhich is the true Kingdom of Christ. It is, however, part of the fourth, the dreadful (Roman) beast. Da 7:19,20 God is judging the nations now, but with particular emphasis on those that have claimed to be His kingdom. They have been weighed in the balances and found wanting. This great sin of nations will thus receive national punishment.

Russia and the Baltic States

The prophet Amos gives us a very exciting view of the past eighty or so years in a remarkably encapsulated form. "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! To what end is it for you? The day of the LORD is darkness and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him." Amos 5:18,19

Those that prematurely desired the day of the LORD, thinking to establish themselves in power, will find a bitter fruitage awaits their actions. In our time we have borne witness to the empire of the lionùthe universally recognized symbol of Great Britain. During the height of colonialism the sun never set on the British Empire. After World War I the British sun began to set. As men began to flee that colonial arrangement the bear met them.

All recognize the bear as Russia’s national symbol. Truly, with the demise of the British Empire, the rise of communism out of Russia began. Now we see communism’s collapse. The Soviet Union is dissolving. One by one the member states of the USSR have proclaimed their independence. One by one they are fleeing into the house. Nationalism is scripturally represented by a house. The various republics are fleeing into their houses of nationalistic pride. As they lean on the walls, as they put their trust in the strength of a nation, they are bitten by a serpent. That old serpent, Satan, will deceive the nations.

What will the deception be? Will it be the uniting again of church and state? Will the nations succumb to creating another counterfeit kingdom of Christ? We must watch and pray lest we also be deceived.

Our Responsibility

We are espoused to Christ as pure and holy virgins of faith. We lament the fall of the early church into fornication (Re 17:12) with the kings of the earth. Yes, the Church will reign with Jesus over all the earth, but it will be by God’s powerùnot the power of earthly strength. The hope of our faith, to be joined with Christ and bless all the families of earth, will soon come to pass. Let us keep our faith and our patience in this hour of temptation. (Re 3:10) May we, by God’s grace, stand strong in the promises of His word and His Divine principlesùthey are His keeping power.

We encourage you to read "The Battle of Armageddon" a powerful 656 page treatise on the passing of this world and the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth.

Who will be God’s Judges?

October 1991

"The Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son." "The saints shall judge the world... we shall judge angels!"

Spotlighting the attention of the press and the public for the past several months is the choosing of the right person to be an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The selection has heartened some and divided and dismayed others. The appointed candidate, his character, his background, his values, his philosophy and even his loyalties to Constitution or "natural law" have been rehearsed, questioned and mulled over before confirmation to that respected position.

Simply said, the people of the United States, their Congressional representatives and their "watch dog" media have serious concerns about who will now sit in judgment over them and decide on issues for the next thirty some years.

By contrast to the recent hearings in this confirmation process and its media attention, a process of confirmation of "associate judges" is going on that the nation and even the world knows little or nothing about. More remarkable, this selection has been in progress for almost 2,000 years.

From the Gospel according to Joh 5:22,23, it is clear God’s supreme choice is His Son: "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son, that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which sent him." While God does not ask us to pass approval on his appointment, we are asked to join God in honoring His Son!

God’s Supreme Judges

But, Jesus will not judge alone. God has determined to have other judges with Jesus. Who will they be? "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world. Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" 1Co 6:2,3

Who are these associate judges who will seemingly have so much power? How can any be trusted to "judge the world," let alone angels? The Apostle Paul himself says he does not even have the capability of judging himself, "Yea, I judge not mine own self." He chides the brethren for judging each other, "Why dost thou judge thy brother?" (Ro 14:10)

Christians for centuries have shamefully judged other Christians. The Papacy through the years has judged and persecuted Protestants. In our own country Protestants have persecuted Catholics. Where has God’s hand been?

Back when Israel was an infant nation in the land of Israel, God "raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge." (Jud 2:18) There was no king. This system prevailed for longer than U.S. American historyù450 years. The people prospered with their judges. One of their greatest judges was Samuel. However, his sons, who were also judges, abused their authority. Instead of waiting for another appointment of a judge after Samuel, the people in their frustration chose another system. They wanted a king just like all the other nations around them. The new kings over Israel were a mixed blessing.

The question remains, how will the Church whom Paul is addressing, judge the world and angels? Where will these judges come from? What will be their background? Will they have weaknesses? What will be their "record"? Their qualifications? On what Law will their decisions be based? Then, just what will be their responsibilities?

"Brothers, you see God’s way of calling you. There are few among you who are wise as the world counts wisdom; there are few who are influential; there are few of aristocratic birth." (1Co 1:26) Even Jesus, "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor." (2Co 8:9) The background of God’s judges is evidently humble. Why is this so? God wants sympathetic judges to represent Him, ones who understand because they have plumbed the depths of human experience. These first-hand experiences with the needs and frustrations of life will make them sympathetic when finally reaching a position of judicial authority. They will not forget.

However, simply being poor and exposed to trials "common to man" (1Co 10:13) will not automatically qualify a person to be a good judge. The Christian who is being prepared to "judge the world" in God’s Kingdom is sensitive. He is sensitive because through his life’s ordeals he or she has not become bitter or vengeful. These overcoming Christians will be qualified judges because they have fought against their own fallen conditions. They have learned compassion and are effective in their sympathy because they understand human nature.

Will Christians who are to be judges with Christ have a perfect record? If "perfect record" means no mistakes, No! There will be dark corners in their lives, seeming inconsistencies. But in those dark corners and inconsistencies, the struggle against sin will be obvious. There may be failures, but there will be no hypocrisy.

Natural LawùHigher Law

By what Law will these overcoming Christians judge in the future? Will it be their own lawùor interpretation of God’s Law?

One of the recent concerns aired during the Supreme Court confirmation hearings has been the question of "natural law." The position taken by many has been that a judge should be responsive to the U.S. Constitution and not to his own conception of a higher "natural law." In American judicial history, "natural law" has been cited to justify decisions. "Natural Law" was cited to affirm that slaves confiscated from a pirate ship should be freedùwhile in another case "natural law" was cited to affirm that a slave, as property, should be returned to his owner! No wonder Senators were concerned about the nominee’s comments about "natural law." We should not be surprised that men not governed by God’s Laws would be nervous about someone’s interpretation of "higher laws."

God’s judges will understand His Laws. Their interpretation and application of those Laws will be consistent with God’s wisdom, justice, love and power. God’s judges will be nurtured on his Law while they walked the earth. "O, how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me I have sworn and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments." (Ps 119:97,102,106)

Just what is God’s Law? Jesus summarizes the whole Law, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind, soul and strength and thy neighbor as thyself." But that Law has been the farthest from man’s experience. How to apply it? How to enforce it?

Sensitive Judgment

How sensitive is God to the suffering of humanity? He is described as the God of the widows, the fatherless, the needy and poor. (Ps 68:5; 72:4) Yet the widows, the fatherless, the needy and poor have suffered long centuries with barely any justice at all. Indeed, the whole groaning creation waits "for the manifestation of the sons of God." (Ro 8:19,22) They are waiting for God’s judges.

They will share authority under Jesus, who is God’s "Holy arm." "Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad before the LORD for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth. His right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory for he cometh to judge the earth with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity." (Psa 96-98) This time has not come yet. Valiant have been the attempts of man to dispense justice and judgment. Sad has been the success.

How will this righteous judgment be established in the earth? Each man deserves dignity and just rights. "Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isa 2:3) God’s judges in heaven will have their visible representatives on earth. Addressing Israel, God says, "And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross and take away all thy tin: And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The City of Righteousness, the faithful city." (Isa 1:25,26)

These judges will be Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the worthies of old. They are fathers of faith to the Christian. But they will be children of the Church in the Kingdom: "Instead of thy [the kings daughter’s] fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth." (Ps 45:12-16)

Finally, one of the closing promises of Jesus to his followers will be fulfilled. The Church will be able to render equitable judgment to the groaning creation crying for justice. "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed unto me, that ye may sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Lk 22:28-30) Then no citizen of the Kingdom need fear an unfair decision when God’s judges represent Him.

"And I saw thrones, and they that sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Re 20:4

Manna for the Christian

November 1991

"What is it?"

Israel in the wilderness of Sinai what a striking picture! Egypt behind them. Canaan before them, and the sand of the desert around them. The wilderness afforded not one blade of grass for the Israel of God. Manna: The "bread from heaven" alone was their portion. "Manna" literally means, "what is it?" What was "manna"? How essential was it?

Israel in the wilderness was a graphic illustration of Christians in this wilderness world. They have nothing here. Their life being heavenly can only be sustained by spiritual things. Though "in the world, they are not of it" for Christ has chosen them out of it. Christ can only sustain the new life in the believer. "As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me." Christ is the "bread from heaven "

The manna was so pure and delicate that it could not remain for long in contact with the earth. Manna fell with the dew (Nu 11:9) and had to be gathered before the sun was up. Each Israelite, therefore, had to rise early and seek his daily portion. So it is with the people of God now. The heavenly manna many be gathered fresh every morning. We must feed upon Christ our primary object. We must seek him "early" before other things have had time to take possession of our hearts. Many of us fail in this sorting out of priorities. We give Christ a secondary place, and the consequence is we are left feeble and barren.

Another lesson: With the exception of the Sabbath, the manna would corrupt if an Israelite gathered more than his daily portion. Manna could not be hoarded up for the days ahead. There is a danger of the Christian’s intellect outstripping his heart. Paul tells us that "knowledge puffeth up but love buildeth up." We should always remember that Christianity is more than a system of doctrines. Christian theory must become a living realityùa personal, practical, powerful force, revealing itself in all the circumstances of life shedding its influence over the entire character and imparting its love to every relationship which one may be called of God to fill.

From Nu 11 we learn that Israel grew tired of the manna and longed for the "fleshpots of Egypt." But they seemed to have forgotten the lash of the taskmaster and the toil of the brick kilns.

Unfortunately, this longing for the world can happen to the Christian. When "first love" declines when Christ ceases to be our satisfying portion when the Word of God and prayer lose their thrill and become heavy, dull and mechanical then the eye wanders back to the world and the heart follows the eye. We forget, at such moments, what the world was to us when we were in it and of it. We forget what toil and slavery, what misery and degradation we found in the service of sin and Satan and think only of the gratification and ease, the freedom from those exercises, conflicts and anxieties which attend the wilderness path of God’s people.

Some allow the world to determine for them what they will do and what they will be. They conform to the influences about themùthey can rise no higher because they have looked no higher. All too often this is the only goal parents want for their childrenùjust a good job and financial well-being. In this pursuit countless people are trampling upon others while they try to claw their way to a "mythical" financial top. How much of the human spirit is being trounced and how many are left wounded and discouraged from the modern oppression of human competition! Are you committed to never-ending toil, to uncomforted mourning, to a meaningless succession of nights and days consumed with just eating, drinking and breathing? Is this what you are seeking?

What Seek Ye?

Jesus once asked one of the most searching of questions: "What seek ye?" (Joh 1:38) Is it pleasure you are seeking, the desire to be entertained, to have others take care of your mind, to let them fill it with what they wantùonly to sense inwardly you are shriveling in mind and heart? Most people would not like to think this is true of themselves, but their actions demonstrate this is indeed what they are seeking. But "What seek ye?"

For those seeking faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love, the place to find it is in God and Christ Jesus His Son (2Pe 1:5-11). Here is where our search will begin and end. If we seek these things of God, we must do so with a fixed purpose and determination. The world is not going to assist us here. We must feed on things of the Spirit of God. Like the Israelites who gathered manna (Ex 16) every day to sustain them, so we must seek to feed upon the Word of the Lord.

Heroes of Faith

Daily, consistent devotion to God has characterized the outstanding men and women of the Bible. Out of their devotion a rich life of faith resulted and out of their faith, the result was evident in their actions. Heb 11 presents the record of their faith.

-ABEL offered a sacrifice "which pleased God." (Heb 11:4)

-ENOCH had such great faith he could be said to "walk with God." (Ge 5:22; Heb 11:5)

-"By faith ABRAHAM obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive an as inheritance; and he went out not knowing where he was to go." Abraham believed God, which is considerably different than believing in God. He believed not only for himself, but his faith grew to the point where he was willing to offer his own son in sacrifice at God’s request. God acknowledged his faith saying, "For now I know that you fear [reverence] God." (Ge 22:12)

-"MOSES" refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward." Heb 11:26

The list could go on telling of the devotion of these heroes of faith Both their great and small acts of faith were embedded in a daily walk with God, a daily fellowship with their God.

The Christian must daily gather his "manna." Morning devotions are a must for every Christian. To help you gather the "bread from heaven" early each morning, we recommend the daily devotional entitled, Daily Heavenly Manna. Of the numerous daily devotionals available, many Christians have found this companion to be the most complete and balanced diet for morning meditation.

Goat Helps Save World

January 1992

The headlines in the daily news are very troubling. The collapse of the Soviet Union has resulted in the outbreak of civil wars. More unrest looms in the future. In the West concern is generated by the vast stockpile of Soviet nuclear weapons. Who really is or will be in control of "the button?" The plight of the common people of the former USSR does not leave us unmoved. Our hearts are troubled by the forecasts of riots and impending starvation.

Domestic crises face us in this country also. Lingering economic recession has resulted in massive layoffs. The list of corporations going bankrupt, restructuring or cutting work forces grows daily. Tens of thousands of jobs have been lost. Tens of thousands of families are undergoing severe hardship. Recent surveys show that the mood of the country about its economic future is darker than at any time since the Great Depression.

Drug and alcohol abuse are claiming increasing numbers of lives. The spread of AIDS is mushroomingùwith no sure hope of a cure in sight. The environment is staggering under the weight of decades of reckless abuse. Forests are steadily being gouged off the face of the earth. The ozone layer, which protects us from the sun’s harmful rays, is being destroyed.

In these stormy times great leaders are needed to guide the nations to security. Ironically, just when the need is so great, many leaders are now being judged incompetent or ineffective. Others are caught in scandal. But there is one leader, soon to be revealed to the world, who is more than capable of solving all of Earth’s ills. Jesus Christ who in his times will show who is the King of those who reign as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords. (1Ti 6:14,15, NAS margin)

The government of the world will at long last be upon the shoulders of Jesus (Isa 9:6) and his associates. Those who have suffered with him in the present time are the ones who will be kings and lords with him at his appearing. 2Ti 2:11,12; 3:12 (NAS)

The Sufferings Foretold

Jesus said, "Moses wrote of me" (Joh 5:46). After his death and resurrection he spoke to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and then to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself."lk 24:26,27

Moses wrote prophetically of Jesus in the Tabernacle worship services. There, in the drama of the Day of Atonement sacrifices, a type or picture of Christ’s sufferings was portrayed. The blood of a bullock and a goat was used to make atonement for the sins of the people. (This "the Lord’s goat" should not be confused with the "scapegoat" which was not sacrificed as was the bullock.)

The blood of the bullock was taken into the Most Holy of the Tabernacle first. It opened the way for the blood of the Lord’s goat which would follow. Then, after the blood of the goat was offered, the fat of the bullock and goat were burnedùa sweet savour. The carcasses of those animals were burned outside the camp. This gave off a pungent and highly objectionable odor to the Israelites.

The bullock obviously represented our Lord Jesus. Why was a goat also offered? Who did the Lord’s goat represent? The Apostle Paul helps to clarify these questions in the book of Hebrews.

"We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." Heb 13:10-13 The Apostle shows that we (who are serving in the antitype of the Tabernacle) can partake of the spiritual altar. Those who served in the type could not partake of the true altar while offering typical sacrifices. The bodies of the typical sacrifices were burned outside the camp. The stench of their burning was a reproach unto these dwelling in the camp of Israel. Paul reveals that Jesus fulfilled the Day of Atonement sacrificeùbearing the reproach. "The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." Ro 15:3 Paul also teaches that we bear the reproach with Jesus. "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach." Heb 13:13

The Lord’s Goat Typifies the Church

Christ’s brethren, the true Church, bear the same reproach that he bore in fulfillment of the type. Therefore, we are represented in the picture of the offering of the bullock and goat. Our role was pictured by the Lord’s goat and Jesus’ role by the bullock.

Many scriptures are brought to a full clarity when we perceive the role of the Church in the sin offering picture. Referring to his life of sacrifice and impending crucifixion Jesus said "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" Joh 18:11 Christ’s followers drink of that same cupùthe cup of sharing in his sufferings. "Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of." Mk 10:39 "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (the participation) in the blood of Christ?" 1Co 10:16

The stench of the burning bodies of bulls and goats pictures how the world (which knoweth us not) views our life of sacrifice. "We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved and in them that perish. To the one we are a savour of death unto death, and to the other a savour of life unto life." 2Co 1:15,16

Hard sayings are opened up and made plain. "Fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake." Co 1:24 Jesus’ sacrifice as the bullock was perfectùcomplete. What then was behind or lacking in the afflictions of Christ? It was the fulfilling of the goat picture by Jesus’ body members. "For as we have many members in one body, ...so we, being many (individual members) are one body in Christ. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." Ro 12:4,5; 1Co 12:27 We thus are to be heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him; that we may be also glorified together. Ro 8:17

The Goat Helps Jesus Save the World

All the present troubles that plague mankind will be thoroughly corrected by the rule of Christ. Jesus the head and the church as his body will rule with strict justice and tender mercy. God will make his covenant with mankind through them just as he made a covenant for the blessing of Israel. After the bullock and goat were completely offered the people were blessed. After Jesus and his body members are completely offered the blessings of God will be bestowed upon the remainder of men.

2Co 6 is thrilling from this perspective. "For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." vs. 2 Commonly the emphasis on this scripture is that now is THE accepted time, now is THE day of salvation. Looking at the original Greek, the word "the" is not found. The proper rendering should be "now is an accepted time, now is a day of salvation." Now is the accepted time to call a few to a spiritual reward. The rest of mankind will have their day of salvation during Christ’s earthly Kingdom. Isaiah confirms both the proper language and thought of 2Co 6:2.

"Thus saith the LORD, in an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages." Isa 49:8 The apostle’s application of this scripture to us proves that we, Christ’s followers, are given to establish a covenant of the people.

As the goat shared with the bullock in renewing the Covenant of Israelùso we share with Jesus in establishing the covenant of blessing for the world (Isa 49:8). By working with Jesus we will help establish the earth. By assisting Jesus in the conquest of sin those heritages desolated by death will be re-inherited. Thus it is that a lowly "goat," by God’s grace, helps save the world.

When Grace Is Not Grace

February 1992

Eph 1: 6, 7

If not for God’s infinite, inscrutable grace, where would we be? We would be nowhere. We would be nothing. Nowhere. Nothing.

Christianity begins with an admission, an admission of undoneness. This undoneness is called sin. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God..." (Ro 3:23) This frank admission is the beginning of real wisdom and progress.

Humanist theories may propose that manùby just one more peace conference, one more breakthrough in scienceùcan pull himself up. Evolutionists mayùvery unscientificallyùhypothesize that man is getting "better" now than at any time in the past. New Agers may dream-with old Eastern thought-that man is on the dawn of a better day-if only we can do just a little better ourselves.

But the Christian is free to admit that we are at the mercy of God’s plan of grace. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by his [God’s] grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Ro 3:23, 24)

How then could anyone think of adding anything to God’s grace? Would there be anything a Christian canùor mustùdo beyond being justified simply by faith because of the grace of God? The Apostle Paul says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not by works lest any man should boast." On the other hand, in another place Paul does say, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." And, of course, the Apostle James says, "Faith without works is dead." (Jas 2:20) Are these scriptures contradictory to clear teaching that we are saved by God’s grace by faith in Jesus Christ? Not at all.

Faith, Works and Salvation

Most of the Apostles’ arguments seemingly against "works" are taken from the context of keeping legalisms of the Law of Moses, the Law Covenant. The Apostles dealt extensively in this area, showing how once justified by faith, we cannot please God by works of the Law. Needless to say, one could not be justified before God in the first place by works of the Lawùinstead of faith in Jesus.

What does it mean to be "saved by faith"? Furthermore, how are we to understand "salvation"?

First, one is saved from the condemnation, which rests heavily, and squarely on all Adam’s posterity, "As in Adam all die." (1Co 15:22) There is nothing anyone can do to save himself from this predicament of sin and its consequence of death. "Our righteousness is as filthy rags" Only God’s merciful grace alone can provide a recovery from this no-way-out situation.

Paul adds a further dimension to "salvation" when talking to the Church at Rome, "For now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed (Ro 13:11). If a Christian had salvation when he first believed, how could salvation be said to be "nearer" at any point after that time? Also, Jesus himself taught, "He that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Mt 10:22). Paul too warns, "Ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I have preached to you, unless ye have believed in vain" (1Co 15:2).

It is evident that after a Christian receives justification by faith, he or she must "show his faith by his works" (Jas 2:18). Justification is not eternal life. Salvation from condemnation is one thing. And salvation to life is another. The Christian must grow in Christ-like character and serve God with his whole heart, mind, soul and strength. Once we become "branches" in the true vine of Christ, we must bear fruit. If a branch does not bear fruits of spiritual development, it is "cut off." Joh 15:1-8

The Justified Must Bear Fruit

Where then is God’s grace? God’s graceùthrough Jesusùenables the Christian to grow and mature. "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (Joh 15:5). A Christian must do his part after he is freely justified by God. To expect grace to continue without growth is to "receive the grace of God in vain" (2Co 6:1). One must not presume on the grace of God. Grace received without responsible living is grace received in vain.

What kind of fruitage must a Christian bear? Peter says we are to add to our faith, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and finally love. How necessary is fruitbearing? "If ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2Pe 1:3-11).

God’s grace does not stop with justification; but God’s grace enables the Christian to grow. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2Co 9:8). Christians must do their part.

Too many Christians feel all they need to do is acknowledge Jesus died for them and they are guaranteed passage to heavenùregardless of what they do or fail to do. In Christianity Today, January 14, 1991, p. 28, David F. Wells says, speaking of evangelistic revivals, "They prove hollow, and when a mere 10 percent of the professed converts in a crusade are still faithful after a year, evangelists and pastors pronounce it a great success. What happens to the substantial number of people who ‘decide’ for Christ but find their decision was apparently empty of spiritual reality?" Has the 90 percent "received the grace of God in vain"? Or perhaps they never accepted grace in the first place. In any case, if they have not born fruit, they could not be abiding in the grace of God.

Some of the same Christians who believe expecting "works" on a Christian’s part is demeaning God’s graceùalso believe countless billions will be lost forever because they do not accept God’s grace now. Consider this question: Which of these two views is demeaning to God’s graceùwe can do nothing now or God can do nothing later?

The Gospel of the Grace of God

What did Paul mean when he so eloquently referred to the "Gospel of the grace of God" (Ac 20:24)? Paul himself identified the "gospel" as given to Abraham, "In thee shall all nations be blessed" (Gal 3:8). He goes on to explain, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds as of many; but as of one. And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Ga 3:16). Is the "seed" from Abraham only Jesus Christ? Paul does not leave us to wonder. "Ye are all one in Christ. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Ga 3:28, 29). Which promise?

"By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore...and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Ge 22:17, 18).

Does the "gospel of the grace of God" teach that the Christian church, the seed of Abraham, would alone be blessed? No! The gospel is this: In Abraham’s seed all nations would be blessed. Truly, the "seed" would be blessed by being a blesser to the nations. "So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham" (Ga 3:9). Abraham will be blessed because he will be a blesser! If we are to be blessed "with Abraham," not specifically by him, we are to share the same type of blessing he does. The Christian Church will be the bride of the "king" and Abraham will be among the "princes of all the earth" (Ps 45:14,16). Abraham and his "seed" together will be blessersùof the nations.

The gospel of God’s love and grace has been "preached [virtually] in all the world for a witness unto all nations." (Mt 24:14) Are we to believe that if the nations have had the gospel "preached" to them, the promise to Abraham is fulfilled? A "witness" does not mean a conversion of the world. The gospel was sent out to "take out of them [the Gentile nations] a people for his name" (Ac 15:14). Is this preaching alone all there is to the blessing of the nations? Certainly it could not be so. Although the gospel has been printed in every language of the earth, precious few of earth’s billions have really been able to hear or believe.

God’s Grace to the Nations

Might the promise to Abraham so long ago, then, have been an overstatement? Or is the promised blessing thisùthe future "healing of the nations" (Re 22:2)? For the Christian who has been blessed by believing the gospel, the promise may seem to be fulfilled. But not so for the vast majority of people blinded by Satan.

[Satan]"the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2Co 4:4) Thus the gospel has not been understoodùif even heard at all by the manyùbut it will be in "due time" (1Ti 2:4-6).

The only opportunity for believing the gospel will come when Jesus binds Satan a thousand years "that he should deceive the nations no more" (Re 20:2,3). Christ’s thousand-year Kingdom is when God’s grace will bless the nations.

"And in this mountain [Kingdom on earth] shall the Lord of hosts destroy the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God we have waited for him, and he will save us we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation" (Isa 25:6-9).

To say God’s grace will only save a few now while Satan is the "god of this world"ùis not grace at all. To say God’s grace does not require that a Christian must grow and show his faith by his worksùis not grace at all. But God’s grace does enable the faith justified Christian to grow. And God’s grace has planned blessings for all others as wellùblessings that "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1Co 2:9).

This grace is grace.

The Holy Alliance

March 1992

Ronald Reagan entered the office of President in January 1981 on a crusade against the Communist Empireùor as he characterized itù"that evil empire." Pope John Paul II had an implacable hatred of Communism. These two crusaders met for the first time on June 7, 1982, in the Vatican Library.

The February 24, 1992, issue of TIME under the article, "The Holy Alliance," details the incredible story of their meeting and agreement to undertake a clandestine campaign to hasten the dissolution of the Communist empire. The following are some quotations:

%"One of his earliest goals as President, Reagan says, was to recognize the Vatican as a state ‘and make them an ally’" [emphasis added].

%"Both the Pope and the President were convinced that Poland could be broken out of the Soviet orbit if the Vatican and the U.S. committed their resources to destabilizing the Polish government and keeping the outlawed Solidarity movement alive after the declaration of martial law in 1981."

%"A free non-communist Poland, they were convinced, would be a dagger to the heart of the Soviet empire; and if Poland became democratic, other East European states would follow."

%" the objective was akin to creating a Christian Democratic majority in Poland with the church and the overwhelmingly Catholic membership of Solidarity as the dominant political force in a post-communist Poland."

%"Both sides agreed that the Soviets must become the focus of an international campaign of [Economic] isolation and the withholding of Western and Japanese technology from Moscow."

%"The key Administration players were all devout Roman Catholics’ CIA Chief William Casey, Allen, Haig, [Vernon] Walters, William Wilson, Reagan’s first ambassador to the Vatican. They regarded the US-Vatican relationship as a holy alliance: the Moral force of the Pope and the teaching of their church combined with their fierce anti-communism"

%Archbishop Pio Lashi said: "It was a very complex situation But I told Vernon, ‘Listen to the Holy Father [Pope]. We have 2,000 years’ experience at this.’"

%"Step by reluctant step, the Soviets and the Communist government of Poland bowed to the moral, economic and political pressure imposed by the Pope and the President."

We can appreciate the idealism of Reagan and the Pope to rid the world of that "evil empire." Aside from the issue of how involved a Christian should be in the governments of this world, we want to probe the prophetic implications of this incredible drama. Therefore, we will be discussing prophetic organizationsùand not making value judgments of individuals.

Quotations 1 and 7 (above) from the TIME article are revealing. In Quotation 1 Reagan refers to the Vatican as a "STATE." The Roman Catholic Church claims to be a civil government in addition to being a Christian Church. Why? It claims to be God’s Kingdom on earth. As such, it claims the right to civil power and consequently actually functions as a world powerùexchanging ambassadors with other nations, etc. What’s wrong with claiming to be both the spiritual and civil Kingdom of God?

Who is the Virgin?

The faithful church is spoken of as a chaste "virgin" engaged to the Lord, eagerly awaiting the return of her heavenly bridegroom (2Co 11:2; Mt 25:1-13). After the Lord’s return, the marriage takes place and only then does the bride (faithful church) and the bridegroom (Jesus Christ) set up the Kingdom of God on earth (Re 19:7; 21:1-5; 22:17). Conversely, Re 17:1-5 symbolically describes a woman who is called "the mother of harlots" because she "committed fornication" with "the kings of the earth." This fornication is symbolic of a scripturally unlawful union with the governments of the world. This woman is not symbolic of individual Christians, but of a religious organization that did not wait for the bridegroom’s return and the marriage. Rather, she broke her vows of engagement to Christ by uniting with the kings (governments) of the world to set up the counterfeit Kingdom of God before the Bridegroom’s return. This is spiritual harlotry in God’s sight. And if there is a "mother of harlots," there are also daughters.

Who is the Harlot?

Quotation 7 refers to the Vatican’s experience of 2,000 years influencing and manipulating governments. Two thousand years is a bit presumptuous. It was not until 533 AD that the Bishop of Rome was recognized by the Emperor Justinian as the head or Pope of the Church of the Roman Empire. After 539 AD the Pope of Rome exercised temporal power over Rome and its environs. In 744 AD Emperor Charlemagne made the Pope ruler of much of Italy. In 800 AD Papacy was officially recognized as the Kingdom of God when Charlemagne had Pope Leo III crown him Emperor of the Western Empire and/or Holy Roman Empire. For centuries this Papal counterfeit Kingdom of God held the masses in chains of superstition and crowned and uncrowned kings and emperors.

Luther and other reformers identified the Papacy as the "little horn of Daniel 7 & 8 and the antichrist beast of Revelation 13."[1] The civil power of Papacy was relatively unchallenged until Napoleon downgraded the Papacy in 1799. Later in the 1870’s with the unification of Italy, Victor Emmanuel liberated the Papal States leaving the Pope Vatican City. Then the Marxist philosophy of Communism eclipsed Papacy’s influence after 1917.

In the Reagan-Pope John Paul battle against communism, Papacy might look like "Mr. Clean" compared to Communism. But look at another scenario recorded in Paul I. Murphy’s book, La Popessa. In Munich in 1919 Adolf Hitler’s nationalism was born. Archbishop Pacelli, later to become Pope Pius XII, already lived in fear of atheistic communism because of its professed aim to annihilate Catholicism. He presented Hitler with a large amount of Church money to "help his small, struggling band of anti-communists. ‘Go quell the devil’s works,’ Pacelli told Hitler."[2]

In 1933 Pope Pius XI signed a concordat with Hitler. "It ordered the Holy See’s clergy to swear fealty to Hitler and the Third Reich. It further ordered that prayers be said publicly for the Fuhrer and Germany by Catholic bishops and priests. The Church, in effect, pledged never to oppose Hitler’s dictatorship." A similar pact, the Lateran Treaty, was signed with Mussolini. The Papacy considered the Nazis and Fascists as their best defense against communism.[3]

In German Catholics and Hitler’s Wars, by Gordan Zahn, the author, a Catholic sociologist and professor of sociology at Loyola University, explains that almost all German Catholics completely supported Hitler’s wars of raw aggression and ruthless conquest because of formal direction given by Catholic Church leaders and the Catholic press. [4]

In late 1942 the Vatican learned of the Holocaust but chose to remain silent so as not to offend Hitler.[5] Again we can sympathize with the good intentions of individuals. But Re 17:1-5 shows a church system that continued to unite with the governments of Europe and calls it harlotry.

There is a current demand that the Vatican open its files on its post-war activities to probe whether the "escaping Nazis ‘had many protectors in the Vatican,’ where prelates hope they would be useful allies in the coming fight against communism."[6]

A Secret Agenda

With the collapse of Communism, seemingly the crusade of Reagan and Pope Paul was accomplished. But the Vatican had a secret agenda unknown to Reagan. The fall of "that evil empire" was only the beginning of this agenda.

Pope John Paul II revealed the Vatican’s complete agenda in a statement on April 21, 1990, "A united Europe is no longer a dream. It is not utopian memory from the middle ages [emphasis added]. The events that we are witnessing show that this goal can be reached."[7]

The Pope wants to revive the Holy Roman Empire of the Middle Ages when no one dared question the Papacy’s claim to be the Kingdom of God on earth. That glorious hour of Papal Rome was written in lood. Historians call it the Dark Ages.

A controversial book, The Keys of this BloodùPope John Paul II Versus Russia and the West for Control of the New World Order was written by Dr. Malachi Martin, a Vatican insider, friend and advisor to Pope John Paul. Martin, a priest who writes from a Catholic perspective, credits the Pope for coining the phrase, "New World Order"ù before President Bush.

Whose New World Order?

"John Paul had taken on not merely a national regime but an international system of government. He had opened the first effective challenge to the political order of the Soviet satellite system and of the Soviet Union itself. Just as he said he would in his earliest speeches after his papal election, he had indeed called for the beginnings of ‘a New Order’ in Central Europe and in the international, political and economic order enlaced with it."

Martin predicted first the fall of Gorbachev then President Bush, after which Pope John Paul would bring in a united Europe.

"John Paul’s goal is a geopolitical structure for the society of nations designed and maintained according to the ethical plans and doctrinal outlines of Christianity as taught and propagated by the Roman pontiff as the vicar of Christ. There can be no compromise with the dialectal materialism of that ‘East’ or with the capitalist materialism of that ‘West.’

We are living in prophetic times. Europe will be ruled by a short duration church-state system just before the returned Christ fully destroys man’s perverted "New World Order (a revised old Holy Roman Empire)" and replaces it with God’s truly New World Order, the Kingdom of God on earth.

ENDNOTES

1. Lutheran World, September, 1960, pp. 128-129.

2. Paul I. Murphy, La Popessa, Warner Books (N.Y. 1980), p. 52

3. Murphy, p.198.

4. German Catholics and Hitler’s Wars by Gordon Zahn, Sheed and WardùNew York, 1962, p.56.

5. Murphy, pp. 193-202.

6. Star Ledger, February 21, 1992.

7. New York Times, April 23, 1990.

A Chaste Virgin

April 1992

2Co 11:2

The current divorce rate is more than one in three. Sensuality prevails despite the deadly risk of sexually transmitted diseases (recent reports are that 1 in 250 Americans are HIV carriers). Homosexuality is militantly promoted as an "alternate lifestyle." For the Bible believing Christian, this is a sad commentary on the world’s condition. Today the saying is often true that "as goes the world so goes the church." Indeed, some churches are now making theological adjustments to compensate for the needs of their worldly-wise membership.

The Roman Catholic "mother church" has greatly modified its standards in recent years. "Since Vatican Council II, the traditional grounds for obtaining an annulment ùin effect, a declaration that one or more of the requirements of a sacramental marriage was missing in the first placeùhave been more liberally interpreted. In 1990, Catholic marriage tribunals in the United States accepted 45,000 petitions for annulment. Nearly 37,000 were granted. Since 1983, however, the church no longer excommunicates divorced and remarried Catholics, which may be why only 10 percent now bother to seek annulments." (Newsweek, March 30, 1992 p.60)

These are staggering statistics. Fully 82% of all annulments applied for were granted. Also, if 45,000 annulments represents only 10% of those needing one, a half million American Catholics are divorcing annually with the church’s tacit consent!

A recent Associated Press release detailed the intent of several mainline Protestant churches to modify their position on sexual morality. Why are they modifying their position? They want to remain relevant. Today’s society, which they serve, is rapidly changing. Traditional values are constantly being challenged. If these churches don’t "keep up with the times" their support would wither away. If their popular support dies; their organizations would also die. A large segment of today’s church membership is involved in adultery, fornication or homosexual relations. These, however, some Protestant churches would pardon. The modern theological concept by which pardon could be given is called Justice Love.

Justice Love, in brief, is defined as a sense of mutual caring and commitment between partners. It can exist whether the partners are married or not. Extramarital, premarital and homosexual relations would be permitted so long as Justice Love was present. The Protestant church leaders advancing this viewpoint believe "justice love" is the real object of Jesus teachings. They consider the physical acts committed in these relationships of little eternal consequence. They feel that the love behind them is what God wants for humanity. Instead of being transformed by the faith of Christ; these churches are conforming the faith of Christ to this world’s standards. Ro 12:1,2

Legitimate Questions

We cannot agree to their sophistry. We affirm that love is the greatest of God’s gifts to mankind. Love, however, does not contradict other teachings of God’s Word.

Jesus said, "Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." Mt 19:9 The council of Apostles and elders in Jerusalem (Ac 15:4-29) admonished the brethren of Christ to abstain from fornication. "Be not deceived," said Paul, "neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God."( 1Co 6:9-10) Paul is obviously not excluding those who formerly practiced those things. He goes on to say "And such were some of you." ( 1Co 6:11)

We legitimately ask, have the standards of discipleship changed? Are those who practice Scripturally prohibited sexual acts better people than those who practiced them in the days of Jesus and the Apostles? Are today’s sinners more deserving of God’s grace than those of ages past? The answer to all three questions is no. The Word of God has not changed in regard either to standards of discipleship or God’s perception of the fallen human race. "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever." Ps 119:160

A Worldly Church

A popular phrase is "I’m too bad for heaven and too good for hell." Many now involved in Scripturally unauthorized sexual relationships are otherwise very good people; perhaps better than we are in some respects. They may be noble-minded co-workers, neighbors or even family members. Surely these are too good to be doomed to an eternity of ceaseless suffering! Yet, according to God’s Word, such shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. 1Co 6:9-10

Failing to see that the Scriptures teach two salvations (for Christians now and the remainder of mankind in Christ’s kingdom) has resulted in a theological disaster. To save as many as possible the worldly masses, the tares of Matthew 13, have been squeezed into the church. To fit the masses in, the standards of discipleship were reduced to the lowest possible common denominator. The narrow way and straight gate of the high calling in Christ Jesus have been trampled by trying to fit the whole world into it. Mt 7:13,14 The masses who practice immorality will not inherit the kingdom of heavenùthat reward is reserved for Christ’s "little flock." Lk 12:32 But Jesus has other sheep beside his little flock. He has those who will be his at his coming (Greek "presence"). These will be blessed in Christ’s earthly kingdom. Joh 10:16; 1Co 15:23; Mt 25:34

The Biblical standards of Christian discipleship are very high. Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said by them of old time ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery:’ But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Mt 5:27,28 Far beyond merely avoiding fleshly acts of immorality, the true Christian is to avoid spiritual adultery. In other wordsùto avoid illicit union with the spirit of the world. 1Co 2:12

The Apostle James said, "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?" (Jas 4:4 NAS) James called the brethren (male and female) "adulteresses." Why? They were courting the carnal values of this world. They were in grave danger of committing spiritual adultery, of leaving their first loveùJesus the Bridegroom.

The woman described in Re 17 represents a false church. Her main characteristic is that of being an adulteress. She is guilty of committing fornication with the kings of the earth. She "sold out" to the kings of the earth in order to be relevant to this world. The result was unfaithfulness to her espoused husbandùthe Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of waiting to reign with King Jesus at his appearing and kingdom; the false church of Re 17 united with the kings of the earth.

That adulterous alliance brings temporal power now! They have reigned as kings without us. (see 1Co 4:8) The urge to wield temporal power in this present life has been a great test for the church. Changing Biblical standards of morality to oblige worldly values is a test now. The hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world (Re 3:10) will also try the faith of Christ’s brethren.

The Chaste Bride

Will we remain chaste, or become adulteresses? Will we look to the world for our standards or will we choose the narrow way? Will we bravely go forward in the old paths against the strong contradiction of sin? By God’s graceùwe will remain spiritually chaste.

"I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." (2Co 11:2) The pure and simple faith that Paul had imparted to the Corinthian church, and to us by his epistles, can only be maintained by holding fast the doctrines as they were originally taught. "For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully." 2Co 11:4 NAS

Bearing the tests of moral and doctrinal purity magnify the beauty of Christ’s brideùhis true church. How lovely she looks to him as she stands in faithful obedience to his teachings. Relevance to the world and its subsequent approval will be meaningless to the true Christian. All who are Christ’s will look to him for guidance. All who are Christ’s will seek his approval.

The Gospel of Health

May 1992

Lk 6:19

When Jesus walked the face of this sin-sick and groaning earthùwith great compassion he healed many who were sick. By God’s power, he also miraculously fed thousandsùon more than one occasion. He even raised the deadùthree of them.

Did Jesus succeed in establishing Judea and Samaria as an oasis of health and freedom from hunger in the earth? The hungry he fed, no doubt, hungered again and the sick once healed, no doubt, in most cases, fell sick again and Lazarus, in the end, died again. Did Jesus lack enough of God’s power to accomplish real success?

Healing and Faith

When Jesus healed the woman, who was seriously sick for twelve years, he said, "Thy faith hath made thee whole" (Mt 9:22). When Jarius’ daughter died, Jesus said, "Believe only, and she shall be made whole" (Lk 8:50). Did lack of belief and faith alone stand in the way of Jesus healing everybody? Why did Jesus tell Jarius and his wife, "Tell no man what was done" (Lk 9:56)? To the healed leper, why did Jesus say, "See thou tell no man" (Mt 8:4)?

Although Jesus performed thirty-six miracles during his ministry, physical healing was incidental to his main mission. Although on some occasions Jesus may have healed "all" in a particular crowd, he certainly did not heal all in the land of Israel.

At the Pool of Bethseda, there were a multitude of sick, but Jesus only healed the one "invalid" man (Joh 5:1-9). There is no record that this man had more faith in the Lord than had the others. On the contrary, the context shows that he had no faithùthat he did not even know who Jesus was and did not learn until afterward who had helped him! Did Jesus then call the others to step up to be healed? He quietly slipped away anonymously in the multitude. Why?

Jesus did not wish to over-stimulate the popular support of the people by these miracles of healing. But with tender yearning, Jesus desired to heal the hardness of heart of his Jewish brethren which causes spiritual "blindness," but they would not be healed (Joh 12:37-40). "But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him." In reality, the physical miracles were merely a means to an endùspiritual healing!

Jesus’ main purpose on earth was to preach the Gospel and die on the cross as a "ransom for all." The miracles were designed to serve as a testimony to his messiah-ship and as a token illustration of what his Kingdomùwhen establishedùwould actually do for all people.

Healing and the Early Church

In the Apostles’ day, gifts of the spiritùincluding healingùwere given to establish the earth church in its infancy. But Paul pointed to the more superior ("best") giftsùthe fruits of the spirit of love (1Co 12:28-31; 13). Speaking in the first person as representing the growing church, Paul said, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things." The gifts of tongues (foreign languages) and healing (physical) were as "toys" of childhood in comparison to the fruits of the spirit belonging to the mature Church of later years. Just like tongues, healing was a "sign" to unbelievers, not to believers (1Co 14:22).*

Paul’s dearest spiritual son, Timothy, was frequently very sick. Did the Apostle lay hands on him and heal him? Surely Timothy had sufficient faith. No, Paul suggested Timothy "use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities."

The great Apostle Paul himself asked the Lord three times if he could be relieved of his great handicap of bad eyesight (Gal 4:14,15). Surely the Lord could have blessed this sincere request so that Paul’s ministry in the gospel would not be hampered. But Paul was denied this request. Instead, the Lord told him, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2Co 12:7-9). Paul saw clearly the reason for suffering: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me." He gloried in his infirmities. He saw God’s power in a way he could never have experienced if he had been physically healed.

No one likes pain and suffering. Naturally, we appreciate and long for physical health for ourselves and our loved ones. God can and does overrule in some cases to give remarkable health and strength for labor in His service. The Christian way, though, is a walk of sacrifice, not of bodily preservation and prosperity. Spiritually minded Christians know the purpose of suffering and desire spiritual healing and growth. In Jas 5:14, the Apostle encourages those who are spiritually "sick" (Gk., asthaneo, "without strength, weak") to go to spiritual leaders for prayer. Unresolved sins cause spiritual sickness. Or these sick may simply go to other Christians and confess their sins "that they might be forgiven him" (Jas 5:15). Who that has experienced healing of the soul has not realized it of more value than the healing of any earthly disease?

* Related to the subject of healing, tongues speaking is another popular phenomenon of our day. For an in-depth treatment of the subject, send for the booklet offered with the coupon.

Healing in Our Day

Many today claim to be healers in Christ’s name. Many even claim to be healed. How do we account for this phenomenon?

There are several possible explanations: Medical science today has demonstrated a very vital link between a positive mental attitude and good health. The body naturally has wonderful immunity and recuperative powers. From THE HEALING BRAIN, Dr. Ornstein says, "The brain communicates with and controls the body through this continuous flow of chemical messages. In this sense each nerve cell and the brain itself, is like an internal pharmacy dispensing a stream of powerful drugs to influence and control moods, thoughts and bodily functions."

Many who present themselves to healers believe so intently that they can find relief and recovery, that they actually do by their own positive attitudeùif even temporarily.

Another explanation is a sad one. A lot of fraud exists. Investigative reporting has recently uncovered some of the sensationally "successful" healersùboth on and off television. In a recent ABC broadcast by "Primetime Live," Diane Sawyer identified several frauds perpetrated by popular evangelical faith healers.

The third explanation lies in the possibility of the fact that people are so desperate to be healed that they would be glad to be healed even if they were assured the cures were performed by Satan himself. Satan and his fellow fallen angels, in fact, do transform themselves into "angel[s] of light" and "ministers of righteousness" (2Co 11:14). Especially in these "last days" can we expect such increased activity. The time of Jesus return is marked by "the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" (2Th 2:9).

Jesus intimated this very turn of events: When accused by the Pharisees that he was casting out devils and healing by the power of Satan, Jesus replied, "Can Satan cast out Satan unless his house be divided?" (Lk 11:15) He not only silenced their logic, but gave us a prophecy. In the future when Satan’s house of fallen angels would be "divided," Satan would actually revert to healings and miracles. Satan has had considerable power over death, including disease. When he does do good and blessesùas an angel of lightùhis purpose is to delude Christians and counterfeit God’s plan. Such apparent healings detract from real spiritual healings and growth for Christians. They are also Satan’s pseudo attempt to rival the incoming blessings of God’s Kingdom.

Therefore, regarding episodes of healing that cannot be explained by natural healing or by fraud, the power, alas, is attributable to Satan and his crumbling house. In these last days before God’s Kingdom, Satan’s house is to be divided before it falls.

The Gospel to Abraham

Who can blame a poor groaning creation for desiring that the sorrow, sighing and tears of sickness and death be alleviated? All have received a heritage of sin and the penalty of sin laid upon father Adamù"dying thou shalt die"ùwhich has made us all heirs of suffering as well as death. Fortunately, the Kingdom for which we pray, "Thy Kingdom come," is very close.

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more Pain"(re 21:1-4).

The time for permanent, universal healingùspiritual and physicalùis when the "river of water of life" flows from the "throne of God" in Christ’s Kingdom.

"And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life which bare twelve manner of fruits and the leaves of the tree [grove] were for the healing of the nations." (Re 22:1,2)

When this "New Jerusalem," God’s Kingdom, comes to earth, then all peopleùnot just a fewùwill have an opportunity to be healed of their spiritual, mental and physical sicknesses. Then the "eyes of the blind will be [literally] opened and the ears of the deaf shall be [physically] unstopped" (Isa 35:1, 5).

The Gospel originally preached to Abraham was that "In thee shall all nations be blessed" (Ga 3:8) How are all to be blessed? This Gospel of the Kingdom given to Abraham and confirmed by Jesus actually embraces all in the Gospel of Healing and Health.

Christians Must Remeber the Holocaust!

June 1992

A Plea from Christians

Jews all over the world commemorated YOM HASHOAH, Holocaust Remembrance Day, on April 30th. But do Christians remember that insane night of death camps, gas chambers, crematoriums, smokestacks belching the horrible stench of burnt flesh...that sadistic night during which 6 million Jews were slaughtered?

The word "holocaust" primarily denotes a sacrificial offering that is wholly consumed by fire. Monstrously evil men contrived that diabolical Nazi ideologyùthe destruction of the Jewish people is a necessary sacrifice to solve the economic ills of Germany and Europe. This Jewish massacre was unprecedented in numbers and purpose. Though many other people were tragically affected, the Nazi "solution" was aimed at exterminating a particular family of man...a single bloodline, a single gene pool. It was genocide.

Holocaust Revisionism

Why are many Christians uncomfortable that the Jewish community keeps insisting that we remember something that happened fifty years ago? Some Gentiles are so disconcerted that they are driven to rewrite history denying the holocaust ever happened. But their "revisionist facts" are exploded as fast as they are manufactured. Perhaps their own latent anti-Semitism motivates them to forget or deny the Holocaust. After all, who were the actors in that nefarious drama?

Who informed on their Jewish neighbors? Who charged into Jewish homes...knocked on false walls...dragged out terrified families? Who pulled the beards of old men...violated young Jewish women...demeaned poor bewildered souls in every conceivable way and herded them into cattle cars? Who stripped innocent crowds of their clothes and their dignity forced them naked into mass shower rooms and turned on the gas as pandemonium filled the rooms? Who ordered bodies to be stacked in huge pyres like cords of wood? Who fired the furnaces? Who were these predators of human life? For the most part they were professed Christians who celebrated Christmas, Good Friday and Easter. On Sunday they worshipped in cathedrals and churches. But during the week, they engaged in one of the most heinous crimes ever perpetrated against humanity. Christians must not forget the Holocaustùbecause Christians were there too.

The Holocaust is an indictment of so-called Christian Europe. Both Catholic and Protestant sociologists observed that the Nazi extermination of six million Jews was impossible without the active cooperation of the public. The suppressed Gentile anti-Semitism surfaced in that atmosphere of self-preservation. Although some Christians objected, thousands of professed Christians turned informant or cooperated in a thousand indirect or silent ways.

The Holocaust could have been stopped. Hitler could have been halted. Hitler would have been paralyzed if Catholics and Protestants refused to cooperate with the Nazis. Bible Students in Germany did refuse and suffered the consequences. Being a small minority, they ended up in prison or were put to death themselves.

Roots of Anti-Semitism

"We must never forget," observed Christianity Today (March 9, 1992), "that anti-Semitism had its roots in the theology and practice of the Christian church, from the writings of the early Church Fathers [100-350 C.E.] through the Inquisition, even in the comments of Martin Luther." The Church Fathers taught that as "Christ killers," the Jews must be kept in degradation as living witness to the truth of Christianity. Also the Land of Israel, they felt, should be rendered a desert and the Jews forbidden to go to Jerusalem. This was confirmed by Saint Thomas Aquinas, the most authoritative thinker of the Roman Church. As a consequence, popes, cardinals, bishops and priests who initiated anti-Semitic acts saw themselves as carrying out Christian teaching.

Hitler told German Bishop Berning and Monsignor Steinman that he was merely going to do to the Jews "what the Church had done for 1,500 years." Hitler also took great satisfaction in quoting Martin Luther’s vicious anti-Semitic statements.

Swiss Catholics Admit Guilt of the Church

Timed to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the expulsion of Jews from Spain (April, 1992), the Swiss Catholics issued a nine-page declaration that said in part, "Through misguided preaching and catechisms, the church contributed to the creation of the climate that allowed the murderers of the Nazi regime to carry out their crimes against the Jews."

Where was the Indignation of Our Christian Civilization?

By 1942 leaders of the Christian West were well aware of the Holocaust. The Vatican was counting on the Nazis to defeat atheistic Communism, therefore, made no public outcry (La Popessa, Paul I. Murphy). The Protestant Churches were little better. Thank goodness, individual Christians did speak out. But where was the International Committee of the Red Cross that was supposedly investigating the Nazi concentration camps? Following a six-year study of 350,000 Red Cross documents, Swiss Professor Jean Claude Favez wrote in his book, Silent Witness, "The ICRC knew what was happening, that is quite clear. It did not dare confront the Germans." The ICRC in a statement to the Jerusalem Post (August 31, 1988) admitted that it could have saved more Jews from the Nazis.

The delayed condemnation and action of the British and U.S. governments was feeble indeed (The Abandonment of the Jews, David S. Wyman). Jews were being brought to death camps by train. The U.S. refused to target any railroad tracks leading to the death camps while carrying out bombing missions on nearby areas.

For several years U.S. newspapers hid the facts of the Holocaust by burying them in small vague articles in the back of the paper (Beyond Belief, the American Press and the Coming of the Holocaust, 1933- 1945, Deborah Lipstadt).

After promising in 1917 to provide a national homeland for the Jews in Palestine, Britain in 1939 shut the doors of Palestine to Jewish immigration. Jewish refugees jammed on dilapidated ships were turned back to the death camps of Europe or perished at sea.

The American Public

In 1938 four polls showed that up to 85% of the American public was opposed to increased immigration quotas which would have allowed Jewish refugees to escape Nazi Germany. On May 13, 1939, a refugee ship, The St. Louis, sailed from Europe with 937 Jewsùdestination Cuba. Arriving there, they were refused entry. For 36 days The St. Louis sailed to every port in the free world including the United States. No room was made for the Jews either in the United States or anywhere else in the free world. The ship was ordered back to Germany and the weary cargo to their doom in the death camps. The U.S. "Closed Door Policy" to the Jews remained essentially the same for the duration of WW II.

After WW II

As incredible as it might sound, Nazi war criminal hunters and U.S. government officials claim that Vatican and International Red Cross representatives aided Nazis with documentsùenabling them to escape to South America. Why? They hoped they would be useful in the future battle against Communism. (Department of State, Office of American Republic Affairs, July 14, 1947, Subject: "Illegal Emigration Movements in and Through Italy." The New York Times, Jan. 26, 1986, "Vatican Is Reported to Have Furnished Aid to Fleeing Nazis")

While immigration restrictions were keeping Jewish Holocaust survivors out of the U.S., Nazi war criminals were given entry in exchange for information on Communist activity in Eastern Europe (Nazi War Criminals in America: Facts and Action, Charles R. Allen: The News Tribune, May 13, 1987; The New York Times, Jan. 26, 1984). A Department of Justice 1983 report stated that Klause Barbie, Nazi war criminal, had been employed and protected by the U.S. intelligence agency.

Anti-Semitism Today

The annual "Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents" in the U.S. for 1991 revealed an 11% increase over 1990. The nature of these incidents, furthermore, were more vicious than in the past. Anti-Semitism is increasing worldwide and is at its highest level since World War II.

Unfortunately, religious bigotry is the worst bigotry of all. Until the Christian churches modify their theology that makes the Jew an object of disdain and until they recognize that the Jewish people have a glorious Divine destiny separate and distinct from the Christian Church, anti-Semitism will continue to plague this nation.

The Bible Students’ answer to "Holocaust Revisionists" is personal experience. Nine-tenths of our Bible Students in Germany were wiped out by the Nazis. The Holocaust did happen.

Bible Students urge our fellow Christians to remember that "he that toucheth you [Israel] toucheth the apple of his (The Almighty’s) eye" (Zec 2:8). How can we as Christians forget God’s unconditional promise to Abraham, "I will make of thee a great nation...And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee, and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Ge 12:2,3). To learn about Bible prophesy being fulfilled in Israel and our responsibility as Christians, read the online booklet: The Time to Favor Zion is Come.

The Source of True Promotion!

September 1992

The American public is in the throes of another election year. From the Presidency to local offices, candidates are doing "whatever it takes" to get into office. With the insurmountable problems facing leaders today, we are glad that some are still willing to take the responsibility of public office. This world desperately needs good leadership. Sadly though, the tactics of successful political campaigns call for tough assaults on the character and competence of the opposition.

The Presidential conventions provided a national forum for what the Scriptures declare to be evil speaking, malice, strife and anger. How sad this is! Representatives of both political parties claimed to be stalwart Christians, yet used "the works of the flesh" to accomplish their goals. (see Ga 5:19-21) It is unseemly for a professed disciple of Christ to use such tactics for political success. Those who would provide "Christian leadership" for our country must not do so at the expense of Christian principles.

At the Democratic convention Mr. Clinton, lifting a phrase from the Bible, promised to provide "a new covenant" for the American people. The declaration of this noble goal was followed by repeated assaults on the competency and character of the Bush administration. The Republican convention took an even more strident toneùslandering the democratic candidate and his family while quoting scriptures and calling for a "Holy War." Similarly across the country political campaigns are getting uglier with each passing election.

Christian people, concerned about the decline of morality in our time, feel that they must grasp the reigns of power and restore order. Some feel compelled to save our country by making it a "Christian nation." The drive to subdue the world for Christ is not a new idea. By war or Inquisition, "Christian" leaders have tried for centuries to do this. Their lack of success is copiously noted in volumes of bloody history.

Christians Not To Rule Now

Sad to say, professed Christians have labored under a thorough delusion respecting God’s plan for mankind. They once claimed that Christ set up his Church in Kingdom power at the first advent. They also claimed that the Church has since been reigning on earth as his representative. Western civilization referred to itself as "Christendom"ùan abbreviated form of "Christ’s Kingdom." On the strength of this delusion so-called heretics, the "heathen" and the Jewish people have been persecuted to death as opponents of Christ’s Kingdom. However, using the "ends to justify the means" cannot win the world for Christ. Inquisition tactics of torture, murder or confiscation of property are totally at odds with the principles of Christ’s true Kingdom!

The belief that Christ’s disciples would make this world his Kingdom contradicts Jesus’ words. "Jesus answered and said, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now is my kingdom not from hence." Joh 18:36 If the world would be won for Christ, the "god" of this present evil world (the real leader) must be conquered. That leader is Satan! He will be bound during the thousand year Kingdom of Christ, that he may deceive the nations no more. 2Co 4:4; Re 20:2,3 Meantime, Christ’s true followers must walk as he walked and not carelessly ignore his commands.

Christ’s Disciples Must Bear Fruit

If potential leaders want to benefit from proclaiming their relationship with him, they should bear the fruits of that union. Jesus left us a beautiful lesson about this before his crucifixion. This lesson was to help believers grow in their faith until Jesus’ return. He would seek his fruitage (faithful believers) at the harvest of the Christian age. "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." Joh 15:5-8

Notice that it is by bearing fruit that we shall be his disciples. What fruits did our Master expect us to bear? "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts [the works of the flesh]. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Ga 5:22-25. These are the elemental characteristics of any who would be faithful disciples.

Christ’s followers have little chance of gaining the world’s submission while in their present humble condition. It is unlikely that the world, by popular vote, will accept the rulership of Christ. "And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered." Mal 3:15 Should the Christian use wrath or brute force to conquer the proud, wicked or tempters? Will we do evil that good may come? No! Not by any means! Walking against the course of this present evil world brings forth the fruits of the spirit!

"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Ro 12:21 Faithful Christians must be tried and developed through faithful obedience to Christ. They must wait until he [Christ] shall reign to subdue all his enemies.

Deliverance To Come Soon

Rather than seeking to fight this world on its terms the Scriptures admonish us to "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Ps 37:7-11

Proper Christian Weapons

God’s way of bringing the world into submission to Christ is not through the strength of the flesh or carnality. "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2Co 10:3-5

The weapons of our spiritual warfare are to give us the victory over personal sinùwhat the Scriptures call, "the old man." Eph 4:22-24 Rather than using worldly-wise leaders to take this world by force, "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are." 1Co 1:27-28

The things that now are, this present evil world, will be "brought to nought" by something that doesn’t exist yet! That "something" will be the completed body of Christùa body that has many members. The disciples of Christ who are victorious in overcoming will receive the crown of life. Those who suffer with him in the present time will reign with him in his future kingdom. "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." Yes, it is God who will do the work of conquering this unrighteous world and subduing it in righteousness. He will do this great work through the agent He has chosenùthe glorified Christ, Jesus the Head and the church his body. 1Co 12:12; Jas 1:12; Ro 8:17; Re 20:4,6; Ro 16:20

The Present Reality

We would love to help the world out of its present sin-sick condition now! But we also realize that this will be accomplished in God’s chosen way and time. Therefore, do not expect world leaders to be recognized as high profile Christians. The scripture is still true that "the world knoweth us not, because it knew him (Jesus Christ) not." 1Joh 3:1 The true body of Christ is a mystery to the world and its princes. "We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." 1Co 1:7,8

The world still does not recognize those who are diligently following Christ. The world and its leadership still do not recognize his humble servants. They are still generally considered to be foolish, weak or base.

Not To Be Deluded

The idea that Christ has already set up his kingdom through the established churches is a false doctrine. This false doctrine deluded many during the heyday of Christendom’s power. The Scriptures symbolically refer to this delusion as drunkenness. All the nations of Christendom were drunk with the wine of this false doctrine. Re 17:2 Christians gave assent to the power of the church, while thoughtlessly praying, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

The prophetic Word of God shows us that we may expect this deluding doctrine to become a force in the world again. Our prayer is that Christ’s followers will not be deceived by that "strong delusion." 2Th 2:11 May we all resist the offer of power and glory in this present world. May we resist the use of carnal weaponsùthe "works of the flesh"ùto accomplish the works of God. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Ga 6:7-9

Our desire is that all who profess Christ will give diligence to make their calling and election sure. 2Pe 1:10 Jesus and his bride (the true church), as the elect of God, will rule over the earth. Then there truly will be a "new world order" that today’s leaders can only dream of. God’s election will result in blessings for all under the reign of His Christ.

"...the Poor Ye have with You Always"

October 1992

"There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment and poured it on his head but when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always." Mt 26:7-11

"Always" has been a long time for the poor to be poor. Was Jesus being insensitive to the poor? Was he who came to save the poor concerned about his own comfort above the poor? What did Jesus mean? The recent Census Bureau announcement revealed a sobering fact about the poor: In the USA the ranks of the poor have reached 35.7 million the highest percent since 1964. The number of the world’s poor is also escalating beyond all proportions.

Who are the Poor? Why are they Poor?

The homeless: five to six p.m. is the guiltiest hour of the day in big cities across the country. That is when most working people walk to parking lots, bus stops, or subway stations, heading home. That is when those without homes thrust out their hands in hope of getting quarters or dollar bills before heading back to their shelters or make-shift beds. That is when most of the better-off avoid eye contact with these most visible poor. A recent USA Today headline stated, "For Homeless, Streets are Meaner: Public Fed Up, Frustrated."

The refugees: In the eastern German town of Hoyerswerder, youths chanting nationalist slogans attack an apartment complex filled with refugees. Neo-Nazis break into a refugee home and club an Albanian youth to death. Since German reunification in the fall of 1990, there have been over 2,000 such attacks on foreigners. England’s streets see racial attacks on Indian people, while Haitian refugees are turned back from attempts at immigration by the country which says, "Give me your tired, your poor." The war-torn: In Somalia the "poor man’s war" has left it in the grip of starvation. The UN is trying to find a way to save more than a million helpless people from staring to death.

The diseased: The devastating impact of AIDS will slam hardest the poor countries that can least afford it because their economies are already so small and their living standards so low. The virus hurts stricken countries by forcing them to divert precious capital from investment to health care. By the year 2000 those expected to have HIV will be 40%.

What Has God Done About the Poor?

Under the Old Testament Law, the poor were to be provided for: "And thou shalt not gather every grape of thy vineyard, thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God." (Le 19:10) "And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof: But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat." (Ex 23:10,11) "Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land." (De 15:11)

The Scriptures say, God loves and hears the poor: "For the Lord heareth the poor." (Ps 69:33) "For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth: the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence and precious shall their blood be in his sight." (Ps 72:12-14) "Who is like unto the Lord our God. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy." (Ps 113:5-7)

But the poor are still poor. When will God raise them "out of the dust"?

When Jesus Walked on this Earth, He Loved the Poor

Jesus read in the temple: "He hath sent me to preach the gospel to the poor." (Lk 4:18) Jesus taught: "Sell that thou hast and give to the poor." (Mt 19:21) The ones not rich in this world’s goods are most often those who are poor in spirit. The first beatitude Jesus taught was, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven." (Mt 5:3) Jesus praised the poor widow who gave all that she had, only a mere two mites.

But Jesus did not help all the poor of Israel. He mostly healed those who came near to hear the Gospel. Did he lack the power to help the rest?

What is Now Being Done for the Poor?

A lot, but with frustration. Many noble efforts have been thwarted by man’s selfishness. A 200-ton delivery of U.N. food was hijacked in Mogadishu. "The shooting starts at the exit gate and continues along the way and at the distribution centers" says a worker from the relief agency CARE. The International Committee of the Red Cross has delivered more than 80,000 tons of food to Somalia, but they warn food they are bringing must be more than doubled and they themselves don’t have the capacity. Preoccupation with the nationalist’s crises in what was formerly Yugoslavia is blamed for the West’s failure to act on the needs in Africa.

The Churches are Doing a Social Work Too

The churches are involved in helping the poor on many levels. One Protestant radio program solicited volunteers for the recent Florida hurricane victims: "We need volunteers who know house construction! Fax us your offer to come down and help. Here’s the Fax number." The Catholic Church runs a boarding school in Illinois for children who have been variously exploited. Many are street kids, runaways and throwaways, with considerable experience in the most degrading facts of life.

What is the motivation behind the Christian churches, which are trying to help the poor on an organized, concerted basis?

A good part, no doubt, is due to love of fellow man and a noble desire to help. But the other part, no doubt, is a sense of urgency to save souls feeling now is "the only day of salvation." But what about those miserably overdosed drug addicts who slipped through our fingers or the thousands who died in Somalia who never heard of the Name of Jesus or those Moslems who died on the frozen mountains of Iraq. Is God’s arm short?

Did Jesus do a Social Work?

Jesus did not engage in a work of uplifting the downtrodden, sick and hungry. Why? What prevented him from taking on that task? Apparently, he had the power. What stopped him? Truly, he had compassion upon them because when he saw the multitudes who had come to hear him, he healed them of all their diseases. So what stopped him from going further?

When Satan tempted Jesus, "If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine" (Lk 4:7). Evidently when Jesus was offered the kingdoms of this world by the tempter, he understood that Satan wanted him to divert his attention from God’s plan. The Devil wanted Jesus to cooperate and take his new directions. "Worship" is not the thought of bowing down, but of service to follow Satan’s plan. Compromise with the Adversary meant establishing a kingdom without Jesus’ having to suffer and die i.e., without the cross. Satan himself did not want a poor sick race. He thought he could make a deal with Jesus to skip the dying on the cross and set up the Kingdom of blessings immediately.

Did Jesus succumb to this temptation? No he did not. Jesus realized that any immediate worldwide program for blessing the poor dying race of Adam would only be temporary, partial and in the end frustrating. By taking the long hard course, was Jesus disinterested in humanity? Of course not! He was soon to give his life fully for the lives of all. Was he shirking the responsibility to help the poor and needy? Not at all!

His commission was to reach the "poor in spirit" with the Gospel to take out from men a "people for his name." Afterwards "the residue of men" would be blessed in the Kingdom (Ac 15:14-17). That is also why Jesus did not ask his disciples to systematically go through the countryside helping, healing and feeding all the poor. Jesus knew that the time for blessing the world’s poor was near but not yet. In the Kingdom, he would not just heal temporarily. He would not only feed a few for a short time. He would not only up lift the spirit of the poor for a day or week or month, but he would feed, heal and comfort the poor with the everlasting blessings of the Kingdom for which he taught us to pray.

"Sell All that thou Hast and Give to the Poor"

But still what did Jesus mean when he said, "Sell all" (Mt 19:21) That young man he spoke with took him literally and went away sad. We understand that Jesus was asking him to give up all as a sacrifice. He was advised not so much about the care of the poor as about full surrender of his earthly possessions and full submission to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

The lesson for us is that the young man was asked to understand the "spirit of sacrifice," the "spirit of consecration." Jesus was not discussing what to do for the poor, but being ready to relinquish his great possessions even as Jesus did. "Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye though his poverty might be rich" (2Co 8:9). To "inherit the Kingdom" one must use his possessions for glory of the Lord. He could no longer cling to them.

Overcoming Materialism

We too cling to our possessions as if we could "take them with us." Jesus told his disciples that he had "no where to lay his head." Jesus had given up his earthly home for the sake of the Gospel. His example was to do those things which would "lay up treasure in heaven," not on earth.

The end-time church is particularly tested with the temptation of materialism and spiritual poverty. "Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked" (Re 3:17). Many Christians are sucked into the frenzy to acquire material possessions. After all, we live in a society, which makes its living by the sale of material things. So we are bombarded by temptations to see, want, desire and buy.

What is the solution to materialism and spiritual poverty? "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich" in spiritual things! (Re 3:18) By "seeking first the Kingdom of Heaven" in all of our choices each day, our hunger for spiritual things increase. Material things lose their taste. We see through them. They are fragile. We must only use our possessions as a means to an end of serving God, not self.

What Poor are we Responsible for Now?

When Jesus scolded the others for chiding Mary’s loving gesture, he said, "For ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always." He knew that literally there would be no time for anointing his own body for burial after he died on the cross. But he was also thinking of his body members needing loving attention and care.

James says (Jas 2:15-17) that we should help our "destitute" brother or sister and thus demonstrate our faith by these works. Paul collected money for the "poor saints which are in Jerusalem" who were in straits from famine and persecution (1Co 16:1-3; Ro 15:25,26). By distributing "to the necessity of saints" (Ro 12:13) we are bestowing of our means on Jesus.

The Poor will Be Always, but not Forever.

When Jesus said "the poor you have with you always," we might still wonder, did he really meant always forever? We think not. Elsewhere, when Jesus was comforting his disciples he promised, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." We rather think that it is in this sense of until the end of the age that the poor will remain poor. The promised "kingdom of God" will raise the "poor out of the dust" because there will be no politics in distribution. "Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper." (Ps 72:11, 12) There will be no homeless, no refugees, no hungry, no war-torn because the causes of poorness will be removed. "For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever" (Ps 9:18).

We believe that the poor will be with us always, but "always" is not forever.

If you would like to know more about this Kingdom which is coming soon, read the online book THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES. We will be happy to communicate with you and hopefully answer questions you might have. Please write us. And, do not stop praying for the Kingdom! It is the complete answer on the poor.

The Wonders of God

November 1992

How quickly the seasons go by! As the warm days of summer wane into autumn, we reflect upon the greatness of creation’s architectùour Heavenly Father. Our spiritual minds perceive and our spiritual hearts receive great lessons from nature. Surely the character of our Creator is stamped indelibly upon all His works.

Ponder the season of harvest and be blessed by its testimony to God’s love. Through the miracle of seed and its fruitage, He provides abundantly for our nourishment. Notice the deepening richness of the autumn sky’s blue. This blue, a symbol of faithfulness, reminds us that the killing cold of winter will surely be followed by the new blooming life of spring. Indeed, the swiftness with which the seasons roll by impresses the brevity of sin blighted human life upon our minds. At the same time we grow in appreciation of our human life upon our minds. At the same time we grow in appreciation of our God’s eternally enduring Being. He truly is "the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity." (Isa 57:15) The Psalmist has well said, "My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. But thou, O LORD, shalt endure forever; and thy remembrance to all generations." Psa 102:12,13

The lesson of our God’s enduring Being, His enduring love, faithfulness, and mercy, greatly strengthen our faith. We, who depend on Him for the issues of life, have a different perspective from the world in general. Surely He "hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. " See Eph 2:1-6.

From our spiritual point of view we feel, as the Apostle Paul felt, that "the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2Co 4:18) Realizing this we "henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind." (See Eph 4:17-24) That is, our lives focus on spiritual growthùlaying up for ourselves treasure in heaven. (Mt 6:19-21) The Christian mind resists the lure of the world’s transitory fashions and fads.

Fashion and fad fuel popular culture and then swiftly burn out. Popular culture’s appetite for things new and different is insatiable. What a contrast this is to the Christian’s spirit of "tell me the old, old story!" Popular culture’s superficial nature often causes the loss of important lessons that may be realized by those who seek the enduring eternal things. One example of this is to be found in the Great Pyramid of Egypt.

A decade ago popular culture fixed much attention on that enduring stone monument. Wild speculations were brought forth. "It was a landing base for extra terrestrials!" "It sharpens razor blades!" "It preserves fruit!" However much truth may have existed in any of these statements, they missed the real lesson of the Great Pyramid. Popular culture had satisfied itself for a season upon the Great Pyramid and then moved on.

In sheer mass, the Great Pyramid dwarfs all other buildings in the world. Its ninety million cubic feet of solid rock weigh 6,840,000 tons. That is enough stone to build a sidewalk 3 inches thick, and 2 feet wide, around the world. The number and weight of the Great Pyramid’s stones would be comparable to a pile of 3 million automobiles. The Great Pyramid is as tall as a 40-story building, and the circuit of its base is over 1/2 mile. Clearly, whoever built the Great Pyramid wanted it to remain!

The Great Pyramid is the most unusual building in the world. The scientific knowledge of its builders is startlingùand as an engineering feat it is unmatched. The solutions to many scientific and mathematical problems were monumentalized in the Great Pyramid forty-one centuries ago. Could the Pyramid builders have been four thousand years ahead of their time? Or did God Himself instruct them in the secrets of the Universe?

We read in Isa 19:19-20,

"In that day shall there be an altar unto the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt."

This scripture has caused many Christians to consider carefully the lessons that the Pyramid has to teach.

It is located in the exact center of the land surface of the earthùcalculated by its Builder over 3,000 years before Columbus discovered America. Though built over 4,000 years ago, its measurements indicate the circumference of the earth, the distance from the equator to either pole, the sun’s distance from the earth, the length of the solar year, the length of the precessional cycles, the value of pi, etc. The Great Pyramid witnesses, not by hieroglyphics or drawings, but symbolically by it location, construction and measurements. It is a symbolic (not sacrificial) altar, and a storehouse of historic, prophetic and scientific truths, in perfect accord with, and a corroborative witness of, the Bible and its Divine Plan of the Ages.

Just as we have traced God’s plan for mankind through the Scriptures, so may we trace it in the Pyramid. Its architectural features portray the Divine Plan of the Ages in a dynamic way.

For over forty centuries the seasons of man have whirled by this altar to the LORD. In that time few have seen the blessed confirmation of the plan of God that is to be found there. Foreknown to God are all His works, and the testimony in stone given by the Great Pyramid confirms this fact. Portrayed in stone is mankind’s catastrophic fall into sin, sickness, and death. There, too, we see the grand designs of our Heavenly Father in the Great Flood, the works of the Jewish Law Age, and the Christian era of faith. Salvation, first of Christians to be spiritual sons of God and secondly, to the remainder of humanity as natural sons, is taught in the Pyramid’s passages.

For those who love God and are inspired by the grand vision of His Plan of the Ages, the new videotape program, "The Great Pyramid" will be a faith building refreshment. We invite you to order your copy of this exciting presentation and see that the Great Pyramid truly is an altar, a pillar, for a sign and a witness unto the LORD our enduring God.

"His name shall endure forever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen." Ps 72:17-19

"I Will Come Again"

February 1993

Reissued for May of 1999

When this age-abiding promise was first uttered by Jesus to his Apostles, it did not make sense. To the then "natural minded" men who followed Jesus, they assumed that Jesus’ next logical move would be to take charge as a King, throw off the yoke of Roman bondage, exalt the Jews and bless the world. Why should he leave now? There was work to be done here. When Jesus spoke of his death and strangely of his leaving, the idea simply did not fit into their expectations. But as they wended their way along the path to Gethsemane, Jesus had assured them, "if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again." Joh 14:3

Dazed, these words made little impression on his little band. But forty days later on Mount Olivet, huddled together in amazement with eyes turned heavenward, straining to catch the last glimpse of their ascending Lord, this promise came alive, "I will come again!" Yes, their beloved Master would return. The Apostles wove that glorious theme into the fabric of their ministry and their very lives.

Christ’s Second Coming is the most frequently discussed doctrine in the New Testament over one third of its writings deal with this momentous event! As Christians our hearts thrill at the hope of being united with the returned Lord Jesus, our heavenly Bridegroom, seeing him as he is, living with him and experiencing his love forevermore and the reality of reigning with him (Re 20:5) in a kingdom that extends to the ends of the earth, bringing "peace like a river and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream." Isa 66:12

Long have faithful Christians prayed with the Apostle John, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Long centuries passed during which, seemingly, nothing happened. But our day is suddenly charged with an atmosphere of great expectancy.

However, in order to appreciate the reasonableness of the Bible’s prophetic teaching on this deeply interesting subject, it is necessary that we have clear views of both the object of our Lord’s second coming, and of the manner in which he will be revealed.

The Manner and Objective of the Second Advent

As we have observed, the object of his coming is to reconcile "whosoever will" (Re 22:17) of the world to God, by a process of ruling, teaching and disciplining. This is called judging and blessing. The manner of our Lord’s coming and appearing is of paramount importance, as the student of prophecy strives to determine what manner of time the Holy Spirit does signify for the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth.

The Bible Student must hold clearly in mind the object, while studying the manner, of our Lord’s return and both of these, when studying the time. This is needful to offset erroneous views, already preoccupying many minds, based on false ideas of the object and manner of our Lord’s coming.

Grasp and hold in mind as firmly as possible the fact that God’s plan is one harmonious whole, which is being wrought through Christ. Hold in mind that the work of the second advent stands related to the work of the first as effect to cause: That is, that the great work of Restitution at the second advent follows the work of Redemption accomplished at the first advent as a logical sequence according to God’s divine plan.

Therefore, the Lord’s return is the dawn of hope for the world, the time for bestowing the blessings secured by the redemption. The Gospel Age has been merely a parenthesis, during which the Bride of Christ is selected, to be associated with her Lord in the great work of restitution, which he comes to accomplish.

Signs of His Coming

Few would question that we are living in an era of human history, which is without precedent. Most Bible-believing Christians feel we are living in the very time the Bible says Christ is to return. There is a surge of interest in prophecyùa revival of interest in the second advent. Many speak of the imminent coming of Christ.

Their expectations are based on our Lord’s Great Prophecy recorded in Mt 24, Mk 13, Lk 17, 21. Many believe that the nearness of Christ’s return is indicated by such signs as the following: Israel restored (Mt 24:32; Jer 16:13-18); knowledge and travel increased (Dan 12:4); evils exposed as never before (Lk 12:2; 1Co 4:5); infidelity rampant from university to pulpit (Lk 18:8; 2Ti 4:1-4); men seeking pleasure, morality rotting (2Ti 3:1-5, 13); strikes, walkouts (Jas 5:1-4); racial strife, riots (Zeph 1:7-9); juvenile delinquency (2Ti 3:2); wars and war preparations intensified (Joel 3:9-11); men crying fearfully for peace (1Th 5:3; Lk 21:26); trouble everywhere (Mt 24:21,22).

Coming or Presence

Let us take a closer look at our Master’s words and see what these signs really prove. "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming [Greek, parousia], and of the end of the world?" Mt 24:3

The Greek word here translated "coming" is parousia. It really means "presence." Therefore, if parousia means "presence," then the fulfillment of the signs given by our Lord in His prophecy would not mean that he is coming soon, but that he is already secretly presentùas "a thief in the night." Remember, the Scriptures teach that Christ’s initial return would be a thief-like, secret presence before "every eye shall see him." (See 1Th 5:2; 2Pe 3:10 ; Re 16:15)

Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible, Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words, Young’s Analytical Concordance, and many other standard works in fundamentalist and evangelical bookstores confirm this definition of "presence."

The Bible Definition

However, we are not confined to dictionary definitions. The Lord has graciously provided His people a Scriptural definition for the Greek word parousia thus leaving us in no doubt as to its true meaning.

Parousia occurs in Mt 24:37 where it is mistranslated "coming." The following chart compares its parallel citation in Lk 17:26 and, in so doing, the Bible provides its own definition for parousia.

Mt 24:37 Lk 17:26

But as the days = As it was in the days

of Noah were, of Noah,

so shall also the = so shall it be

parousia of the in the days of the

Son of man be. Son of man.

The phrase "parousia of the Son of man" in Mt 24:37 means the same as the phrase "in the days of the Son of man" in Lk 17:26. The "days of the Son of man" in Lk 17:26 refers to the time that Christ is present, just as the "days of Noah" refers to the time when Noah was present among his wicked generation. Therefore, parousia in Mt 24:37 should be translated "presence of the Son of man" instead of "coming of the Son of man."

The Scriptural definition of parousia is further confirmed by the Apostle Paul’s use of it. The thought of "presence" is plainly shown by the contrast with "absence" in Php 2:12. "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence [Greek, parousia] only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

While no doctrine is mentioned more frequently in the New Testament than Christ’s second advent, few doctrines have been as greatly fragmented into such diversified concepts. Much of the beauty of this doctrine has been wrested from the grasp of God’s people. All secular Greek dictionaries define parousia, "presence." Most Bible dictionaries likewise define parousia, "presence." Most current fundamentalist and evangelical writings on the second advent usually begin by correctly defining parousia, "presence." Then something strange happens. Somehow the word "coming" replaces "presence." Incorrect theology requires parousia to be translated "coming," but Scriptural harmony requires that it be translated "presence."

The Main Point

If, as we have seen, parousia means "presence," then all the signs that our Lord gave us in Mt 24, Mk 13 and Lk 17, 21 do not indicate his imminent coming-they indicate his secret thief-like presence. We see those signs being fulfilled all around us.

The Scriptures show that the first stage of our Lord’s parousia, presence, will be secret. "The day of the Lord will arrive [will be here, Greek, hekoùsee Strong’s, Young’s or Vine’s] as a thief." (2Pe 3:10, Rotherham) A thief enters a house quietly, doing a secret work. Consequently, the first works of our returned Lord are during a secret presence. The world will, at first, be unaware that Christ has returned. "But ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake [implies a period of overlapping] you as a thief." 1Th 5:4

Later, his presence will be made manifest to all. The Scriptures use another Greek word, apokalupsis, to describe this revealment to all. "The Lord Jesus shall be REVEALED [apokalupsis] from heaven in flaming fire taking vengeance." 2Th 1:7-8 It is in reference to this revealment to all, that Scriptures like Re 1:7 apply; "He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him." Christians, who are not overcharged with the cares of this life, will experience the joys of discerning the signs of his secret presence (Lk 21:34-36), before they are "caught up together" with him.

When Does the "Parousia" Begin?

A number of Christian writers are publishing works which propose the date of Christ’s return. The fulfillment of the "signs" which our Lord gave us indicate that we should be looking for his secret presence now. Space does not permit a complete discussion of Bible time prophecy nor a harmonization of seemingly conflicting scriptures [such as "every eye shall see him"] regarding the second advent. We encourage you to read the online book The Time Is At Hand which contains detailed studies of the time prophecies pointing to our Lord’s return. You can also write to obtain a hardcover copy of this book. Also read the online booklet, I Will Come Again.

The Shout for Freedom and Rights

March 1993

Le 25: 13, 14

Serbians, Croatians, and Bosnians are embroiled in a struggle, which ranks with the most bitter this world has seen. Even the control of inches of land has brought out the deepest of hatreds that could be expressed by one group of people against another.

In another part of the world, Somalia, warlords of clans are fighting incessantly for chunks of land and power.

At home in America, it is twenty-eight years since the major civil rights legislation of the Sixties was passed. It is thirty years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke the famous "I have a dream" speech at Washington’s Lincoln Memorial. He quoted from scripture:

"Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." (Isa 40:4,5)

It is now 130 years since the Emancipation Proclamation started the process of freeing people owned by people in America. And it is 217 years since the Declaration of Independence asserted that all men are "created equal." Yet, all people have not been able to share in the "dream." While civil rights laws are difficult to legislateùlegislating attitudes is impossible.

What do these struggles throughout the world have in common? The resounding theme rising from every continent of the earth today is the cry for freedom from oppression and abuse. The echoing cry reverberates for the inherent rights of every man, woman, childùborn and unborn, even for the whale, the owl and the tree. They represent the oppressed crying for their rights. But who hears?

God’s Laws of Restitution

When it comes to human rights and dignity, there is a set of laws which God legislated for ancient Israel almost 3,500 years ago. These laws are the Laws of the Jubilee. They are the most unique set of laws the world has ever known. Not only did they provide for equity in the distribution of land, but they even provided for leveling out inequalities that might arise between people.

Moses’ law provided for a restitution every fiftieth year-the Jubilee year. This law prevented the accumulation of property, for whatever reason, in the hands of a few. (Le 25:9,13-23,27-30) If a man became involved in debt, he might be obliged to sell a part ùor even all of his propertyùand then, with his family, go into servitude. But God made a bountiful provision for the unfortunate. He arranged that such adverse circumstances might not continue forever, but that all their accountsùcredits and debtsùmust be reckoned only to the Jubilee Year. At that time allùland and peopleùmust be freed from old misfortunes to make a fresh start for the next cycle of fifty years.

The system did not work perfectly, but it helped. Equality could not be legislated back then either. But what was important was that this Jubilee system served as a model of a greater reality when all people would have equal rights and fair distribution of properties and privileges. Paul calls the features of the Jewish Law "a faint outline of the good things to come" (Heb 10:1, Good News Bible). Jesus also explained, "Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the law will be done away withùuntil all its teachings come true" (Mt 5:18, GNB).

What does the Jubilee Law teach? It teaches that equal property rights and equal rights of personal liberty will some day be reinstated. Because of sin, man has lost his right to life. He is a slave to death. Because of sin, he has lost equality as far as his property rights. Through the centuries of man’s history the few have oppressed the many by taking away their rights and dignity. How long will this continue? When will the Jubilee’s "teachings come true"? After all, Jesus died almost two thousand years ago.

When is this time of Restoration?

It is the purpose of Jesus Christ’s second advent to restore everything lost in Adam.

"And he [God] shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." Ac 3:20, 21

"Restitution" is indeed the object of his return! What does "restitution" mean? [The same word was translated "restore" earlier in the Book of Ac 1:6 when the disciples were asking about restoring the nation of Israel to its former status.] "Restitution" literally means "to reconstitute in health, home and organization" (Strong’s Concordance 605, 600). Since it is the "times" (plural) of restitution, this implies various stages in a process of restoration. Since it is the "times of restitution of ALL things," this also implies a very comprehensive restoration process.

How did "all the holy prophets" talk about the "times of restitution"? They did not mention the word "restitution" in spite of the fact that the Apostle Peter says they all "spoke" about it. But the prophets of the entire Old Testament, in fact, pointed to this time of restoring everything man lost in Adam-his home, his health and his life rights. Moses, also a prophet, verbalized this time of restoring in the Law. On Mt. Sinai, he received the Jubilee law too from God Himself. This time of restoration is the Kingdom of God in the hands of the Christ Messiah. This Jubilee for the world is not a year but a thousand years longùit is the Kingdom of Christ so long prayed for by Christians. For the world of mankind this will mean a release from the bondage of the tomb and all the misery leading to it.

How Did the Jubilee System Work?

When the fiftieth year came around in Israel, could one imagine that everyone was happy to give back the lands to the rightful owners? Was it a joyful occasion to release their bond servants? No, rather, there must have been considerable resistance to this equalizing process. On the other hand, might it be imagined that those demanding their lands back might be asking for perhaps a little more than their due?

Legislation is one thing. Human nature another. No doubt, the Jubilee year was a clamorous, agonizing period of time. No doubt, disputes needed in many cases to be brought to courts of law. Counter claims, no doubt, complicated the real issues. The entire year must have been required to arrive at any state of equality for all of Israel.

Regarding the time for the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth in the hands of the returned Lord Jesus, the prophets spoke extensively about a time of trouble. The era of blessing and restoring of rights and life will have its inauguration in a heated social struggle and violent political strife. The cry for Jubilee rights against inequalities and oppression have already ascended to a crescendo in these last days. The Book of James speaks of a particular cry concerning a particular kind of oppressionùthat is, the oppression of the laborer by the rich.

"And now, you rich people, listen to me! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches have rotted away, and your clothes has been eaten by moths. You have piled up riches in these last days. You have not paid any wages to the men who work in your fields. Listen to their complaints! The cries of those who gather in your crops have reached the ears of God, the Lord Almighty. Your life here on earth has been full of luxury and pleasure. Be patient, then my brothers until the Lord comes." Jas 5:1-6 (GNB)

Labor unions emerging at the end of the nineteenth century did much to address the needs of the common laborer. But these unions have their limitations and have brought with them their own abuses and are not the answer by any means.

The yoke of colonialismùand more recently communismùthroughout the world has been broken off the necks of oppressed peoples. Each little ethnic subgroup is demanding its right to a place under the sun and its own separate identity. The minorities within each country are no longer quiet, but are rising up to demand both their just and fancied rights.

As might be expected, there are excesses. There are imagined rights as well as legitimate rights. While no human has a right to oppress another human being, the time of change has seen nations which claim to be "Christian" taking affirmative action for the fancied rights of homosexuals.

The clashing cries for the rights of the unborn verses the rights of the woman over her own body ("Pro Life" and "Pro Choice") are a very heated controversy. So important are these claims that they have continually become presidential campaign issues. Where does the Christian stand on these issues? Our sympathies lie, of course, with the whole groaning creation crying for just rights and justice. But the Christian was not asked to throw his or her efforts into social reform, improved legislation or political issues. Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world, else would my servants fight." (Joh 18:36) The Christian really cannot condone the methods advocated and employed to right some of these wrongs. Often they are inappropriate or violent. But far from being disinterested in these issues, the Christian longs for the time that these injustices will be fully and fairly addressed in God’s Kingdom.

What we see today is the beginning of the Jubilee cry. THE TIME IS AT HAND states that the Jubilee "will open with sweeping reforms, with recognition of rights, liberties and possessions long lost sight of; but the work of completely restoring (to the obedient) all that was originally lost will require all of that age of restitutionùa thousand years." (p. 179)

Then truly the "dream" of all mankind will be realized. All will be given an equal opportunity to find eternal life and happiness in Christ’s Kingdom. The "valleys" of the oppressed will be elevated and the formidable "mountains" of the oppressors will be made low in this kingdom. (Isa 40:4,5)

You may already have a copy of the book THE TIME IS AT HAND. If so, or if you recently requested one, please read the chapter on "Earth’s Great Jubilee," which treats precise lines of scriptural reasoning on the exact timing of the Jubilee system. Also available is an article, "The Jubilee of Restoration," which we will be happy to send you for your study of this important subject in greater detail.

The Golden Thread of Salvation Proves the Bible is Inspired

April 1993

If you read 66 different books, written by over 40 different authors with no contradiction between them, you could only conclude there was collusion between the different authors or one person was supervising them all. But what if these 40 authors lived over a period of 1600 years and there was still no contradiction between them. Impossible! Unless, a miracle happened.

There were 66 books written by over 40 different authors, whose lives did span 1600 years and their writings on diversified subjects didn’t contradict each other. Collusion was impossible. But a miracle happened. One person supervised their writings. That one person was God. This collection of 66 different books is usually printed in one volume entitled THE HOLY BIBLE, which is divided into two major sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament.

How do we know these 66 books are harmonious? How do we know the Bible is the inspired Word of God? There are many ways of proving the internal harmony of our 66 books of Scripture, but tracking the promised "seed" of salvation is doubly inspiring. It is the golden or Divine thread that weaves through the whole Bible, binding it together in its glorious promise of eternal life.

The first three chapters of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, describes the creation of Adam in the "image of God" dwelling in an Edenic paradise, with the assurance of this eternal home if they obeyed the laws of God. Disobedience would be penalized by death. "Dying thou shalt die." (Ge 2:17) The laws of God are necessary for the eternal well being of the human race. Satan tempted our first parents. They disobeyed and were banished from Eden. As a result of Adam’s fall into sin and death, the whole race is "born in sin and shapen in iniquity." By one man’s (Adam’s) offense all became sinners and were condemned to death. (Ro 5:16-19)

The last three chapters of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, prophesies that mankind will be restored to life in an Edenic paradise, which will be his eternal home, while Satan is destroyed. All the books of the Bible in between describe the process of redemption and reconciliation by which man and his earthly paradise are restored.

Who is the Seed?

The golden thread of the promised "seed" of salvation begins in Ge 3:15 when Adam fell from God’s favor of life. God promised that the "seed" or descendant of Eve would bruise the serpent’s head (representative of Satan, 2Co 11:3). A blow to the head can be fatal. Here was a glimmer of hope. If Satan is destroyed then man’s lot would be improved. But who is this "seed" or descendant of Eve that would accomplish this? Ge 22:17-18 reveals that the "seed" would come through the lineage of Abraham and it would consist of two classes. Abraham’s "seed" would be "as the stars of heaven" (a heavenly class) and as "the sand upon the seashore" (an earthly class). Now the glimmer of hope becomes bright. "And in thy (Abraham’s) seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed."

In Ge 26:1-4, when God repeats the promise of the "seed" to Isaac, God only likens it to the "stars of heaven" (a heavenly class) with no reference to the sands of the seashore. Again God promises that the "seed" or descendant of Isaac would bless "all the nations of the earth." Then, at the death of Isaac, the lineage of the "seed" of promise that was to bless "all the families of the earth" was narrowed to Jacob. In Ge 28:13-14 Jacob’s "seed" or descendants was likened to the "dust of the earth" which like "sand of the seashore" symbolizes an earthly class. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. The promised "seed" would be Israelitish.

The Isaac or Heavenly Seed

Now skipping over to the New Testament, Paul finally identifies the promised "seed" or descendant that is to bless "all the nations of the earth." In Ga 3:16 it states, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. And to thy seed (singular), which is Christ." Yes, Jesus Christ is the "seed" or descendant of Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel) that is to bless "all the nations of earth." But Paul expanding on his lesson of 1Co 12:12 that the body of Christ is composed of many members yet is one body, makes a startling statement in Ga 3:27-29. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."

All those in Christ are Abraham’s "seed" and heirs of the promise. But remember the promise was not that the "seed" would receive the blessing but that the "seed" would do the blessing, that is, bless "all the nations of the earth." Remember Ge 26:4, Isaac symbolized the "stars of heaven" or heavenly phase of Abraham’s "seed." In Ga 4 Paul shows that Isaac pictured Jesus and his church, the Christ, head and body.

Similarly, in Ro 4:13-14, Paul teaches that through righteousness (justification) by faith Christians become the seed of Abraham who are the heirs of the world. The world thus inherited will be blessed by the church in Christ’s kingdom. Re 20:4

Remember Ge 3:15. The "seed" of the woman was to destroy Satan and He 2:15 informs us that Jesus will destroy the devil who brought the whole human race under the power of death. Now comes the conclusive proof that faithful Christians (spiritual Israel) are part of the "seed" of the woman. In Ro 16:20 Paul states that "the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." Although the second advent of Christ and his kingdom, when all of this would be accomplished, was nearly 2000 years future, yet from God’s perspective of time it would occur "shortly."

The Jacob (Israel) or Earthly Seed

Remember Genesis 28:14 shows that Jacob (Israel) pictured the earthly seed. The nation of Israel will play an important role in God’s kingdom (Zec 8:20-23; Isa 2:2-4; Eze 16:55-63) when human-kind are restored to perfect life in a worldwide Edenic paradise. Thus Ro 4:17 reveals that when God said to Abraham (Ge 17:5) "I have (past tense) made thee a father of many nations," He in His foreknowledge could speak of it as an accomplished fact. That is because God even then intended to resurrect the dead to fulfill His promise to Abraham.

Just as the sand of the seashore is innumerable, so the literal Hebrew of Ge 22:18 reveals that all the nations of the earth will become a part of the earthly "seed" as they come into the Israelitish Kingdom of God (Zec 8:20-22). Ge 22:18 "In becoming that ‘seed’ shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves." Thus Re 20:8 refers to all the nations at the end of the 1000 year Kingdom as the sand of the sea. Those who overcome the test of the Little Season will receive the blessings of eternity. Re 21:4-7

The golden thread of the "seed" of promise begins in Ge 3. It weaves through all the books of the Bible and its glorious fulfillment is prophesied 65 books later in the third chapter from the end of the last book of the Bible (Revelation) which was written 1600 years after Genesis. Yes, the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, 66 books are transformed into one harmonious book. No other book gives such a reasonable explanation for the permission of evil. No other book gives man such a wonderful hope.

"No Way Out"

July 1993

Lk 21: 25, 26

In plain television view of the Bosnian killings, the Christian West has a dilemma. Both military intervention and milder economic sanctions promise terrible consequences. Allowing the violence repeats the shameful do-nothing failures of World War II.

On June 28, 1914, the spark that ignited the Great War was lit by a Serbian anarchist in Sarajevo, Bosnia. Later, to fix things the so-called "peace of Versailles" provided for an amalgamation of Southern Slavic peoplesùSlovenians, Croats, Bosnians, Montenegrins, Macedonians and Serbs. This threw Ottomans and Hapsburgs togetherùa mix of Catholics, Orthodox and Moslem.

During World War II, Croatians cooperated with the Nazis against their Serbian neighbors. Post war Communists held all these factions in check. Now with the Communist suppression broken, strong latent nationalism has erupted as "ethnic cleansing" producing new large-scale rapes and murders.

In desperation to keep some semblance of "world peace," the nations are gathering in such alliances as the United Nations. But the "peace-keeping" forces have no peace to keep. Committing forces means the risk of getting caught in an inescapable "black hole" conflict. What to do? There are no simple choices. There seems to be no way out. No human way out.

Who Said There was ‘No Way Out’?

When Jesus talked about the nations reaching a point of "no way out," he was actually answering a question (Lk 21:7).

His apostles were asking about the destruction of their temple which they associated with the end of their age and mistakenly with Jesus’ return. In order not to discourage them about the long time that would pass before he would returnùlong after the destruction of their temple, he simply described many events that would have to take place before he would return. In this way he prepared them (as well as later Christians) for the long wait. After vividly portraying this period of waiting, he concluded by encouraging them, "In your patience possess ye your souls" (Lk 21:8-19).

Then Jesus addressed their specific question about Jerusalem and the temple (Lk 21:20-24). The Great Teacher realized his disciples would not be able to comprehend that while the collapse of the temple and Jerusalem was imminent, their destruction would also portray the destruction of an anti-Christ system at the end of the age. But Jesus encouraged a way for Christians to flee Jerusalem. "When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains...." Many Jewish Christians did escape Jerusalem in an extraordinary but temporary lull while Titus laid siege to Jerusalem 67-70 A. D. Prophetically, Jesus was also suggesting a way of escape for Christians from the false Christian system at the end of the age. Then they do not flee to literal mountains, but to Christ’s kingdom (see also Mt 24:15-19). Christians have a way out by faith.

A Nation with a Separate Destiny

Even in such an awful prophecy about literal Jerusalem being destroyed and people being scattered, Jesus explained that Jerusalem would be "trodden down" only until "the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (Mt 24:24). Not only would there come a time when Jerusalem would cease to be under Gentile domination, but that Israel as a nation would "shoot forth" (revive) as the "fig tree" (Mt 24:29,31). Israel’s restoration would be a sign that "summer is nigh," that the Kingdom is being established (Mt 24:32-33).

The "times of the Gentiles" did expire with World War I. The church-state ruling houses of Europe were broken. One of the few positive results of World War I was the Balfour Declaration (1917) which gave support to the creation of a Jewish State. But the regathering and restoration of Israel have been arduous and painful. Still it would appear that Israelùwith enemies without and conflict withinùalso has "no way out."

But the Scriptures are clear that though Israel would experience difficulties in the end times, it would not be destroyed as a nation. The other nations of the world, however, would come to their national end in great tribulation. "For I am with thee [Israel], saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee..." (Jer 30:11).

In fact, while anarchy will pull the nations down, armed forces from those nations, intent on destroying Jerusalem, will actually be destroyed themselves because God will fight for Israel. "Then shall the LORD go forth and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle" (Zec 14:1-3).

The ironic twist is that the peoples of those same nations which were destroyed will later come back to worship the Lord in Jerusalem (Zec 14:16). When the "mountain," the Kingdom of God is fully set up, "all nations shall flow unto it." They will come to Jerusalem to seek the God of Israel and learn of God’s ways (Isa 2:1-4).

"The Powers of Heaven Shall be Shaken"

Jesus pointed out that when he would return at the end of the age, the nations of earth would not only find themselves in such a "no-way-out" predicament, but that the very heavens would shake (Lk 21:26). How would the heavens "shake"?

When Jesus spoke of the "fig tree," "the sun," "the moon," "the stars" and his coming on a "cloud," it is important to understand that he was speaking in figurative language. That was his method (Mt 13:13-17). The "heavens" represent the religious element of this world order as opposed to the "earth," the secular element. At the same time that the secular world is in troubleùso too is the religious, Christianity.

The religious world is "shaken" of public confidence. The religious element no longer offers the stability and security it did in the past. The Gospel light of the "sun" appears darkened and obscured. The reflective light ("moon") of the Old Testament is no longer considered a guiding light by many. Both the true Gospel and false gospels have fallen into disrepute. In ancient maritime navigation, stars told the captains of ships where they were and where to go. "Stars" are teachers. Today true Christian teachers are fallen from honor. False Christian leaders also are continually being exposed and viewed with disdain.

Notwithstanding the illusion that Christians will soon convert this nation or other nations of the world, Christianity is being "shaken." The most rapidly growing religion in the world is Islam.

Pseudo Christs Offering a Way

In the parallel account of Jesus’ prophecy found in Mt 24, there are two distinct references to false [pseudo] Christs. Not only would false claims be made throughout the Gospel Age (Mt 24:5), but at the end of the age (Mt 24:24), many would also make such preposterous claims. Many false Christ’s have rallied a small following for a short period of timeùwhile the rest of the world would look on in appalled amazement. A most recent false Christ, cultist David Koresh, while adhering to the traditional Christian beliefs of the trinity and hell fire, added a few deranged claims of his own.

However, there have also been anti-Christs [not against Christ but attempting to take the place of Christùa counterfeit Christ]. Great church systems have claimed holy authority and have used their power through the might of kings and leaders to control both believer and unbeliever alike. The damage they have done in the name of Christ is horrifying. Such has been the recent triangle of maniacal behavior in the BalkansùSerbian Orthodox against Croatian Catholic against Bosnian Moslem. It is very odd that while Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this world else would my servants fight for it," the followers of mainline Christian churches see no conflict and have regularly taken up arms to kill and be killed, much the same as the "Davidians" and other "cults."

"Men’s hearts failing them for fear"

The "sea and the waves roaring" (Mt 24:25) represent the restless, clamorous masses of humanity. The breakdown of the Communist monolith has spawned new-nation states in response to long dormant nationalist aspirations. Despite the excitement and satisfaction of nationalist desires, such as the unification of Germany, frustrations are frightening. Economic inequity in Germany has caused recent labor disputes and ethnic hostilities against immigrants. Tens of thousands of dissatisfied eastern Europeans trek west in search of a better life. They too will be welcomed with hostility.

Thus while Jesus predicted there would come a time when the nations would have "no way out," the "powers of heaven shall be shaken" also. The result: "Men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken" (Lk 21:26). It is not on a literal "cloud" that Jesus returns. When "he cometh with clouds," they are the clouds of trouble (Re 1:7). Eventually the world of mankind will "see"ùperceiveùthat behind the trouble in the world is Christ setting up his Kingdom of righteousness.

"Rejoice when you see"

True Christians are asked by Jesus to not despair when they see the trouble in the world, but to look up in faith and rejoice. But Christians do not "look up" if they are "overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness and cares of this life" (Lk 21:34-36). If they are too involved in worldly priorities, they will be too busy to search the Scriptures and notice the significance of world conditions. The "day" is here and many are "unawares." Christians are to "watch" when "these things begin to come to pass."

The "way out" is the Kingdom. Faithful, watching Christians with Jesus will be there to help the peoples of the nations into that Kingdom (Re 21:24).

There is Hope

October 1993

The carefree days of summer and vacation time are behind us. Somehow, we hoped that by Labor Day the U. S. economy would be jump-started, that the horrors and evils of Bosnia would be behind us and our soldiers would be out of Somalia. Instead, massive layoffs by major corporations continue to stagnate the economy, the stark horrors of Bosnia remain and our soldiers continue in the quagmire of Somalia with 400 more troops ordered in- not out.

Actually, if we review the events of the last two months, there seems to be little to give us much hope. Yet the extreme severity of the problems is the one thing that gives real hope. Dan 12:1-2 and Hag 2:7 reveal that just before God’s Kingdom, when "the desire of all nations shall come," conditions on earth would mark us in "a time of trouble (or "shaking of the earth") such as never was since there was a nation." The noted historian, Arnold Toynbee, designated our era as "an unprecedented time of troubles." The events of this not so lackadaisical summer confirm that the "time of trouble" of Dan 12:1 is upon us.

Our Economy Will Yet Collapse

(Eze 7:19; Zeph 1:18)

Unprecedented floods in the Midwest and the scorched earth drought in the farmlands of the Southeast resulted in crop destruction that will haunt our frayed economy. Flood recovery will cost over 20 billion dollars while we are still strapped with paying off Hurricane Andrew. Massive layoffs continue. How many more disasters can our crisis ridden economy absorb?

Unprecedented Crime, Violence, Hate-in "the Last Days"

(2Ti 3:1-3)

In July, the Report To The Governor On The Disturbances In Crown Heights revealed that there were three days of uncontrolled violence against Jews simply because they were Jews. The only disagreement is who was responsible for not taking steps to quell the violence immediately. Acts of anti-Semitism are at an all-time high throughout the world. Will the "hunters" rise again (Jer 16:16)? There is an alarming increase in skinheads and violent murders of members of all minorities by skinheads (Time, August 9, 1993).

The abortion battle has reached a new high in violence. It has been bloody. Now it is deadly. Doctors who perform abortions have been shot or murdered. Those who pulled the trigger are considered heroes by some.

Violent car-jackings have instilled a fear of driving in some parts of the nation. (Time, August 16, 1993). And what about our youth, the flower of any nation? "They’re armed, dangerous and live next door. From inner cities to quiet suburbs, America’s youth have developed a fatal attraction to firearms" (Time, August 2, 1993). In addition to gang killings and crime, the latest craze of youth is drive-by shootingsùaiming mostly at cars and houses. Thus far this year, New York City has experienced an average of 28 deaths a month from random shootings. But even quiet towns like Omaha, NE and Lexington, KY are being shot up by young punks.

Immorality Marks Us in "the Last Days"

(2Ti 3:1-5)

Thanks to the new morality, sexual activity of teens is on the increase. The National Center For Disease Control and Prevention reported that 7 out of 10 high school seniors are sexually active (Newark Star Ledger, August 22, 1993). More than a million teenagers become pregnant each year. Most alarming is the increase in pregnancy among girls 10 to 14 years old. HIV (AIDS virus) infections continue to spiral at an astronomical rate. The greatest increase is now among heterosexual relations. Our society is so pleasure driven that the simple Biblical solution to these sex oriented problems, premarital abstinence, is considered impractical.

July Fourth Fireworks

Fortunately Americans just missed the greatest July 4th fireworks explosion in history. It was sheer luck, not FBI or police prowess, which the UN, Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, etc. were not blown up the week of July Fourth. Only because a member of the terrorist gang turned informant were we spared. This doesn’t bode well for the U. S. in the future. Terrorist acts are extremely difficult to prevent. Egypt can well attest to that. Islamic fundamentalists are determined to overthrow President Mubarak and they just may succeed. To the South, Sudan has become the haven, training ground and launching pad for the Islamic fundamentalist militants. Meanwhile, in Southern Sudan, the Islamic Government has been waging a campaign of genocide against black Christians that would make Bosnia look like a picnic. Two million have been killed since 1989 (Jewish Press, August 27, 1993). Where is the news media?

Europe is No Better

Europe is in the throes of its severest recession since the "great depression" of the 1930s. Ethnic hatred and violence in Germany and elsewhere has become so common place that it doesn’t make headlines anymore. And then there is Bosnia, the shame of every Western leader. Joel 3:9-10 speaking of the end time, predicted that "weak" nations will say, "I am strong." Despite President Clinton’s threats, the little Serb army in Bosnia has defied the UN and bullied its forces all over the countryside. The peace treaty that is being brokered by the UN appears to be a sell-out to ethnic cleansing and violence.

Also, the breakup of the Communist Empire and nations into smaller ethnic nations is a remarkable fulfillment of Amos 5:18-19. The end-time would find mankind fleeing from a "lion" (British Empire) only to meet the (Russian) "bear." With the fall of Russian Communism each segment is going into its "house" of ethnic nationalism. First we saw the dividing of the Soviet Union into ethnic republics, then Czechoslovakia divided into two republics. Now the former Yugoslavia is splintering into ethnic nations. This threatens a domino effect of further ethnic splintering in the former Soviet Republics.

Pope’s Trip to Denver

The most significant event of the summer was not the Pope’s trip to Denver, as colorful a media event as it was, but President Clinton’s anxiousness to travel from Washington to Denver to welcome the Pope as he stepped off the plane. Then he had a private meeting with him. Would Clinton do the same for the head of any other church? No. But all heads of State are eager to meet with Pope John Paul II (Time, August 23, 1993). Why? Because he is not just the head of a church, the Vatican is the capital of a church-state government, the Papal State. For centuries the Papal State has claimed to be the Kingdom of God on earth. Remember when Popes crowned and uncrowned kings? Historians refer to that era as the "Dark Ages."

The Pope has 1.5 billion followers worldwide. They might differ with him on abortion, birth control, celibacy of the priesthood, but they revere him as the head of the Papal State. Through his priesthood he has an intelligence gathering network that is the envy of every government. It reaches down into almost every town and villa over much of the globe. Nations are anxious to exchange ambassadors with the Vatican. John Paul II plays power politics with a skill that awes world leaders. John Paul and former President Reagan successfully plotted the downfall of the Communist Empire (Time, February 24, 1992). His ultimate political agenda is revealed in the following statement he made April 21, 1990.

"A united Europe is no longer a dream. It is not utopian memory from the Middle Ages [emphasis added]. The events that we are witnessing show that this goal can be reached." The Pope wants to revive the Holy Roman Empire of the Middle Ages.

The Scriptures (Re 13, 17, 19) indicate just such a church-state union will result in the final downfall of our civilization. But there is hopeùfor upon these ruins God will set up His Kingdom that will rule from the rivers to the end of the earth. Man’s extremity will be God’s opportunity. Da 2:44; Zeph 3:8-9; Ps 46:6-10

The newly updated booklet "What Is This World Coming To?" shows that today’s headlines were prophesied over 2,000 years ago in the Bible. The booklet "Church Union and Anti-Christ" focuses on the "man of sin," "Anti-Christ," and "false prophet" prophecies. Together they will give you a guide through the thrilling prophetic times in which we are living.

Health and Well Being for All

November 1993

Recent headlines present the Bible-believing Christian with a wealth of points to ponder. The declining economy of Western nations, wearisome civil war in Bosnia and prospects of peace in the Middle East are just a few current events leading to the fulfillment of prophecy. But two seemingly unrelated news items especially caught our attention. One is the National Health Reform bill and the other, an insidious insight into hell.

National Health Insurance

President Clinton’s idealism and enthusiasm are nurturing the work of national health reform. Though we do not agree with all of Mr. Clinton’s positions, we do appreciate the fact that he has thrown himself so energetically into serving the needs of the people he leads. For his personal sacrifices of time and energyùhe has our respect. The basic idea of health reform, medical care for all Americans, is an excellent one. The majority of Americans feel that health care for all is humane and just.

Daily, the need for national health care is becoming more painfully obvious. Too often common people are faced with the uncommon experience of losing health insurance. Businesses large and small are reeling from the current economic crunch. In order to cope they are either laying off thousands of workers or reducing, even canceling, the health benefits employees formerly took for granted. Every day wrenching news stories of uninsured families stricken with a catastrophic illness and medical bills amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars reach our earsùand hearts. The burdens of such debts have driven many to despair.

Such suffering arouses tender concern in most people, and should definitely touch the hearts of God’s people. The benevolent spirit manifested in the health reform plan is heart warming. The human race needs comfort. Remove the gloss of television’s entertaining fantasies and the short-lived comforts of materialistic pursuits and a basic truth is revealed. That truth is that the human race has groaned and travailed in pain together throughout history and, truly continues to suffer today. Wars, disease, crime, drugs, old age, poverty, physical abuse, prejudice, loneliness and many other woes have not left a single person on this planet unaffected. This fact leads us to appreciate every just effort to alleviate human suffering in life’s brief season.

Yet, while some are calculating the means to comfort this short life, others have calculated the probability of eternal conscious torture for most Americansùand for the world! What a contrast!

Headlines Cause Heated Response

The New York Times (Monday September 20, 1993) reported that Southern Baptists are receiving intense criticism for a report published on the front page of Alabama’s The Birmingham News. That report was a county-by-county breakdown of who was bound for eternal salvation or eternal damnation. The Southern Baptists have calculated that 46.1 percent (1.86 million) of Alabama’s citizens are bound for an eternity of hell’s unimaginable horrors. Intense furor rose in Alabama.

National figures were also calculated by the Southern Baptists but, presently, are not going to be made available. We don’t wonder at this. If 46.1 percent of a Bible-belt state’s population is probably "unsaved," many more may be considered "unsaved" in the other states. The national numbers of those the Southern Baptists believe will be eternally lost would raise a tremendous controversy.

An Emotional Issue

Merely mentioning hell raises intense emotions. Perhaps it is fear that, for the most part, causes many to respond so frenetically. But, "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." And "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 2Ti 1:7; 1Joh 4:18 In full love and trust we come to the Lord through His Word. A topical study of hell and other related subjects (immortality in particular) gives us a Biblical concept of hell dramatically different from the concept taught through the dark ages.

Sources of Thought

Reading any objectively written history of Christianity will reveal the source for much of what we once considered the teachings of Scripture. That source of thought was primarily focused through one manùSt. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo. Augustine was a brilliant man who ardently admired the doctrines of Plato (the noted Greek philosopher) and the Neoplatonists. Their ideas of good and evil, of the "immortal soul" and of eternal punishment greatly appealed to Augustine’s fertile mind. However, Augustine also fell in love with the Bible and its story of God’s Anointed OneùJesus Christ. It was unfortunate that he did not choose one or the other. Augustine’s genius was able to fuse the simple faith of the Bible with the philosophical ramblings of the Greeks.

The pagan Greeks viewed the cross of Christ as foolishness. Despite their great philosophical "wisdom" they did not know God! (see 1Co 1:21-23) Yet, when the foundations of orthodoxy in Christian doctrine were established, Augustine embraced the teachings of pagan Greeks as the guidelines. Confusion has reigned ever since. Despite Luther’s bold declaration against the immortality of the soul (point 27 of the 95 Theses), the other Reformation leaders embraced Augustine’s Grecian philosophy. Luther’s Biblical truth on the "soul" was lost to and in the Protestant Reformation. This sort of theology became the intellectual weapon of church scholars by which they ruled the ignorant massesùin fear. Today we are able to read the Bible in simple faith, trusting that the words actually mean what they say.

Scriptures On "Immortal Soul"

There are no Scriptures using the phrase "immortal soul." We must turn to Plato if we want information on that. The Bible teaches that immortality is conditional. That is, if we want it, we may obtain it on certain conditions. We must be Jesus’ disciples. Immortality will be given "to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life." "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." Ro 2:7; 1Co 15:53

Those who do not seek for immortality continue under the sentence of death pronounced upon Adam. The death sentence is the wrath of God. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men." Eze 18:4; Ro 1:18

Those who die go to sheolùthe Hebrew word translated hell, grave and pit in our Bible. A concise definition of sheol is framed by this scripture, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave [sheol], whither thou goest." Ec 9:10

The point is that if human beings really are dead they know nothing. They feel nothing. They do nothing. The "unsaved" (another word we don’t find in the common version of the Bible) do not experience eternal conscious torture. They experience deathùthe cessation of existence. Even many of Christ’s disciples would experience the condition of death. Paul, speaking of brethren who had seen Jesus after his resurrection, noted that "He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep." 1Co 15:6

When would they be raised from the dead? At the second advent of Christ. "For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever." 1Th 4:15-17 (NRSV)

HeavenùBy Invitation Only

The call to become one of Christ’s body members is not being extended to everyone. The scriptures speak of God’s invitation to the heavenly spiritual reward as "the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Php 3:14 The invitation is selective. God’s saints are noted in the book of Revelation as being "called, and chosen, and faithful." Re 17:14 We thank our God, "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 2Ti 1:9

The Destiny of the Majority

While the scriptures clearly teach the present election of comparatively few, this does not imply that the rest of the groaning creation has been cast off by an uncaring God. Those who do not go to heaven as members of the body of Christ will not suffer eternal agony. Neither will they pass out of existence eternallyùdoomed or forgotten by God. It is Satan who desires mankind to believe that God would condemn a living creature to an eternity of suffering, without hope of ever being freed, for whatever sins they committed during their threescore and ten years on earth.

Mankind will experience a call to God’s kingdom on earth when Christ reigns over it. "And the Spirit [Jesus] and the bride [his church] say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Re 22:17

God’s grace to the few who are called with this holy calling is wonderful. In speaking of this grace, Paul gives us a clue as to the purpose of the call. "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" 2Co 6:1-2 The Greek language reads "now is an accepted time, behold, now is a day of salvation." The Christian era is not the only day of salvation nor the only acceptable time. Proof of this is supplied by the scriptures themselves.

Paul quoted Isa 49:8-10 "Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them."

Those that Paul urges to receive the grace of God not in vain are Christians. These are given, by God, "for a covenant of the people." That covenant will provide the rest of mankind an opportunity to be freed from the prison-house of death. It will lead the willing and obedient to the waters of life eternal as human beings. If we are faithful to our Lord we shall reign with him. The privilege of helping to deliver the groaning creation from the bondage of sin and death will be oursùas kings and priests over the earth. That is the purpose of our heavenly calling. (What a marvelous solution to the question of universal health care!) What a great vindication of the righteous character of our God. Ro 8:16-21

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." Re 21:3-5

For a detailed study of the scriptures on hell and immortality send for the 105 page booklet, "Where Are The Dead?"

Arab-Israeli Peace???

December 1993

Despite the euphoria over the Israeli-P.L.O. peace accord, the road to actual peace between Israel and the Arabs is full of difficulties. Bible-believing Christians view this startling development with great prophetic interest. Those who have a short prophetic time frame expect a peace that will prophetically position Israel in the setting of Eze 38:11 - dwelling "at rest," "without walls and having neither bars nor gates." Then Gog and his associates would invade Israel resulting in the destruction of our world order (Eze 38-39). We, however, are inclined to believe that other prophetic events have to develop in Israel, Europe, and the United States before the drama of Eze 38-39 can unfold. Therefore, whether or not peace is attained, this peace process will set in motion a series of events that will precipitate another Arab-Israeli war.

Regardless of our prophetic view, Christian attitudes toward Israel and its land are all important. Sometimes attitudes contradict. For example, some Christians who believe God used the Holocaust to punish the Jewish people for not having the faith to return to their promised land, feel it is now right for Israel to give up land which they claim the Jews were punished for not having the faith to occupy in the first place.

Whose Land?

This raises the questionùwhose land are the world powers pressuring Israel to give to the Arabs? During the period of the prophetic development of Israel, before God’s Kingdom is set up in Jerusalem, God refers to the land as "His land." Eze 38:16; Isa 11:11. Joel 3:1-2 reveals that one of the reasons the Lord punishes the nations is first they scattered His people Israel among the nations and then they "parted (partitioned) My land." In 1917 Britain declared the Jews had a right to a National Home in Palestine. The League of Nations in 1921 gave Britain a mandate to implement this Jewish State on both sides of the Jordan River. In 1922 at the urging of Britain, three-quarters of Palestineùall of Palestine east of the Jordan River was given to the Arabs and is now known as the nation of Jordan. In 1947 the UN reneged further on the world’s promise of a Jewish State in Palestine by partitioning the remaining one-quarter of Palestine into a Jewish State and an Arab State. Despite the Arab boast to push the Jews in the sea, in the ‘67 War Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza and now had one-quarter of the land promised to them in 1917 and 1921. Ever since, the World powers have been pressuring Israel to give up the West Bank and Gaza and now, seemingly, they have succeeded. The LORD is angry with the nations for these efforts to partition His land to appease the oil rich Arab nations.

Expanding Borders

The Rabin-Arafat agreement is at variance with Mic 7:11 (NAS, NIV) which identifies our time as "the day for extending your (Israel’s) boundaries." This peace agreement actually shrinks Israel’s boundaries, consequently it will not last. There is only one nation on earth that has its boundaries decreed in the Bible. That nation is Israel. Ge 15:18-21 declares that Israel’s ultimate boundaries are from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates River. These boundaries will be fully attained in God’s Kingdom after the "time of trouble" or "great tribulation" which terminates our world or age (Dan 12:1; Mt 24:3, 21-22; Zeph 3:8,9). We will content ourselves here with identifying the minimum territory Israel will occupy before the "time of trouble" is over, and incidentally deal with the immigration of Russian Jews to the extent that that immigration is tied into the "land issue" scriptures.

Ps 83 deals with the Israeli-Arab conflict. It contains a prayer for the defeat of the Arab nations. The following scriptures reveal how this defeat is accomplished.

After Mic 7:11 speaks of our day as "the day for extending your (Israel’s) boundaries," Mic 7:13-17 describe the "time of trouble." For example, Mic 7:13, "And the earth (symbolic of the social order) will become desolate because of her inhabitants. On account of the fruit of their deeds." Mic 7:14, sandwiched in this "time of trouble" setting, speaks of the Lord feeding (Hebrew "ruling," Strong’s 7462) over Israel in a territory that includes Bashan (the Golan Heights-De 3:3,4; Nu 21:23-25; Jos 21:27) and Gilead. Gilead is a part of the East Bank of the Jordan River. The current peace process in the Middle East is negotiating the status of the Golan Heights and the West Bank. What man proposes, God disposes. If Israel is forced to compromise land for peace, Mic 7 indicates that Israel will again acquire the Golan Heights, and not only the West Bank, but the East Bank as well, before the time of trouble is over.

Zec 10:10,11, speaks of an immigration of Jews from Assyria and Egypt that is so large that it will fill the land of Gilead and Lebanon. Jos 13:5,6, reveals that at least southern Lebanon belongs to Israel by divine right. Israel already occupies a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. An immigration from Assyria and Egypt will be so numerically great that it will fill the land of Gilead (East Bank) and southern Lebanon.

Literal Assyria is Iraq. There are fewer than a thousand Jews in Iraq and Egypt. This is hardly enough to fulfill Zec 10:10. Mic 5:5-7 is an example that "Assyria" is symbolic in other prophecies concerning Israel. Here Assyria invades Israel just before Israel becomes a blesser nation (Mic 5:7), and "Assyria" is repelled. This is evidently a parallel account of Gog’s invasion recorded in Eze 38-39. It is generally agreed that Gog and some of his associates mentioned in Eze 38:3-7 refers to Russia and at least some of the republics of the former Soviet Unionùincluding the Moslem republics. Therefore, the massive immigration from Assyria may be a reference to the current wave of Jews from Russia and the CIS (former Soviet Union) republics. Symbolic "Egypt" is the Christian world. There are over 5 million Jews in the United States alone.

Eze 20:32-38 identifies Israel’s ancient exodus from Egypt as a picture of the exodus of Jews from all nations back to Israel at the end of the Gospel age. In this picture Israel had to cross a "sea" and a "river" in order to enter the promised land. The sea and the river (Hebrew word here does not mean the Euphrates but merely a river) in Zec 10:11 seem to be symbolic of removing the obstacles that prohibited the Jews from leaving the former Soviet Union. That obstacle was Communism. With its removal the massive exodus began. Nearly a half-million have immigrated to Israel.

Peace, Peace When There Is No Peace

Isa 11:14-16 also speaks of the smiting of a sea and a river (again in Hebrew not the Euphrates) in connection with a large immigration of Jews from Assyria to Israel. Isa 11:13 parallels Jer 3:18 the "house of Judah" and the "house of Israel" become one in Diaspora and return "together" to the Promised Land. Isa 11:14 shows any peace agreement will explode in a two-front war on Israel’s southwest and eastern borders. "They (Israel) shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west (Gaza strip on the southwest Mediterranean coast where the Palestinians now reside)." The Hebrew literally means a flying attack from behind. The picture becomes even more vivid as the Hebrew for "shoulders" in Nu 34:11 refers to a maritime coastù"the side (shoulder) of the sea." Any Palestinian state or self-rule on the Gaza Strip will be short lived. Eventually, Israel by missiles or planes will circle out into the Mediterranean and attack the Palestinians from behind. Then the war shifts to the eastern front and Isa 11:13 (NAS) continuesù"they (Israel) will plunder the sons of the east. They will possess Edom and Moab. And the sons of Ammon will be subject to them."

These Old Testament nations occupied territories that are now within the Arab nation of Jordan on the East Bank of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. A war in which Israel defeats Jordan and occupies portions of Jordan, Gilead, Ammon, Moab and Edom could spark a wave of worldwide anti-Semitism that could precipitate a further massive exodus from Russia and the former Soviet Republics as described in the 16th verse.

In Ezekiel 38:14,15 Gog, is spoken of as coming from the "northern parts." Jer 16:14,15; 31:7,8; 23:8, 3:18 all speak of the regathering from all the nations, but additionally mention an emigration "out of the land of the north," which seems to be the land of Gog, or the former Soviet republics. Jer 3:14-18 reveals a trickle return, which was true from 1878 to the fall of communism in 1990. Isa 27:12-13 also speaks of trickle immigration from Russia until the sounding of a great trumpet, which causes another massive immigration. The Jubilee trumpet blast of human rights brought down Communism and nearly a half-million Jews fled to Israel. Isa 11:13-16 indicates the next massive immigration wave from the former Soviet Republics to Israel might be after the next Arab-Israeli war.

Zeph 2 is a parallel prophecy to Isa 11:13 which showed a decisive victory over the Palestinians in Gaza on the west and Moab, Ammon and Edom on the east. The Zeph 2 setting is during "the day of the Lord’s anger (Zeph 2:2)." Zeph 2:4-7 describe a complete defeat of the Philistines in the Gaza area. Of course the literal Philistines have long since passed off the scene but they are symbolic of the Palestinians who now occupy that territory. Ironically one of the fanciful claims of the Palestinians is that they are descendants of the Philistines.

Then Zeph 2:8-10 indicts Moab and Ammon for all their abuses towards Israel. "I have heard the reproach of Moab and Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people and magnified themselves against their (Israel’s) border (Zeph 2:8)." The Lord spared ancient Moab and Ammon during Israel’s wilderness journey but not modern Moab and Ammon, which is the Arab nation of Jordan. It was Jordan who captured the West Bank, the Bible Jerusalem, expelled all Jews during Israel’s War for Independence in 1948 and occupied them until Israel’s victory in the ‘67 War. It was Jordan who destroyed all Jewish holy places in Jerusalem. Also Jordan and the Palestinians sided with Saddam Hussein during Desert Storm in the hope he would fulfill his threat to "scorch half of Israel." Now in the "peace process" Jordan is maneuvering to have the West Bank and Jerusalem federated to Jordan. Because of these sins, Zeph 2:9 informs us that Moab and Ammon (parts of modern Jordan) shall become "a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people (Israel) shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people (Israel) shall possess them."

Who Are The Palestinians?

Joan Peters in her book From Time Immemorial proves historically that the overwhelming majority of Arabs in Israel, including the West Bank and Gaza, do not have centuries’ long roots in the land. For centuries relatively few Arabs wandered in and out of the land of Israel. The Royal British Commission in 1937 blamed those Arabs for the desolation of the land. When the Jews, since 1878 and especially after World War I, returned in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, the economy of that land perked up. As a result, Arabs from Syria, Egypt, Iraq, etc., poured into Palestine by the tens of thousands. In Eze 36:1-7 the Lord is angry with "the people round about" the land of Israel (Arabs) who came into the land and made it a desolation. Eze 36:7 shows the Lord will punish these self-styled Palestinians. (And that punishment as already noted was depicted in Isa 11:13 and Zeph 2:3-8.)

After their decisive victory over the Arabs, Israel will dwell in peace and unwalled villages as symbolized in Eze 38:11. At this juncture, Gog and the nations listed in Eze 38:3-6 will invade Israel. Here we disagree with many of our "born-again" Christian friends. We do not believe in the so-called second holocaust in which nine-tenths of the Israelis will be eternally destroyed when slain by the forces of Gog and only a one-tenth holy remnant remains. The Scriptures show that some Israelis will be killed in Gog’s invasion but even these will come forth from the grave for their trial for eternal life. (Joh 5:28-29).

This concept of the destruction of nine-tenths is based on the RSV’s gross mistranslation of Eze 20:37 which implies the "rod" that Israelis pass under is a shepherd’s counting rod. The New RSV has corrected its former mistranslation of Eze 20:37.

Holy Remnant Is A Holy Flock

The several Hebrew words translated remnant mean remainder, descendants, survivors. The thought of minority is not contained in these Hebrew words. The Hebrew words translated remnant can refer to a minority or a majority. Mic 2:12-13 refers to the remnant of Israel that is delivered as a flock that is noisy because it is crowded with men. Eze 36:32 speaks of this flock as a "holy flock" that is increased with men. This "holy flock" will be led by the Old Testament saints who, when raised from the grave, will be made princes in all the earth (Psa 45:16). Together they will be the nucleus of God’s Kingdom that will spread unto the ends of the earth. Zec 8:20-23 The Scriptures show that some Israelis will be killed in Gog’s invasion but even these will come forth from the grave for their trial for eternal life. (Joh 5:28-29).

For a more detailed Scriptural discussion of the land issue and the "holy flock" send for the booklet The Israeli-Arab Peace Process In Bible Prophecy.

Will you be in the Lord’s Great Army?

Winter 1994

"The Lord shall utter his voice before his army my great army the earth shall quake before them, the heavens shall tremble." Joel 2:11, 25, 10

Whose army would you rather be in if you had to choose? How could you go wrong by being in this army? What will be expected of the soldiers? What will be the results of this apocalyptic tour of duty? Who signs you up? Is this only for men? Who is the enemy? What happens to the casualties? Can this army lose?

No army of the Lord could lose-or fail of His intended purpose for it. The Prophet Joel graphically portrays four divisions of this army that "executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" (Joel 2:11) The army is described as four units: "the palmerworm," "the locust," "the cankerworm" and "the caterpillar" (Joel 1:4; 2:25). Is this prophecy about literal locusts before which "the earth shall quake...the heavens shall tremble"? How could the literal heavens tremble because of plagues of insects?

In Scripture "earth" represents the existing social order, while the "heavens" depict the spiritual or ecclesiastical order of things. Another prophet describes a similar universal trauma: "I will shake the heavens and the earth; and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen..." (Hag 2:20,21) This army under the Lord’s providence will overthrow the kingdoms of the nations ("earth") as well as false spiritual leadership ("heavens"). Just as apostate Israel suffered deserved punishment when its civil and religious ruling powers were destroyed, so too will apostate so-called Christian nations at the end of this age.

Where is This Army?

But where is there such an army ready for the great and very terrible "day of the Lord"? Just as Jesus is portrayed as a lamb for his guileless innocence and Satan as a roaring lion for his pouncing fierceness, these plagues of insects represent a relentless, devastating "army" of people bent on destruction. "The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them" (Joel 2:3). Could this be an army of Christians doing the Lord’s bidding? Hardly-rather than being a "great" army of the Lord, Christians are described as a "little flock" (Lk 12:32). Their only weapon is Truth.

In the past, God used the forces of godless peoples to bring judgments against His people. In the period of the Judges of Israel, numerous times He brought the peoples from the surrounding nations (such as the Moabites and the Ammonites) to inflict his punishments. He called Assyria, "the rod of mine anger." These instruments of judgment, of course, were always willing instruments-often too willing. God dealt with them subsequently.

Do any of earth’s armies today fit Joel’s prophetic description? This army is highly disciplined: "...They do not press one another, every one on his beaten track do they go forward; and they pass through between warlike weapons, and change not their purpose." (Joel 2:7,8 Leeser). Is it the Russian army? Perhaps a European army? Or is it the army of the United States or one from Asia?

True, there is always the possibility of an army turning its power against its own governmental authorities instead of upholding and preserving them. In order to quell the popular uprising in Tiananmen Square in China, in 1989, the local divisions of the army were purposely not brought in. Divisions from remote areas were pressed into service to preserve the status quo. The government was careful not to use local troops who might have shown sympathy for local, peaceful protesters. But elsewhere that is exactly what happened. Eastern European troops did balk and support the people instead of the governments. The result toppled governments, but it could have been anarchy.

The Lord’s Great Army, in fact, is mustering all over the world, in the Christian world as well as in the non-Christian world. The Lord’s Great Army is not disciplined in the usual sense of the word, but only in the sense that its collective purpose is riveted on one objective: destroy the ruling powers of the "heavens" and "earth." It is the army of discontents, discouraged and dissatisfied common folk. Many "attacks" on society have been made in the recent past with more or less success. After World Wars I and II, a variety of socialistic governments promising more benefits to the common man came to power on the ruins of most European monarchies. Socialist programs in democratic societies have met with limited success and many more problems. Most recently, communistic socialism’s collapse has opened the door of frustration which could lead to anarchy.

Waves of Travail

The "day of God’s wrath" is a progressive trouble, in waves, described in Scripture also as "travail upon a woman with child." (1Th 5:1-3) The "locusts" of Joel seem to assault in four "waves." What the first does not accomplish, the second does, and what the second does not, the third does....and so on.

In the climactic assault of God’s judgments as portrayed in Revelation, it appears that the religious part of Christendom (which is called "Babylon") falls before the civil/secular part. This is obvious because the "kings" and "merchants" who supported Babylon are very upset that the religious part is collapsed: "The kings of earth...shall bewail her...when they shall see the smoke of her burning...and the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her" (Re 18:9-11). Jeremiah too indicts Babylon-Christendom in his prophecy even mentioning, "The Lord Almighty has sworn by his own life that he will bring many men to attack Babylonia like a swarm of locusts, and they will shout with victory" (Jer 51:14). Yes, God’s greatest judgments lay against the Christian nations because of their greater responsibility. And He will use His Great Army. The Final Blast

But while the trouble and distress of this day of the Lord will be first and specially upon the Christian nations-and later upon all nations-the final blast will be upon Israel.

The Prophet Ezekiel describes (Eze 38-39) the "army" of "Gog," "even a great company with bucklers and shields" coming against vulnerable Israel which is dwelling in "unwalled villages." The armies representing the collapsing governments of earth will come to take a "spoil" of Israel. But when God fights for Israel an insurrection will dissolve the enemies of Israel into anarchy and thereby complete universal destruction of earth’s governments. The ultimate result is that God "will be known in the eyes of many nations" and God’s spirit poured upon the house of Israel (Eze 39:29). The prophet in Zec 14:1-3 depicts "all nations" gathered against Jerusalem. After God fights for Israel and delivers them, the ironic twist is that peoples from those same nations will then have to go to Jerusalem for instruction and help if they want God’s favor and wish to prosper (Zec 14:16; Isa 2:2,3). "At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it...neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart" (Jer 3:17).

God’s Disarmament Program

Ps 46 describes this revolutionary, anarchistic "army" by yet another figure, that is, a roaring "sea." The Christian is not to fear when he or she sees these events fomenting: "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea...the nations raged, the kings were moved; he uttered his voice, the earth melted...." (Ps 46:2-6) Again the thought is not literal mountains and sea. In fact, the text interprets itself by explaining that the "sea" is the raging peoples of the nations and that "mountains" are "kingdoms." Notice the two prophecies are parallel in description: In the Joel prophecy when God "shall utter his voice before his army," a "desolate wilderness" results. In the Ps 46 prophecy, when "He uttered his voice, the earth melted," and also "desolations" result.

The Christians are "glad" (Ps 46:4), but not because they will be snatched out of the whole mess-rather because they know what lies beyond the "desolations." God will establish his own "peace process" when "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth." He will set up his own disarmament program. The same "heathen" that raged will exalt God: "Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth." As for the damage done by the "locusts," a period of restoration will follow. And instead of a few Christians in the world’s population having God’s spirit as sons and daughters, God’s spirit will be poured upon "all flesh."

God’s ultimate goal in using His Great Army, of course, is not just the destruction of governments and religious society. The purpose is to prepare for His Kingdom and the blessing of all the families of the earth. "Yet once...I will shake the heavens and the earth...I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come...and in this place will I give peace" (Hag 2:6-9).

What do the discontented, discouraged and distraught of the earth really desire? Peace, healthy bodies, a loving environment, meaningful lives and equal opportunities to grow and develop. Whether they know it or not, they are waiting for God’s Kingdom on earth. Christians rather than being part of this discontented "army" clamoring for redress from the inequalities and the injustices of society-are asked to be patient and wait on the Lord’s time (Jas 5:1-8). And that time is very soon when Christians, as the "sons of God" (Ro 8:19-22), will be able to stop the waiting and the groaning and bless the people who were once part of such a Great Army.

"Jerusalem is not occupied territory"

May 1994

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 280 of March 18, 1994 condemned the Hebron massacre and declared Jerusalem "occupied territory." For the United Nations to say Jerusalem is "occupied territory" presupposes Jerusalem rightfully belongs to the Palestinian Arabs. This was most unfortunate.

Facts of History

Archeological digs establish a 3000-year-old history of a Jewish Jerusalem. Over one thousand years later, in CE 70, Jerusalem fell to Rome. Notwithstanding the determined effort thereafter by Gentilesùespecially Christians and Moslemsùto ban Jews from Jerusalem, the first recorded census of Jerusalem taken in 1844 revealed the Jews as being the majority population. Jews have continued to be the majority.

Jordan Made Jerusalem "Occupied Territory"

When Israel became an independent state in 1948, armies from seven Arab nations invaded the new-born State. Outnumbered 100 to one, Israel’s rag-tag army pushed back the invaders. Divine Providence was telling the world something about whose Land it is. The only exception to Israel’s rightful victory was East Jerusalem.

The Arab State of Transjordan captured East Jerusalem, expelled all Jews and destroyed or desecrated all Jewish holy sites. That is when Jerusalem became "occupied territory." Also defying the UN mandate, Transjordan occupied the west bank of the river Jordan. No longer limited to being "Trans" (across) Jordan (the East Bank), Transjordan reduced its name to simply Jordan, now ruling over both the occupied West Bank and the original East Bank of Jordan.

In the 1967 Six-Day War, under the threat of being "pushed into the sea" by Egypt, Syria and Jordan, Israel actually liberated the "occupied territory" of Jerusalem and granted free access to Jews, Christians and Moslems to worship at their holy sites. Israel also liberated the West Bank and Gaza. How easily recent history is forgotten and/or distorted. Read the history of how the Palestinians were treated by their Arab brothersùthe Jordanians and the Egyptians. Under the Israeli government they now live in comparative luxury.

The UN has had the audacity to call Jerusalem and the "West Bank" "occupied territories" only when Israel regained them in the 1967 War. In 1922 the League of Nations recognized the legal, moral and historic right of the Jewish people to a national homeland in Palestineùincluding Jerusalem. If the Jews had a right to Jerusalem in 1922, that right is valid today. But, since then, vast oil reserves were discovered in Arab lands. The nations are compromising Israel’s rights for their own oil interests. Consequently, the U.S. administration and the UN define East Jerusalem as "occupied territory." No part of Jerusalem is "occupied territory."

Jerusalemùindivisibleùbelongs to Israel. The same logic applies to the West Bank. Unfortunately, Israel’s government is too intimidated by tremendous pressure from the U.S. and other world powers to insist on its historic right to JudeaùSamaria, the so-called "West Bank."

Divine Providence

Since its statehood, the hand of Divine Providence has more than once worked on behalf of Israel the miracle of the Six-Day War the SCUD missiles of the Gulf War. The nations had better understand, "For he that touched you [Israel] toucheth the apple of his [God’s] eye" (Zec 2:8). The nations had better heed the Biblical warning of Divine Providence: "In that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut to pieces" (Zec 12:3).

The First Hebron Massacre

Jews lived almost uninterruptedly in Hebron for over 3000 years until 1929, when Arabs (who were not called "Palestinians" until the late 1960s) massacred 69 Jewish people in Hebron and forced the British to terminate all Jewish presence in Hebron.

The Worth of Jewish Life

Hitler found that Gentiles considered Jewish life cheap. He put a price on their heads for safe passage to other nations. To his surprise no one was willing to pay the price. They ended up in "The Final Solution"ùthe extermination of all Jews. Amazingly, Jewish life seems to remain an expendable commodity today. Several years ago Palestinians massacred 22 worshipers in the largest synagogue in Istanbul. There were bloody attacks in synagogues in Copenhagen, Antwerp, Paris and Rome. Islamic and Palestinian groups rushed forward proudly to claim the "honor" for these attacks. There were other attacks, such as, the Israeli athletes murdered by Palestinians at the Munich Olympics.

Since the signing of the Washington Peace Accords, over 30 Israelis have been murdered by Palestinian terrorists. On February 18 Tsippora Sasson, who was five months pregnant, was killed by Palestinians while riding in a car with her husband and two children, ages 6 and 9. She was shot in the head and abdomen. This happened seven days before the Hebron massacre. THE NEW YORK TIMES ("all the news that’s fit to print") gave her murder a mere three sentences while dealing with the Hebron massacre almost on a daily basis.

All these murders of Israelis were not acts of a single distressed person but were planned by groups which the majority (or near majority) of Palestinians support. These terrorists’ acts were not renounced by the Palestinian people or their leaders. Remember how the Palestinians cheered as Iraqi SCUD missiles flew overhead on their murderous mission to Israel? The Hebron massacre was the act of one person. All the rest of Israelùincluding government leaders and settlersùrenounced and denounced this horrible act.

Where are the outcries of world opinion or UN resolutions condemning the repeated atrocities by Palestinians? Why is the world so insensitive to the shedding of Jewish blood by many Arabs? Yet, when one sick Israeli committed an atrocity, the PLOùbacked by an oil-rich Arab blockùpressured the UN Security Council to pass a resolution condemning Israel.

Where violence is concerned, neither Israel nor any other nation is above scrutiny; but the persistency of outcry against Israel is suspect. Where Israel has erred, it will receive Divine retribution. The killing of innocent Israelis or Arabs is most tragic. We grieve for both the Israelis and Arabs who have had their loved ones torn from them.

The Historical Perspective

At the breaking up of the Turkish Empire by the Allies at the end of W.W.I, both Arabs and Jews requested independent states. The world powers were generous in the extreme to the Arabs by granting them 21 independent Arab states, covering 5,414,000 square miles. The Jews asked for only 0.9 percent of that vast territory. In 1917 and 1921 the Allied Powers agreed to this request. As a consequence of "oil diplomacy" Israel now possesses a mere 0.2 percent of it.

Divine Providence

There is a higher dimension in this issueùDivine Providence. The new Israeli State is a miracle of history prophesied in the Bible. Its boundaries, which include the Golan Heights and the West Bank, were foretold (Ge 15:18-21; Jer 16:13-15; Zec 10:9-10; Mic 7:14). Its reclamation of wastelands (Amos 9:14), climatic changes (Zec 8:11-12; Joel 2:21-23), and capture of Old Jerusalem (Zec 12:5-6) were prophesied long ago. Eventually the Arabs will recognize Israel’s rights. Then Israel and her Arab neighbors shall be "a blessing in the midst of the earth" (Isa 19:24) in God’s Kingdom "when the law shall go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." Isa 2:3.

"In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.’" Zec 8:23

Are You Born Again?

June 1994

Joh 3:7

A U.S. News & World Report (April 4, 1994) article on the spiritual status of America reported, "Forty-six percent of Americans described themselves as born again." In other words, almost one of every two people in America claims a committed relationship to God by following Jesus! Millions.

"What Must I do to be Saved?"

When the Roman jailer asked this question, Paul’s answer was simply, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." (Ac 16:30, 31) Is this believing merely a one-time assent to ‘Jesus died for me’? No, Paul explains himself throughout his own writings, "...ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain" (1Co 15:2). Nothing we can do will save ourselves from the condemnation of death. However, after that "foundation" is laid, then build we must with "gold, silver, precious stones" of character and service to gain salvation (1Co 3:11-15).

Likewise, the Apostle Peter says that after we have escaped "the corruption that is in the world through lust," we must add virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and "agape" love to our faith. Only then, he says, "If ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Pe 1:4-11).

Jesus himself said, "He that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Mt 10:22). First we are saved from condemnation because of Adam’s sin. Nothing we can do can pull us out of that "horrible pit" (Ps 40:2) of just condemnation. But after He sets "our feet upon a rock," Jesus’ atoning merit, we are admonished to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Php 2:12).

"One-Hundredfold in this Life..."

In exchange for a sense of guilt and undone emptiness, the Christian experiences peace because of the precious blood of Jesus. In exchange for a restless grasping for the material "things of earth," he or she experiences a peaceful contentment. "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus." (Php 4:19) In exchange for friends or family who may forsake us, the Christian finds a new family in the household of faith. The true Christian does not aspire to "getting ahead in the world." Why?

He does not accumulate his treasure on earth, but in heaven. Even so, the spiritual rewards a Christian obtains, even in this life, are one-hundredfold more than compensating. (Mt 19:29)

The Truly Committed Christian Life

What does a real Christian’s walk look like? Has the truly committed Christian stopped stealing, quit drugs, left off smoking, swearing and drinking? Yes, but there are a lot of sincere, smart people who do "none of the above" without being Christians. Does a real Christian’s walk include a ministry of helping people, such as, flood or disaster victims, AIDS babies or unwed mothers? A lot of good, altruistic people have devoted their lives to helping people in this countryùand other countries. Many of these fine people are not professing Christians.

What are the true terms of discipleship, following in Jesus’ footsteps? Jesus said, "I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (Joh 15:19). Can so many millions of Americans all be true Christians? Jesus called his followers a "little flock" (Lk 12:32). His invitation is, "If any will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Lk 9:23). What about all the good people who go to Church on Sunday and are pleasant to their neighbors during the week? "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name...done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you..." (Mt 7:22,23). To live a life of self denial and loving the Lord with all one’s heart, mind, soul and strength is the truly committed Christian walk. That is why Jesus said, "But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it" (Mt 7:14).

The New Mind

Those who heed the call to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God" experience a gradual transformation of mind. "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Ro 12:1,2). This New Mind is the new identity that begins to think of things from God’s standpointùthat is, spiritually. The New Mind feeds on God’s Word and grows stronger and stronger. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels..." (2Co 4:7). The mind of the "flesh," however, wars against the New Mind. Even the Apostle Paul said, "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of the mindÉwho shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Ro 7:22, 23)

The new-minded Christian today struggles with the old mind of the flesh. The flesh has a hard enough time trying to be "good"ùlet alone sacrificing legitimate human needs and denying self, to follow Jesus. When the Christian wants to set aside time to study the Scriptures, the flesh wants to relax and watch TV. On a free Saturday afternoon when the New Mind would like to witness or do Christian service, the "flesh" wants to go to a mall or go boating or skiing.

Paul, like us, was not "at home in the body" (2Co 5:6). He well understood, "If our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2Co 5:1). Knowing that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1Co 15:50), he longed for the time when the New Mind would be given a "spiritual body" (1Co 15:44).

"Born of the Spirit"

When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, Jesus explained that to understand the Kingdom one must have this New Mind. The Master further was pressed on to say that to actually enter the Kingdom, one must be "born of the Spirit." "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born (Gk. ‘begotten’) again, he cannot see (’know, understand’) the kingdom of God" (Joh 3:3). Nicodemus then wanted to know how he could "enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born?" Jesus continued to explain, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (Joh 3:4,5).*

Jesus then plainly elaborates that someone who is "born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit." In other words, if one is born of the flesh, he is a fleshly being. And if one is born of the spirit, he is a spirit being. Jesus also compared someone who is born of the spirit to the wind. The wind is invisible, powerful. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (Joh 3:8). Someone who is "born again" is a resurrected spirit being with a spiritual body.

First, the Christian is begotten of the Word, through the Holy spirit. The Apostle James explains, "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" (Jas 1:18). He or she then develops, grows stronger and more mature.... In the human process, the body develops for nine months and when the baby is born, the mind develops. With the New Creature, the mind develops first, then at the resurrection, the spirit body is given. "God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him...So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption" (1Co 15:38, 42).

But one might ask, don’t the Scriptures talk about a babe in Christ who should grow into "manhood" in Jesus?

Many figures are ascribed to the Christian: He is a soldier. He is to be like sheep. He is part of the bride of Christ, and he is also a branch on the True Vine. The symbols are not to be confusedùeach has a lesson. The point of Jesus’ lesson for Nicodemus was that one who is "begotten" understands spiritual things. One who is "born" can come and go like the wind.

The important idea is that once a Christian is saved from condemnation in Adam, he is begotten to a new life. He must be nurtured to grow and developùor else he will be a "castaway" (1Co 9:27), "cast forth" (Joh 15:6). "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" says Paul (Php 2:12). But the prospects of a spirit birthùbeing born againùare glorious.

Since faithful Christians as part of the true Church are the "firstfruits of his creatures" (Jas 1:18; Re 14:4), who are the later fruits? The later fruits of God’s creatures are the millions of Americans, Africans, Chinese, Moslems, and Indians, who will come to know Jesus under the loving reign of Jesus and his resurrected Bride.

Angelic Helpers

July 1994

There is another one! We look closer just to be sure. Yes, pinned to a blouse or jacket is a little golden angel. Angels seem to be showing up everywhere these days. Even the first Lady of the United States reputedly wears one on days when she needs extra help.

Greeting cards, gift boutiques, printed media, television, motion pictures-all are brimming over with "angel-ware" to feed the public’s latest infatuation. A recent telephone poll revealed that two-thirds of Americans believe that angels truly do exist. Half believe that they have their own personal guardian angel. Surprisingly one in three Americans believe that they have felt an angelic presence or experienced angelic help in their lives. (TIME December 27, ‘93)

But the public’s current interest doesn’t seem so much fueled by a desire to know and serve God as by the need to be comforted in these desperate times. Angels are perceived as invincible mighty spirits-far above earth’s din of war, economic grasping and social unrest. They are free from all the frailties of human sin, weaknesses of the flesh and limitations of time and space. The thought that each person has so mighty an angel as a personal protector, guide, and friend is very appealing indeed. It is a great comfort in a chaotic world.

For those who balk at the concept of an omniscient and supremely powerful God who rules the universe with very exacting laws, the popular concept of angels offers a convenient compromise. Angels are commonly viewed as intermediaries between the lofty God of the universe and puny man. This brand of New Age angel is "warm and fuzzy," nonjudgmental and benevolent to all regardless of their adherence to God’s rules. Who Are Angels Helping?

According to the publisher of Angel Watch, a bimonthly newsletter, "Each of us has a guardian angel. They’re non-threatening, wise and loving beings. They offer help whether we ask for it or not. But mostly we ignore them." However well intentioned such New Age theology may be, it cannot be held as authoritative for Christian people.

For the truth as to who are helped by angels we must go to the source of Christian faith-the Scriptures. "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Ps 34:7 The angels of the Lord help those who have a reverential fear, respect, for God-not a lackadaisical attitude toward Him or His principles of righteousness.

God’s promise is, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2Co 6:17-7:1

The most finely tuned delineation of who are helped by angels is given by the Apostle Paul in the Epistle to the Hebrews, "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" He 1:14

The Lord’s angels are sent forth (not acting of their own volition) by the command of God. They are sent forth to minister unto the heirs of salvation. Not all mankind will be heirs of salvation in the special sense referred to in Heb 1:14. (see 1Ti 4:10) The heirs of the kingdom will be those who are called, and chosen, and faithful. Re 17:4 Those who are faithful to God and, yes, His rules will be the heirs of the kingdom.

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." 1Co 6:9-11

The Heirs of Salvation

Simply put, angels are not acting as guardians for everyone. They are acting on behalf of those who will be heirs of salvation. Of this class the Scriptures say:

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his É For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Ro 8:1-17

The heirs of salvation are those who submit themselves fully to a life of walking after the spirit. They will be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ if they suffer with him. The angels of God minister to those who are fighting the good fight of faith to become heirs of the kingdom.

The Fallen Angels

The Scriptures use distinguishing phrases to divide angels into two basic categories. "The angel of the LORD," "the angels of heaven" or "the angels of God" are phrases that distinguish the holy angels from the fallen angels-otherwise known as demons. "God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [Greek tartaroo-a prison to confine these disobedient spirits], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment." 2Pe 2:4 Their sin was that they left their dominion, took human form and illicitly commingled with the Adamic race. Jude says, "The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." Jude 6

The fallen angels left their first estate, the spirit realm, and were subsequently placed in chains of darkness. They could no longer materialize and so were constrained to work through the powers of darkness- demonic possession, mediums and sowing evil influences in men’s minds. Jude reveals that these chains of darkness are to last unto the judgment of the Great Day of Christ. That day is upon us-even as we see the signs of Mt 24 being fulfilled.

The ramification is that we may now expect that these fallen angels will again materialize and seek to deceive the world. They may bring about great delusions, which will try the faith of many. 2Th 2:8-12

What About Those Who Have Experienced Angelic Help?

Many claims have been made of angels manifesting themselves to various people. These angels brought about healing, powerful senses of peace, visions of glory in war and other revelations. We do not dispute the claims of those who have been helped-we believe that they have seen what they say they have seen. But, in the light of God’s word, we do question what may have been behind what they have seen.

Perhaps the chief danger with "angel-ism" is that it may lead people to a new gospel. A gospel which features open-armed acceptance of sinners by angels-but has no Christ. There is "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1Ti 2:5-6

God’s Holy Angels Not Manifest to Our Senses

Our Gospel Age differs from the Jewish and other ages in God’s divine plan. Leading up to and through the establishment of the Christian church, angels of God did manifest themselves to mankind in order to do God’s work and will. Miraculous demonstrations of divine favor, gifts of tongues, healings, discerning of spirits-and angelic visitations had their intended effect and then passed away. The church of Christ, strongly rooted in the Scriptures, has since walked by faith and not by sight. 2Co 5:7 It would now be inappropriate after the Church’s establishment to expect that angels will appear to us, outwardly manifesting themselves.

But the angels of the Lord, nevertheless, have a more particular charge over us of the Gospel church than over any others of God’s people in previous times. The Lord is especially interested in spiritual Israel. So it is that these angels care for us, supervise our affairs and communicate to us the will of God in ways which our human sight cannot perceive. They communicate in the sense of arranging providences for us.

God’s angels would not be whispering into our ears. We believe the Scriptures identify those spirits, which whisper into the ears of men as being fallen angels. We hear so often of criminals committing heinous acts because "voices in their head" ordered these acts. These whisperers are the same ones who aid and abet mediums in their seances, channel voices to the New Age shaman and even appear as angels of light-all with the purpose of creating darkness. On the other hand, God’s holy angels will keep their first estate.

The Lord’s people of the present age are to find their instructions in his Word. They will not believe any other Gospel even though an angel would speak to them or appear before them. As Paul warned, "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Ga 1:8 These other angels are fallen ones; we call them demons.

We must be aware of their devices because "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph 6:12

The followers of Christ have the Bible and the invisible ministries of the holy angels to provide for their interests-to providentially guard and guide their affairs. This, to us, is very real and of great comfort. God has given us the scriptural assurance that not a hair of our heads can fall to the ground without his knowing it. We, as heirs of salvation, have our angels always beholding our Father’s face in heaven- communicating with him regarding our every experience. Mt 18:10

Our minds can rest, in these desperate times, knowing that our heavenly Father has appointed the accomplishment of his purposes for us in Christ through the diligent and capable ministrations of his holy angels.

The Vatican’s Hidden Agenda?

September 1994

Full diplomatic relations between the State of Israel and the Vatican were established on June 15 of this year. This momentous event broughtùat bestùmixed emotions to most Jews. Since it’s renewed statehood in this century, Israel has sought the recognition of the Vatican. This desire is understandable since the Roman Catholic Church has 1.5 billion adherents and over the centuries anti-Semitism flourished and Jewish blood flowed where Catholics were either a majority or large minority. The holocaust was no exception. With the ending of World War II, the Jew proved a double dilemma to the Vatican.

The First Dilemma

First, how could the Vatican dispel the dark cloud of suspicion of Papal implication in the holocaust? Since the Vatican signed a concordat of cooperation with Hitler, many concluded that the very fact the Papacy never publicly denounced the holocaust implied silent consent. Hitler in a friendly session with Bishop Bering and Monsignor Steinman observed that his policy for the Jews, after all, was "what the church had done for 1,500 years."

But the Vatican was intent on changing its public image. The Vatican II Council (1965) declared that all Jews are no longer responsible for the crucifixion of Christ. Then the Vatican followed with phrases, such as, "God holds the Jews most dear" and "the Jew is our elder brother." From the mouths of their newly found younger brother, these were encouraging statements to a people who have suffered bitter persecution and anti-Semitism for centuries. Yet these expressions fall short of acknowledging that the Jewish people have a glorious covenant destiny with God that is separate and distinct from the Christian church. Image Change?

The Israeli government was satisfied with the Vatican’s change of image. But did anything more than the image really change? The fact that the Vatican did not recognize Israel until after the PLO did speaks volumes. The Vatican was in an embarrassing situation. If the Vatican continued to refuse recognition of Israel after so many others (including the PLO) have, suspicions that the Vatican was anti-Semitic would be confirmed. But before such recognition, the Vatican wrung out of Israel the promise to be included in negotiating the final status of East Jerusalem.

Israel’s leaders were elated that the Vatican gave up its demand for the "internationalization" of Jerusalem. But exactly why did the Vatican give up this demand?

The Vatican’s Second Dilemma

The Vatican’s second dilemma is related to the theological problem posed by Israel possessing East Jerusalem, the Old City.

Why did the Vatican demand Jerusalem’s internationalization during the UN debate of the Partition Plan in 1947? New York’s Cardinal Spellman committed all energy to keep Jerusalem out of Israeli control. He telegraphed the Papal nuncios (ambassadors) in South American countries with the demand that they urge their home governments to take an uncompromising stand at the UN for the internationalization of Jerusalem. The Vatican’s ostensible reason for this policy was that thus all three major faiths would be guaranteed free access to their holy places. However, from 1948 to 1967 when Jordanian forces occupied Jerusalem, Jewish holy places were shamefully desecrated and synagogues destroyed. Furthermore, Jews were denied access to East Jerusalem and the Western Wall. During this time, the Vatican never once raised a cry for internationalization.

In fact, since acquiring Old Jerusalem in 1967, Israel has guaranteed all (Christians and Moslems in addition to Jews) free access to their holy places. With Israeli control, the Vatican renewed insistence that Jerusalem be internationalized to provide free accessùa privilege the Israelis already assured the three faiths! Obviously, a deeper reason exists for Vatican opposition to Israel’s possession of Old Jerusalem. The Roman Catholic Church believes Israel’s right to be the Kingdom of God ended forever with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Roman Legion in 70 CE. When the Roman Catholic Church grew to world prominence, it claimed to be the rightful heir of the Kingdom of God. RomeùVatican Cityùbecame the "New Jerusalem." The rebirth of Israel challenged Catholicism’s "Kingdom of God" theory. But the claim of Rome to be "the eternal city" was completely deflated when Jerusalem, "The Eternal," became the capital of Israel in 1967.

Some Christian theology designated many Old Testament places and events as pictures or "shadows" (also termed "types") of realities that would replace the historic place or event itself. In type-and-shadow theologyùif the type or shadow reappearsùthen the supposed reality is not valid. Thus, the re-emergence of Old Jerusalem as Israel’s capital destroys the Vatican’s claim to be the "New Jerusalem"ùthe capital of the actual Kingdom of God.

Yes, the Jewish community must recognize the real issue of Jerusalem. Jewish leaders feel that if they can convince the Vatican that Israel will always provide free and equal rights to all three faiths, certainly then, the Vatican will recognize Israel’s control over Jerusalem.

If only the issue were that simple. Why does the Vatican act like a world political power, exchanging ambassadors with other nations? No other Christian church claims this prestigious status. The only excuse that the Vatican has to act as a world power is the claim that it is both the spiritual and the temporal Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem. In the coming months and years, Catholic prelates in every nation will both covertly and overtly try to influence public opinion against Israel’s controlling East Jerusalem. As already shown, Israel’s possession of the capital of its ancient kingdom is a challenge to Romeùa challenge which Rome is compelled to remove!

The Vatican’s Hidden Agenda

Why then did the Vatican recently drop its demand for internationalization if it doesn’t want Israel to have Jerusalem? The answer is plain and simple. The Vatican caved in to PLO pressure, not Israeli, on the internationalization issue. The PLO is vigorously opposed to internationalizing Jerusalem because it wants East Jerusalem to be the capital of a Palestinian state. The Vatican’s main concern was that Jerusalem not be in the hands of the reborn Jewish State.

None should be surprised if the Vatican throws its negotiating weight fully behind Arafat when East Jerusalem’s status is deliberated. The Vaticanùbe it rememberedùopposed Israeli control of Jerusalem in 1947. In September 1982 (as well as several other occasions), the Vatican received Yasser Arafat, an international terrorist, with all the honor and dignity accorded a head of state. The prestige of administering the holy sites of a Palestinianùruled Jerusalem would greatly enhance the Vatican’s larger agenda as the "New Jerusalem," the Kingdom of God.

That the Vatican is determined to terminate Israel’s exclusive sovereignty over East Jerusalem is reflected in the statement of the Vatican’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Louis Tauran (Amman, Jordan, July 9, 1994): "Before territorial problems are resolved, we have to find international guarantees to safeguard the uniqueness of the city. .. and assurances that never again one party should claim Jerusalem as its possession [emphasis ours].

"It [Jerusalem] should be a crossroads of peace, a bridge between Earth and Heaven."

Of course, the Vatican wants a major part in the administration of that "bridge." Evidently, Israel has its counter ploy. The September 2nd, 1994 JEWISH PRESS stated that Foreign Minister Peres has offered "the Vatican a sizable amount of control over Jerusalem."

The Vatican’s Greater Agenda

All heads of state are eager to meet with Pope John Paul II (TIME, August 23, 1993). Why? He is not just the head of a church, but the head of the Papal State. The Vatican is the capital of this church-state government. Through his priesthood he has an intelligence gathering network that is the envy of every government. This network reaches down into almost every town and villa over much of the globe. John Paul II plays power politics with a skill that awes world leaders. Nations are anxious to exchange ambassadors with the Vatican. Pope John Paul and former President Reagan successfully plotted the downfall of the Communist Empire (TIME, February 24, 1992). During this clandestine campaign Archbishop Pio Lashi said to the diplomat, Vernon Walters, "It is a very complex situation listen to the Holy Father [Pope]. We have 2,000 years experience at this." It was further observed, "Step by reluctant step, the Soviets and the Communist government of Poland bowed to the pressure imposed by the Pope and the President."

The Pope’s ultimate agenda is revealed in the following statement he made on April 21, 1990: "A united Europe is no longer a dream. It is not a utopian memory from the Middle Ages [emphasis added]. The events that we are witnessing show that this goal can be reached." The Pope wants to revive the Holy Roman Empire of the Middle (Dark) Ages.

What Now?

Can Rabin and his administration outmatch the Vatican on Jerusalem? In the final analysis, neither Vatican prelatesùnor secular presidents nor military mightùare any match for the Almighty. The warning of the Almighty in Zec 12:3 stands:

"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." Jerusalem, indeed, will be internationalized! But Jerusalem will belong to the Jew forever. People from all over the world will come to Jerusalem to worship, but it will be to learn about the God of the Jews and to praise His Holy Name.

"Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Zec 8:22, 23 (also Isa 2:2, 3; 60:10-12; 66:18-22).

In Search of God’s Kingdom

We invite you to search the Scriptures for the true meaning of the kingdom of God, which was promised to be established by our Lord Jesus Christ. We encourage you to write for a copy of the booklet: THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Population: How Near the Limits?

October 1994

The world’s population is expected to double in the next century to the inevitable 10 billion. According to the U.S. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS, WORLD POPULATION PROFILE, every 2 seconds 9 babies are born and only 3 people die. In other words, while you are reading this newsletter the Earth’s population will increase by over 2,000. In fact, the world population growth per hour equals 10,600. The consequences are boggling. "Today the Green Revolution falters, ecosystems are badly degraded and fresh-water supplies continue to shrink. Refugees produced by population pressures in Africa and Asia already threaten to destabilize nations." (TIME, June 17, 1994) Some would predict "a world of growing chaos, anarchy disease and corruption as hungry refugees surge across borders in search of food and nations fight over scarce resources." (U.S. News&World Report, September 12, 1994). "Imagine a world in the not too distant future that teems with 17 billion people. Virulent plagues sweep the planet. Wars are fought to control not oil, but fields of wheat. It would not take much to trigger such an apocalypse" (TIME, September 5, 1994) "If governments continue to fiddle while human numbers explode, it becomes ever more likely the horsemen of famine, disease and anarchy will have their Day."(time, June 17, 1994)

The United Nations’ International Conference on Population & Development in Cairo this September contrived a 20-year action program which some 180 countries were expected to endorse. This conference was planned to consider ways of averting human and environmental catastrophes. However, the conference was attacked by the Vatican and its "newfound Islamic allies" as promoting a "project of systematic death" because it offers safe abortions. Other issues such as, "women’s empowerment" and the relationship of poverty to large families emerged. In the end, no country voted against the final draft of the 113-page plan calling on governments to commit $17 billion annually by the year 2000 to the cause of curbing population growth. Still no matter what actions the nations are able to take to curb the population explosion, the Earth’s population is almost certain to double in fifty years.

Did God Miscalculate?

Is there some miscalculation on God’s part regarding the Earth being adequate for humanity’s home? How can there be enough food for everybody? How can the environment support the thronging billions today? And if the Scriptures also teach a resurrection of Earth’s dead billions to a Millennial Kingdom on Earth, isn’t this promised Kingdom totally impractical?

God commissioned the first pair in the Garden of Eden: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it" (Ge 1:28, NEW AMERICAN STANDARD). For 6,000 years the divine command has been in process of fulfillment. If babies are still being born, confidence and faith in God’s foresight would indicate that the Earth has not reached its capacity for population.

Large Population, A Recent Phenomenon

Up to the mid-1800s, the population of the earth has been relatively low. Only in the last one hundred years or so has the Earth’s population reached 1 billion. In other words, the number of people living in the twentieth century is comparable to all the people who have ever lived since the earliest civilizations. In AD 1 the world’s population was about 200 million and stayed about the same till 1850 when it reached up to 1 billion. In 1975 it shot up to 4 billion and in 1993, it topped 5.5 billion (THE WORLD ALMANAC:1994, p. 499). Therefore, only recently has Thomas Malthus’ 18th century projections of doom actually become the overpopulation specter which could threaten humanity.

When God commissioned the first pair to "fill" the Earth, did not He justly and lovingly provide an adequate Home for humanity? Yes, He did, but when Adam and Eve sinned, they were not only were condemned, but also their home-the Earth- was cursed (Ge 3:17-19):

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return to the ground.

As a result, Earth became a very inhospitable Home to man. But if the Earth’s productivity had not been diminished, the abundant yields would have given Man too much time to get into more trouble than he did anyway. Thus man, for most centuries of human history has laboriously eked out a living from the stubborn soil.

Since the end of the last century, however, the agricultural scene changed dramatically. And today, instead of walking behind a plough and ox, the farmer may sit in his air-conditioned cab and while listening to CD’s of Bach in stereo, he plants seeds or harvests all day. Almost. Many of the Third World countries still farm primitively. Nevertheless, famines in these countries are just as much the result of politics and greed as they are from shortage of rain and lack of technology.

Grain is in surplus. Forty-six million acres of U.S. farmland and 11 million acres in Europe have been deliberately idled under government programs to boost farmers’ incomes. Are problems of food shortages and population really based on the size and capacity of the Earth?

Experts say that the ecological capacity of the Earthùset by available land, climate and sunlight for photosynthesisùis sufficient to produce food not just for 10 billion, but a staggering 1,000 billion people. (U.S. NEWS, September 12, 1994) One liberal estimate of the number of people who have lived since the beginning of creation is approximately 252 billion. Even then, allowing ten square feet for each individual, they could all fit in the state of Texas. (THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES, pp. 160, 161)

But still we see wrenching scenes of starvation, masses of refugees and the hapless homeless on our television news. We wonder why if we have the technology and room to provide for the needs of man, will Man ever learn to share? Is the Earth still "cursed"?

EarthùGod’s Footstool

The LORD said, "The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool and I will make the place of my feet glorious" (Isa 66:1; 60:13). The "curse" laid on the Earth in Eden will be lifted in God’s Kingdom on Earth. "And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him" (Re 22:3).

When the "ransomed of the Lord shall return," the wilderness shall be habitable and "the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose" (Isa 35:10,1). Man will "return" to where he was. Not heaven. Man, as represented in Adam, was in a perfect Garden of Eden. Man was ejected from this paradise on Earth. He worked with the "thorns and thistles" and eventually died in sorrow. But the Scriptures say, "The earth shall yield her increase" (Eze 34:27). In the Kingdom, Adam and his children will "return" to an uncursed, blossoming, glorious Earth. Not only will there be enough space for food production, but for flowers!

What does it mean that Man should "subdue" the Earth? And what is the "dominion" that he lost over the Earth and will regain? As the full establishment of the Kingdom approaches, man is already subduing the Earth. He is probing its secrets and discovering new and better grains and ricesùas well as ways to preserve the Earth’s ecological balance and integrity. These advances in technology are not because Man is "smarter" now, but because this is the due time for increasing knowledge in the "time of the end" (Dan 12:1-4). In the genetic engineering of better variations of food products, scientists are not actually creating "new" strains but may be merely re-connecting heartier, superior strains lost after the "curse" on this planet Earth.

It would seem that we are catching glimpses of the incredible potential of Earth now, but that in the meantime real solutions by man are prevented because of greed, politics, and money.

Neither Marry

At the population conference in Cairo, the related problems of poverty, gender equality, women empowerment, birth control and abortions emerged as significant factors in population control. Although the draft resolution passed, is implementation realistic in each nation and culture? In each family? What solutions may we expect from our great Creator on the many- faceted dilemma of over-population?

Even if conditions in God’s Kingdom on Earth are to be like the Garden of Eden, a limit as to the capacity of the Earth as Man’s Home would have to eventually reach a limit. Since God commissioned the first pair to "fill the earth," this request would imply that sometime in the future the earth would be filled to capacity. Exactly what does God have in mind for birth control?

When Jesus was asked whose wife would the woman (who had seven husbands) be in the resurrection, he answered, "The children of this world marry and are given in marriage: but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage" (Lk 20:33-35). The sex division between Adam and Eve was merely for the propagation of the race and not a permanent arrangement. When the Earth is filled to capacity-including room for all those who died in Adam to be resurrectedùthe marriage arrangement, as Jesus said, will become obsolete. Since the Millennial Kingdom is a program of gradual rehabilitation and reconstruction, no doubt marriage will gradually and naturally dissolve.

Man will be one family. The Earth will be abundantly fruitful. While this promise may not be literal, the prophecy (Mic 4:1-4) would certainly indicate enough food and space for everyone:

But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain [Kingdom] of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains [man’s kingdoms] they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against nation. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

Energy devoted toward the military will be converted to agriculture. Economic security and human dignity will be the inheritance of every single human being that has ever lived:

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD. Isa 65:17

In spite of the gloomy outlook of our Earth supporting a burgeoning population, God is in control. Man may have almost reached his limits, but God has an all-encompassing Plan of blessing Man. Man will not be allowed to destroy himself and his Earth with overpopulation. (Neither will God burn up the whole Earth as some may tell us.) God has no limits to His wisdom nor lack of power to execute His promises. "The Earth abideth forever."

Your questions on this subject are invited! Also, should you have other questions on Bible or religious topics, please feel free to write them in and we will do our best to give a scripturally sound suggestion for an answer.

In this season of Thanksgiving we invite you to consider...

One of the Master’s Forceful and Beautiful Lessons: Matthew 6:28

November 1994

MANY and varied are the precious lessons taught by the Master during His earthly ministry, and they never grow old. To the true disciple of Christ they are ever new ever fresh. Whether He taught by the seaside or on the mountains or by the wayside, as He walked and talked with His chosen Twelve, His words of wisdom and grace come to us vibrant with meaning, pulsating with life, full of strength and power, cheering, encouraging and blessing our hearts.

In using these words under our consideration, our Lord, as was His custom, drew an illustration of something familiar to all His hearers. God’s care over the lilies seemed a fitting reminder of His greater care over His own people, of His infinite Wisdom, Power and Love. He who so carefully supervised the clothing of the simple flowerwhich bloomed only to fade in a dayùthat its robes were more regal than the kingly vesture of Solomon, would surely provide for the clothing of those who trusted in Him!

Some Have His PromiseùSome Have Not

Undoubtedly much that our Lord said to the Jews would not have been said to Gentiles; for the Gentiles were then under the general curse and condemnationùthe whole world was alienated from God. The people of Israel alone had been brought back into covenant relationship with God, through the Law Covenant made at Mount Sinai; hence different words would be applicable to them. Having come into relationship with God, His promises were theirs. All things should work for their blessingùtheir cattle, their fields, everything, would be blessed of the Lord, if they would be faithful to Him. Our Lord was, therefore, in line with this thought, exhorting the children of Israel to have greater confidence in God, greater trust in Him who had chosen them to be His peculiar people.

We, like the Master, should make a clear distinction between the persons to whom we would give consolation and assurances of God’s care, and all others. We are to remember that some have come into His family and some have not! That some have His promises as theirs, and some have not. We are not to deceive others and to imply that they have a right to claim as their own, promises which were never given to them. Rather, we shall do them more good if we point out that these promises are conditionalùonly for those who make a covenant with the Lord under the special arrangement open during this Gospel Age. To the Christian this lesson of unfailing trust and confidence in God is a very important one, and to have learned it represents a very considerable growth in grace and in knowledgeùin the spirit of love, which casts out all fear. It means a nearness to God, a fellowship with Him, which those who have not learned this lesson cannot enjoy.

The World’s Heavy Burdens

To the people whom the Master generally addressed, the matter of providing for the necessities of life was a very important one. He rarely had the very rich amongst His audience, generally the poor; and the poor in Palestine and other Eastern countries find it very difficult to obtain food, clothing, etc. In many parts of the world today, especially in India, there are people who scarcely ever go to bed without going hungry; and to these the necessities of life are a very important consideration.

Our Lord Jesus indicated that this was so in His time, saying that the important consideration with most people was, "What shall we eat and what shall we drink, and wherewithal shall we be clothed?" They were anxious and worried. "After these things do the Gentiles seek," said the Master. Their object in life was to procure food and raiment. That was the burden of their prayer. And even the Jews, though professedly the people of God, had not learned implicit trust in Him, but were to a large extent grasping after the material things, seeking chiefly worldly gain rather than the true riches. Our Lord said that His disciples were to realize that God knew what things they had need of before they asked Him, and should rest fully content in the matter of what God would provide them respecting their temporalities. Jesus wished them to be sure that God would so supervise their interests that they should not want anything really good and needful to them.

This seems to be the whole lesson that our Lord was inculcating in bringing in this illustration from Natureù"consider the lilies of the field." It was a forceful reminder that the things of the Kingdom were the things of paramount importance, and that in seeking these things first, they might have the assurance that all needed earthly things should be theirs.

Proper Consideration of the Lily

What is it that we are to consider about the lilies? "How they grow!" What does this mean? Jesus Himself answers, "They toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." That is, the lilies grow in a very reasonable way; they develop grace and beauty, and are adorned in robes of loveliness without putting forth unnatural, unusual stress or effort. They are not worried about growing. The lily does not wake up in the morning and say, "Now, I wonder if I can make another quarter of an inch today. I wonder if I shall be able to grow as fast and to look as beautiful as that lily over there; and I wonder what people will think about me." It simply assimilates what it can absorb from the earth, and from the atmosphere what God has provided for it there. It does not say, "I think that I shall go to another place, I cannot grow here," but it does the best it can wherever it happens to be.

The lilies of Palestine to which our Lord referred were evidently not the kind of flowers that we generally term lilies, but were apparently of some other plant family, and a very numerous species, we should judge, growing everywhere. Those who are accustomed to the flowers of Palestine point to a common reddish flower, which they think was meant by "the lilies of the field."

Our lesson, then, as New Creatures, is that since we have given our hearts to the Lord we are not to be worried, anxious, about the things of the present life. Nor are we to be overùanxious regarding our spiritual growth. We are simply to do our best, and trust the growing to Him. But we are to be particularly engaged respecting the things God has promised us as New Creatures in Christ, that we may make our calling and election sure and attain to the glories which our Father has in reservation for those who love Him. If we give our attention to these things, the Master assures us, the Heavenly Father will so supervise our affairs that we shall not lack any necessity of a spiritual kind or of an earthly kind. He will give us whatever of spiritual blessings and of temporal blessings we need as spirit-begotten children of God that we may finish our course with joy.

We are not to interpret our Lord’s words to mean that we are to neglect our proper duties in life; that He would not have us do any more spinning or toiling than the lilies do; that He would not have us labor with our hands and our brains in order to care for our family, home, etc. Surely not! For these things are inculcated in the Word of God. Here, evidently, He is merely impressing us with the thought that while we are doing to the very best of our ability in harmony with the surroundings and conditions which God has provide for us, we are not to be worried. We are to be as free from anxious care as are the lilies, to be fully content and to look up in faith to our Heavenly Father, expecting and accepting His providential care and overruling in all our affairs and interests.

"Just leave all with Him; lilies do, and they grow;

They grow in the rain and they grow in the snow.

Yes, they grow.

They grow in the darkness, all hid in the night,

Or if in the sunshine, revealed by the light,

Still they grow.

They ask not your planting; they need not your care

As they grow;

Dropped down in the valley, the field, anywhere,

There they growù

In garments of beauty, arrayed in pure white,

All radiant in glory from heaven’s own lightù

Sweetly grow."

Rest and Peace in Perfect Trust

God knows all about our circumstances. If we need to be transplanted to another place, into a different kind or soil, where our new nature can better thrive and expand, or where our reasonable, temporal needs can be better obtained, He can arrange for it. He knows just what is good for us, best for us, temporally and spiritually. It is our part to look for His leadings, not attempting to take the helm into our own hands, nor concluding that the Lord will never change our conditions, etc. If it is best for us that they shall be changed, He will change them, if we trust in Him; and surely, if we are His children, it is His will that we desire, not our own! We are to be perfectly restful under whatever conditions or circumstances we find ourselves, restful in the thought, "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him." -Mt 6:8.

Will this not mean sometimes strong tests of faith and endurance, if the conditions of our lot are painful and hard to bear? It may be such; but if the Lord’s providence does not for a time offer a way of escape, we may be sure that the test will prove one of the "all things" that will work out our good, if we submit sweetly to His will and wait for Him to point out a different way, if it shall seem best to Him. Let us as lilies of His planting, bloom for the glory of our Heavenly Husbandman.

Asking for Daily Needs

While Jesus tells us that we should ask, "Give us this day our daily bread," this is not a specification of what we would prefer to have in a temporal way. We are not to specify things that would be most pleasing to our palate. We are to leave that part to Him. We are merely to acknowledge that we are dependent upon Him for the necessities of life, that we are looking to Him, that we are waiting on His providence and will accept those things which His Wisdom provides as proper for us in connection with the instructions of His Word.

So on we go, growing daily, happy and content in God, and preparing for the Kingdom; for Christians who cannot learn now, under present conditions, to trust in God, would probably not be able to learn this lesson under other conditions. Present conditions are especially helpful, indeed, for those who would cultivate trust, dependence upon the Lord. In this respect we see that the poor have an advantage over the rich; and it was those who were poor, like the lilies of the field, that our Lord Jesus was addressing in the words of our text. And it is to those who are poor in spirit, who realize their own impotency, who long for the rest and peace that Jesus alone can give, who come to Him for this rest, that all the Master’s gracious promises and lessons of wisdom, comfort and instruction are given.

"O flower of Heavenly birth, blooming in earthly soil,

Taking on fairest hues from sun and wind and rain,

Soon shall thy beauty grace the Heavenly realms Above,

Transplanted to a fairer clime to bud and bloom again!"

The spirit of the foregoing article stands in stark contrast to the Prosperity Preaching of our materialistic era. The Apostle Paul’s admonition sums up well the matter of material wealth for the Christianù"godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1Ti 6:6-10

The video presentation "For This Cause" illuminates the glorious work of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful message for all at this season of the year. Please write to find out how to obtain a copy.

"Man of the Year"

January / February 1995

The prestigious "Man of the Year" award for 1994 was bestowed upon Pope John Paul II by Time Magazine.

No other world figure has commanded the admiration he has enjoyed as the globetrotting (over 1/2 million miles) Pope. His kindly smile and fatherly wave have made the "Pope Mobile" a legend. Although they might disagree with his theology, both Catholics and Protestants have joined in the accolades of praise for this man. Billy Graham has extolled Pope John Paul, "as the conscience of the whole Christian world."

Of course, he has his detractors. Many are former priests and nuns who have experienced the tragic consequences of enforced celibacy. The extensive sexual abuse of children by priests has been the shocker of our time. Who knows the sum toll of child abuse over the centuries? What is the root of this problem and what can be done? The solution, as expressed by ex-nun Patricia Nolan Savas, is simple: "Any organization that can, with the stroke of its sacerdotal pen, remove the pain of eternal punishment from a Friday hotdog and pluck St. Christophers from millions of dashboards can surely admit that it has erred in other matters." [1]

The implications are obviousàBy the stroke of a pen, John Paul could end the Catholic Church’s centuries’ long dogma of "forbidding to marry" which no less than the Apostle Paul identified as one of the "doctrines of devils" (1Tim 4:1,3). No wonder the majority of Catholics in the United States disagree with this dogma of celibacy imposed on priests, brothers and nuns.

Not Just a Church

John Paul was extolled for his moral leadership in 1994 by time, but the article admitted that the UN population conference in Cairo could be considered the Pope’s "low point" of the year. Yet at this conference of 186 nations, which included the Papacy, the policies of President Clinton and the Pope hit head on—and the Pope won.

Why was the Vatican the only Christian Church at the Cairo conference? The Vatican is more than a church. The Vatican State is a civil government that exchanges ambassadors with the nations of the world. The Vatican claims to be both the spiritual and civil Kingdom of God on earth.

To set up a Kingdom of God before Christ returns to set up his own Kingdom, the Scriptures identify as the work of "antichrist." The Greek word translated antichrist means instead of Christ (Strong’s 473&5547), not against Christ. This fact motivated Luther and other reformers to identify the Papacy as the "little horn" of Daniel 7 & 8 and the antichrist "beast" of Revelation 13.[2] This historic Protestant view holds that antichrist is a system—not an individual—which thrives during the Christian Age.

The concept that the antichrist or "man of sin" would be an individual who would appear in the future at the end of the Christian Age was first presented by the Catholic Jesuit Priest Ribera in 1580 to counter the Reformation view that the Papacy was the antichrist. A future individual antichrist, however, did not become popular among "born again Christians" until after World War II.[3]

Pope John Paul appears to be a sincere and compassionate individual, but the government which he heads—the Papacy—has an unfortunate track record. And that unfortunate record is not just from the remote past. The following is a documentation of Papacy’s unsavory influence in world affairs during much of the 20th century:

The Papacy from 1919-1994

1919. Hitler’s Nazi-ism was born. Archbishop Pacelli (who became Pope Pius XII) gave Hitler Church money to "help his small, struggling band of anti-Communists ‘go quell the devil’s work,’ Pacelli told Hitler."[4]

Under Vatican pressure, part of Ukraine was taken from Communist Soviet Russia and given to Catholic Poland.[5]

1922. Much to the Vatican’s delight, Mussolini set up a Fascist dictatorship in Italy.

1925. Any Vatican representative was forbidden to enter the Soviet Union. From this time the real Vatican campaign against the Soviet Union "began to flood ‘the whole world.’" Later the Vatican established Fascist parties in most European nations in its attempt to "establish Totalitarianism wherever possible."[6]

1926. Under Vatican pressure, Pilsudski set up a Catholic Fascist dictatorship in Poland. For over 15 years Catholic priests accompanied Polish soldiers in expeditions to punish the "rebel Ukrainians." Orthodox churches were burned and many were executed.[7]

1929. Vatican signed the Lateran Treaty with Mussolini, which guaranteed the full and independent sovereignty of the Vatican State in Vatican City. Also Fascist Italy paid the Vatican a vast sum of money to compensate for the loss of the Papal States in 1870.[8]

1933. The Pope had Franz von Papen persuade President Hindenburg to appoint Hitler to be Chancellor of Germany.[9] Fritz Thyssen, a rich Catholic steel magnate who financed Hitler, wrote an article in the Swiss Arbeiterzeitung entitled, "Pius XII, As Nuncio, Brought Hitler to Power."[10]

"I learned much from the Order of the Jesuits [said Hitler]. .. until now there has never been anything more grandiose on the earth than the hierarchical organization of the Catholic Church. I transferred much of this organization into my own party."[11]

1936. The Vatican and Mussolini backed General Franco’s bloody civil war against the Spanish Republic and vigorously supported his Fascist regime.[12]

1939-1941. The Vatican pressured Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Belgium and France to cave in to Germany.[13]

1939. The Vatican and Hitler, with the fall of Czechoslovakia, set up a Catholic Fascist State in Slovakia headed by a Catholic prelate-Monsignor Tiso. His regime was brutal towards Jews and non-Roman Catholics. After the war he was executed for war crimes.[14]

1941. The Axis Powers and the Vatican set up the Catholic Fascist Party, Ustashi, in Croatia under the dictatorship of AntePavelic. Archbishop Stepinac was the Supreme Military Vicar of the Ustashi Army. Jews were murdered, Serbian Orthodox churches were destroyed and Serbs were given the choice to convert to Roman Catholicism or be killed.[15]

1943. When it was known that Germany would lose the war, the Vatican and Britain tried to plot the fall of Hitler, then have Germany join forces with Great Britain and the U.S. in a war against Russia.[16]

1945-1989. The Axis Powers and the Vatican lost World War II and Communism swept over 1/3 of the world.

1982-1989. Pope John Paul and former President Reagan successfully plotted the downfall of the Communist Empire (time, February 24, 1992). During this clandestine campaign Archbishop Pio Lashi said to the diplomat, Vernon Walters, "It is a very complex situation ... listen to the Holy Father [Pope]. We have 2,000 years experience at this." It was further observed, "Step by reluctant step, the Soviets and the Communist government of Poland bowed to the pressure imposed by the Pope and the President."

1989. The Communist Empire fell. Papacy finally triumphed over her bitter enemy.

1990. The Pope’s ultimate agenda is revealed in the following statement he made on April 21, 1990: "A united Europe is no longer a dream. It is not utopian memory from the Middle Ages [emphasis added]. The events that we are witnessing show that this goal can be reached."[17] The Pope wants to revive the Holy Roman Empire of the Middle (Dark) Ages. ...

Are the Heavens Rolling Together "as a Scroll"? (Isaiah 34:4)

1992. A group of 40 prominent evangelical and Catholic scholars and leaders has agreed that Christians must stop aggressive proselytizing of one another’s flocks and work together more closely to "contend against all that opposes Christ and His cause." "We dare not by needless and loveless conflict between ourselves give aid and comfort to the enemies of the cause of Christ," the statement, signed March 29 in New York, says, "Not since the 16th century have Protestants and Catholics ‘joined in a declaration so clear in respect to their common faith and common responsibility.’"

"... Although the document addresses the relationship between evangelicals and Catholics, it acknowledges that belief in "the one Christ and one mission includes many other Christians," most notably Eastern Orthodox and Protestants outside the evangelical camp. What brought the two communities together to this point, some signers said, are the experiences of worshipping together in the charismatic movement and working together for political causes, such as the pro-life movement. Evangelical Protestants "have much more in common with Bible-believing Catholics" than with liberal Protestants, Charles Colson said.[18]

1993. In November Moody said, "Today, for good or bad, the lines that separate evangelicals and Roman Catholics are fading. More and more people from both sides are working together. .." Charles Colson writes, "It’s high time that all of us who are Christians come together regardless of the difference of our confessions and our tradition ..." Ministries of Billy Graham, Luis Palau, World Vision, and charismatic groups such as YWAH involve Catholics.

1994. Christianity Today (December 12) observed that the consensus among younger evangelicals is to "collaborate with Roman Catholics." The ecclesiastical "heavens," in fact, are rolling together. What shall be the result? "The heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and their host shall fall down. .."

END NOTES

1. USA TODAY, DECEMBER 8, 1993.

2. LUTHERAN WORLD, SEPTEMBER, 1960, PP. 128-129.

3. JOSEPH TANNER, DANIEL AND REVELATION (LONDON: HODDER & STOUGHTON, 1898), PP. 16,17.

4. PAUL J. MURPHY, LA POPESSA (NEW YORK: WARNER BOOKS, 1980), P. 52.

5. AVRO MANHATTAN, THE VATICAN IN WORLD POLITICS (NEW YORK: HORIZON PRESS, INC., 1949), P. 272.

6. IBID., PP. 272, 280.

7. IBID., PP. 273-275 (MANY REFERENCES GIVEN FOR DOCUMENTATION)

8. MURPHY, LA POPESSA, AND MANHATTAN, THE VATICAN IN WORLD POLITICS, PP. 22-24.

9. MANHATTAN, THE VATICAN IN WORLD POLITICS, PP. 168, 169.

10. LEO LEHMANN, BEHIND THE DICTATORS (1942), FRITZ THYSSEN, I PAID HITLER (1941).

11. HERMANN RAUSCHNING, HITLER SAID TO ME (1939), PP. 266-267.

12. MANHATTAN, THE VATICAN IN WORLD POLITICS, PP. 95-99.

13. IBID., PP. 247-265, 340-341.

14. IBID., PP. 262-236

15. AVRO MANHATTAN, THE TERROR OVER YUGOSLAVIA, THE THREAT TO YUGOSLAVIA (LONDON: WATTERS, 1953).

16. JOHN LOFTUS & MARK AARONS, THE SECRET WAR AGAINST THE JEWS (ST. MARTIN’S PRESS: NEW YORK, 1994), P. 87.

17. NEW YORK TIMES, APRIL 23, 1990.

18. NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RELIGION REPORT, APRIL 4, 1994.

The Christian Right

March 1995

What impact would 33 million "voter guides" have on the 1994 Congressional elections? The Sunday before that election, 33 million voter guides were distributed by the Christian Coalition providing voters with information on how candidates stood on key issues believed to be important to Christian theology.

The "Christian Right," largely funded by the 1.4-million member "Christian Coalition" provides funds for securing key spots in government which will assist in establishing the conservative "Christian majority" of this country. The result? "Coalition leaders claim their voter guides helped Republicans prevail in 50 important races. According to People for the American Way, a liberal activist group, 60% of all the candidates affiliated with or strongly supported by the religious right won their races" (TIME, November 21, 1994).

"More politicians than ever owe their jobs to the organizing and financial support supplied by religious right groups their expectation is that the right-wing agenda will receive top priority in the next two years" (NEW YORK TIMES, November 12, 1994).

What Issues Are at Stake?

* Anti-abortion

* Restriction on Sexual Preferences

* End Casino Gambling

* Increased Military Funds

* Immigration Limits

* Prayer Rights Amendment

* Family Values

* Decrease in Foreign Aid

* Liberal Gun Control Laws

* Tougher Crime Laws

The perception of the Christian Right includes the sincere belief that the "liberal left" has betrayed the heritage of the founding fathers of our country and has created a system which deprives them, the Christian majority of this land, of their moral, economic and religious rights. They believe they have a God-given mandate to take control to set matters straight.

What of the Liberal Left?

Whatever the "liberal left" can be accused of, one fact is certain: In the last hundred years, social, political and economic reforms in the United States temporarily defused many internal revolutions which might have erupted from the masses of discontent common folks unable to make ends meet.

But the solutions have not been broad enough, nor able to really solve any social or economic problem permanently. Still, what will come if those meager reforms are now rolled back? Who will help the poor, the dispossessed? "For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. Will help come from President Clinton’s "New Covenant"? or from God’s New Covenant? (Ps 72:12; Jer 31:31) But when?

Should a Christian be Politically Active?

Just what legitimate part should the Christian take in influencing or supporting policies of governments?

First, are the convictions espoused by the Christian Right scriptural? In many issues, they are. Certainly the integrity of the family arrangement is scriptural. The God-given privilege of procreation should be cherished and protected. The alternative lifestyle "families" are unequivocally forbidden in the Bible.

Prayer really is the life-line of the Christian to God. Who would deny that resource? In addition, the moral and practical implications of gambling are devastatingùand addictive. God’s justice calls for rigorous punishment of crime. What is a Christian’s responsibility in regard to these principles of God’s Word?

Frustration with "the kingdoms of this world"-the inequalities, inconsistencies, the unrighteousness-is understandable. The Christian is to "Lift up a standard for the people" (Isa 62:10) and "Let your light so shine before men" (Mt 5:16). Does holding up a standard and letting our light shine give authority to work with earthly governments? On the contrary, Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this world" (Joh 18:36). He taught his disciples to pray for a future Kingdom, "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth" Jesus was not a political reformer. Jesus spoke of the "new wine" of his Kingdom which could not be poured into the "old bottles" of the current society and government (Lk 5:37,38).

As the worthies of old, Christians are "pilgrims and strangers on the earth" (Heb 11:13) whose "citizenship is in heaven" (Php 3:20 NAS). Thus while Christians need to exemplify God’s principles of righteousness in their lives, they are not to force these principles on the world around them.

Prayer in Public Schools

Prayer should be taught in the home. Children should be encouraged to pray in school, at McDonald’s and everywhere. But organized public prayer does not need to be practiced in schools.

A student may pray just about any time he or she wishes and does not need state legislation to allow or disallow that privilege. "From the vantage point of the Golden Rule, it [arranged prayer in schools] is undesirable. A lone Baptist student in a mostly Mormon classroom in Salt Lake City would quickly come to empathize with the Jewish pupil surrounded by Southern Baptists in Tennessee. Do we want our elementary school children getting the message that their faith is unacceptable and foreign to their classmates? The student of the minority faith will have three choices: insult her classmates and teacher (and embarrass herself) by leaving the room, plug her ears and try to pray her own prayer, or else listen to others’ prayers every day for 12 years of public schooling." (CHRISTIANITY TODAY, January 9, 1995, p.18.)

Religious exercises in public schools is not a new debate. A quote from 1906, THE NEW CREATION, sums up,

"Notwithstanding our reverence for the Bible as the Word of God, we believe that the fact that the Jews are opposed to the teachings of the New Testament that some infidels, skeptics, Buddhists, Theosophists, etc., are opposed to the Bible entirely in view also of the fact that all of these classes are taxed for the support of the schools and required to take advantage of them-it would be both just and wise to omit religious exercises in the schools and ignore the Bible as a religious book rather than give offense to so many who do not agree with us" ("Parental Obligations," p. 542,543).

Increasing the Military Budget

Some issues advocated by the Christian Right are not even in harmony with a Christian spirit or are even directly opposed to Christian teaching. These issues, however, are consistent with the theology of the Christian Right.

Did Jesus exclude the United States when he said, "My Kingdom is not of this world then would my servants fight"? What is a Christian to do with a gun in his hand? "He that lives by the sword shall die by the sword," Jesus said. Our early Christian brethren died in the arena rather than bear arms for the state.

Why would Christians promote military readiness when God’s program is total disarmament? "He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire" (Ps 46:9).

At this time when the poor of this country and the poor of the world need help from the wealthiest nation in the world, why would Christians instead promote spending on carnal weapons? God’s indictment on ancient Sodom gives pause for consideration, "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy" (Eze 16:49).

If the Christian Right believes they are setting up God’s Kingdom now in the United Statesùthen a military priority would be consistent with that theology.

Does limiting welfare benefits, toughening immigration laws and decreasing foreign aid reflect a Christian attitude or solution? Neither do these ideas sound like the platform of God’s Kingdom: "Good will unto all men." No, but a limited view of God’s grace which says only a few professing Christians will have any blessed future-relegating out whole continents of humanity to a torturous eternityùhas to have some effect on attitudes about people and life in general.

The Christian at the "Center" of God’s Will

While the Christian may not participate in and promote the reforms of our society, the Christian is deeply sympathetic with the poor groaning creation (Ro 8:22). The true Christian attitude longs to bless and help his fellow manùin God’s way, in God’s time.

The Kingdom solution is not an illusionary pie-in-the-sky answer. The establishment of "peace on earth" will be gradual. The first step will be disarmament, converting military resources into peaceful resources, "They shall beat their swords into plowshares" (Isa 2:4). Everyone will be an "immigrant" into this Kingdom, yet there will be no "foreigners." It will be crime-free, "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (Isa 11:9). There will be no food or housing shortages because there will be work for all, "And they shall build houses and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat" (Isa 65:21,22).

The Kingdom will be a learning time, "When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness" "They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding" (Isa 29:24). Justice and equality will be the norm, "Judgment also will I lay to the line and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies" (Isa 28:17). There will be no ineptness in government, no specially favored constituents, no failed campaign promisesùonly God’s fulfilled promises and only God’s power effectively blessing and favoring all. Why will this Kingdom government be effective? "I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Je 31:33). Instead of temporary reforms, there will be everlasting answers to man’s deepest needsùbeginning with the heart.

Is God’s Kingdom Political?

Is God’s Kingdom for which every Christian has prayed for 2,000 years political? Of course it is. It will replace the "kingdoms of this world" (Re 11:15). To be consistent with their prayers, though, Christians are not to involve themselves in this world’s politics, but wait for the Kingdom of God. Then they may participate as competent rulers and sympathetic judges (1Co 6:2; 2Ti 2:12). Then prayers in schools will not be an issue at all. Praising God in every continent will be universal, "According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth Let the poor and needy praise thy name O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people" (Ps 48:10; 72:21; 117:1).

A Mystery Revealed

April 1995

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery" Ro 11:25

Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is a guiding light to the Christian church. Seeking enlightenment, Christians should heartily desire to understand the mystery Paul is referring to in our theme text-Ro 11:25. "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 fullness of the Gentiles be come in."

Gentile Christians in the church at Rome were feeling a great sense of superiority over the Jews. Paul reminded them (and us consequently) that Gentiles were "wild olive branches"ùgrafted into the trunk and root of the Abrahamic Promise. He also gave assurance that God is able to graft the natural branches in again. The Jews, noted Paul, are still "beloved for the fathers’ sakes."

Consider with us two major issues. What has become of the Law Covenant and what shall become of the Jewish people? The general sentiment in the Christian world is that the Law Covenant ended and the Jews were eternally cast off from favor at the beginning of the Christian era. Then, common opinion asserts, the New Covenant promised in Jer 31:31 was given to the church of ChristùSpiritual Israel. A careful examination of the Scriptures will reveal that the Law Covenant has not ended. The New Covenant belongs to the Jews and through it Jewish people will yet receive salvation. Please consider the following.

Types and Antitypes

Students of the Scriptures know that Old Testament events, types, pictured things that would have a much grander fulfillment, the antitypes. With regard to the Mosaic Law’s "matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." Col 2:16-18 (NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION) A type ends when the antitype (fulfillment) begins. When following a shadow, it comes to an abrupt end when we reach realityùthe substance. For exampleùthe type of the Passover lamb being slain ended (found its fulfillment) in the offering up of Christ our Passover.

The Mosaic Law Covenant was a type or picture of the New Covenant. If the New Covenant has begun then the type of the Law Covenant must have ended. We inquire, "Which scriptures teach that the Law Covenant has come to an end?"

Mosaic Law Covenant Ended?

Four scriptures seemingly teach that the Law Covenant has ended:

* "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Ro 10:4

* "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" Col 2:14

* "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, [of the law covenant]" Col 2:20

* "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:" Eph 2:14-16

The first text is the strongest, but only if we stop reading it halfway through. This is frequently done, "For Christ is the end of the law. " If it did not have the last half, this would be a very strong scripture to show that the Mosaic Law Covenant is ended. But the last half argues powerfully that the Law is not ended. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

Only those Jews who had believed on the Lord Jesus were freed from the grasp of the Law. Only those who had become dead in Christ could enter into Christian libertyùfree from the bondage of the Law. All who did not believe remained (and still remain) in bondage to the law.

These four texts all refer to Jewish believers who escaped the Law’s bondage by becoming dead with Christ. "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." Ro 7:4 By coming into Christ (as members of his mystical Body) Jewish Christians were (and are) freed from their obligations to the Mosaic Law. Otherwise, as the above scripture shows, the Law still has a claim over them. Therefore, the typical Law Covenant still exists.

The Christian Covenant Oldest of All

A doctrine cannot be proven by a type-unless that type is interpreted for us by an Apostle. Such is the case in Ga 4:22-31. The Apostle Paul reveals the significance of Abraham’s two wives, Sarah and Hagar. They were an allegoryùrepresenting "the two covenants." The Hagar Covenant corresponded to the Law Covenant. This covenant brought forth a seed-the nation of Israel. Likewise the Sarah Covenant brought forth a seed-the seed of promiseùSpiritual Israel. "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise." Ga 4:28.

Sarah was Abraham’s wife long before Hagar was given to him. This fact is paralleled in Ga 3:15-17. The promise to Abraham that he would have a seed (Sarah Covenant) came 430 years before the Law Covenant (Hagar Covenant) was made. The Sarah or Grace Covenant is thus 430 years older than the Hagar or Law Covenant. The covenant Sarah typified is not the New Covenant. It is even older than the typical Law Covenant.

Carefully looking at the type ("Cast out the bondwoman")

The Apostle’s lesson in chapter four is that as Hagar’s son Ishmael persecuted Sarah’s son Isaac so the Hagar (Law) Covenant seed, natural Israel, was persecuting the Sarah (Grace) Covenant seed, spiritual Israel.

Abraham, as a type of God, pronounced punishment on Hagar and Ishmael.

We note that they were not to be put to death by stoning or slain with sword or spear. "But what does the scripture say? ‘Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.’"( Ga 4:30 NRSV) She was turned out into the wilderness, still very much alive. In this way the antitype has been fulfilled. The nation of Israel has been dispersed to the four corners of the earth (the wilderness) by Divine decree. see De 28:64-67 In this wilderness condition they are still obligated and bound to their very much alive "mother"ùThe Law Covenant.

Three Further Witnesses

"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." Another proof that the Law Covenant did not end at the first advent of Christ is given in Ga 4:24-25, 29. These verses were written nearly a quarter century after the Cross. Yet the Apostle still speaks of the Law Covenant in the present tense.

"Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children." "But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also." (Ga 4:24-25, 29 NRSV) These scriptures affirm that the typical Law Covenant is still in force. Therefore the antitype, the New Covenant, cannot have begun.

The second witness is 1Co 9:20, "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law." This is very clear. The Law still had to existùstill be in forceùin order for the Jews to be under it.

The third witness, Heb 8:13, says "In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." The word "old" in the original Greek has the thought of "senile." Senile does not mean deadùpassed away. It means feeble, aged or infirmed. The typical Law covenant did not end at the cross-it became weak. It started to decay after the time of the cross and is now getting "ready to vanish away."

Evidences of the New Covenant

There are clear scriptural evidences as to when the New Covenant has begun. These are found in the context of the classic New Covenant text-Jer 31:27-34.

Three points stand out as to the time when the New Covenant will be in effect. First, the nation of Israelùthe Jewish Peopleùscattered to the four corners of the earth will be regathered. They will be planted in their land. Therefore the New Covenant cannot be made until the Great Diaspora ends. (Jer 31:27, 28)

Second, in those days of the New Covenant’s operation no one will die for their father’s (Adam’s) sin. Each will die for his own sin. (Jer 31:29, 30) Manifestly, this has not yet occurred as Paul asserts in Ro 5:12.

Third, in that time it will no longer be necessary to tell anyone, from the least even unto the greatest, to know the Lord. This is due to the fact that all shall know him. (Jer 31:34) Comparatively few have really known the Lord since the time of the first advent. Therefore this too awaits fulfillment.

If these three future events are Scripturally associated with making the New Covenant, it is rational to understand that the New Covenant is also future.

The Mystery Revealed

The New Covenant is not the "Sarah" or Christian Covenant. But if it is not for Christians, then with whom will the New Covenant be made? "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah." Jer 31:31 When the fullness of the Gentiles be come in (see Ac 15:14-17) "there shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my [God’s] covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." The Law will then have completed its role of leading the nation of Israel to recognize Messiah. Ga 3:24

Then the New Covenant of Jer 31 will be made with the nation of Israel. Blessings will begin to flow forth from the Divine storehouse upon Israel and through them to the rest of mankind. Though God has led the Jews on a path separate and distinct from the way He leads Christians, the Jewish people are not forgotten nor cast off forever (see Ro 11:11,12). They too will realize Divine salvation. This mystery will then be made plain. Israel’s partial blindness will be removed. God will restore them, turning away ungodliness from Jacob and forgiving their sins. God "shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit." Isa 27:6

Beware of Polytheism

May 1995

Historically Christianity religion along with Judaism and Islam have been categorized as monotheistic religions. However, since many Christians believed in the Trinity, some felt their claim of monotheism was suspect. Since the Trinitarian’s historic phrase "one substance" was nebulas enough to imply their three gods were one person—the Trinitarian wing of the Christian church was accepted as monotheistic. The word "Trinity" does not appear in the Bible. Adolf Harneck, a Trinitarian and noted church historian observed that as late as the 3rd Century most Christians did not believe the holy Spirit was a personality but merely the power of God.[1] Early church writers, such as Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, Novatian, Arnobius and Lactantius, were very explicit in affirming that the Heavenly Father alone is the supreme God and that Jesus is completely subordinate to His authority and will. As educated converts from Paganism vied for positions of authority in the church. They brought with them the pagan concept of a "triune god" that was resisted by ordinary believers. "The victory of orthodoxy [so called] was a triumph of priests and theologians over the indeed deeply rooted faith of the people."[2]

In 325 AD Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nice and through political intrigue with the bishops had the Nicene Creed formulated. It stated that the Father and Son are coequal and coeternal. This disagreed with Jesus’ words, "My Father is greater than I." (Joh 14:28) "I can of mine own self do nothing my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (Joh 5:30) "as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." (Joh 20:21) "I ascend unto my Father, and your Father: and to my God and your God." (Joh 20:17)

Note that the Heavenly Father is said to be the God of Jesus. Jesus spoke of his Father in Joh 17:3 as the "only true God."

Then in AD 381, 300 years after the Christian Church began, the holy Spirit was declared a God and the dogma of the Trinity was forged by the Trinitarian wing of the Church at the Council of Constantinople. They defined the Trinity as three Gods in one substance. This was not a Scriptural teaching held from the inception of the Christian Church. This was the forging of a tradition that would plague the church for centuries.

Why the Tradition Endured

In the whole Bible there is only one scripture that seems to teach the concept of three persons in one. It is the King James rendering of 1Joh 5:7, 8, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one."

The words italicized in this scriptural quotation are not found in any of the oldest and most reliable Biblical manuscripts. That they are not a genuine part of the original text is the unanimous verdict of contemporary scholars, evangelicals included. Look up 1Joh 5:7, 8, in the Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Version, New International Version, etc. These translations do not agree with the King James Version. They omit these italicized spurious (not authentic) words. Why? Because overzealous Trinitarians added these words after the Council of Constantinople in AD 381.

More properly translated 1Joh 5:7, 8, reads: "For these are three which testify; the spirit, and the water, and the blood; and the three are of one." [3] Here the holy Spirit is part of the only trinity (three in one) taught in the Bible. But it is a trinity of non-personalities, the water (Jesus’ baptism), the spirit (Jesus’ anointing), and the blood (Jesus’ death). Blood and water are not persons; therefore, the third part of this trinity-the holy Spirit is not a person either. Rather, it is the Holy influence or power of God.

Since the corruption of 1Joh 5:7, 8, was not yet discovered by the Reformation period, the Protestant Reformers accepted the tradition established in 381 AD of three Gods in "one substance." Until the mid 20th Century, the esteem of the King James Version by many Born-Again Christians bordered on Divine inspiration; therefore, they were locked into the corruption of 1Joh 5:7, 8. But now with their exposure to new translations, Born-Again Christians are redefining "the Trinity."

Trinitarians now claim that the phrase "one substance" was not used to teach that the Father, Son, and holy Spirit were one person. Rather they were of the same nature and one in purpose, yet three distinct persons. However, history indicates to the contrary.

"The Papacy has in some of its churches, as, for instance, in the monastery of the so-called Trinitarians of Madrid, an image of the Triune God, with three heads on one body. The Babylonians had something of the same. Mr. Layard, in his last work, has given a specimen of such a triune divinity, worshipped in ancient Assyria." [4]

"In the unity of that one Only God of the Babylonians, there were three persons, and to symbolize that doctrine of the Trinity, they employed, as the discoveries of Layard prove, the equilateral triangle, just as it is well known the Romish Church does at this day." [5]

In the mid-20th Century C. S. Lewis was considered an outstanding spokesman for Protestantism. Lewis affirms the "one substance" view of the Trinitarians:

"we could never have guessed in advance, any more than a knowledge of squares would have enabled us to guess at a cube. He contains ‘persons’ (three of them) while remaining one god, as a cube combines six squares while remaining one solid body. We cannot comprehend such a structure any more than the Flatlanders could comprehend a cube." [6]

This traditional view of the trinity was an unfortunate 4th Century (381 AD) departure from the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles. This was bad enough, but the redefining of the Trinity by many contemporary Born-Again Christians has crossed the line to polytheism. To say that the Father, Son, and holy Spirit are coequal and coeternal Gods, one in purpose and all of the same nature, yet separate and distinct persons is plain and simple polytheism—a worshipping of three separate Gods. This was a gross departure from true Christianity.

A Return To Jesus’ Teachings

Meanwhile in 1864 Benjamin Wilson, a Christadelphian, published THE EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT—an interlinear Greek-English translation. It was one of the first to render 1Joh 5:7, 8 correctly, its effect was electrifying. Many Christian groups founded after its publication didn’t believe in the Trinity. Also, THE EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT rendered Joh 1:1, "the Word was with the God and a god was the Word." This defines Jesus as "a god" who was inferior to and separate from the Father. Several translations in the 20th Century that follow this rendering have raised the ire of Trinitarians. However, THE BIBLE TRANSLATOR (Vol. 28, No. 1, Jan. 1977) published by translators who are Trinitarians, said of this rendering—"As a word-for-word translation it cannot be faulted."

Elohim

The word "God" in the Old Testament is often a translation of the Hebrew word ELOHIM. Since Jesus and the Father are both called ELOHIM, it is asserted that they are the same being. But angels (Ps 8:5), Abraham (Ge 23:5,6), Israel’s judges (Ex 21:6) and the Church (Ps 82:6) are also called ELOHIM [7] in the Scriptures. ELOHIM signifies: a mighty one, prince, ruler, or judge; and since it is scripturally used to refer to men and angels, as well as to God, its use in referring to our Lord Jesus Christ does not in any way prove his equality with God. Nor is there any validity in the assertion that, because ELOHIM is plural in form, its application to God indicates that there is more than one person in God. In Ex 7:1, Moses is called ELOHIM by God. Was Moses plural? Certainly not, for the word ELOHIM, like our English word "sheep," can be either singular or plural, as the occasion demands.

Several scriptures seem to refer to the holy Spirit speaking, however, other scriptures also symbolically portray non-personal entities as exercising personality traits. In Pr 1:20-22, "wisdom" is portrayed as speaking and referred to by the personal pronoun "she." Also, in Lk 7:35, wisdom is designated "she" and has children. In Ro 7:11, "sin" is spoken of as exercising mental deception.

A dilemma for Trinitarians! How can the concept that the Father, Son, and holy Spirit are three Gods that are coequal harmonize with Isa 11:2-10? In this Kingdom scene, the Son will receive the spirit of the Father that he might have the wisdom to perform the work of the Kingdom. If these are three equal Gods, why will the Father need to give his Son a third God to enable the Son to exercise wisdom?

END NOTES

1. Adolf Harnack, OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF DOGMA, Translated by E. K. Mitchell (Starr Kemp Press, 1957) P.266.

2. Ibid. P. 266.

3. Benjamin Wilson, THE EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT; NESTLE AND MARSHALL; and THE INTERLINEAR GREEK-ENGLISH NEW TESTAMENT.

4. Rev. Alexander Hislop, THE TWO BABLYONS (Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1959) P.17.

5. Ibid. P.16.

6. C. S. Lewis, THE BEST OF C. S. LEWIS (Washington, D.C: Cannon Press, 1974) P.282.

7. see STRONG’S CONCORDANCE and NEW ENGLISHMAN’S CONCORDANCE.

Is Hell Burning?

June 1995

"When it comes to a literal fire, I don’t preach it because I’m not sure about it." [1] -Billy Graham, 1993

"According to a recent Gallup poll, 60 percent of Americans believe in Hell or say they do, up from 52 percent in 1953."[2] Whatever people believe Hell to be, a majority of people in this country believe Hell exists. If we accept the Bible as the Word of God, then Hell is a reality. The question is, what is that reality?

If we have a vaguely uncomfortable feeling about thinking of billions of the unsaved spending an eternity in a place of torment, perhaps it would be of comfort to know that God actually does have a just and reasonable plan for man. We do not have to rationalize our comfortable lives by telling ourselves that Christian missionaries are conquering continents of sinners. For if we tried, the fact that Islam is today’s fastest growing religion would indeed be a bitter fact to swallow. In any case, how can a loving and just God allow for a burning hellùsuch a concept is contrary to His character?!

The Scriptures say that death, not torment, is the penalty for sin. "In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die" (Ge 2:17). "The soul that sinneth it shall die" (Eze 18:4). But since the "father of lies," Satan, contradicted God, "Ye shall not surely die" (Ge 3:4), he had to devise a cover-up to hide the fact that the human race was actually dying. Throughout human history Satan has been very successful in perpetuating the lie that man does not really die but lives on in an afterlife-one of bliss or torment. So the world’s religions have all carried on Satan’s lie in one form or another until our day.

The idea of an individual trial for the soul may have come from the ancient Egyptians or from the teachings of Zoroaster who taught that a "Lord of Lies" who lived in a "hell" in the dark reaches under the earth recorded the deeds of men as debits and credits. When the body died, the soul went to be judged (remember Satan’s first lie). If the "soul" is found in the "black," it is permitted to proceed to the House of Song. However, if the "soul" is found in the "red," it is doomed to hell. Furthermore, the eastern religions of Hinduism and Buddhism both teach of many hells to which the soul must continuously migrate. Since Satan is the originator of the lie, "Thou shalt not surely die," and all the ancient religions perpetuated this myth, how does the Bible define Hell? Can we find support for the common conception of Hellùone filled with fire and torment?

Two principal places in the Bible which mention fire and hell togetherùoccur in Deuteronomy 32 and Luke 16. Remarkably both these passages deal with the subject of Israel’s "death" as a nation and the exaltation of the Gentiles to God’s favor.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

The plot of the story that Jesus tells is simple. A poor man sits outside the house of a rich man begging for crumbs. When both these men die, they are taken to different places. Being tormented with flames in hell, the rich man calls out to the poor man, who has been brought to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man begs for "water" but cannot be comforted because of the "great gulf fixed" between them. Is Jesus relating the experiences of real people? Does an existence of torment await those rich in this world’s goods? Are the poor automatically promised an afterlife of bliss and comfort?

When Jesus taught, how did he speak to the people? "All these things spoke Jesus unto the multitude in parables, and without a parable spoke he not unto them" (Mt 13:34). Unless Jesus was instructing his disciples in specific codes of conduct (Lk 16:18, Mt 18:15-22), he would only use parables to teach his message. Parables can be recognized by their narrative, story-like quality. Parables are often difficult to understand. Once, the Disciples asked Jesus about the meaning of a parable he had told that day. But Jesus first explained, "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but unto those who are outside all these things are done in parables...." This story of the rich man and Lazarus is a parable which contains an important lesson to the Pharisees who were listening (Lk 16:14), but probably didn’t understand.

In parables, groups of people are represented by different symbols. To represent his faithful servants, our Lord used the symbol of "wise virgins" in the Mt 25 parable. In this parable, the rich man represents a favored class-the leadership of the nation of Israel. The Apostle Paul speaks of this rich favor, "What advantage then hath a Jew?... Much in every way, chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles of God" (Ro 3:1,2).

Being "clothed in purple and fine linen" the rich man certainly represented royalty. Purple is the color of kings! To Moses God promised in Ex 19:5,6, "Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice...ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." The "fine linen" signifies the righteous purity accounted to the Israelites because of the sacrifices of the Law.

Clearly, our rich man clothed in purple and fine linen represents the richly favored status of the Scribes and Pharisees, the spiritual leaders and representatives of Israel. If the rich man represents a favored class, then Lazarus must also be interpreted as a class-a downtrodden people. The beggar class consists of the publicans and sinners of Israel and Gentiles seeking the truth and favor of the Lord. Sitting outside the favor of God, this sin-sick class begged for some little crumb of favor. For example when the woman from Canaan, a Syro-Phoenician, sought Jesus to free her daughter from possession, Jesus first ignored the woman. Then he said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." When she persisted Jesus explained to her, "It is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs [identifying the heathen as dogs]." The woman replied, "Truth Lord: yet dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table." Jesus replied by giving a crumb of favor to this unfavored Gentile.

In our parable, we learn that eventually both Lazarus and the rich man die. How did the Gentiles and Jews die? Their death represents an end of their status as favored and unfavored. They did not die literally because we know that the condition of death is a state of oblivion: a state of nothing. "For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest" (Ec 9:10). But the Gentiles did not literally go to heaven because Jesus was the first to ascend to the Father (Joh 3:13). The Gentiles were grafted into the Abrahamic promise (Ge 22:17,18; Ro 11) The Lazarus class is "brought nigh" through faith in the Lord Jesus. "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph 2:12-14).

Martin Luther provides a sensible interpretation of "Abraham’s bosom." He states, "By Abraham’s bosom we understand to be meant the Abrahamic covenant." (Ge 22:16). God’s covenant with Abraham promised his seed would "bless all the families of the earth." Expounding on that promise, Paul says, "And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise" (Ga 3:29). The Gentiles were brought to Abraham’s "bosom"-a place of intimate favor with God!

Israel, on the other hand, was rejected from God’s favor and thus "died" as a nation (viz. lost its polity). During the time the Gentiles were being invited into the kingdom of God, the nation of Israel experienced the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D. and the beginning of their Diaspora or dispersion all over the world.

And so the rich man class, Israel, represented in its leadership "dies"-loses favor-after it rejects the crucified Lord (Ac 3:13-17). The favor shifts to the Lazarus class and the nation of Israel finds herself being hunted and persecuted. Israel, the rich man class is well described as "tormented." Throughout the ages the Jews have indeed cried out for comfort, but have received none because of the "great gulf fixed," separating them from any relief or favor.

A Great Gulf Fixed

What does this "great gulf fixed" signify? The word "fixed" seems to indicate that the gulf is a pre-determined or pre-established barrier prohibiting the Christians from giving comfort to the tormented Jews. Would this barrier last forever? No. Our Lord in Isa 40:1,2, commands, "Comfort ye, comfort ye My People, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins." This "warfare" refers to a time of difficult struggle and persecution. Eventually the warfare and torment comes to an end. In fact, Israel’s restoration is represented as gathering the "dry bones" of the nation of Israel "out of your graves [to] bring you into the land of Israel" (Eze 37:11-14). Their blindness would be removed and sins forgiven (Ro 11:25-27).

Moses’ Prophetic Song

Looking at the one other place in the Bible where hell is in the same context as fire or flame (De 32:15-22), we find actually a song that is parallel to the Rich Man and Lazarus Parable. The rich man of the parable is referred to as "Jeshurun" in Deuteronomy. Jesus based his parable on this song (see De 31:30) about Jeshurun and may have combined it with a contemporary story (described in an article, "Discourse to the Greeks Concerning Hades" attributed to Josephus). He created a parable to teach the lesson of the Jewish Scribes and Pharisees losing their favor to the humbler class and eventually to the Gentiles. Both stories have one favored and one disfavored who trade places. Though the poor man has the name Lazarus in our Lord’s parable, in Deuteronomy, the poor man is equal to "those which are not a people" (De 31:21).

Songs are more often written in a symbolic language, deep with meaning. If we study the context of the word "fire" in De 31:22, we find that this fire refers back to the jealousy of God in De 31:21. God’s anger burned hot against all the evil His nation has committed. Hell is defined as destroying the Jewish nation, "I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men" (De 31:26). The fire burning is symbolic of God’s jealousy destroying Israel as a nation. This song is not about a literal fire burning in hell.

Is the Rich Man in a Fiery Hell?

Fire represents destruction. The Christian’s faith is "tried with fire." (1Pe 1:7) Literal fireùno. What is destroyed? The dross of human-mindedness is destroyed so that the Christian’s faith may be as pure "gold." The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus does not teach a fiery hell, but a nation destroyed and a people scattered and suffering.

Even Hell [Gk. hades] itself will not last forever. When "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave [hades] where is thy victory?" (1Co 15:55) If we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we also have to believe that Hell will not forever be a penalty for Adam’s sin. The highly symbolic Book of Revelation says "And death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death [Gehenna]" (Re 20:4) The dying condition of the race of man will end, plus all those in Hell (actually dead) will be released in the awakening. This will be the time of the death of death, the death of hell. No more will man die because of Adam’s sin "Dying thou shalt die." Neither will Satan’s lie be repeated. Satan will be destroyed.

God’s wonderful character will be vindicated and sincere Christians who struggle with the idea of a God who would permit an eternity of hell fire torment will be grateful to know the Bible does not teach it.

END NOTES

1. TIME, November 15, 1993.

2. Alice K. Turner, THE HISTORY OF HELL, Harcourt Brace & Company (New York: 1993), p.4.

The Reformation Faith

October 1995

Do you know what role the teaching of the "immortal soul" played in Martin Luther’s Reformation? The Reformation endeavored to reclaim the Biblical doctrines and practices that the church of the establishment had discarded or corrupted. The 16th Century Reformation primarily dealt with the most serious errors and misguided practices of the Roman Church, such as, indulgences, purgatory, the Mass, prayers to the saints, forbidding to marry, antichrist and the infallibility of the Pope. The deflection from "the faith once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 2) intensified over many centuries. The Reformation from these errors would also require centuries. The recovery from the errors of church-state union, eternal torment, the trinity, etc., would be the Reformation work of the 17th-19th centuries.

Remember the Apostles predicted a great "apostasy" or deflection from the Truth (2Th 2:2,3; 1Ti 4:1-6; 2Pe 2:1-22). By the time Jude wrote the book that bears his name, some of the apostles had already died in the Lord. Jude 3-4 warns that just as predicted, "certain men crept in unawares" and were teaching error. Then he devoted the rest of his epistle to warning against the dire consequences of their doctrine. The deflection from pure doctrine that continued in the following centuries was incredible.

Salvation By Money

By the 16th Century, the corruption of doctrine and practice degenerated to the selling of indulgences-the salvation of souls could be purchased by money. This nefarious practice was fine-tuned by the Dominican monk Tetzel. With the authority of Rome, he said:

Come and I will give you letters, all properly sealed, by which even the sins that you intend to commit may be pardoned. I would not change my privileges for those of St. Peter in heaven; for I have saved more souls by my indulgences than the apostle by his sermons. There is no sin so great, that an indulgence cannot remità .

Priest! noble! merchant! wife! youth! maiden! do you not hear your parents and your other friends who are dead, and who cry from the bottom of the abyss: We are suffering horrible torments! a trifling alms would deliver us; you can give it, and you will not!àat the very instant," continued Tetzel, "that the money rattles at the bottom of the chest, the soul escapes from purgatory, and flies liberated to heaven. O stupid and brutish people, who do not understand the grace so richly offered! Now heaven is every where opened!"[1]

The Reformation Begins

On October 31, 1517 a Franciscan Monk, seething with righteous indignation at this diabolical affront to the grace of God in Christ Jesus, nailed 95 Theses to the church door at Wittenberg, Germany. The blow of Martin Luther’s hammer resounded throughout Europe. The Reformation began! The 95 Theses dealt primarily with true repentance versus indulgences. In this context, Luther’s 27th proposition strikes out against the doctrine of the immortality of the soul as this quote demonstrates.

... that he [the pope] is emperor of the world and king of heaven, and earthly god; that the soul is immortal, and all these endless monstrous fictions [portenta] in the Roman rubbish heap of decretals."[2] If Luther didn’t believe in the immortality of the soul, what happened at death? Luther said:

"For just as a man who falls asleep and sleeps soundly until morning does not know what has happened to him when he wakes up, so we shall suddenly rise on the Last Day, and we shall know neither what death has been like or how we have come through it. We are to sleep until he comes and knocks on the grave and says, ‘Dr. Martin, get up.’ Then I will arise in a moment and will be eternally happy with him."[3]

Luther’s logic was simple yet devastating to the errors of purgatory, indulgences and the worship of saints. If the soul was "asleep" and not suffering in purgatory there would be no need of indulgences. This also provided Luther with an effective argument against saint-worship. How can you pray to saints who are asleep?

The Resurrection Hope

Note well that Luther’s hope of eternal life was not based on an immortal soul that survives death, but on the resurrection in the "last day" when all believers would be awarded eternal life. He reclaimed the long discarded Biblical teaching on death and the resurrection of the dead.

The main point of the Apostle Paul’s discussion on the resurrection (1Co 15) is that Jesus’ death and resurrection guarantees that "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1Co 15:22). In Ac 24:15 Paul also speaks of the resurrection of the just and the unjust. After the death of the Apostles, history records that the main Christian teachers of the second century did not believe in the immortality of the soul.

"Justin, Tatian and Theophilus, on various grounds, supposed that the soul, though mortal in itself, or at least indifferent in relation to mortality or immortality, either acquires immortality as a promised reward, by its union with the spirit and the right use of its liberty, or, in the opposite case, perishes with the body."[4]

Christians were a minority in a hostile heathen world. Grecian philosophers came into the Christian Church and brought with them Plato’s doctrine of the immortality of the soul. To make Christianity more palatable to the heathen, Christians accepted Plato’s error and heathens poured into the church. Christians now believed that at death the soul lives on. Then they distorted the resurrection to mean that at some future point the soul will again be confined to a human body for the balance of eternity. No wonder Luther whimsically remarked, "It would take a foolish soul to desire its body when it already was in heaven!"[5]

What Is The Soul?

The error of all heathen religions is that we have a soul; whereas, the Bible plainly states we are a soul. Ge 2:7 states, "God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul." God didn’t put a soul in man. Rather the combination of the body and breath (power) of life made man a living soul, a sentient being. Take away the power or energy of life and you have a dead soul. As stated in Eze 18:20, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Yes, souls can die. Ps 146:4 reveals what happens to all at death: "His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Since all sentient beings (living souls) die, the Christian hope is in the resurrection of the dead.

The Hebrew word translated soul is NEPHASH (Strong 5315). In Le 5:1, 2, 4 (KJV) a "soul" or "nephash"can see, hear, touch and speak with lips. Why? Because in verse 4 "soul" is interchangeable with "man." "... or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be, that man shall pronounce with an oath."

Further, souls can eat and be cut off or destroyed (Le 7:20, 25, 27). Souls can also be torn to pieces by lions (Ps 7:2) and can be utterly destroyed by the sword (Jos 11:11). This is further proof that man does not possess a soul but man is a soul. Consequently the NAS and NIV both translate NEPHASH in these scriptures "person."

Immortal Soul Not In The Bible

Nowhere do the terms immortal soul or immortality of the soul appear in the Bible. The words immortal and immortality only appear five times in the whole Bible (1Ti 1:17; Ro 2:7; 1Co 15:53, 54; 1Ti 6:16; 2Ti 1:10) and refer once to God, once to the risen Christ, and three times immortal life is held out as a reward in the resurrection for Christ’s faithful followers.

The Scriptures speak of death as a sleep (Da 12:2; Joh 11:11; 1Th 4:13-14) because in death there is no conscious thought (Ps 146:4; Ec 9:10). But at the resurrection all shall be awakened from the sleep of death. Jesus said (Joh 5:28, 29) "the hour is coming in which all that are in their graves shallà come forth, they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life (faithful Christians are given immortality in the resurrection-1Co 15:53, 54) and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment (Greek Krisis)." The majority of mankind died without hearing the name of Jesus (Ac 4:12), which is the only means of salvation. Many scriptures show that their crisis or trial time will be in the resurrection. Martin Luther was right-the soul is not immortal. At death the soul sleeps until the resurrection in the last day.

END NOTES

1. J. H. Merle D’Aubigne’, D.D., HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1976), 86, 87.

2. Martin Luther, ASSERTION OF ALL THE ARTICLES OF M. LUTHER CONDEMNED BY THE NEWEST BULL OF LEO X, Nov. 29, 1920, Art. 27, in his Works, Vol. 7 (Weimar: Hermann Bohlhaus Nachfolger, 1897), pp. 131, 132.

3. Paul Althaus, THE THEOLOGY OF MARTIN LUTHER (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1966), 414, 415.

4. Rev. John McClintock D.D. and Dr. James Strong STD, CYCLOPAEDIA OF THEOLOGICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL LITERATURE, Vol. IV (New York: HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS, 1872), 517.

5. Paul Althaus, THE THEOLOGY OF MARTIN.

Why are the Nations so Angry?

November 1995

"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and everàThou hast taken thy great power and hast begun to reign. And the nations were enraged." Re 11:15,17,18 NAS

Why would the nations be enraged and angry if Jesus Christ were reigning? Wouldn’t he rule justly, fairly and rightly for everyone in the world? That’s the problem. Since certain nations are tyrannizing others and since certain groups of people within nations are tyrannizing some, the tyrants would resent anyone changing things.

Just how does the "kingdom of the world" "become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ"? Is this a peaceful process of negotiation and peace treaties on paper? Is it even a process-or is it instantaneous?

The nations of the world make up the "kingdom of the world" which belongs to its god Satan. "The god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe notà" (2Co 4:4). Satan would not be pleased that his "kingdom" was being disturbed or invaded. Neither are the selfish, greedy nations who serve Satan interested in surrendering peacefully and quietly.

What does Jesus do when he is installed as a king "upon my holy hill of Zion" and given the "nations for thine inheritance" (Ps 2:2-8)? They are broken "with a rod of iron" (Ps 2:10). No wonder they are angry. Where is Christ’s peaceable Kingdom?

Daniel prophesies that when Jesus uses his authority as king, one of the first major effects would not be peace. "At that time shall Michael stand upàthere shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time" (Da 12:1). Jesus is "Michael" which means "who as God." How appropriate because it is Jesus ruling for God when he would "stand up." ["Stand up"-as identified in the Book of Daniel-means to rule, for example, "And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominionà" (Da 11:3).]

Nations Always Angry?

But haven’t the nations always been warring and fighting? Haven’t the oppressed always been angry? The unique factor when Christ would begin reigning would be that the trouble would be globally unprecedented-"such as never wasà."

Christ could inaugurate his Kingdom immediately, but then the peoples of the earth would not understand the need of his rule of justice. They need to manifest their own character and reach exasperation with their own attempts at peace. The setting up of his righteous Kingdom would be a painful process. World War I was a turning point that broke up the ruling houses of Europe, which had endured for centuries. Out of the ashes of colonialism, over a hundred new nations sprouted, each demanding its right under the sun. For the first time, though, the whole world began to wobble down the road of self destruction. Despite all the peace agreements for arms control, the nations now have achieved MAD ("Mutually Assured Destruction"). No matter the Soviet Union is gone; Russia is selling nuclear reactors to Iran. Etc. But even the poorer nations have their bombs: germ and chemical. Jesus describes these days as a time when "there should no flesh be saved" (Mt 24:22).

Societies are breaking up within nations-with each layer and segment demanding rights and dignity as never before. And each ethnic grouping is demanding to be free of oppression. Human rights are demanded everywhere. Everywhere the truth on every subject is emblazoned. When Christ reigns, he uses the sword of Truth, "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that it should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of ironàon his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Re 19:11-16). Truth is what will finally triumph. If Christ is reigning and causing all this trouble among the nations, when and how will it all end?

The Positive Effects of Christ’s Reign

What would be the positive effects when Christ begins to reign? The same prophecy in Da 12:1 that says when Christ stands up to reign over the nations-causing a "time of trouble"-also says he will stand "for the children of thy people." Who are the children of Daniel’s people? Israel, of course.

Few people can deny the incredible phenomenon of the reemergence of a lost people, who for almost 2,000 years had been scattered all over the world. Few Christians can deny the prophetic significance of the regathering of Jews to their ancient homeland. Even many Orthodox Jews associate the restoration of Israel with the coming of Messiah.

What is not generally understood, though, is that through His "arm," Jesus, it is God who is ruling over them to bring them back to the Land. "As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm and with fury poured out, will I rule over you. And I will bring you out from the people and will gather you out of the countries (of the whole world, not just Babylon) wherein ye are scatteredà" (Eze 20:33,34; also Isa 52:10, 63:5). The gathering process is not gentle, but "with fury."

The word here for "rule" (STRONG’S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE, 4427) literally means in Hebrew, "to ascend to the throne." It is the same word used when all the kings of Israel began their reigns. Just as the kings of Judah sat on the "throne of Jehovah" (1Ch 29:3), so Christ reigns for God when Israel is being gathered and restored. "O sing unto the LORD a new song, for he hath done marvelous things; his right hand, and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory" (Ps 98:1).

The Jews would be gathered step by step and prepared gradually for their place in the Kingdom. As Ezekiel’s prophecy foretold, the scattered people would be gathered like "dry bones." Then sinews and skin would be put on them as a people. Finally, they would be infused with the spirit of God (Eze 37:1-14). In the meantime, Jerusalem would be a "burdensome stone for all people" (Zec 12:3). The nations of the world would have trouble knowing what to do with Jerusalem. They would be angry about that too.

Christ, the Scepter of God

So if we see the miraculous process of the restoration of Israel, and we observe the painful process of the disintegration of the nations-only one conclusion is possible...Christ is reigning!

Christ has always reigned in the hearts of his people. That is where his kingdom started. But now he is beginning to rule over his enemies. "The LORD [Jehovah] says to my Lord [Jesus]: Sit at My right hand, until I make thine enemies a footstool for thy feet. The LORD [Jehovah] will stretch forth Thy strong scepter [Jesus] from Zion, saying, Rule in the midst of thine enemiesàThe Lord [Jesus Christ] is at thy right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. He will judge among the nations..." (Ps 110:1,2,5,6 NAS).

The nations resist the righteousness of Christ’s incoming Kingdom. They will in the end try to destroy Israel. Most Christians see the invasion of Gog and Magog against Israel as a final punishment on Israel (Eze 38, 39). In reality, that is when God will fight for His people as He did in days of old (Zec 14:1-3). In reality, though He may be chastising Israel, He will make "a full end of all nations [governments] whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee [Israel]" (Jer 31:11).

Christians should not wait to acknowledge with the rest of the world the reign of Christ is begun. They see him at work in setting up his Kingdom, both in the tearing down of the old order and the preparation for the new.

An illustration from the days of the Kings of Israel demonstrates this early recognition. King David’s reign was forty years. Yet he only reigned in Jerusalem thirty three years (2Sa 5:4,5). The first seven he reigned in Hebron, where only his "brethren" acknowledged and served him. Christ’s "brethren" too would first comprehend that he is reigning. They are encouraged and energized by this fact. They tell others.

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth" (Isa 52:7). The last "feet" members of Christ announce this peace in a tumultuous time. They see his reigning work through the eyes of faith...based on the Scriptures.

Christians who are awake and watching see the vision of the Kingdom when all peoples of the earth will not be gathered against Israel to destroy it but to go up and learn about God. "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain [Kingdom] of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains...and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain [Kingdom] of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion [spiritual Israel] shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem [natural Israel]" (Isa 2:2,3).

The nations will then be humbled and ready to learn. "Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to pray before the Lord...In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you" (Zec 8:22,23). This will not be the time when Christians first comprehend that Christ is reigning. This will be the time, though, for the peoples of the angry nations to serve Christ and be healed (Re 22:1,2).

Darwinism Taken to Court

Winter 1996

In 1859 Charles Darwin presented to the world his origin of the species. He proposed that millions of years ago life spontaneously formed in a rich "primordial soup" of organic chemicals. Every form of life and every creature including humans, he submitted, evolved from that simple origin of life. What is forgotten is that Darwin acknowledged in the first edition of his book that supernatural assistance from God was necessary to drive biological evolution.

The intelligentsia of the world was ready for him. The arts, sciences and academia had just emerged from the mind-shackling superstitions of Dark Age theology. Atheism and agnosticism were the heady wine of the intellectuals in Darwin’s day. Darwin’s theory lent itself to a worldview of reality that could be explained by natural law. Within a few decades Darwin’s theory of evolution was no longer considered an hypothesis, but a scientific fact. The ironic twist was that while his theory of evolution was not based on scientific, empirical investigation, those who ruled the halls of academia imperiously proclaimed it as fact.

Futile Speculations

The Apostle Paul’s words (Ro 1:20-22) were again fulfilled:

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became Foolsà"(nas)

As in Israel of old (Isa 2:8; 44:13-17; 46:5-7) those who cut down a tree, built an idol and then worshipped it, Darwinism became just such a hand-crafted idol. At its altar 99 percent of America’s practicing scientists pay homage. They dare not publicly do otherwise or they could be purged and shunned by America’s top universities. Academic freedom is a farce in the sacred temples of Darwinism. For example, the veteran writer Forrest M. Mimms was dismissed by the noted periodical, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, simply because he did not believe in Darwin’s evolutionànever mind that he never mentioned this fact in his writings.

Great publishing houses like MacMillan, Doubleday and McGraw-Hill, do not dare publish anti-evolutionary works lest they rouse the ire of the scientific establishment. After all, they publish tens of thousands of scientific books annually for secondary and college level schools.

The Social Impact after 100 Years

The reign of Darwinian naturalism in our leading universities for 130 years has eroded the moral values of our society. The most influential intellectuals in America and around the world are mostly naturalists who believe that God only exists as an idea subjectively in the minds of the religious. In the universities of our Darwinian establishment, naturalism is the virtually unquestioned assumption that underlies not only natural science, but all intellectual pursuits. Darwinism is not only considered a biological fact, it also greatly influences the behavioral sciences and the humanities-a twist Darwin never intended. As such, it must bear much of the responsibility for the social ills of today.

The famous Harvard paleontologist, George Gaylord Simpson, described the "meaning of evolution" as follows: "Man is the result of a purposeless and natural process that did not have him in mind." What would be your response if you were one of the over 70 percent who agreed? Probably, There is no God; I can do my own thing. The judges who make legal decisions, the journalists who mold public opinion, the educators who shape our children’s thinking all were educated at these universities.

After 130 years of godless Darwinism reigning in academia, every student is taught a Darwinian worldview and life is considered cheap. Condoms are distributed in high school cafeterias; homosexual relationships are just as viable as heterosexual marriages; abortions are now a method of birth control. Rape, drugs, murder, suicide are the norm in the youth culture of today.

Enough is Enough

Finally, someone from within the sacred precincts of academia said, Enough is enough! Phillip E. Johnson, former law clerk at the Supreme Court and for 20 years a law professor at the University of California at Berkeley, hauled Darwinism off to the Court of Universal Truth. Although a Christian, Johnson in his book, DARWIN ON TRIAL (1991), solely used the natural disciplines of logic and science to prove that Darwinian evolution was fraudulent in its claim to be "scientific fact."

Johnson methodically tears away at the fabric of Darwinism by addressing each of the following problem areas of evolution: natural selection, the mutation controversy, the lack of fossil evidence, the assumption that "biological relationship means evolution relationship," the vertebrate sequence, molecular evolution and pre-biological evolution. Johnson demands that the scientific community use the rules of science, that is, proof by empirical results. He shows that no empirical proof exists for any of Darwinism’s main assumptions.

In one of Johnson’s refutations, he identified what Darwin termed "variation" as what is called mutation today. "Mutations are randomly occurring changes which are nearly always harmful when they produce effects in the organism large enough to be visible, but which may occasionally slightly improve the organism’s ability to survive and reproduce." But the fact that scientists have been able to breed fruitflies into every possible genotype only proves that fruitflies can be caused to change through artificial selection not "natural selection." Ultimately the end result of all these genetic experiments is still a fruitfly-not a new species. This experimentation does not at all make a case for beneficial mutations being the engine behind natural selection.

Natural selection can be seen as a tautology-a way of saying the same thing twice. "In this formulation the theory predicts that the fittest organism will produce the most offspring, and it defines the fittest organisms as the ones which produce the most offspring." Johnson comments on this tautology by stating, "When I want to know how a fish became a man, I am not enlightened by being told that the organisms that leave the most offspring are the ones that leave the most offspring."

The fossil record is Darwin’s weakest link because of the lack of missing links. Additionally, the age of the fossil is basically determined by the age of the rock in which it is found; and the age of the rock is determined by the age of fossils in the rock. Is this scientific reasoning? Observes Johnson, "Most people are unaware that Darwin’s most formidable opponents were not clergymen, but fossil experts."

Although Biblical creationists have been challenging the citadel of Darwinism for years, Johnson’s scientific case against evolution has been taken to the university campuses aggressively and successfully challenging professors to debate. In addition to DARWIN ON TRIAL, Johnson published a new book (in 1995) challenging the devastating moral impact of Darwinism on our culture. His goal is to "legitimate the assertion of a theistic worldview in the secular universities." Actually Johnson is a creationist who allows for the Genesis creative days being any length of time-not just 24 hours. Yet he is hailed as a hero by the fundamentalists who use the 24-hour creative day as a test of Biblical Christianity.

How Long is the Creative Day?

Chapters One and Two of Genesis provide conclusive proof that the seven creative days are not each 24 hours. The Hebrew word "yom" is used exclusively in Genesis to denote "day." After Genesis describes the creation of the heavens and the earth including the account of the seven creative days ("yom"), the very next verse (Ge 2:4) summarizes the entire work of the preceding verses: "These are the generations [Hebrew, "history"] of the heavens and the earth when they were created in the day ["yom"] that the Lord God made the heavens and earth." "The day the Lord God made the heavens and earth" must be longer than 24 hours because it includes the work of all seven creative days. The "day" of Ge 2:4 defined, in fact, the whole period of creation!

How long was the seventh day? Ge 2:1-3 reveals that God finished his creative work at the beginning of the seventh day and rested. But the Genesis account is clear that the seventh day did not end. In Hebrews Chapter Four we are informed that Israel failed to enter into God’s seventh day rest during the time of Moses, Joshua and David. But Christians now have the privilege of sharing in God’s seventh day of Rest. In the Gospel of John, Jesus gives an enlightening account of why God’s seventh day of rest lasts until the end of Christ’s 1,000-year Kingdom on earth. If the seventh day is a long period of time, the same would be uniformly true of each of the first six days.

So while evolution proposes enormous periods of time to arrive at the complexity we see in this world, we know the Bible does not, on the other hand, suggest an unrealistically short week of 24-hour days to accomplish God’s creative work.

When the final verdict in the trial of "Creation vs. Evolution" will be made universally known, Darwin and all the most determined evolutionists will be thankful for their wise and loving Judge-who is also their Creator.

Documentation is now available for further proofs that Darwinian evolution is not a scientifically proven fact. Also included is additional information on the work of all seven creative days, elaborating on why the seventh creative day, based on the Bible, extends to the end of the thousand-year Kingdom of Christ. Send for your booklet, "Creationism Triumphs over Evolution" @$ 1.00 postpaid.

What Does the Jewish Passover Mean to Christians?

March 1996

ôChrist our passover is sacrificed for us:àlet us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.ö 1Co 5:7-8

Around this time of the year, we begin to see the shelves at the supermarkets stacked with towers of matzos as well as all sorts of kosher foods for Passover. The next aisle over we see rows of stuffed plush Easter bunnies, lambs, baskets, chocolate eggs and cards with lilies and crosses. Soon the Jewish families will be gathered around their tables to commemorate the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Christian families will focus attention on the death of Jesus and celebrate his resurrection.

What does the Passover have to do with ôEasterö? Long before there was a Jewish Passover, the Apostle John tells us, the ôLamb [of God was] slain from the foundation of the worldö (Re 13:8). How could that be? If a lamb is for redemption of man and man was not even placed on the earth yet-the slain Lamb would have to have been only in the mind of God as part of a plan of salvation. Later when sin actually did enter the world, God would reveal a glimpse of how much the Lamb would cost Him. Father Abraham was told, ôTake now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovestàand offer him there for a burnt offeringö (Ge 22:2).

The Exodus

But the momentous exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt was a magnificent drama of God’s plan of salvation in careful detail. The whole nation was enslaved to the cruel taskmasters of Egypt. They groaned many years under this oppression. Finally, the due time for deliverance arrived. Moses instructed the children of Israel to carefully select a lamb for each household. It was to be slain, roasted with fire while its blood was put on the doorposts and lintels of each house. The firstborn of each family was in jeopardy of death if there was no blood sprinkled on the doorposts. But the angel would ôpass overö those houses where it was sprinkled.

By a thorough search, all leaven (hametz) was to be removed from the household. While standing up with staff in hand, the Israelites were to eat a lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The next morning the whole nation was delivered out of Egypt. The miraculous opening of the Red Sea allowed the children of Israel to pass through safely. This was the passover of the whole people of God in addition to the firstborn.

Today Jewish families emphasize in their Seder celebration, the passing over of the nation into freedom. Since temple times, though, the Lamb is not slain. But the bitter herbs and the unleavened bread are on the table. The cherished account of the passover is read.

Christ our Passover

Keeping the Jewish tradition, our Lord Jesus sat down with his twelve disciples at the ôlast supperö actually to partake of the Passover. According to custom, one piece of matzo was not consumed, but hidden. If one of those at the table could find it during the meal, it would be ransomed back by the head of the Jewish passover Seder. Also, based on the prophecy that Elijah would come before Messiah and announce him (Mal 4:5,6), a cup of wine was set aside for this prophet.

At the end of the meal, Jesus took a piece of matzo and may have used this hidden unleavened bread (ôafikomenö). Likewise, he took the cup of wine, possibly the ôElijah cupö leftover after the meal, and attached new meaning to the drinking of it with his apostles. Now that Jesus came to fulfill the Passover, the hidden and deeper meaning of the unleavened bread was revealed. First the Messiah had to suffer and die and offer his pure, unblemished human life for the world. ôMy flesh I give for the life of the world.ö

And here was the ôElijahö announcing the coming of the Messiah of glory! How appropriate for Jesus to take this cup and share it with his disciples. ôAnd he took the cup and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselvesàAnd he took bread and gave thanks and brake it and gave unto them saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of meö (Lk 22:17-20).

For the disciples, it was difficult to comprehend that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Passover sacrifice. They heard but did not understand that the unleavened bread represented Jesus’ body and the wine his blood. Hours later Jesus was to sacrifice that life on the cross and become that slain Lamb. As often as his disciples had celebrated the yearly Passover, Jesus now asked them to observe a new celebration to take its place.

The Body of Christ

Jesus could have said more, but he knew his disciples could not bear to know much more yet (Joh 16:12). But in due time, Apostle Paul opened more understanding on the unleavened bread and the cup for the followers of Jesus. ôThe cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one breadö (1Co 10:16,17). Can it be? The followers of Jesus not only partake of Jesus, but are part of the loaf themselves (though they contribute no merit to the sacrifice).

Yes, the followers of Jesus not only take to themselves the righteous merit of Jesus to be justified, but they are invited to be sacrificed with him. ôPresent your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable serviceö (Ro 12:1). How could human beings have anything ôholyö to sacrifice? By faith, the Christian personally accepts Jesus as his Savior and is made righteous and holy. Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him. ôOur old [justified] man is crucified with himö (Ro 6:6). ôIf we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him.ö

Search for Leaven

Why did the Lord ask Israel to get rid of leaven? Leaven represents sin. Do we continue to sin just because we are counted righteous? No, that would be totally inconsistent. We strive to put away sin, leaven, with all our might. We search the crevices and dark corners of our hearts for any impurities. ôPurge out therefore the old leaven, ö the Apostle Paul said, ôthat ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truthö (1Co 5:7,8). This purging of sin is a lifelong effort, ôSearch me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlastingö (Ps 139:23-24).

Most Christians understand we are to fight against sin even though we are justified in Christ. But most Christians do not understand that we have the privilege of dying with Christ as part of his body, his sacrifice. Most Christians understand that we are called the ôfirstborn, ö also ôthe firstfruits.ö But most Christians do not follow through to understand that the whole world of mankind will be the later born, the afterfruits. Just as in Israel of old, the firstborn were passed over first, later was the passover of the entire nation. Now is the night of the Christian’s deliverance. In the morning of God’s Kingdom, the billions of earth will be delivered from their bondage to sin and death.

The Jewish people too have missed part of the big picture. They mostly concentrate on the deliverance of the nation; the firstborn passover is not stressed. How appropriate! Though as a people, they missed the calling to be part of the firstborn, they will be the leaders of all people in God’s Kingdom on earth for the second Passover. So the Jewish Passover is really a complete moving picture of the drama of salvation.

Where will you be in that drama?

For a more thorough discussion of the meaning of the Passover to Christians, send for your copy of an article, ôThe Passover of the New Creation, ö taken from the book THE NEW CREATION. Or if you prefer, you may order the book itself, which also includes a discussion of ôBaptismö and the daily life of the Christian.

Seed of a Worldly Church!

April 1996

In few words Jesus painted a broad panorama of Christian history. The parable of the wheat and tares, found in Mt 13, describes the course of Christianity from the beginning, to its culmination in a harvest. The householder of the parable sowed good seed in his field. The anticipated fruitage was corrupted by the householder’s enemy. The enemy over sowed the wheat field with tare seed (false wheat) while the householder’s menservants slept. When the blade was spring up and brought forth fruit, the act of vandalization was manifest. The true wheat was choked in the midst of the imitation wheat.

The menservants asked if they should weed out the tares. The householder said, "Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them into bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." Mt 13:24-30

The Parable Explained

This lesson greatly interested the disciples and so they asked Jesus to explain it. What a great benefit to us that he did! The householder represented Jesus. The field-the Christian world with its fruitages. The good fruit represented Christ’s true followers, his faithful disciples. Tares, which outwardly look like wheat, were imitations planted by the enemy-Satan.

The tares were not to be weeded out until the harvest. The harvest would take place in the end of this world or age (Greek- aion). Jesus’ work at the end of the Christian Age is as Chief Reaper. He will order his angels (messengers in the Greek), his disciples, to harvest the wheat in his second advent just as he did in the first. Lk 10:1-3; Joh 4:35,36

Two Seeds

The two fruitages are the result of two different kinds of seed. Wheat, the true Christian, springs forth from the Word of God. This is taught in the parable of the sower. "The seed is the word of God...they which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience." Lk 8:11,15 The apostles carried forth the ministry of Christ, preaching the word of life, sowing seeds of the kingdom. The Father ôbegat us with the word of truth". Jas 1:18 "In Christ Jesus have I begotten you through the gospel," said the Apostle Paul. 1Co 4:15

A sinister turn in church history occurred when the apostles fell asleep in death (compare Mt 13:25). In their absence Satan sought to corrupt the church. His weapon was error. Just as truth produces a true Christian, so error produces an imitation. Satan’s work of corrupting God’s truth in Christ began even during the apostles’ time. ôEvery spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and thus is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now is already in the world.ö 1Joh 4:3

That anti-christian spirit spread throughout the Christian world sowing tares. Satan hoped to choke the spiritual life out of God’s wheat by surrounding them with tares. One of Satan’s principal instruments to sow bad seed were the Neo-Platonist Christians. These were philosopher Christians who sought to apply scientific methods in understanding scripture. Their methods were derived from Plato, a great man-also a pagan.

The unfortunate result of bending scripture to fit human philosophy was the creation of bad seed and its fruit-nominal Christians. Human science did no favor to the church of God. How sad that the apostolic admonition was not heeded, "Avoid profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some (believers) professing have erred concerning the faith." 1Ti 6:20,21

A False Seed Close up

One such false seed was the Grecian philosophy of eternal torment for the wicked. Neo-Platonic concepts of the afterlife corrupted the simple truth of the Bible Hell. The New Testament Hades and the Old Testament Sheol no longer were perceived as the death state. They were instead transformed into a place of eternal conscious torment. (Space does not here permit an adequately thorough discussion of death and hell. We encourage you to order the booklet "Where Are The Dead?" offered at the end of this letter. The scriptures on these subjects are fully discussed in the booklet.)

The threat of such enormous and eternal suffering was (and still is) held over the heads of unbelievers. They converted to Christ under pressure. Thus many people, who would not otherwise bother being burdened with Christ’s name, have made a profession of faith.

God’s Purpose in Christianity

Conversion through coercion is not God’s purpose in Christianity. "True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Joh 4:23,24 In other words, God wants our hearts to yield in willing love to Him and His truth. Many unwilling converts, motivated by fear, have feigned obedience to Him. That is how a tare is created.

The purpose of Christianity is to call out a people for God’s name. Those called out are God’s elect. The elected ones, found faithful in this life, will serve in the office of priests and kings. Their ministry will be to the remainder of humanity-those not called and willingly converted during the Christian Era. See Ac 15:14-17 and Re 5:10.

The confusion brought about by doctrines of fear have clouded over many important Christian doctrines. The doctrine of election, that God now calls a few to belief, is made horrible by trying to fit it in with Satan’s doctrine of eternal conscious torment. The great twists of mind, heart and conscience needed to grasp Satan’s teachings on hell bear an empty fruit at best. At worst, those twists bear a fruitage of hate, injustice and selfishness.

Hell in National News

ôThe Rekindling of Hellö was the featured cover article of U.S. News and World Report for March 25, 1991. ôRecord numbers of Americans now believe in a nether world and in a wide variety of after death punishments, ö it claimed. According to a Gallop survey done in November 1990, three out of five Americans now believe in hell. However, views of what constitute hell sharply differ.

Some try to understand hell philosophically and, through human wisdom, invent the hell of their choice. Others fall back on creeds of human invention and hold forth the hell of tradition. Some are returning to the Scriptures to study them anew. The Scriptures are shedding light on hell. "Such highly regarded theologians as Clark H. Pinnock, theology professor at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario; John R.W. Stott, president of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, and Philip E. Hughes, a noted Anglican clergyman and author, contend that rather than suffering endlessly, those who ultimately reject God will simply be put out of existence in the ‘consuming fire’ of hell."

"Those who subscribe to this view-called ‘annihilationism’-point to New Testament passages that speak of ‘eternal destruction’ and ‘the second death’ for those who know not God and to the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel’s declaration that ‘the soul that sins shall die.’"( U.S. News and World Report, March 25, 1991, p. 63).

These men are to be commended for looking back to scriptures to understand what the Biblical hell is. Hughes interestingly observes ôthat the traditional belief in unending punishment is linked to the erroneous belief in the ‘innate immortality’ of the soul-a belief, he says, that is based more on Plato than on the Bible.ö

On the other hand, traditionalists ôargue that annihilationism takes some of the punch out of Gospel preaching. ‘To tell the unrepentant that the worst fate that could befall them is extinction,’ says Harold O.J. Brown, a theology professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, ‘makes continuing in sin seem less risky.’ö And that is the very point of the parable of the wheat and tares. Wheat, the true Christian, rejoice to leave sin behind. They love righteousness and hate iniquity. They are not coerced by terror, but by love and the beauty of God’s Word.

Tares may look back longingly at ôthe good old daysö of sin or may yet practice their old sins after coming to Christ. A popular phrase on T-shirts and bumper stickers today is "How much can I get away with and still get to heaven?" That is not the spirit that a true follower of Christ will have. "Love rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." 1Co 13:6

Forewarned is Forearmed

Our hope for all God’s people is that they will be led on to full Christian fruitage by God’s Word. We pray that His people will stand firmly for the truth even against the majority public opinion or entrenched human creeds. Remember that the tares in the parable are the overwhelming majority. Let us all, by the grace of God, receive the Word of God into good and honest hearts, bringing forth good fruit with patience.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God

May 1996

The first verse of the Bible states that God created the heavens and the earth. The second verse describes this earth that ôwasö in existence for an undisclosed period of time. It was in a primitive, unprepared state. Not until the third verse is the work of the first creative day commenced. Important to notice is that the work on the first creative day was not the creation of the earth itself, but God causing light to penetrate the ôdarkness on the face [surface] of the deep [the waters that already covered the unfinished earth].ö

The work of the seven creative days did not begin until the third verse. Because the creation of the heavens and the earth was before the seven creative days, the first two verses are not within the time frame of the seven creative days. Thus the actual age of the ôheaven [universe] and earthö are not indicated. Between the creation of the heaven and earth and the commencement of the seven creative days, the earth literally ôlie wasteö and was ôemptyö of life for an undesignated period of time. These two characteristics of the primitive earth waste and empty of life only anticipate the coming work to be accomplished on the seven creative days.

This global waste would have to be transformed into a habitable host planet capable of sustaining life. Then all the life forms up to and including humans would be created.

For the scriptural reasons already considered, the length of the seven creative days in no way indicates the age of the universe or even that of our planet earth. Theories about a ôyoung earthö or one billions of years old are not relevant to the Genesis account of the seven days of creation.

Age of Universe and Planet Earth

Certain other scriptures, as a matter of fact, indicate the universe and the earth have existed for a long period of time. The Psalms compare the antiquity of the founding of the earth as a suitable metaphor for God’s existing from eternity (Ps 90:1,2). ôLord...before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.ö If the forming of the earth is compared to God, from everlasting to everlasting, a very ancient earth is suggested. The earth, indeed, did exist long before its preparation for life began.

Pr 8:22-23 compares ôwisdomö as existing for a long time and before the earth was created:

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning or ever the earth was...

Whether ôwisdomö is applied in these verses to the literal wisdom of God or to the Son of God as the personification of wisdom, the logic of these verses is that the wisdom of God has existed for an extremely long period of time. Why? Because the wisdom of God was in existence before the heavens and the earth were created. If the universe and the earth are only 6,000 or 7,000 years old, as some believe, the logic of these verses is meaningless. A comparison of just more than six millennia is not very long. A young universe and earth of only 6,000 years old is just as absurd as the many arbitrary speculations of phenomenal lengths of time.

Who Fine-tuned the Universe?

Many of the recent discoveries of the universe support Biblical creation. Ironically, some of these discoveries were by scientists pursuing their atheistic quests to prove evolutionary life on many of the other planets of the universe. The eminent cosmologist, Fred Hoyle, aggressively opposed theism and Christianity. But Hoyle discovered that an incredible fine-tuning of the nuclear ground state energies for helium, beryllium, carbon and oxygen was necessary for any kind of life to exist. If the ground state energies of these elements proportioned to each other were just 4 percent higher or lower, there would be insufficient oxygen or carbon for life on the planet earth.

This fine-tuning forced Hoyle to conclude a superintellect has monkeyed with physics, as well as with chemistry and biology. Another scientist, Paul Davies, who once promoted atheism, wrote:

[There] is for me powerful evidence that there is something going on behind it all....It seems as though somebody has fine-tuned nature’s numbers to make the Universe....The impression of design is overwhelming.

Astronomer George Greenstern wrote in his book, The Symboiotic Universe:

As we survey all the evidence, the thought insistently arises that some supernatural agency or, rather, Agency must be involved. Is it possible that suddenly, without intending to, we have stumbled upon scientific proof of the existence of a Supreme Being? Was it God who stepped in and so providentially crafted the cosmos for our benefit?

The theoretical physicist, Tony Rothman, concluded a popular level essay as follows:

The modern cosmologist who gazes at the same sky through the eyes of Einstein and sees the hand of God not in angels but in the constants of nature. ... When confronted with the order and beauty of the universe and the strange coincidences of nature, it’s very tempting to take the leap of faith from science into religion. I am sure many physicists want to. I only wish they would admit it.

In an article on the anthropic principle, cosmologist Bernard Carr wrote:

One would have to conclude either that the features of the universe invoked in support of the Anthropic Principle are only coincidences or that the universe was indeed tailor made for life. I will leave it to the theologians to ascertain the identity of the tailor!

Physicist Freeman Dyson, also dealing with the anthropic principle, concluded:

The problem here is to try to formulate some statement of the ultimate purpose of the universe. In other words, the problem is to read the mind of God.

MIT physicist and former president of the Association of Women in Science, Vera Kistiahowsky, commented: ôThe exquisite order displayed by our scientific understanding of the physical world calls for the divine.ö Arno Penzias, who shared the Nobel prize for physics said:

Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with the very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life, and one which has an underlying (one might say ôsupernaturalö) plan.

Cosmologist Edward Harrison evaluates the end conclusion of cosmology:

Here is the cosmological proof of the existence of Godùthe design argument of Paleyùupdated and refurbished. The fine-tuning of the universe provides prima facie evidence of deistic design. Take your choice: blind chance that requires multitudes of universes or design that requires only one....Many scientists, when they admit their views, incline toward the teleological or design argument.

The winner of the Crafoord prize in astronomy, Allan Sandage, relates his recognition of God:

I find it quite improbable that such order came out of chaos. There has to be some organizing principle. God to me is a mystery but is the explanation for the miracle of existence, why there is something instead of nothing.

The agnostic astrophysicist, Robert Jastrow, narrates the ironic twist of his colleagues’ research of the universe:

For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.

The Fingerprints of God

Incredibly, scientists in their atheistic quest to find evidence of self-starting evolutionary life in the universe have found fingerprints all over the universe the fingerprints of God. Life on earth did not just happen by chance. Our habitable planet is here for man in a friendly universe because of design. Our planet is a livable place because God designed and fine-tuned the many laws which govern and set parameters for the universe.

For example, unless the number of electrons is equivalent to the number of protons to an accuracy of one part in 1037, or better, electromagnetics in the universe would have so overcome gravitational forces that galaxies, stars and planets could never have come into existence. One part in 1037 has been illustrated as follows:

Cover the entire North American continent with dimes stacked up to the moon (230,000 miles). Make a million other piles of dimes of equal size. Paint one dime red and hide it in the billion piles. The odds that a blindfolded person would pick the red dime are one in 1037. This is only one of the delicately balanced parameters that is necessary to allow life on the planet earth.

Since 1966 scientists have discovered over 40 fixed parametersùthe fingerprints of Godùwhere the universe must have values falling within narrowly defined ranges for life to exist on earth.

While paleontologists, geologists, botanists, biologists were stumbling around in the 130-year-old overly researched fields of fossils and genetic variation trying to refurbish old tired-out concepts with new phraseology to resell evolution as fact Darwinian cosmologists and astrophysicists were out to conquer new frontiers also. But when they scaled the universe for evidence of evolutionary life, the unexpected befell them. They ran headlong into the inexplicable miracles of a Creator. Often this encounter with God made them believers. If some scientists have failed to hear the united testimony of the fossils or have failed to hear the wonderful witness of molecular harmony, they should at least look up in the heavens to see the harmonious evidence of an amazing Creator. They should notice what their colleagues have discovered. They should not be the last to know that creationism has always triumphed over evolution.

Jesus In Search of Christians

June 1996

This past Easter season numerous articles in several national news magazines surfaced on the subject of searching for and redefining the ôhistorical Jesus.ö U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT featured ôIn Search of Jesusö; TIME featured ôThe Search for Jesusö and NEWSWEEK, ôRethinking the Resurrectionö also in Christianity Today, ôWho Do Scholars Say That I Am?ö Can a traditional view of Jesus hold up to the scrutiny of such modern investigation as the Jesus Seminar and publications of dozens of books which today challenge the faith of Christians?

The challengers ask, Was Jesus divine? Did he walk on water? Was he resurrected? The controversial, California-based ôJesus Seminarö with its 50 religion professors ôconcluded that no more than 20 percent of the sayings and even fewer of the deeds attributed to Jesus are authentic.ö[1] In a debate this year conducted by the Jesus Seminar at Oregon State University, the dispute was presented that ôbelief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus is a burden to the Christian faith and deflects attention from his role as social reformer.ö[2] Scholars are contending the Gospel accounts were written long after Jesus’ death and that ôhis body was probably eaten by wild dogs.ö[3]

Some Christians might respond, ôIt’s in the Bible and that’s it!ö But honest questions regarding Christian faith deserve to be addressed. ôAlways have your answer ready, when anyone asks you to give an account of the hope all Christians share...ö (1Pe 3:15). Actually, the Christian faith has never been unchallenged in every time, in every way, in every age.

Challenges to Christianity

Even in the apostles’ day, Gnosticism a philosophy of intuitive ôknowingö apart from divine revelation confronted the first Christians. Gnosticism of the second century claimed Jesus was an ordinary man.[4] By the fourth century the response of ôorthodoxyö was that Jesus was not only the Son of God, but that he was God himself. The Reformation placed the Bible in the hands of the common people, but unfortunately for about 150 years, skeptics of the Bible have felt at liberty to write off portions of the Bible as mythical. Today using the recently discovered texts, such as Gnostic Gospels, ôcritics fashion rather different biographies of Jesus than those found in the Gospels...ö[5] So we have come full circle back to the old Gnostic notions! The challenge to the Biblical account of Jesus’ life, teachings, death and resurrection has been popularly revived in ôappearances on talk shows, interviews, and appeals to tabloid media.ö[6]

In an effort to make Jesus more palatable to modern Christians, proponents would like to redefine what Jesus said and who he was when he walked on this earth. Tired of the conflicting dogmas of Christianity, they search for a contemporary Jesus who is not too demanding. ôBelieving in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him.ö[7] So the self-appointed committee of the ôJesus Seminarö voted on each phrase that Jesus spoke in the Gospel accounts.[8] Phrases like, ôIf any will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow meö or ôMy kingdom is not of this world else would my servants fightö were voted out. Long passages were eliminated because who could have remembered what Jesus said so long afterwards? What is not taken into account is that back then as members of an ôoral culture, ö people were accustomed to memorizing long epics. Also what should be taken into account is the sending of the holy Spirit which will ôbring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto youö (Joh 14:26). Also what was not appreciated was that the Gospel accounts were not written in the second century, but by eyewitnesses in the first century.

Archeology Confirms the Gospel

Recent archaeological discoveries have demolished the theories of 19th century scholars who claim the gospel accounts were written 100 to 200 years after Jesus. ôOne fragment from John, the Rylands Papyrus, dates around A.D. 130, meaning John (the last gospel written) was penned no later than A.D. 90-100...Last year the discovery of several fragments of Matthew was announced...they most likely date around A.D. 50. Fragments of Mark have been found among the Dead Sea scrolls, which were hidden during the A.D. 60s.ö[9] And no, Jesus was not an Essene himself only contemporary to this reclusive community is the conclusion of most recent scholarship.[10] Neither was he a zealot or a revolutionary attempting to undermine the Roman government. ôThe early Christians...followed in the footprints of the Master. For at the time when the Jewish War broke out, they did not join together with the Zealots, but fled to the other side of the Jordan.ö[11]

The Whole Bible

To pick and choose what passages are authentic quotations of the Gospel accounts is to undermine the integrity of the whole Bible. The problem of sin and the plan of redemption introduced in the Old Testament would never come to a fulfillment without a suffering, dying and risen Messiah. Was Adam in the Garden of Eden only an allegory? What about Abraham? Shall we throw out Genesis too? Then the promise to Abraham that in his seed would ôall the families of the earth be blessedö (Ge 12:2,3, etc.) would be missing!

Perhaps the importance of this repeated promise is not understood by the ôcommittee.ö Perhaps that is why their Jesus is only a ôsocial reformer.ö But Jesus was not trying to patch up an old society (Mt 9:17). Instead, Jesus was first calling followers to be Christians to walk in his footsteps. Later, after the root cause of evil and all injustice is eradicated, Jesus with the faithful Christians will inaugurate a brand new social order.

Are Miracles Possible?

When skeptics discredit the miracles of Jesus, many Christians counter by saying the Man Jesus was divine. He could do anything. Is either side true? To discredit ômiraclesö in the first place is very prejudicial. It assumes without proof that our world contains no dimensions of reality not perceived by our senses or calculations. Scientists cannot explain all the ôwhysö or ôhowsö of the laws of nature. Moses and Elijah performed miracles by the power of God. Surely God who created the laws of the universe could manipulate them for His purposes at any given time! In any case, when Jesus was a man, he used the power of God too. In the raising the Lazarus, Jesus prayed to his Father, ôI know that thou hearest me always.ö Jesus was not praying to himself. Jesus was not God. Jesus was not Divine.[12]but since as a man he was faithful to death, divinity was his reward. ôThe word was made flesh and dwelt among us...For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spiritö (1Pe 3:18). If he was divine, he could not die. Other critics say he did not die on the cross. But in his Gospel account Joh 19:34, without realizing its implication reports, ôBut one of the soldiers with a spear, pierced his side and immediately came there out blood and water.ö The significance of this comment is incalculable from a medical point of view.[13] Ordinarily when a dead man is cut, no blood flows and that’s why John added, ôthe witness is trueö (Joh 19:35). Instead of dying by exhaustion and asphyxiation from crucifixion, Jesus who earlier had probably fallen flat on his chest with his arms strapped to the crossbeam, sustained myocardial injury to his heart. Then the tremendous workload on the heart of the crucifixion process caused an external rupture of the myocardium which characteristically would account for the presence of clear pericardial fluid as well as volume of blood. [14] The reporting of this phenomenon stamps the Gospel record as a truthful report based on modern medical knowledge unavailable to anyone at that time who would attempt to fabricate a legend. ôBut we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor: that he by the grace of God should taste death for every manö (Heb 2:9). The ôcommitteeö would have to vote Apostle Peter’s writings out, not to mention Apostle Paul’s, öAnd if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sinsö (1Co 15:17).

Jesus Resurrected

How do we know Jesus was resurrected from the dead? God anticipated this question. That is why He overruled that Roman soldiers would guard the tomb on pain of death for losing the corpse. If the resurrection of Jesus were a fabrication, why were the followers of Jesus so slow to believe and be convinced? Why were women the first witnesses? The testimony of women in society at that time carried far less authority than that of men.

The whole point of Jesus’ post resurrection appearances was to convince his followers that he, indeed, was alive and risen but not that he experienced a bodily resurrection. Jesus had said, ôMy flesh I give for the life of the world.ö He was not going to take that flesh back. The body he assumed to appear in was not the body of the man Christ Jesus. His intimate followers did not even recognize him when they would first speak with him. For Thomas’ slow-to-comprehend faith, Jesus appeared in a scared body. Surely, for all eternity Jesus will not have a body disfigured by holes! Besides, ôflesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.ö During the whole forty days before his ascension, he only appeared briefly less than a dozen times. The message was always, Yes, it is me, but I am different. If he were flesh and blood, the world could see him again. But Jesus said, ôHenceforth the world seeth me no moreö (Joh 14:19). If John saw what the risen Christ looked like, he would know what Christians would be like in heaven (1Joh 3:2).

The best proof of Jesus’ resurrection is what he promised would happen in the world when he would return. He would have to give signs because he would be invisible to human sight. One sign would be unprecedented world trouble and simultaneously the other sign would be the restoration of the nation of Israel (Da 12:1-4; Mt 24:32). The logic is simple: the old order of society would be concluding while Jesus would be preparing Israel to be a instrument of blessing in his Kingdom to bless all the nations of the earth (Isa 2:1-4).

Let men search for Jesus as they will but Jesus is searching for true Christians who have followed in his footsteps and are eager to bless all the families of the earth with their risen Lord.

The New Poor

July 1996

James’ prophecy weighs heavily on the minds of many Bible-believing Christians today. Like gathering clouds signaling an impending storm, a darkly somber mood is growing among the workforce today. The mood is further chaffed by headlines telling of executive bonuses in millions of dollarsùgiven for laying off tens of thousands of workers. Modern day ôreapersö laboring in their ôfieldsö are increasingly despondent about the future. Bible prophecy shows their despondency will lead to world wide conflict. This will usher in the Golden Age of Messiah.

But the public’s mood stands in seeming contradiction to the rosy statistics oft quoted by political leadersùthe net gain of 27 million jobs in the United States since 1979, the low national unemployment rate. Yet these facts belie the impact present day layoffs are having on middle class workers.

The Way Things Are Today

Today’s job market is quite different than it was when many in the current workforce entered it. The differences are significant.

Twenty five years ago almost everyone laid-off was able to find employment that paid as well as their old job. United States Labor Department statistics now show that only about 35 percent of people laid off are able to find jobs that pay as well as their former one. The majority must submit to ôretrainingö or lower pay and fewerùif anyùbenefits.

Headlines trumpet the disparity of a constantly widening gulf between rich and poor in distribution of wealth. After adjusting for inflation, the US... median wage is 3 percent below what is was in the late

1970s. From that same time, average household income has climbed by 10 percent. However, of that 10 percent gain, 97 percent of it went to the richest 20 percent.

Ironically, many workers today have financial interest in mutual funds. These force Wall Street to pressure large corporations for worker layoffs to drive stock values up. Comfortably middle class workers may actually lose their jobs to benefit their ôretirement packageö and, simultaneously, force them down a few rungs on the economic ladder. Could this be part of the fraud James speaks of? We believe so. ôReapersö are being defrauded of their rightful wages. James’ prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes.

Withholding wages by the above means has made the rich richer while adding to the ranks of the poor. What of these newly poor (and potentially poorer) middle class masses? Eric Hoffer, the noted ôlongshoreman philosopherö masterfully summed up the dynamics of mass movements. In his signature work The True Believer he noted that the masses of earth’s poor who had never known wealth were usually content. Their lot in life seemed normal to them. The most volatile and revolution minded mass of poor is the newly poor. When middle-class masses are impoverished, Hoffer noted, revolution will follow.

Reaping the corners

Consider a very interesting feature of the Jewish Law. (While we in Christ are no longer under the dominion of the law, the Law was of God and it ôis holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.ö Ro 7:1, 4, 12 ôWe know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.ö 1Ti 1:8-9 It is good food for the New Creature to ponder in the quest to know God better.) God is full of mercy and compassion. He does not forget the little ones, the widows or the poor. Consider the wonderful provision he made for these in the Mosaic Law.

ôAnd when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.ö Le 19:9, 10

The Lord made provision in the Israelites’ business dealings to provide for the poor and the stranger. The owner of grain fields or vineyards would be blessed far more by obeying the Divine commandment than lust for profit. In leaving fruit for the less fortunate, they would practice mercy and receive Divine favor.

The opposite spirit seems to rule today. The ôbottom lineö governs business. The corporate world seems constantly straining to be leaner and meaner. The goal today is to glean every cent of profitability from every aspect (corner) of business. This is often at the expense of the poor ôreaperö who was laid off, took a pay cut or lost benefits.

While such intense gleaning benefits investors and corporate leaders (the rich), it has a very negative impact on society. Corporate shake-ups force community leaders, civic minded volunteers and youth program helpers to cut back their time, service and financial support. Local merchants may lose business or close their doors as customers dwindle. Relocation causes a real estate market glut and property values go down.

ôGleaning the cornersö sets off a chain reaction of corporate shake-ups leading to societal shake-ups. The scriptures symbolically refer to social shake-ups as earthquakes (see for example Re 11:13, a prophetic description of the French Revolution).

Shaking the earth

All the world is being gathered together by economics. Economists now speak in terms of The Global Economy. The interweaving of world-wide economy has fueled feelings of despair in the West. No longer are Western nations self-assured leaders of the world’s economy. No longer is the factory worker or corporate middle manager secure in their job. With the increase of travel and instantaneous worldwide communication, a worker in the United States may be competing with someone in Asia, Africa or South America for a job. This rigorous competition drives down wages for today’s ôreapers.ö Job security is almost nonexistent.

Notes David Donald Herbert, a social historian at Harvard, ôIt’s important to recall that throughout American history, discontent has always had less to do with material well-being than with expectations and anxiety. You read that 40,000 people are laid off at AT&T and a shiver goes down your back that says, ‘That could be me,’ even if the fear is exaggerated. What we are reacting against is the end of a predictable life....ö

As the masses in the workforce tremble at the prospects of the future, Jesus’ words reach our hearts with special force. Regarding his coming again he said, ôAnd there shall be ... upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity [Greek ôno way outö]; the sea [masses of humanity] and the waves [special interest groups] roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of the heaven shall be shaken.ö Lk 21:25, 26

Help for God’s people

The Apostle Paul links the shaking of the heavens with a simultaneous shaking of the earth. ôAnd His voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.’ And this expression, ‘Yet once more,’ denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things [this present evil world and its sin stained social arrangement], in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain [the Kingdom of God and its righteous rulership]. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.ö Heb 12:25-27 NAS

Those who cling to the cross and look with faith to their Lord will be strengthened in the troublous times prevailing today and coming in the future. Realize the impact of the Apostle’s teaching. In the midst of all the shaking going on in the world now, there are elements of the kingdom of God present. These elements are unshakable and will remain beyond the troublous times to become a foundation for God’s kingdom on earth. As the prophet Daniel foretold, ôIn the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.ö Da 2:44 Let us lift up our heads and rejoice for our deliverance draws nigh!

Help for the groaning masses

God’s plans have provided great deliverance for those who are Christ’s. But he has also provided for the deliverance of the groaning creation, the masses. See Ro 8:19-21.

In Heb 12 Paul was quoting the prophet Haggai. ôYet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations will come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.ö Hag 2:6, 7 After shaking every aspect of present society and bringing about the end of this present evil world (Ga 1:4) God will bring to pass the desire of all nations. What do they desire? The deep desire of nearly all people is peace, respect, equity, economic security and especially love. These desires will all be secured when the Lord establishes his Kingdom on earth.

He will fill his house with glory. That is, Christ’s followers, the church will receive their spiritual glory as the temple of God. 1Co 3:16 Then will be brought to pass the scripture, ôBehold the tabernacle of God [Christ’s church ruling as priests and kings] is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall their be any more pain: for the former things [the present society] will be past away.ö Re 21:3,4

If the economic pressures of our time are weighing you down; if the shaking up of society is troubling your heart, think on all these things which we have noted. ôBe patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth [Christ’s disciples], and hath long patience for it...Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.ö It is ôeven at the door.ö Jas 5:7, 8 Re 3:20

A Pastor of Excellence

October 1996

Eighty years ago on October 31, 1916, newspaper headlines shocked the nation. A world renowned Christian minister died "in the harness" on a transcontinental speaking tour. To thousands of congregations around the world he was a beloved Pastor. Tens of thousands of individuals were encouraged by hearing his hope-inspiring lectures. Hundreds of thousands were greeted by his smiling face as they weekly opened their local newspapers to read his faith inspiring sermons. In the last three years of his life "some eight million people" saw and heard this dynamic speaker on film as Pastor Russell introduced his epic motion picture, THE PHOTODRAMA OF CREATIONùthe crowning feature of his ministry. Of course, it broke all records in attendance and technology. Never before had sound and color been incorporated into motion pictures. Pastor Russell was dead. An era of excellence in the communication of faith and hope came to an end. Wasn’t Pastor Russell the founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses? No! Nothing could be further from the truth.

Just how popular was Pastor Russell? The Overland Monthly, a noted periodical of that time, reported in 1909 that STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES by Charles Taze Russell, was one of the world’s three most circulated works surpassed only by the BIBLE and THE CHINESE ALMANAC.

THE CONTINENT, a publication whose editor often opposed Pastor Russell, once published the following significant statement concerning him: "His writings are said to have a greater newspaper circulation every week than those of any other living man; a greater, doubtless, than the combined circulation of the writings of all the priests and preachers in North America."

George Swetnam, the official historian for the Pittsburgh Bicentennial in 1958 -1959 wrote, "Pastor Russell traveled constantly, covering more than a million miles, delivering more than 30,000 sermons and lectures and talks, writing books totaling over 50,000 pages, which have reached a circulation of more than 20,000,000 copies.- his influence has easily been the widest of any man who ever lived in the city, [Pittsburgh] not even excepting Andrew Carnegie." [Swetnam, George WHERE ELSE BUT PITTSBURGH (Pittsburgh: Davis and Warde, Inc., 1958) p. 110]

The LONDON GRAPHIC (April 8,1911) described Pastor Russell as follows: "The advent of Pastor Russell brings to this city and country a man of international reputation, who is known almost as well in Great Britain as he is in America.àwho is reputed to be the most popular preacher in Americaà"

And, finally, the CHRISTIAN GLOBE (May 5, 1910) of London, states, "Since the days of Henry Ward Beecher and Dr. Talmage, no preacher has occupied so prominent a position in the United States as Pastor Russell of Brooklyn Tabernacle holds today."

The full impact of Pastor RussellÆs ministry can only be understood against the backdrop of church history.

An Overview of History

Life for the Christian minority in the second century was brutally cruel. The pagan religious leaders and civil leaders demanded allegiance to their multiple gods. By the third century many Christian leaders felt a need to compromise Christian doctrine to make Christianity more acceptable to the rulers of the Roman Empire. For starters, they embraced PlatoÆs "immortality of the soul." There was also the urgent need for multiple godsà.The "trinity soon became a hallmark of Christian doctrine. Then Christians succeeded beyond their most extravagant hopes: In the fourth century, Emperor Constantine declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. It did not matter that he did this for his own political reasons. Through the centuries following, the churchÆs "glorious" reign over the nations was written in blood. Historians called it the "Dark Ages."

The world church persecuted any and all who rejected its claims. Millions who were consigned to eternal damnation were then supposedly justifiably tortured in this life. The Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century helped but a little. LutherÆs rejection of the doctrine of the immortality of the soul was forgotten. Soon the Protestant churches found it expedient to retain much of the "Dark Age" dogmas, especially the trinity and eternal damnation for all who rejected their gospel.

A tidal wave of infidelity swept over the Christian world in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Modernist theology was born. The only response permitted within the precincts of conservatism was to blindly defend the old creeds of the "Dark Ages." Something had to be done.

Pastor Russell Founded the Bible Students

In 1870 at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, a Bible Class was formed for systematic Bible study. Soon they selected Charles Taze Russell as their Pastor. At that time other earnest Christians were forming independent Bible classes for in-depth Bible study.

Pastor Russell became a leader of thought and activity among these congregations. In 1879 Zion’s Watch Tower was formed, later known as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society (not to be mistaken as Jehovah’s Witnesses). This society did not become the central authority of the Bible Student movement. It could not because all cooperating congregations of Bible Students held strictly to congregational self- government. The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society was basically a publishing house and lecture bureau.

Pastor Russell never claimed to originate Bible truths, but rather to recover the truths held by the First Century church. He succeeded more than any other person, of course not without controversy. Wearied with the "Dark Age" theories of Christendom, he inspired hope and faith in the hearts of the masses. Like Jesus, the multitudes clamored to hear him.

Clergy Opposition

Why do some ministers today use the same old worn out vilifications that "doom and gloom" ministers in RussellÆs day concocted in desperation? Sheer jealousy! The people clamored to hear Russell and demanded that the newspapers carry his sermons. His "opposition" lamented that Pastor Russell’s writings had a "greater newspaper circulation every weekàthan the combined circulation of all the priests and preachers of North America." Why? Because Pastor RussellÆs message gave hope in contrast to those "doomsday preachers."

Every Jew, Hindu, Moslem, etc., and evenChristians who do not accept their particular brand of Christianity before death, they say is damned to and eternity of torment. These preachers of "doom" both in Russell’s day and today hold in contempt the Gospel of love taught by Pastor Russell and the Bible Student movement he founded. Calvinists especially cringed under the heat of the sunlight of this love. No wonder they taught that the vast majority were eternally damned before they were even born. Unable to meet RussellÆs scriptural logic, many resorted to personal attacks on him. All these attacks have been refuted.

Not Founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses

After the death of Pastor Russell in 1916 Joseph Rutherford, whom Pastor Russell had recently dismissed from his staff, legally seized control of the Watch Tower, dismissed the majority of the Board of Directors and established dictatorial control. The writings of Pastor Russell were discarded. The Watch Tower became the central head and authority over all congregations willing to yield their sovereignty. Basic doctrines of the society seriously digressed from the teachings of Pastor Russell. The methods of conducting the evangelistic work were altered. The more sensational digressions such as refusing blood transfusions and saluting the flag even caught the publicÆs eye.

Many individuals and congregations refused to surrender their Christian liberty or accept the new teachings. As early as 1917, the exodus from the newly declared sovereign headquarters began. By 1931 over three quarters of those associated with the Bible Student movement in Pastor Russell’s day had separated from the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and formed independent and autonomous congregations. Today’s Bible Students trace back through these separatists to Pastor Russell their founder.

JehovahÆs Witnesses Founded in 1931

In 1931, fifteen years after Pastor Russell’s death, JehovahÆs Witnesses was founded. Its founder, Joseph Rutherford, presented a startling resolution entitled A NEW NAME which was adopted at its international convention on July 26, 1931. The resolution first observed that neither "Russellites" nor "Bible Students" were any longer appropriate names. (This position was ironically true, as over 75% of Bible Students from Pastor RussellÆs era had already separated.) Henceforth they would call themselves "JehovahÆs Witnesses." Joseph Rutherford not Pastor Russell founded JehovahÆs Witnesses. Pastor Russell died in 1916. JehovahÆs Witnesses was founded in 1931. Pastor Russell founded the Bible Students who still affirm his teachings. Rutherford rejected RussellÆs teachings, purged Russell’s Bible Students from his movement, rejected the name Bible Students and named his new movement "Jehovah’s Witnesses."

Pastor Russell vs. JehovahÆs Witnesses

The main teaching of Pastor Russell was that Jesus died a ransom for all. (1Ti 2:5, 6) JehovahÆs Witnesses teach that Jesus died only for some. Pastor Russell taught a future probation because millions have died without hearing the Gospel. Even among many who hear it, uncertainty and confusion exist. (Joh 5:28-29; Ac 15:14-17; Re 22:17) Jehovah’s Witnesses, like all fundamentalists, believe that if you reject their brand of the Gospel you are lost eternally.

Pastor Russell believed Bible prophecy taught that the Jewish people would be regathered to the promised land and the State of Israel would be reborn. (Mt 23:32; Eze 37:1-14; Jer 31:4-12) Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the regathering of the Jews and the birth of the Israeli State is a change of history completely unrelated to Bible prophecy.

Pastor Russell did not found Jehovah’s Witnesses. They reject his basic teachings. Pastor Russell founded the Bible Students. Bible Students today, as in Pastor RussellÆs day, affirm his teachings, which scripturally portrays a Gospel of love that wonderfully reflects the attributes of God.

God’s Elections

November 1996

This year, now almost past, has been momentous in terms of elections in key places around the world: Russia...Israel...the United States. Current world affairs seem overly affected by those single men chosen for offices of power.

Worried analysts evaluate Boris Yeltsin’s survival. Will he hold up long enough to effect any democratic changes in Russia that may have begun?...Who will replace him?...Will Netanyahu hold up against world and internal pressure to keep Israel’s God-given Land?...Others asked, would a U.S. change in the Presidency of the United States cause a rollback in any progress may have been made on behalf of the senior citizens or the poor?...But above and beyond any platform plan of any world leader is God’s divine plan which has a specific agenda and a specific time table.

Elections of the Past

In the past God permitted certain powerful leaders to come to power to serve his own purposes. A pharaoh, "which knew not Joseph," arose in Egypt at the right time as Moses speaking for God said to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth" (Ex 1:8; Ro 9:17). Pharaoh served God’s purposes. When it was time for the Babylonian world empire to end, God overruled that Cyrus came to power. "Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him...to open before him the two-leaved gates [of Babylon]...I will break in pieces the gates of brass and cut in sunder the bars of iron...For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou has not known me" (Isa 45:1-4). Cyrus did not know God, but God picked him for power because He knew Cyrus would be generous enough to make a decree that the Jews could go back to their Land and rebuild their temple.

Israel itself only needed God’s one vote to be considered the "elect" of God. "As touching the election, they [Israel] are beloved for the fathers’ sakes" (Ro 11:28). What purpose does God’s election of Israel serve? To the first father of Israel, Abraham, was given the promise, "In blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is upon the sea shore... .In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice" (Ge 22:18). Passed down to Isaac, then Jacob and then his twelve sons the nation of Israel inherited this special choosing of God. "O children of Israel...you only have I known of all the families of the earth..." (Amos 3:1,2). This election of Israel meant not only special care by God, but also special responsibility and therefore special chastisements through history.

Blessing of the Non-elect

What is not generally comprehended is that the choosing of the seed of Abraham was not just for the blessing of the seed of Abraham. The selected "seed" was and is to "bless all the families of the earth." In other words, Israel was elected to be an instrument of blessing to the non-elect!

To say Israel had lost their chance to be blessers by not accepting Jesus Christ is to ignore the Apostle Paul’s powerful discourse in Ro 11. Yes, "the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded" (Ro 11:7). Only a few accepted the call to become Christians, but Paul concludes that this blindness would only last until the Church was complete, "Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Ro 11:25). After that time, "Thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, the Deliverer will come from Zion, and he will remove ungodliness from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (Ro 11:25,26).

Some Christians are very enthusiastic about the present regathering of Israel, but their expectation is that only a small remnant will be saved and up to 10 million damned. If that were true, it would be a gross exaggeration for the Apostle Paul to say, "All Israel will be saved." Then too, to say this has already happened that "all the families of the earth" have been blessed would also be a gross exaggeration on God’s part.

The Elect: Two Parts

What is also not appreciated generally is just who is this chosen, elected "seed"? The promise is that the seed would be as the "stars of heaven" as well as the "sands of the seashore." The elect seed would be both spiritual and earthly. Most Christians usually only appreciate half the promise, that is, regarding the heavenly seed. But the spiritual "seed" will work together with the earthly "seed" to bless all the families of the earth. The Christian elect will work through the earthly elect to bless all the nations (Isa 2:1-4) God’s promises concerning those whom He elects are not an exaggeration!

What can a Christian do now to "bless all the families of the earth"? Or at least some of the families of the earth? Wouldn’t the best most efficient plan be to exert good Christian influence on the governments of this world, its laws, its policies? Christian involvement in politics is nothing new. Back in the fourth century, the Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity thinking it useful for adding some stability to his wobbling Roman empire. On the other side, grasping Christian leaders who were eager for more power consorted with his civil government. Why wait for Christ’s kingdom when we can help it happen?

When Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world, else would my servants fight," he could have just as easily said, My kingdom is not of this world, else would my servants vote...or run for office... On the contrary, he taught his disciples to pray for the coming kingdom, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." But Christians became weary of waiting, weary of being persecuted.

Ambitious leaders in the church rose to power. They violated the laws of ordination laid down by the Apostles in the early church. Members of each congregation were responsible for placing their leaders into office. That responsibility was relaxed and "wolves" were quick to swoop in and take advantage of the flock. Paul had warned, "After my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock" (Ac 20:29).

Elections in the Church

Election of church leaders was the custom in the early church. "And when they had ordained them elders in every church and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord" (Ac 14:23). The word for "ordain" comes from a root word meaning "to stretch," and so means "to be a hand-reacher or voter (by raising the hand)" (strong’s exhaustive concordance of the bible, 5500). Scripturally, church government means, therefore, congregations electing pastors! It does not mean appointments of church leaders by some self-appointed board or body of people. If the early church practice would not have been changed throughout the Christian age, what a different history we would have of the Christian church! Instead of getting involved in secular affairs of state, Christians should have taken the responsibility of electing their own leaders.

The New Testament gives specific guidelines for election of the office of "overseers" in the church (1Ti 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-11). The Apostle did not leave these regulations as a quaint protocol just for his time for electing servants in the church. The qualifications for office are clear: A candidate must be apt to teach, not a novice; possessing a blameless reputation, just, holy, able "both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict" (NAS), etc. But gradually the bodies of believers from city to city surrendered their responsibilities to hungry "wolves." Soon the prominent bishops in each church yielded their allegiance to the most powerful bishop in Rome. While later some Christians rejected the Bishop of Rome, they still usually fell short of claiming their scriptural responsibility for electing their own elders or pastors.

So what is a Christian to do? Yes, Christians are to vote. They are to vote in their congregations as the Apostle Paul laid down the inspired regulations. No, they are not to participate in the governments of this world by voting or getting involved in politics. But they are to be law-abiding and "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s." And yes, they are to have faith that those whom God brings to power (Ro 13:1-3) are permitted for a time to serve God’s own purposes in the outworking of His divine plan.

The Jews and The Land, Where Shall We Stand?

Winter 1997

Struggles of Epic Proportion

Many Bible-believing Christians today see the handiwork of God in the regathering of the Jewish People to their reborn stateùIsrael. The news is filled with the great drama now going on there. Two peoples are locked in a struggle of epic proportions. To the worldly, not enlightened by the prophetic lamp of the scriptures, the struggle is merely political. It is not. At stake is the question, "Who is God?" Is He the mighty Yahweh of the Jews or Allah of the Muslim faith? The question is valid and vital.

Where we as Christians stand on this issue is of utmost importance. Are we supporting the Arab side of the land struggle? If so we may, unwittingly, be opposing our God. The prophet Ezekiel shows us GodÆs perspective on the contested land and the embattled Jewish people. Speaking to the invading forces of Gog at the time of IsraelÆs final battle, God warns, "And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes." Eze 38:16

We emphasize the phrases my people and my land. God tells us in this verse that He considers the Jewish people and the Land of Israel to be His. Note that this occurs before the revealment of Messiah to the Jews as recorded in Zec 12:10. The land of Israel and the Jewish people are inseparable. This is by Divine decree. God promised the land to Abraham and his seed after him. That promise was passed from Abraham to Isaac, then to Jacob and on to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Simply put, if AllahÆs nation of Islam succeeds in wresting the land of Israel from the Jewish peopleùthe prophecies of our Judeo-Christian Bible will have failed. The Bible would be invalidated and the Koran verified as the true word of God to men. We are full of faith that GodÆs word will not return to Him void. The Jewish people will receive the Biblically promised land. They will do so even if the whole world opposes themùfor GodÆs will shall be done.

The Israeli-Arab conflict over the land seems epitomized in the current Hebron negotiations. Almost daily we hear of HebronÆs little band of Jewish settlers and their struggles to thrive as a community. We were there a few months ago and would like to share with you perspectives we gained. Consider. ..

A Brief History Lesson

Many are unaware of the modern history of the Jews in Hebron. Until 1929 there was a thriving Jewish community in Hebron. Jewish merchants and citizens lived in peaceful coexistence with their Arab neighbors. Civility characterized their interaction. More importantly, Jewish physicians and nurses ran the sole health clinic in Hebron. The amount of charitable care they provided the Arab community was large. They were the only source of health care for the Arabs.

Riots plagued Jerusalem prior to 1929, instigated by the Arab community. The result of these riots was murderous persecutions of Jews in the "City of Peace." Hebron remained quiet. Harmony between Jews and Arabs prevailed until Arabs from Jerusalem came to foment uprisings in Hebron. The quiescent way of coexistence there was soon to be shattered.

British officers, as eyewitnesses recall, told HebronÆs Jewish community leaders that they were short on weapons. Due to this shortage they couldnÆt guarantee British protection of HebronÆs Jews should the Arabs attack them. Unfortunately, the British also told the Arabs the same thing.

August 1929 in Hebron was a bloody month. Arabs began attacking Jews. Using knives, axes, machetes, picksùwhatever they could findùindiscriminate attacks were unleashed. Not only were strong young Jewish men brutalized, but also women, the elderly and even tender young children. When Arab fury was, for the time being, satiatedù69 of HebronÆs Jews had been slaughtered. Photographs of the survivors keep the story fresh in our minds. Pictorial records of victimsÆ wounds deeply jar our Christian sensibilities.

Having their fill of Jewish blood the rioters began to turn on the British, who were standing by to watch the melee. Seeing the advancing mob, an officer on horseback drew his pistol and fired two shots into the air. The riot stopped then and there. If only that man had fired his precious two bullets an hour or two earlier, much human suffering would have been averted.

The survivors were told that their safety could no longer be guaranteed. They had to leave their homes, synagogues, businesses and fields without any financial compensation. Imagine suffering such material loss in addition to their physical wounds. The Jewish community of Hebron faded and, after the 1948 War of Independence, was completely gone. Gone were benefactors of the Arabs. The medical clinic was closed. Jews were barred from Hebron by its Jordanian Army occupiers until after the æ67 War.

In 1979, Jews finally began to return to their homes and synagogues left behind for a half century. What drew them there? What could impel them to move to such an inhospitable placeùwhose bloody past looms over the present? Quite simply and powerfullyùthe Word of God.

Scriptural Reasons

We heard an oft repeated refrain in our travels in Israel. Jerusalem is the heart of Israel and Hebron is the mother of Israel. Jewish roots here are deepùthe result of a history that goes back more than three millennia! Abram dwelled in Mamre, which is in Hebron. Ge 13:14-18 Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah in Hebron for 400 shekels of silver. Ge 23:17-20 Joshua took Hebron as part of the promised land of Canaan. Jos 14:6-14 Hebron was one of the six Cities of Refuge. Jos 21:13 David began his reign over Judah in Hebron. 2Sa 2:1-4 In Hebron David was anointed king over all Israel. 2Sa 5:1-3 Conversely, Hebron is not mentioned at all in the Koran.

The Tomb of the Patriarchs holds the bones of the Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wivesùthe parents of the Jewish people. Is it any wonder that the Jews are compelled to live here beside their ancestors? Their deep faith yearns to be connected with the land and cities God gave to their fathers. Bible prophecy assures us that one day their hopes will be amply fulfilled.

Christian Beware

Some of our Christian friends support the concept of Replacement Theology. That is, Israel has been everlastingly superseded by the Christian Church. Supposedly, IsraelÆs national role in GodÆs plan is finished. (We do not agree. Limited space does not here permit a verse-by-verse consideration of Romans, Chapter 11. Read it carefully several times. It powerfully teaches IsraelÆs continuing and future place in GodÆs plan for mankind.)

Generally the traditional Christian churches tend to hold Replacement TheologyÆs tenants. Not seeing Biblical promises to the land or people of Israel as existing any longer, these churches actively support the Muslim cause. They say that Israel should give up land. Recently (December 1996) they sponsored a full page advertisement in The New York Times calling for Israel to give up sole administration of Jerusalem.

Ironically, in supporting IslamÆs aims, these Christians may be hurting the cause of Christ. IslamÆs goal is world domination. We quote from their fiery rhetoric, "The governments of the world should know that Islam cannot be defeated. Islam will be victorious in all the countries of the world, and Islam and the teachings of the Koran will prevail all over the world. Only then will their Jihad (Holy War) be complete." "We shall export our revolution to the whole world. Until the cry æAllahu AkbarÆ resounds over the whole world, there will be struggle. There will be jihad." We note the burgeoning growth of mosques in the United States and Europe. (Interestingly, for the first time, in December 1996 IslamÆs half-crescent symbol was raised in New YorkÆs Grand Central Terminal alongside a Christmas tree and a Hanukah Menorah for the holiday season.)

PLO flags covered with Arabic script are displayed in public gatherings. The message, "First we will kill the Saturday people and then weÆll kill the Sunday people." Internationally renowned Bishop Desmond Tutu recently addressed a snickering crowd of Arabs. He was standing under such a banner as he spoke.

As Christians we must support the message of our Bible. Israel, dwelling in its God given land as a blesser nation, is part of that message. The God of Israel, not Allah, shall reign over all the earth.

Concluding Thoughts

We have used Hebron as an example. The larger contest for possession of the land will greatly intensify when the issues of final redeployment and Jerusalem come to the bargaining table. The principles that apply to Hebron apply to the whole land issue. Remember all GodÆs promises regarding the land and the people of Israel. As Christians, perceiving the role of the Jewish people in the plans of God, may our faith give us the courage to stand and to speak for what is right.

Christian leaders and governments of the so-called Christian world are exerting tremendous pressure on Israel to give up land. It seems incredible that Israel will possibly suffer a temporary land loss because Christians are siding with Allah and not the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible.

Come Quickly, Lord Jesus

March 1997

Biblical prophecy was the foundation of the Protestant Reformation.

From the first, and throughout, that movement [the Reformation] was energized and guided by the prophetic Word. Luther never felt strong and free to war against the papal apostasy until he recognized the pope as antichrist. It was then he burned the papal Bull. KnoxÆs first sermon, the sermon which launched him on his mission as a Reformer, was on the prophecies concerning the papacy [the Man of Sin]à All the Reformers were unanimous in the matterà[1]

The Reformers believed Jesus could not return until the Man of Sin/Antichrist was revealed (2Th 1:13). Now that the Man of Sin had been identified, their attention turned to the events that would lead to the second advent.[2]

To the Reformers, the books of Daniel and Revelation in symbolic language contained the prophetic history of the whole Christian Ageùfrom Pentecost down to and including the return of Jesus and the destruction of this world. The Antichrist was Papacy. The time periods in Daniel of 1260, 1290, 1335 and 2300 days were symbolic. Each day symbolized a year as revealed in Eze 4:6 "I have appointed you a day for a year."

What Next?

Now the Reformers focused in on the next prophetic events that would lead up to the second advent of Jesus. After identifying the Man of Sin, the next milestone would be the end of the 1260 years marked by a severe blow to Papacy. On the basis of Re 11:4, 7, 13 many mainline clergy predicted the details of the French Revolution that would result in the collapse of Papacy between 1795 and 1799 at the end of the 1260 years. The incredible point is they made this prediction 50-160 years before the event.[3]

What happened?

The aged pope [Pius VI] was dragged from the altar à His rings were torn from his fingers, and finally, after declaring the temporal power abolished, the victors [the French Revolutionary Army] carried the pope prisoner into Tuscany, [where he died]. The papacy was extinct: not a vestige of its existence remained.[4]

However, the historical record also shows that the papacy revived.5 The papacy destroyed and revivedùthis was incredible. It was the most momentous phenomenon in church history. Re 13:3 clicked in the minds of many Protestant leaders the world over. Surely they reasoned this was the deadly wound of Antichrist that was temporarily healed. In great expectation the floodlight of Adventism swept across Europe and the United States. With the ending of the 1260 years, mainline Protestants now believed the second advent of Jesus was eminent. This wave of Adventism was a logical sequence in the prophetic heritage of the Reformation.[6] The much sensationalized William Miller was actually a late comer to this worldwide Adventist phenomenon.[7] The prophetic faith of the Reformation seemed to be locked into a nineteenth century expectation of the second advent. Martin Luther predicted Jesus would return 300 years from his time. This would be between 1830-1850.[8] In the latter 1700s John Wesley, founder of the Methodist denomination, like many of his contemporaries predicted 1836 for the date of the second advent.[9]

Joseph Wolff, world renowned missionary, preached 1847 as the date of "the coming glory and personal reign of Jesus Christà" In 1836 Wolff was invited to present his second advent message before the United States Congress and the legislatures of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland.[10]

What Went Wrong?

All of the expositors of Adventism were generally correct by marking the 1790s as the conclusion of the 1260 years resulting in the severe setback to papacy. Then they variously calculated from 1836-1855 as the ending of the 2300 years when the sanctuary class [the church] was to be cleansed (Da 8). Actually, a nucleus of the sanctuary class, the church, was finally cleansed at that time from the defiling errors of papacy. But they erred by assuming that the second advent would occur when the sanctuary was cleansed.

Many Protestant clergy from all denominations were involved in Adventism during the first half of the 1800s. Why was William Miller singled out for ridicule, especially when he appeared on the scene later with much of the same prophetic reasoning of those which preceded him? Miller was an evangelist. He unfortunately used a date for the end of the world to scare thousands to convert or be damned eternally. ItÆs not that Joseph Wolff and others didnÆt try. Miller was no different than the fundamentalists today who threaten all with eternal torment if they donÆt accept Jesus before his eminent return. They Warnù"will you be ready if Jesus comes tomorrow?"

Actually the 19th century Adventists were close in their calculations of the 1260 and 2300 day/years. The ending of the 1260 years of the persecuting power of papacy (Da 7:21, 25) and the cleansing of the sanctuary (church) from the defiling errors of papacy were milestones on the churchÆs road to the Second Advent. See the book THY KINGDOM COME.[11]

Twentieth Century Fundamentalists

Fundamentalists of the 20th century look with disdain at the prophetic struggles of their 19th century brethren. The secret rapture, seven-year tribulationists of the 20th century with their literal Man of Sin concept and future literal 1260 days (3 1/2 years), departed from the prophetic faith of the Reformation. Ironically, their prophetic heritage traces back to the counter Reformation of the Jezuits.[12]

What has been the prediction record of these seven-year tribulationists? Basic to their concept is the "eminent coming" of Jesus. They claim that ever since JesusÆ ascension, no prophetic event had to happen before his returnùfor centuries he could have returned on any day. In the words of John F. Walvoord, President of Dallas Theological Seminary[13] ù"the Lord could come at any moment and there are no necessary intervening events." The obvious inconsistency is their seven-year tribulation must precede JesusÆ return. They cover here by claiming Jesus will secretly return to rapture his saints. First a "secret presence" then "every eye shall see him."

Still this is a false prediction. Actually, John Darby back in the mid 1800s sold the seven -year tribulation concept to some fundamentalists. During the balance of the 1800s up until 1948 many fundamentalists preached that Jesus could return any day. On May 14, 1948 a prophetic miracle happenedùthe rebirth of the State of Israel. This proved a prophetic event had to occur before their concept of the second advent. Hal Lindsey, the student of Walvoord, unwittingly destroyed the "eminent coming" theory when he admitted[14] -"The one event which many Bible students in the past overlooked was this paramount prophetic sign: Israel had to be a nation again in the land of its forefathers." If they believed their "eminent coming" theory was true, then they were wrong all the years before 1948 in saying Jesus could return any day. Israel restored proved their "eminent coming" theory was a failed prediction.

After 1948 Hal Lindsey and many fundamentalists, on the basis of Israel and the generation of Lk 21:29-31, predicted that Jesus would return within 40 years of 1948.[15] Well, 1988 came and passed without their secret return of Jesus to rapture the churchùanother failed prediction of the seven- year tribulationist.

Many set the date of 1988 for other reasons than the 40-year generation. When that failed they predicted 1989 for the return of Jesus. Yet none of their seven- year tribulationist brethren accused them of being false prophets.

For several years before 1994, Harold Camping of Family Radio fame vigorously on radio and by printed page predicted the return of Jesus in 1994. Another failed date among the seven-year tribulationists, and of course, fundamentalists would not call Camping a false prophet. Both the 19th century Reformation Adventists and the 20th century fundamentalists have had their share of failed predictions. But we should view kindly their attempts to have the Lord Jesus "come quickly."

Bible Students agree with our seven- year tribulation friends that the prophetic events of Mt 24 are signs of Jesus parousia (Mt 24:3), but we disagree on the definition of parousia. We believe it is wrongly rendered "coming" in some translations. In the last fifty years, archaeologists have found hundreds of 1st and 2nd century documents in which the Greek word parousia is used to denote presence. There is no longer a questionùparousia does mean presence. Therefore, Bible Students believe that the prophetic events in Mt 24, such as the rebirth of Israel are proofs that the Lord is present, not coming.

Just as our seven-year tribulation friends believe, the Lord will first return secretly before every eye shall see him, so Bible Students believe that the prophetic events listed in $Mt 24 prove that Christ is now secretly present (1Th 5:2; 2Pe 3:10; Re 3:3) before the revealment fulfilling Re 1:7 -"every eye shall see him."

For the latest research on the Greek word parousia and an in-depth study on all aspects of our LordÆs return, please send for the booklet I WILL COME AGAIN.

END NOTES

1. H. Gratten Guinness, ROMANISM AND THE REFORMATION (Toronto: S.R. Briggs [N.D.]), 250.

2. LeRoy Edwin Froom, THE PROPHETIC FAITH OF OUR FATHERS, Vol. 3 (Washington, DC: Review and Herald, 1954), 739.

3. RISE AND FALL OF PAPACY (New York: The American Protestant Society, 1801), 178-190.

4. George Trevor, ROME: FROM THE FALL OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE (London: The Religious Tract Society, 1868), 439.

5. Aruthur Robert Pennington, EPOCHS OF THE PAPACY (London: George Bell and Sons, 1881), 450.

6. Froom, Vol. 3, pp 263, 264.

7. Froom, Vol. 4, pp 406, 518.

8. THE FAMILIAR DISCOURSES OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER, trans by Henry Bell and revised by Joseph Kerby (London: Baldwin, Craddock and Joy, 1818), 7, 8.

9. Froom, Vol. 3, p 602.

10. Froom, Vol. 4. pp 323, 324.

11. Order your copy from Bible Students, PO Box 144, Edison, NJ 08818-0144.

12. Joseph Tanner, DANIEL AND THE REVELATION (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1898), 16, 17.

13. John F. Walvoord, BIBIOLTHECA SACRA, April-June 1976.

14. Hal Lindsey, THE LATE GREAT PLANET EARTH (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1970), 43.

15. Ibid, p 54.

Why Does God Permit Evil?

April 1997

The question of the centuries which so many askùand so few can answer

A mother brought in her handsome, strapping 17-year-old son for appendix pain and found out he had cancer all through his body. Why?

In their home, a retarded man tries to intercede as his sister and father are being stabbed and beaten. He in turn is mercilessly beaten to death with a cane. His murderers steal two television sets and flee. Why? Why?

A young man riding alone on his bike is met by an on-coming motorist. She has been drinking; she cannot keep her car in her lane. He had so much to live for, but she had lived it up too much. His life suddenly, tragically is ended. Oh, why?

A Christian nation that has grown strong and mighty is built on the labor of millions of African slaves. How can this be?

In Bangladesh, a tidal wave strikes its coastùand 250,000 lives are washed away. Men, women and children. Why?

Understanding God

The problem of understanding why there is evil is really a problem about understanding God. The question challenges the very belief in the existence of God. If He is so powerful, so all-knowing if He made us, if He cares anything about us, why do we see all around us so many "bad things happening to good people"?

Have the Scriptures overestimated the "love of God." Perhaps He is all-loving, but lacks the power to protect and saveùexcept on occasion. No, in addition to being all-loving and all-powerful, our God is very just and He is also very wise. Just as an architect cannot be judged by his unfinished work, so God cannot be judged by His unfinished work with mankind. Walk down any street in a big city and you might find a boarded off section where construction is going on. There might be a lot of noise, a lot of dust and sparks flying up in the air. If you peek through the little hole, you might see a very big mess.

Would you say to yourself, What a terrible, awful attempt at a building? No, you would wait and see. But still, can any glorious end ever begin to compensate for all the human suffering from the beginning of man’s history?

Root Cause of Evil

If the prevalence of evil is ever to be understood, the cause of it must be determined. The cause of evil is sinùnot only personal sin, but inherited sin. Man has inherited a legacy of sin from not just his parents, but from the first parents. "Dying, thou shalt die" was the inheritance passed on (Ge 2:17, mar.) "The fathers have eaten our grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge" (Eze 18:2). It was not literally the eating of grapes that plunged man into sin, suffering and death. But certainly it was Adam failing a simple test of obedience and eating of the forbidden fruit of the tree. "By the transgression of the one, death reigned though the one As in Adam all die "( Ro 5:17; 1Co 15:22)

How tragically and quickly jealousy and murder invaded our first parents’ home. Their firstborn son killed their secondborn. Fellowship with God having been cut off, man’s distressed mind affected his physical health and soon disease became entrenched in the human race. Man lost his dominionùdominion over himself and dominion over nature. So what about all the problems and calamities in nature? Are they then because of sin too? Actually as part of the curse, God also said, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake" (Ge 3:17). Man would have to also endure an unfriendly earth as part of the penalty for sin. But if God is so all-wise, could He not have prevented man’s fall into sin and all the resulting evil? And is it really fair to condemn the whole race just because of two people? Is He really just?

Man Can Make Choices

Yes, God could have prevented sin from entering the world. But He would have had to create man to be a robot without his own freedom of choice. Plants do not sin. Neither do animals for that matter. Nor the stars. But man was created in God’s own image, an intelligent creation, with the ability to choose between right and wrong, good and evil. So how would you teach your children to prefer the good? You would admonish them, but you would permit them to experience the consequences of bad choices. If they were forever shielded from exposure to wrong choices, they would be forever subject to the possibility of going off in the wrong directionùbut never self-directed on the right path. They might be innocent for a long time, but never virtuous.

Basically God left man to himself. All the atrocities, man’s inhumanity to man, raging diseases and plagues through the centuriesùare the results of that original choice. This choice set man on a downward escalator of degradation and suffering. Would it not have been more just to let everyone die and suffer for his own sins? If each human being was judged separately, each one would need a separate redeemer to die in his place. God in his infinite wisdom condemned all in one man Adam so that He could redeem all in His one Son Jesus. "For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Ro 5:17).

In God’s plan for humanity to have a wonderful eternity, He not only anticipated manÆs fall but planned for manÆs recovery. In His love He planned for His Son to be the "lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Re 13:8). But while God’s infinite wisdom is evident by an arrangement needing only one Redeemer and His unfathomable love is demonstrated by the providing of His own Son as that Redeemerùnot many of the human race have been blessed. It does not seem just. More seem to be suffering than are blessed. And Jesus died 2,000 years ago.

Then When will Evil End?

Like any Architect who is a Builder, God has an optimum time table for accomplishing His master plan. Just when the population of humans has filled the capacity of earth and man has had his fill of the evil consequences of sin, God will provide an alternative in His Kingdom on earth. Those who died without hearing "the only Name under heaven whereby one might be saved" will come forth to learn, to grow and to live. "The inhabitants of the earth will learn righteousness They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding "( Isa 26:9; 29:24). In this Kingdom righteousness will flourish. "and the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick" (Isa 33:24). Health and happiness will prevail. Why? Man will choose to love and obey Godùand will love his fellow man. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD" (Isa 65:25).

Why will the vast majority of mankind choose to serve God? They will have something Adam did not have: Experience. What a perspective! What a contrast! They will have had the bitter experience of the permission of evilùthe consequences of sin. The babies who died in infancy also will have an opportunity to grow up and learn by observation the dark history of man’s fall. This history will be a vivid record left for all as a model for all eternityùeven for future creations.

Man will remember their former experience with evil, but the bitter pain will be gone. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Re 21:4). Much like a woman in long difficult labor, she forgets her travail for the joy of her beautiful baby. "A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world" (Joh 16:21).

Likewise the anguish of all human suffering will be forgotten and replaced with the joy of serving God and living forever.

Why Must Christians Suffer?

But why has this Kingdom been so long in comingùsince Jesus died for man centuries ago? And those who have followed Christ, in fact, seem to have suffered more sometimes than the worldly or the godless! The call to follow Jesus Christ is a call to "take up my cross and follow me." Instead of a path strewn with roses, the Christian is promised grace for bearing up under every trial "such as is common to man" (1Co 10:13). This suffering belonging to the Christian is part of our professional training. Our profession is a "Priesthood" which will sympathetically help and teach those of man entering the Kingdom (1Pe 2:5; Heb 5:1,2; Re 5:10;).

If those in the world have lost sons, so must some of those in this sympathetic priesthood. If some have watched loved ones murdered, so must some in this priesthood. If some have lost jobs and dignity, so must many in this priesthood of believers. If some have suffered paralysis or long protracted disease, the believers learn sympathy and mercy by going through the same thing.

When mankind finally understands His Plan, GodÆs wisdom, justice, love and power will be vindicated. Mankind will praise God, "Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Re 4:11). How could God possibly "receive power"? From those to whom He gave the freedom of choice will come back returned thanks. They will realize God’s way was the best way for them too.

Send for the booklet, "The Permission of Evil in God’s Plan," for a fuller discussion on the this age-old question.

A Heavenly Reward

May 1997

Spring has come and life is bursting from the earth. The somber tones of winter pass as vividly colored leaves, grasses and flowers paint the earth. This picture of life after death forcibly reminds us of the resurrection. Where will we find ourselves in the resurrection? In heaven? What is heaven like? What will we do there?

Time (March 24, 1997) dedicated its cover story to this question. It is significant that this question is addressed in a public forum like Time. The modern concept of heaven differs from that held by our ancestors. Sermons today on the nature of heaven are met with skepticism. A literal description of it seems beyond the reach of popular theology. Apparently the fast pace and materialistic crush of our world has diminished longing for the "here-after." How true our LordÆs rhetorical question, "Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, will he find the faith on the earth?" Lk 18:8

David Wells, a theology professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary notes, "We would expect to hear of [heaven] in the Evangelical churches, but I donÆt hear it at all. I donÆt think heaven is even a blip on the Christian screen from one end of the denominational spectrum to the other. The more perplexing question is, What explains this?"

We, as a society, have gotten caught up in the things of this life. We all know that this is so easy to do. We are constantly bombarded by media reminding us to "go for the gusto." "Be all you can be." "You deserve the very best." Our lifestyle today puts the lifestyles of past kings to shame. However, if our Christian focus shifts to the benefits of this life, it will be to the detriment of the life which is to come. Others today have invented alternative visions of heaven and the means to get there. The poor deluded ones of HeavenÆs Gate, the Branch Davidians and Jonestown met with tragic results. These painfully remind us of the error in following men and "doctrines of men."

Our Christian hope rests on our Lord Jesus and the promise made before his crucifixion. "In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Joh 14:2-3

We have complete confidence in our LordÆs words. He did go away to prepare a place for us. What will heaven be like? What will we be like in heaven? Will we have these same bodies that we possess now? What will we do there?

It Doth Not Yet Appear

The answer to the question, What will we be like?, is not given in detail by the scriptures. But the suggestions given are astounding. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1Joh 3:2 We will not be as we are nowùwe shall be like him! "But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? ..., that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, ... God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. ... It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." 1Co 15:35-44

Jesus "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Php 3:21 Then we will fully realize our relationship as the Body of Christ. "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many." 1Co 12:12-14

The Christ, The Messiah, The Anointed, The Deliverer has many members. "And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." Ga 3:29 The promise is that in the seed of Abraham all the nations of the earth would be blessed. The nations of earth will be blessed by The Christ. Jesus is the head over the bodyùwhich is his church. Col 1:18 This clearly indicates what we as Christians will be doing when we reach our heavenly condition.

We will share with Jesus in reigning over the world, to bless, teach and correct in righteousness all the families of earth. God has called us with a purpose in mindùinitially to be His active agents with Jesus in restoring the human race. We may rightly speculate that in the ages to come we will participate with Him in spreading His dominion throughout the billions of worlds not yet inhabited.

All this is in addition to the joy and awe that will be ours in coming to know God personally. For eternity He will reveal to us His infinite Wisdom, Justice, Power and Love. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gifts to us.

The Saints Shall Judge The World

"Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? ... Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" 1Co 6:2-3 The trial time for GodÆs people is now. Judgment must begin with the house of God. 1Pe 4:17 We are in the school of Christ to learn of his ways, his standards, his love of righteousness and hatred of iniquity. The world will be educated and have its trial in ChristÆs millennial kingdom.

Our lessons prepare us for a future roleùthe great work with Jesus of restoring the human race to the image of Godùof returning mankind to the purity that father Adam possessed. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." Re 20:6

The reign of Jesus and his mystical body, the Bride of Christ, will lead whosoever will (not whosoever is called) to partake of the water of life freely. This is part of the mystery hid from ages and generations but now made manifest to the saints, Christ in youùthe hope of glory. In other words, the worldÆs Deliverer is composed of Jesus and his saints.

The Manifestation of the Sons of God

This is the purpose for which God calls Christians. They are not called to an idle life of eternal harp playing while floating on a cloud. Nor is their eternal existence a copy of the present lifeùonly on a grander scale. The life eternal of the Divine family, the children of God, will be one of dynamic involvement in GodÆs eternal plans for creation. "If children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christùif, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

æI consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." (NRSV) Ro 8:17-21

The groaning creation waits for the sons of God to manifest themselves. They do so from the instinctive hope that a great Deliverer will come and save them from sin and death. Thank God such a one will soon be manifested. The Earth Shall Be Full of the Knowledge of the Lord

God spoke through the prophet Isaiah of His Kingdom on earth. "The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." (NRSV) Isa 11:6-9

At no time in history, ùnot at ChristÆs first coming or during the days of his Apostles, not during the Dark Ages and certainly not at the presentùhas the knowledge of the Lord covered the earth as the waters cover the sea. The world has a cacophony of contradicting religions and philosophies. But this will not always be the case. To those who attain the heavenly calling and overcome all things a great reward awaits. "To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne." (NRSV) Re 3:21 May the prospect of such heavenly joys encourage us daily.

Send for the pamphlet "Who May Know GodÆs Secrets" at $1.00 each.

The Battle For Jerusalem

June 1997

On April 25, the General Assembly of the UN passed a resolution demanding Israel stop its Jewish housing construction in the Har Homa section of East Jerusalem. Of course, the UN considers East Jerusalem occupied territoryùnot rightfully IsraelÆs. The resolution passed by a vote of 134 to 3, with 11 abstentions. Could 134 nations be wrong? YES! ABSOLUTELY!! Notwithstanding President Clinton to the contrary, Congress passed a resolution affirming IsraelÆs right to all of Jerusalem.

How holy is Jerusalem to Moslems? The Koran never mentions Jerusalem. The Jewish Bible names Jerusalem 643 times. Some claim that Mohammed, ascended to heaven on a white horse from the "al Aksa" mosque in Jerusalem and then returned. Serious Islamic scholars reject this because Mohammed never made this claim. In 1249 when the Moslem Sultan al Kamil gave Jerusalem as a gift to the Roman Emperor, Frederick II, the Sultan said: "I have ceded nothing but ruined churches and wrecked buildings." Moslems praying on the Temple Mount face toward Mecca. Sounds like a weak case.

Historic Rights

History gives the land of Israel and Jerusalem to the Jews. Last year (1996) Israel celebrated the 3000th anniversary of King DavidÆs capture of ancient Jerusalem when it became Israel’s capital. The Arabs controlled Jerusalem from 638 to 1099 ADùonly 461 years. In 985 AD, after 347 years of Arab rule, the Arab geographer Muqaddasi complained Jews still dominated Jerusalem, while the mosque was empty. The Turkish Empire controlled Jerusalem and Palestine (the Roman name for land of Israel) from 1510 until the end of WW I.

In 1921 the League of Nations recognized the historic right of the Jewish people to a national home in Palestine, including the West Bank and Jerusalem. England was given a mandate over Palestine to prepare it for a Jewish State. Since then vast oil reserves were discovered in Arab lands. If the Jews had a right to the West bank and Jerusalem in 1922, that right is valid today. The nations are compromising Israel’s rights for their own oil interests.

World powers march to the beat of the Arab’s oil "drums." Arafat called for an international forum in Gaza (March 15, 1997) on Israel housing in the Har Homa section of Jerusalem and representatives of all the world powers go running to Gaza. Arafat told the Arab League nations to call for a UN General Assembly resolution condemning IsraelÆs Har Homa housing construction and the UN complied. Where oil diplomacy is concerned the WorldÆs heads of State donÆt want to confuse the issues with the real facts.

The Following Facts Must Be Clarified

During the 1920s and 1930s, Jews lived throughout East Jerusalem. Because of Arab pogroms in 1929 and in the 1930s, the British coerced the Jews to leave their homes throughout East Jerusalem and move into an arbitrary small section now called the Jewish quarter or outside the wall into the new city of Jerusalem.

Jordan, contrary to the 1947 UN partition plan for Palestine, seized the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the 1948 war in which 7 Arab nations failed in their attempt to destroy the New Israeli State. Then the Arabs expelled the Jews, blew up and bulldozed the synagogues and all evidence of Jewishness into the ground, and refused Jews access to their holy sites. Since 1967 both Muslims and Christians enjoy access to their holy sites. Israel has been most tolerant even though Arabs at times come charging out of the Mosques on the Temple Mount and rain down stones on the Jews praying at the Western Wall. This proves that Jerusalem must remain under Israeli sovereignty to protect the religious and human rights of all. From the first census in modern times, 1849 until the present, the Jews (not the Arabs) have been a majority in Jerusalemùso much for the ArabsÆ flawed claims to Jerusalem.

Since Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordan in the æ67 war, the UN calls East Jerusalem "occupied territory." Wrong! Jordan had no legal right to it. Before 1948, the Jews were a majority in Jerusalem, not the Arabs. A sinister plot unfolded during the debate on the 1947 UN Partition Plan. For theological reasons, the Vatican lobbied a majority of nations in the UN to internationalize Jerusalem. Never mind that the Jews were a majority in Jerusalemùa Jewish Jerusalem would be an incriminating challenge to the VaticanÆs claim to be the "New Jerusalem."

Jordan, in defiance of the United NationsÆ "Internationalized Jerusalem," captured East Jerusalem for its own sovereignty until the Æ67 war. Where was the VaticanÆs cry to internationalize Jerusalem during those 19 years? Where were the UN resolutions condemning Jordanian control of East Jerusalem as "occupied territory"?

Remarkable Prophecy Fulfilled

This whole scenario is a fulfillment of Zec 12:2, 3, 5, 6:

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Jerusalem is a problem to two groups. Verse two identifies "the people round about" IsraelùArab nations. Verse three states that The City is also a "burdensome stone" to all people of the earth.

Verse six reveals that as a result of war with the Arabs, "the people round about," "Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem"ùa unique phrase. What does it mean? In 1948, when Jordan took the old city, Israel declared the new city of Jerusalem as its capital. But in their hearts the Israelis knew the Bible Jerusalem was in the hands of the Arabs. Jordan lost old Jerusalem when they attacked Israel in the Æ67 war. With the capture of the old city, IsraelÆs capital, Jerusalem now occupied its own placeùeven in the Biblical city of Jerusalem (East Jerusalem). A remarkable fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy!

The Myth of "Arab East Jerusalem"

If a reporter were to write a story today which referred to Communist East Berlin, his editor would immediately call him on the carpet. The reason is simple. Communist East Berlin hasnÆt existed for eight years. But if that same reporter were to write a story referring to another fiction, "Arab East Jerusalem," no correction would be made, even though "Arab East Jerusalem" hasnÆt existed for 30 years.

Between 1948 and 1967, the Jordanian army occupied the Old City of Jerusalem and adjacent neighborhoods. They made these into "Arab East Jerusalem" by expelling the Jews who lived there, and whose families had lived there for generations. Then in June of 1967 "Arab East Jerusalem" ceased to exist. Yet the media, President Clinton and world leaders refer to "Arab East Jerusalem" as if it still exists. Two simple truths must be stated loud and clear:

Jerusalem is united, and has been since 1967. Just as there is no longer any such thing as East Berlin, there is no longer any such thing as "Arab East Jerusalem."

Today there are more Jews living in East Jerusalem than Arabs. So, to be accurate, if anything, the area should be called "Jewish East Jerusalem."

Har Homa Facts

New Jewish housing in Har Homa is neither a violation of the Oslo Accord nor a land-grab from the Palestinians. The Israeli Government purchased an area of 1850 dunams of forestry (about 460 acres) by eminent domain for the Har Homa project. Of this, 1400 dunams came from Jewish owners and 450 dunams from Arab owners. No home owners will be displaced.

The UN is wrong. Neither Har Homa nor East Jerusalem are "occupied territory." In the miracle of the six-day war (1967), Jerusalem was returned by God to its rightful ownerùIsrael. Since 1967, Israel has come under continual criticism for its building policies around Jerusalem.

This points up another remarkable fulfillment of prophecy. Jer 31:38-40 (NAS) Beginsù"behold, days are coming when the city [Jerusalem] shall be rebuilt for the Lord." Then the following verses pinpoint six areas of Israeli construction that surround and extend the united city of Jerusalem which Israel received from the Lord in 1967. While the nations have berated Israel for this building program in Jerusalem, the Lord commends Israel as building "for the Lord."

World powers, including the United States, insist that Jerusalem is negotiable. Jerusalem is not negotiable! The Bible and history confirm Jerusalem is in the hands of its rightful owner. Remember Zechariah’s prophecy-all nations who oppose Israel in the Jerusalem issue will be "cut to pieces." The Nations of the world had better heed this warning.

Israel will win a decisive victory in another war with the Arabs. (Isa 11:14; Zeph 2:4-10) Then the stage will be set to "gather all nations against Jerusalem" and the Lord will fight for Israel "as He fought in the day of battle." (Zec 14: 2, 3) At that point of time, Jesus will reveal himself to Israel. (Zec 12:10-14) Then "the Law will go forth from Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

ISRAEL: APPOINTMENT WITH DESTINY. (Send for Video) ($10.00 ppd.) See why Jerusalem is not negotiable. Jerusalem indivisibleùIsraelÆs forever! This dynamic video has been acclaimed in newspapers across the country as one of the best portrayals of the history of Israel.

(Also available, THE ISRAELI-ARAB PEACE PROCESS AND BIBLE PROPHECY booklet for $0.50 ppd.)

What Should a Christian Sacrifice? and Why?

July 1997

Why should a Christian need to sacrifice if Jesus already gave the ultimate sacrifice of his life? Why should a Christian need to sacrifice anythingûsince God is very rich and has stores of blessings ready to pour out on His children who have faith?

If a believer has already given up drugs, smoking, drinking, swearing, stealing what more could be asked? Is sacrificing our sinful habits what God is asking us to do? Sinful habits could hardly be considered a sacrifice "holy" or "acceptable." What kind of "living sacrifice" is God accepting?

Before the Templeûa Tabernacle

When Moses went up the mountain, he not only came down with the Ten Commandments, but also instructions for building a Tabernacle and conducting a system of sacrifices. This Tabernacle was originally used as a moveable Temple which was dismantled and constructed again and again as the camp of Israelites moved through the wilderness for forty years.

First a priesthood was consecratedûwith animal sacrifices! Then every year the Day of Atonement with its sin offerings made the people acceptable to God for the year ahead. During the year the Israelites could come to this Tabernacle and offer their personal sacrificesûexpressing thankfulness, commitment to God, sorrow for their sins. Even after they came into the Land of Promise, the Tabernacle was in use at Shiloh (north of Jerusalem) for 369 years before the Temple was built. Archeological evidence in that place today confirms the location of the Tabernacle.

Finally, King Solomon built a Temple in Jerusalem where sacrifices were to be made. It functioned like the Tabernacleûonly on a much grander scaleûfor hundreds of years. Although the Babylonians destroyed the first Temple in BC. 606, it was rebuilt after the 70-year desolation. And in our Lord’s day, Jesus who taught in Herod’s Temple never criticized the animal sacrificesûonly the abuses that accompanied the preparations for worship.

Why Animal Sacrifices?

Why did God ask for animal sacrifices? The Apostle Paul unlocks the reason. "For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near....But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year" (Heb 10:1-3 nas). So the sacrificing of animals was a finger pointing to the real cause for the need for the sacrifice of a perfect human life. That cause was sin. "Therefore the Law has become our tutor [literally: a child-conductor] to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith." These sacrifices even before the Law Covenant at Mt. Sinaiûhad a message, "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb 9:21). But once Jesus shed his own bloodûall the animal sacrifices pointing to his sacrifice of life were made obsolete.

Jesus Needed to Die as a Sacrifice

The Jews stumbled over the fact that their Messiah first had to die. They missed the point of all those sacrifices! They had no idea that Messiah would be a priestly king. They overlooked the point spoken by "the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer" (Ac 3:18; Lk 24:26) and die, seeing only the promised blessing work of the royal priesthood. Today many "modern Christians" (who appreciate Jesus to some extent) also do not understand that Jesus had to die for sin atonement. They see him as leading a wonderful, exemplary lifeûbut they fail to see the need for blood atonement. However, it is a simple matter of justice: "The wages of sin is death." Since Adam, our first parent, sinned and was condemned to death with all his posterityûin order for him and us to be freed, someone had to die in his place. Jesus satisfied those claims of justice. "My flesh, which I give for the life of the world" (Joh 6:51).

These questions yet remain, Why then would the Apostle Paul be asking Christians to "present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice"? What would be the point of sacrificing after Jesus already sacrificed his life? Would not any additional sacrifice be just as useless as continuing to make animal sacrifices after Jesus already died for sins?

A Royal Priesthood

The Apostle Paul was not the only one who talked about giving oneself for a "sacrifice." The Apostle Peter talks about our being a "holy" and a "royal priesthood" which offers up "sacrifices" (1Pe 2:5,8).

What could Christians possibly offer God as an "acceptable" sacrifice?

It is easy to understand how Jesus is our high priest offering himself as a sacrifice on our behalf for sin atonement: "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession" (Heb 4:14). However, Paul is calling Christians to sacrifice and Peter is saying Christians are part of a priesthoodû"royal" no less! John the Revelator also calls followers of Christ, "priests to our God" (Re 5:10).

Paul himself gives us the key to unlocking just how Christians are part of a sacrificing priesthood. Unmistakably, he refers to the Day of Atonement when he says, "For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Hence, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach" (Heb 13:11-13).

The Day of Atonement

A closer look at what happened on that important Atonement Day (Le 16) presents the answer to our question.... The two animals offered for sin on that day were first a bullock and then a goat. Moses was instructed at Sinai that the bullock was for Aaron himself and "for his house." The goat was specified "for the people."

What happened to the bullock also later happened to the goat. The high priest himself donated the bullock then laid his hands on it. By this action he was saying: "This is me!" Then the sacrifice was killed in the Court of the Tabernacle and burned on the Altarûa pleasing fragrance. But the hide, flesh and waste were burned outside the camp of Israel. What an awful smell! By contrast, the high priest also burned incense on the incense altar as he went into the innermost room of the Tabernacle (the Most Holy) with the blood of the bullock.

Then the Priest laid hands upon the Lord’s goatûtaken from congregation of Israel. It was killed and burned as was the bullock, its blood, too, was sprinkled in the Most Holy.

The Real Sacrifice

When Jesus offered himself in sacrifice at the River Jordan and said, "I come to do thy will," he was offering his humanity. His human will was killed, so to speak. For three and one half years it was as if his flesh burned on the altar. When the world outside observed what he was doing with his life, it was a stench to them. But to God it was a sweet-smelling sacrifice. Finally, he died on the cross. When resurrected, appearing "in the presence of God for us" (Heb 9:24), the merit of his blood was presented to justice in the presence of God. What more could be done?

Nothing more needed to be done. But God has been selecting a church to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. To make our sacrifice acceptable, our high priest laid hands on us because we have no value apart from Jesus. Jesus makes our sacrifice "acceptable" and "holy." As the bullock was sacrificed, so the goat likewiseûincluding the burning "outside the camp." And that is precisely why the Apostle Paul says, "Let us go to him without the camp bearing his reproach." He is calling on Christians to be faithful to their commitment of sacrificeûno matter what the world thinks! "For we are a fragrance of Christ to God to the one [the world] an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life" (2Co 2:15,16).

In numerous places we are invited to suffer and die with Christ. If indeed "we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him." (Romans 8:17). "It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him" (2Ti 2:11,12).

So God is pleased to accept our sacrificesû"present your bodies"ûto become part of one sin-offering "sacrifice." Though our wills are dead to selfûstill it is a living sacrifice because in reality we have to consciously keep it dead on the altar till totally consumed. God is not asking us to sacrifice a sinful lifeûwe do not have the right to that anyway! Our acceptable sacrifice is putting aside or surrendering our legitimate human hopes, plans and ambitions to the will and service of God.

However, since we are part of the priesthood too, we can look forward to the privilege of blessing the people of the world after all the Atonement Day sacrificing is done. Being part of a "royal priesthood," this will mean the church with her Head Jesus will have the authority and power to effectively bless the whole groaning creation (Ro 8:22).

For a greater in-depth study of this subject of sacrifice, send for your copy of Tabernacle Shadows @$ 3.00 postpaid.

Eternal Torment-A Help or Hindrance?

September 1997

Can we be good without hell? Can society succeed morally without the weight of eternal torment being held over its head? This was a theme article in the June 16, 1997 Christianity Today magazine. Mr. erry Walls, the author, purports that the consequence of Divine judgment is a necessary barrier to moral wrong. Unfortunately he assumes that eternal conscious torment in hell is the Biblical penalty. It is not. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Ro 6:23

Is eternal torment an effective deterrent of evil? The doctrine has had centuries to prove its ability to tame and sanctify. Sadly, as any history student can attest, from the time of our Lord’s earthly ministry to the present human history has been filled with an abundance of murder, robbery and vice. All committed by professed Christians aware of teachings about hell. The threat of eternal torment, erroneously preached as part of the Good News, has not controlled evil. It did not and cannot engender godliness in the world.

The true motivating force to serve God and righteousness, the one we pray all Christian people will gain strength from, is love. A love of things Divine such as righteousness, justice, mercy, peace, joy-these alone will bring obedience from a fervent pure heart. Other motives, such as fear, tend to produce Christians "in name only."

Our acquaintance with many Christians throughout the spectrum of Christianity has shown that a very small minority gave themselves to Christ because they feared eternal torment. The scripture 1Joh 4:18-19 echoes the motivation for our commitment to Christ. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us."

In Mt 13 Jesus painted a broad panorama of Christian history. The parable of the wheat and tares describes the course of Christianity from the beginning, to its culmination in a harvest. A householder sowed good seed in his field. The anticipated fruitage was corrupted by the householder’s enemy who over sowed the wheat field with tare seed (false wheat) while the householder’s menservants slept. When the blade was spring up and brought forth fruit, the act of vandalization was manifest. The true wheat was choked in the midst of overwhelming amounts of imitation wheat.

Jesus Explained the Wheat and Tares

This lesson greatly interested the disciples and so they asked Jesus to explain it. What a great benefit to us that he did! The householder represented Jesus. The field-the Christian world with its fruitages. The good fruit represented Christ’s true followers, his faithful disciples. Tares, which outwardly look like wheat, were imitations planted by the enemy- Satan.

The tares were not to be weeded out until the harvest which would take place in the end of this world or age (Greek-aion). Jesus’ work at the end of the Christian Age is as Chief Reaper. He will then send his angels (Greek angelos-messengers), his disciples, to harvest the wheat at his second advent just as he did at the first. Lk 10:1-3; Joh 4:35,36

Two Seeds, One True-One False

The two fruitages resulted from two different kinds of seed. Wheat, the true Christian, springs forth from the Word of God. This is taught in the parable of the sower. "The seed is the word of God...they which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience." Lk 8:11,15 The apostles carried forth the ministry of Christ, preaching the word of life, sowing seeds of the kingdom. The Father "begat us with the word of truth". Jas 1:18 "In Christ Jesus have I begotten you through the gospel," said the Apostle Paul. 1Co 4:15

A sinister turn in church history occurred when the apostles fell asleep in death (compare Mt 13:25). In their absence Satan sought to corrupt the church. His weapon was error. Just as truth produces a true Christian, so error produces an imitation. Satan’s work of corrupting God’s truth in Christ began even during the apostles’ time. "Every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God; and thus is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now is already in the world." 1Joh 4:3

That anti-christian spirit spread throughout the Christian world sowing tares. Satan hoped to choke the spiritual life out of God’s wheat by surrounding them with tares. One of Satan’s principal instruments to sow bad seed were the Neo-Platonist Christians. These "philosopher" Christians sought to apply scientific methods in understanding scripture. Their "science" was derived from Plato, a great man-unfortunately also a Pagan.

The unfortunate result of bending scripture to fit human philosophy was the creation of bad seed and its fruitùnominal Christians. Human science did no favor to the church of God. How sad that the apostolic admonition was not heeded, "Avoid profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some (believers) professing have erred concerning the faith." 1Ti 6:20,21

A False Seed Close up

One such false seed was the Grecian philosophy of eternal torment for the wicked. Neo-Platonic concepts of the afterlife corrupted the simple truth of the Bible Hell. The New Testament Hades and the Old Testament Sheol no longer were perceived as the death state. They were instead transformed into a place of eternal conscious torment. (Space does not here permit an adequately thorough discussion of death and hell. We encourage you to order the booklet "What Say the Scriptures Concerning Hell?" offered at the end of this letter. The scriptures on these subjects are fully discussed in the booklet.)

The threat of such enormous and eternal suffering held over the heads of unbelievers has not, is not and will not accomplish what God intends for the masses of mankind. Converted to Christ under pressure many people (who would not otherwise burden themselves with Christ’s cross), have made a profession of faith.

God’s Real Purpose in Christianity

Conversion through coercion is not God’s purpose in Christianity. "True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Joh 4:23,24 In other words, God wants our hearts to yield in willing love to Him and His truth. Many unwilling converts, motivated by fear, have feigned obedience to Him. That is how a tare is created.

The purpose of Christianity is to call out a people for God’s name. Those called out are God’s elect. The elected ones, found faithful in this life, will serve as priests and kings of God. Their ministry will be to the remainder of humanity -those not called and willingly converted during the Christian Era. See Ac 15:14-17 and Re 5:10.

Hell in National News

"The Rekindling of Hell" (U.S. News and World Report for March 25, 1991) noted "Record numbers of Americans now believe in a nether world and in a wide variety of after death punishments." According to a Gallop survey done in November 1990, three out of five Americans now believe in hell. However, views of what constitute hell sharply differ.

Some try to understand hell philosophically and, through human wisdom, invent the hell of their choice. Others fall back on creeds of human invention and hold forth the hell of tradition. Some are returning to the Scriptures to study them anew. The Scriptures are shedding light on hell. "Such highly regarded theologians as Clark H. Pinnock, theology professor at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario; John R.W. Stott, president of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, and Philip E. Hughes, a noted Anglican clergyman and author, contend that rather than suffering endlessly, those who ultimately reject God will simply be put out of existence in the ‘consuming fire’ of hell."

"Those who subscribe to this viewùcalled ‘annihilationism’ùpoint to New Testament passages that speak of ‘eternal destruction’ and ‘the second death’ for those who know not God and to the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel’s declaration that ‘the soul that sins shall die.’"( U.S. News and World Report, March 25, 1991, p. 63). These men are commendable for turning back to scriptures to understand what hell is. Hughes interestingly observes "that the traditional belief in unending punishment is linked to the erroneous belief in the ‘innate immortality’ of the soulùa belief, he says, that is based more on Plato than on the Bible."

On the other hand, traditionalists "argue that annihilationism takes some of the punch out of Gospel preaching. ‘To tell the unrepentant that the worst fate that could befall them is extinction,’ says Harold O.J. Brown, a theology professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, ‘makes continuing in sin seem less risky.’" And that is the very point of the parable of the wheat and tares. Wheat, the true Christian, rejoice to leave sin behind. They love righteousness and hate iniquity. They are not coerced by terror, but by love and the beauty of God’s Word.

Forewarned is Forearmed

Our hope for all God’s people is that they will be led on to full Christian fruitage by God’s Word. We pray that His people will stand firmly for the truth even against the majority public opinion or entrenched human creeds. Remember that the tares in the parable are the overwhelming majority. Let us all, by the grace of God, receive the Word of God into good and honest hearts, bringing forth good fruit with patience.

Send for your copy of the booklet "What Say the Scriptures Concerning Hell?" at $1.00 each.

Is Allah Another Name for God?

Is the Koran similar to the Bible?

November 1997

Islam is not only Arabia’s major religion, but also the fastest growing religion in the world. In the United States there are now over "6 million Muslims, more than thirty times the number of a decade ago."[1] This startling and phenomenal growth is a real challenge to Christians hoping to bring as many as possible to Christ before the Second Coming. Should we as Christians be concerned? How does Islam figure into God’s divine plan of the ages?

One of the most widely accepted ideas about Islam is the belief that "Allah" is one and the same as the God of the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Bible. But, is it really true that "Allah" is just another name for the Jewish or Christian God? Is the Qur’an another inspired book which honors the revelation of what is called the Judeo-Christian Bible?

The Rise of Islam

Mohammed was born in A.D. 570 into the Arabian tribe of Quraysh which was in control of the city of Mecca ûwhere, incidentally, pagans would come to worship at the Kabaah stone[2]. Commonly understood to be afflicted with epileptic-type seizures, these attacks became the means of MohammedÆs receiving visions and dreams[3]. When Mohammed was forty years old, he declared that Gabriel appeared to him in the name of Allah and commanded him to preach a true religion. Islam, the religion he taught, means full surrender to Allah.[4] In a hard and cruel Arabian culture saturated with laws of revenge, spirits and jinns, he taught a righteous Allah and exhorted a better morality to the people of Mecca.

Over the course of twenty-three years, these "revelations" from Allah were written down, û first by his wife, then by scribesùon palm-leaves and various other substances conveniently at hand. (Eventually these were compiled into 114 Suras or chapters with no particular chronological or subject order.) Mohammed announced that he was the "Comforter" Jesus promised to send[5] He made concessions to the Jews on celebrating the Sabbath and selecting Jerusalem as the point of direction in prayer. Also he appealed to them by claiming to be their Messiah. But when the Jews would not acknowledge him as Messiahùor even a prophetùhe "retaliated with revelations in which Allah charged the Jews with corrupting the Scriptures, killing the prophets and rejecting messiah."[6].

As the number of converts increased, however, a fierce opposition to the new prophet arose from the chief pagan religionists. With his persecuted followers, Mohammed fled to Medina. Gradually Mohammed appeared in a new character û no longer content to convert his adversaries by words or concessionsàhe chose the sword. By attacking and looting caravans, [7] Mohammed established his authority in Arabia and finally returned in triumph to rule Mecca. While claiming to restore the "primitive purityàlost by Jews and Christiansà.Unlike the Jews, the pagans preferred conversion to martyrdom."[8] Within a century after the Prophet’s death, Muslim Arabs were administering an empire stretching from southern France through North Africa and the Middle East, across central Asia. Today the fear of the encroachment of Western society and materialism has renewed Islamic fundamentalism causing alarm to the West.

Who is Allah?

Many people assume that the God of the Bible and the God of the Koran are the same Godùjust with different names. However, up until the seventh century when Mohammed announced Allah as the only one true God, "Allah" was the name of the widely worshipped moon god throughout ancient Mesopotamia.[9] This adaptation from pre-Islamic Arabia can be verified, "Allah is foundàin Arabic inscriptions prior to Islam"[10] In order to accommodate the pagan population in Arabia, he chose Allah, the prominent moon god (who was married to the sun goddess), from the many celestial gods. "Allah is a contraction of al-llah, an old Kaaba god."[11] It is no wonder the Arab scholar Nazar-Ali has observed: "Islam retained many aspects of pagan religion"[12] It is "heathenism in monotheistic form."[13] No wonder the crescent moon is the symbol of Islam! And no wonder a pilgrimage to the black Kaaba stone is one of the Five Pillars (requirements) of Islam till this day.[14] MohammedÆs monotheism was merely the declaration that Allah was the greatest god in a pantheon of pagan gods! Although second- and third-century Christians had incorporated some pagan notions into their belief concerning the God of Abraham, Allah was not the further revelation of the true God of Jews and Christians.

But are there any similar character attributes between God Almighty of the Bible and Allah of the Koran? In the Bible, God is distinctly presented as not only all-powerful, wise and just, but also very loving towards mankind. In fact, He sent His only begotten Son to die for man so that mankind can be saved from the penalty of their sinsûdeath. Though every chapter of the Koran begins with the words, "In the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful," the terrors of hell are stressedùin fact, seven levels of hell for the unbelievers or the wicked (Sura 3:10, 63, 131; 4:56, 115; 7:41; 8:50; 9:63, etc.)[15] Who are the unbelievers? While Jews and Christians are referred to respectfully as the "People of the Book," because they do not accept Mohammed, they are actually condemned. "The unbelievers among the People of the book [Jews and Christians] and the pagans shall burn for ever in the fire of Hell. They are the vilest of all creatures" (Sura 93:1).

By contrast, the God of the Bible could never have permitted a literal, burning place of torment anywhere in His universe. Only the doctrines of men would misrepresent God’s character and promote Satan’s lie, "Thou shalt not surely die," instead of God’s warning, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Ge 3:4; 2:17). God’s penalty for sin was death, not eternal torture. The Koran hundreds of times threatens with hell those who reject Mohammed’s appeal. "For those who have denied and scorned Our RevelationsàHell shall be their couch, and sheets of fire shall cover them" (Sura 7:41). For centuriesùin one form or anotherùman has exploited other men with the fearful threat of hellfire. Islam, like "Christianity," has tragically misrepresented God’s true character and plan.

Allah is not a further revelation of the God of the Bible, but declared as the one and only greatest of the celestial pre-Islam gods of Arabiaùaltogether different in person and character from the Lord God of the Bible.

The Koran (Qur’an)

There are many correspondencies between the Bible and the Koran (which was completed centuries later). What accounts for these similarities is that "Mohammed had connection with Jews and Christians of every quarter of the civilized world"[16]. But the contradictions are many, such as, the Koran teaches Jesus was not crucified and that he is not the son of God (Sura 4:156). "Far is it removed from Allah’s transcendent majesty that He should have a son" (4:171). While Mohammed acknowledged the Pentateuch of Moses, the Psalms of David and the Gospel of Jesusùhe taught that "because these scriptures have suffered such corruption, they can no longer be trusted; and the Koran now replaces them."[17]

In the Koran, Paradise is pictured as one vast gardenùotherwise very sensually described as providing for each "blessed male" plenty of wine and "dark-eyed virgins for his pleasure" (Sura 56:12-37, 56). This view of reward to the faithful hardly compares to the Christian’s hopeùnor even to a Jewish vision of a messianic kingdom on earth. It is more likely the imagination of a seventh century Arabian culture’s polygamy. While the Koran allowed for four wives (Sura 4:3), according to the Muslim scholar and statesman Ali Dashti, Mohammed had twenty two.[18] No problem, Mohammed had later received a special revelation from Allah allowing for his exception (Sura 33:50). Actually, later revelations were allowed to "abrogate" earlier ones (Sura 2:106).

The Hebrew Scriptures elevated women (Deut 21:14-16); the Christian Scriptures teach: "There is neither male nor femaleàye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:28) While the Koran provided for certain privileges Arab women had not enjoyed before, how much more justification does one need for wife beating than the Koran? Sura 4:3 says, "Men have authority over womenàas for those from whom you fear disobedienceàbeat them." Sadly, the record shows a consistent subjugation of Moslem women through the centuries. Moslem women are rarely seen in public, and if so covered completely. She would risk her life appearing not completely covered. (Satan, it is believed, can be seen in "a lock of woman’s hair emerging from under a headscarf" as much as in "the occupation of Palestine by the Jews"[19].) Although many Muslims desire to live peaceable lives, many other "Islamic Fundamentalists" draw inspiration from the Koran, "God may know the true believers and choose martyrs from among youàthat God may test the faithful and annihilate the infidels" (Sura 3:40,41).

The disjointed, contradictory and sensuous verses of the Koran can hardly be compared to the progressive, orderly harmony of the 66 books of the Bible which have one consistent theme of salvation for all mankind.

The Sword of Islam

Jihad means "struggle"àfor Islam. This struggle exists inwardly against self, but also outwardly. Against Arab unbelievers who did not peacefully submit, Mohammed preached the jihad or holy war, a crusade in the name of Allah. "The preponderant tone of the Koranic passages dealing with unbelievers," admits one author appealing for understanding of Islam, "is aggressiveàæThose that make war against Allah and His apostleàshall be put to death or crucified or have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides or be banished from the country.Æ (5:36)"[20] Jesus never taught or used physical violence to force people to believe His message or accept Him as the Messiah. When Peter took out his sword, Jesus told him to put it back in its sheath (Mt 26:51-54). Alas, Christianity through history has also used violence of every sort on unbelieversùbut its Founder never taught it. Clearly the Koran encourages violence upon "infidels." From Sura 48:29, "Mohammed is Allah’s apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another."

Conclusion

Islam, therefore, is not compatible with Christianity or Judaism. Allah is not the same as the God of the two Testaments of the Bible. The Koran borrows from the Bible but at the same time contradicts it. On the other hand, Christianity and Judaism are harmonious and provide for a universal Kingdom. Furthermore, those who have now rejected God and His Bible will have an opportunity to come up to Jerusalem to "learn" of Jacob’s God (Isa 2:1-4) and live forever in a Paradise on earth. Faithful Christians will be "kings and priests" in heaven to bless all those on earthùincluding Moslems who submit to the loving God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

FOOTNOTES

1. Thomas W. Lippman, Understanding Islam (New York: Meridian), 134.

2. Holy Wars, The Rise of Islamic Fundamentalism, Dilip Hiro (New York: Routledge), 1989, 5.

3. The Story of Civilization, Vol. IV, Will Durant (New York: Simon and Schuster) 1950, 169.

4. Ibid, 161, 163.

5. McClintock & Strong, Ecclesiastical and Biblical Cyclopedia, Vol. VI, 407.

6. The Story of Civilization, 169

7. Understanding Islam, 115.

8. Jacques Jomier, How to Understand Islam (New York: Crossroad), 15,16.

9. The Moon-god Allah, In The Archeology of the Middle East, Dr. Robert A. Morey, Research and Education Foundation, 3.

10. Encyclopedia Britannica, I:643.

11. The Story of Civilization, 184

12. Michael Nazar-Ali, Islam: A Christian Perspective (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1983), 21

13. Augustus H. Strong, Systematic Theology (Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1976), 186.

14. John L. Esposito, Islam: the Straight Path (New York: Oxford University Press), 1988, 93

15. The Story of Civilization, 177-179.

16. McClintock & Strong’s, "Muir’s Testimony," pp. 118, 119, 153

17. al-Maqqari, Ahmed ibn Muhammad, History of the Mohammedan Dynasties in Spain, ii, 146.

18. Robert Morey, The Islamic Invasion (New York: Harvest House), 85,86

19. Rah e Ma (Our Path), Party of Allah "Theoretical Booklet," Tehran, 1982, 22,23

20. Understanding Islam, 120.

El Niño is spawning worldwide destruction

And God Cried

December 1997

PRE-FLOOD (2850-2270 BC). "The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earthà and it grieved Him to His heart." (Ge 6:5,6 NRSV) Yes, God cried.

EUROPE (1096-1100). During the crusades, Christian soldiers enroute to the Holy Land slaughtered Jews on the way. Some were herded into their synagogues. Cries of anguish shrilled unto heaven as the wooden structures were torched. And God cried.

EUROPE (1941-1945). Six million Jews were hunted, hounded, driven, butchered, gassed and burned in the Holocaust. And God cried.

HIROSHIMA (August 6, 1945). A single atomic bomb claimed 129,558 victims and terrified the world. And God cried.

THE WORLD (1914-1996) Over 175 million were killed as a result of the insane policies of governments like Germany, Communist Russia, Cambodia, etc. And God cried.

THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES (1990s). Each day 40,000 babies die of starvation. And God cried.

Then there are the personal tragedies of loved ones endured daily by hundreds of thousandsù the senseless death or mutilation on the highways, babies who are born physically deformed or mentally deficient, and the victims of senseless crime. Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other disasters steal the lives of millions in their onslaughts of destruction and deprivation. The psychological tragedies of dysfunctional families, drug addiction and the multitudes of lonely, neurotic homeless people have left tens of thousands of families emotionally scarred. And God cried.

Yes, these statistics fill the daily news, but only when they strike us or our loved ones are we overwhelmed with the pain of tragedy. Everyday these statistics have faces-millions of faces of real people shattered emotionally and mentally. The cries of sickness, sorrow, suffering, and death encircle the globe. Not one of us can comprehend the enormity of the total sufferings of all humankind. Only God can and does see this humongous picture of human miseries. And God continues to cry.

The infinite Creator and God of the universe wants to convey to mere earthlings ‘frail humanity’ His compassion and love for us. How can one so omnipotent communicate His capacity to suffer with finite man? He uses an imagery we can understand "tears." Far from being an indication of weakness, God’s imagery of shedding "tears" assures us of a profound fatherly care and concern. Just how deep is his fatherly love?

God’s dealing with Israel is a microcosm of his relationship with all humankind (Isa 43-44; Ro 11). A parent might discipline a child by remanding the child to his room for the evening. A loving parent feels the pain of the child’s punishment and often recalls the many wonderful times they shared together. Likewise, it hurts God when he chastens His people. Listen to the parental sorrow of God in Jer 6:26: "Thus says the Lord" Oh my poor people, put on sackcloth," for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us" (NRSV). This is incredible. The "us" class is God and Israel. God puts Himself in the picture of sharing Israel’s suffering. This assures us that God chastens in love. Listen to a loving father’s thoughts of nostalgia while He is chastening Israel, a disobedient son:

"Truly, Ephraim [Israel] is a dear son to Me, A child that is dandled!

Whenever I have turned against him, My thoughts would dwell on him still.

That is why My heart yearns for him; I will receive him back in love.

Declares the LORD." Jer 31:20 (JPS)

How do we know that God’s expressions of fatherly love û a love that felt Israel’s sufferings during her chastening were true? The rebirth of the State of Israel in 1948 is the proof. It is a miracle of history. Never before has the polity of a nation been destroyed, its people scattered to the ends of the earth and then regathered nearly 2,000 years later to their ancient homeland to be reborn as a nation. God’s fatherly chastening of love will continue to restore the Jewish people to full favor and belief. Israel’s restoration is the precursor of all mankind’s restoration to God’s full love and favor in His Kingdom. In fact, Ro 11:15 states that IsraelÆs restoration to Divine favor will mean life from the dead for the whole world.

Oh, what a marvelous God we have! "In our affliction He is afflicted" (suffers), and this is our assurance that God’s chastenings are rehabilitative so that His "beloved" wayward children might be restored to the bosom of His favor. Yes, God chastens to heal! Isa 63:9; 19:22

Why Does God Permit Evil?

A suffering God puts the question of the permission of evil in a practical perspective. If God shares our suffering why would He conceive a plan that would result in His own suffering? The question is no longer-why do good people suffer or why do innocent children suffer? Rather, why has God permitted a horrific human history of blood, tragedy, pain and mental anguish that would just tear away at His fatherly emotions of love?

To fully understand why God permits evil, we must go back, back to when God dwelt alone. God desired to have a family, to be a parentùthe Heavenly Father. Most loving parents are not overly protective; rather, they are willing to permit hard knocks realizing it will cost themselves dearly in pain as they watch their children struggle to maturity.

God knew his children could be happy individually and collectively only if each one loved and obeyed GodÆs laws for the well being of all. Therefore, God created Adam and Eve in "His own image" with free will and moral discernment. God could have programmed the ideal man-utopia would have been inevitable ù but man would be no better than a robot, without true happiness. But giving man a free will had a built-in dilemma. God told Adam that if he obeyed he would live. If he disobeyed he would dieù"dying thou shalt die" (Ge 2:17). Because of lack of experience God knew Adam (or anyone of us in the same position) would disobey.

A parent will tell a baby not to touch the stove because it is hot. But what does a baby know about pain? Inevitably the baby will touch the stove. A wise parent will lightly and quickly place the childÆs hand where the heat is not too severe. Likewise, God is giving mankind a controlled experience with sin.

Knowing Adam would disobey him, God lovingly planned for man’s redemption BEFORE creating the earth and man. In 1Pe 1:19-20 Jesus is spoken of as "slain before the foundation of the world." This meant a plan that would deeply grieve His fatherly heart as He watched man trampled down by the machinations of evil while learning the consequences of sin. Further, it would cost the ultimate in fatherly suffering-watching His only begotten son suffer the agony of being vilified and crucified. GodÆs gift of Jesus was the greatest demonstration of fatherly suffering in history.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed, God withdrew His fellowship. Loneliness, stress, and depression overwhelmed them rendering both the mind and the body prone to disease. The dying process began. The latest scientific research confirms this Biblical account of man’s "fall" into sin. Fear, hostility and aggression became the norm. Exploitation, crime and violence were the inevitable consequences. Yes, Adam’s children, the human race, were born sinners worthy of death (Ps 51:5; Ro 6:23). This is "the sore travail God hath given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith" (Ec 1:13; 3:10).

After Adam and Eve disobeyed, they were cast out of their Edenic paradise into the unfinished earth, where the components of nature were yet unbalanced. Man is learning by experience the bitter consequences of sin and evil. Remember the parent who remanded his child to his room for the evening had loving thoughts of their continued relationship. God has remanded His human children to their room-the unfinished earth. In their "affliction He is afflicted" and He has wonderful loving thoughtsùrecorded in the Bible propheciesùconcerning their restoration to His favor. Yes, Paul said in 1Co 15:22, "as in Adam all die" but he continues, "so in Christ shall all be made alive" in the Kingdom. Why? Because Jesus died "a ransom for all" (1Ti 2:6; Heb 2:9).

A Suffering Savior and Suffering Christians

Before all are made alive in Christ’s Kingdom, God is training Christiansùa "little flock" (Lk 12:32)ùthat they might reign with Christ in his Kingdom as priests and kings (Re 20:6). Like Christ, they are being made sympathetic priests through suffering (2Ti 2:11-12. While the minds of men are now scarred and twisted by tragedy, Christians experience the same disasters but are healed and made compassionate by the power of the holy Spirit (1Co 10:13). Why? They will be able to heal the minds of their fellowmen when men come forth to their probation or trial time in the Kingdom (Joh 5:28-29, NAS, NRSV). Mankind will have a vivid remembrance of the bitter effects of sin and evil. Then they will learn the joyful rewards of living righteously with their fellowman and make their choice for eternity (Jer 31, 34).

Many scriptures reveal that the majority of mankind will share the joys of eternal life. The foreknowledge of GodÆs own suffering proves that the permission of evil is a necessary experience for man’s eternal welfare. GodÆs fatherly sorrow contains no anxiety like a human parent. With Divine serenity, He knows the end from the beginning (Isa 46:10). All the forces of evil are overruled for manÆs eternal welfare (Ps 76:10). By faith we can have this same peace of God (Php 4:7). The present sufferings are but a moment compared with the joys of eternity (2Co 4:17, 18).

God’s Millennium

March 1998

Already the countdown for the year 2000 is ticking. This April will be exactly 1000 days until the Millennium. The Evangelical Alliance wants to make sure that each day is "covered in prayer." Their purpose is to sound a clear message about the birth and mission of Jesusùamidst all the celebrations with the Millennium Expo in Greenwichùand all over the world. Web sites on the internet on the Millennium theme abound. The pope calls it the "Great Jubilee" for the uniting of all Christians (THE POPE SPEAKS, Vol. 42, March/April ‘97). As the millennial fervor intensifies, some scholars and religious leaders worry that "apocalyptic visions can become as destructive as they are inspiring" (US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, December 15, ‘97). Talk of "Armageddon" swirls".

In the secular world-amidst grand preparations for parties and commercial enterprising-some would point out that "for the first time in history virtually everyone on earth knows it’s coming" (NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, "Making Sense of the Millennium," January 24, ‘98). (While other cultures have kept their own calendar, worldwide use of the Christian calendar did not begin until the late 1800s.) The Millennial Foundationùamong numerous other organizations-is working toward a utopia they believe can be achieved by science. other scholars would say the date 2000 A.D. is "precisely arbitrary" (S.J.Gould, QUESTIONING THE MILLENNIUM: A RATIONALIST’S GUIDE TO A PRECISELY ARBITRARY COUNTDOWN).

In any case, a deep sense of longing and waiting for a better world, "a new global order," apparently surfacing at our millennium’s end. All of man’s history has been one long groan for a time of peace, harmony and happiness. Is this desire merely for a utopia (Gk. lit. no place) that will never come? Where does the idea of a thousand years come in?

Early Christian Expectations

The "Millennium" idea is specifically Judeo-Christian. During the first century, the Christian church held firmly to the Apostolic teaching of the second coming of the Lord Jesus, and the establishment then of the long-promised kingdom of God with its rule of righteousness. All faithful Christians would then share in reigning with Christ and blessing the people of earth for "a thousand years" (Re 20:2-4). This belief so coincided with the Jewish belief in a Messianic kingdom on earth where Jews would be a "light to the Gentiles" that Jewish disciples assumed Jesus was immediately setting up his millennial kingdom. And the first order of business, they reasoned, was throwing off Roman oppression (Ac 1:6).

As a result, Jesus needed to explain "because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear" (Lk 19:11) that he would first have to go away. Then, he taught by parable that he would afterwards "return" to set up his kingdom (Lk 19:12-15). However, Jesus did not say how long before he would return. In fact, no one would know the "day and hour" beforehand (Mk 13:32). But then he gave them signs that they should watch for at the end of the age to indicate that he had returned. "What shall be the sign of thy coming [presence, Gk. parousia] and the end of the world [age]?" (Mt 24:3) The reason they would need signs was because his return would not be obvious: he would not return visibly in the flesh. "My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (Joh 6:51).

Apostle Paul later explained that the "day of the Lord" might overtake them as "a thief in the night" (1Th 5:1-6). They might be sleeping and not know the "thief" was already in the house. "Therefore let us not sleep as do others."

Too Long to Wait for the Millennium

While Christians clung to the promise of this Millennial Kingdom, many soon grew tired of being persecuted and just waiting. When the kings of earth proposed an alliance with Christians, the church "married" them and set up their own kingdom. The then prevailing idea of the millennium was adjusted to say that Jesus Christ would come after the Millennium. Thus the church became apostate and enjoyed its own millennium of power-roughly from the ninth to the nineteenth centuries. But at the close of World War I, when the church-state governments of Europe collapsed, Christians generally gave up on saying the kingdom had come and again were looking for Jesus Christ to come and set up his Millennial Kingdom.

Apocalyptic Prophecy

But very lurid apocalyptic events based on Daniel and Revelation were called upon to shake up people into preparing for the return of Jesus to set up his Millennial Kingdom. Intellectuals and thinking people were turned off by prospects of beasts, falling stars and an antichrist superman wielding power and deluding the whole world. But don’t the Scriptures tell us about beasts, stars and the antichrist? The beasts originate in the book of Daniel. And God gives us a clue for decoding what these beasts are. Daniel identifies Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, as the head of gold on the image he dreamed about (Dan 2:38). The dream of this image of four parts is parallel to yet another dream Daniel had of four beasts. The "head of gold" was the Babylonian empire dominating over Israel; then the first beast was the Babylonian empire dominating over Israel, God’s people. Beasts are, therefore, governments!

Out of the fourth "terrible" beast pops up a "little horn" "with a mouth speaking great things" and makes "war with the saints" for three and one half symbolic "times" (or 1260 "years," mar. NAS Da 7:7, 21, 25). How interesting that also in Revelation a leopard-like beast appears with a "mouth speaking great things" and also "makes war with the saints" (Re 13:2-5). What emerged first as a little power ("horn") out of the Pagan Roman government later becomes a beast in its own right, the "Holy Roman Empire." Surprising to many is the fact that papacy historically has wielded civil power as a government. In fact, the Catholic church claimed to be Christ’s Kingdom on earth. But for 300 years Protestants identified papacy as the "antichrist" (anti = in place of). Papacy’s Kingdom took the place of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. The antichrist has already come! And the antichrist has already been "revealed"ùthe prerequisite before the Second Coming (2Th 2:1,2). But the world is deceived now-expecting a single superman antichrist to appear in Jerusalem to deceive everybody before Christ returns in the flesh.

The Second Coming

According to a recent Associated Press poll, nearly one out of every four Christian adultsùan estimated 26.5 millions peopleùexpect Jesus to arrive in their lifetimes (Springfield, OH, NEWS-SUN, October 26, ‘97) With the approaching new millennium, many feel a special sense of urgency-expecting to be soon "raptured" to heaven. Sadly, they also believe those who are not Christians would be doomed eternally. Consequently, these feel an additional sense of urgency to save as many souls as possibleàfriends, relatives, people in Africa, India, China.

Critics may point out that Christians have many times been aroused through the centuries to believe that Jesus was about to return to set up his Millennial Kingdom. What is so different about now? By the way, what happens to the billions who are not ready for this Kingdom?

What is different now is that Jews have returned to their ancient homeland-this was a "sign" Jesus gave to his disciples (Mt 24:32,33). It was a sign that he would be present and that soon the world would be blessed (as in "summer") in his Kingdom. He gave other signs too. There would be "great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time" (Mt 24:21). This agrees with what the Apostle said, "The day of the Lord cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child" (1Th 5:3). "Travail" is in spasms. Daniel also explains that when Michael ("who as God," Jesus) stands up, he would not only stand up for Daniel’s people Israel, but that "there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation" (Dan 12:1).

Therefore, when Christ begins to reign, "the nations were angry" (Re 11:15-17). There is trouble. This century has seen unprecedented global trouble. This century has also seen the restoration of Israel-and even Jerusalem. The other two signs of Jesus standing up to reign and take authority are: (1) "Many shall run to and fro"; (2) "Knowledge shall be increased" (Dan 12:4). Who can question the incredible and unprecedented advances in technology in the last century? By these "signs" we know Christ has already come. Those who are not "sleeping" should be able to see these signs and "lift up their heads and rejoice; for your deliverance draweth nigh" (Lk 21:28).

After Armageddon-World Peace

Rather than just a few Christians being saved and the rest of the world being condemned, the Scriptures describe the purpose of the Millennial reign of Christ as the time to bless all mankind-friends, relatives, the people of Africa, India, Chinaùeveryone. The Prophet Zephaniah describes this gathering of the nations to Armageddon and the pouring out of his anger and also what happens afterwards. "My determination is to gather the nations to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire [symbolic of destruction of society] of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people [who do not know God’s truth] a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent" (Zeph 3:8,9).

While God’s Millennium begins with trouble and travail because he sends His Son as a conquering King invading Satan’s world -the results will be glorious and satisfying. When the whole groaning, waiting creation sees the "manifestation of the sons of God" (Ro 8:19-22), God’s Millennium will satisfy the "desire of all nations" for peace and happiness (Hag 2:7). People will say, "Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him." God’s Millennial Kingdom is not a utopia after all, but also a Paradise on earth. In fact, we can see visible signs in the earth that God’s Millennium is already being established.

For a more comprehensive discussion of this very large subject, send for a free copy of the article, "God’s Millennium-the Kingdom." Also for 50 cents, the booklet, "I Will Come Again" for $1.00 you may wish a copy of an 8-minute tape, "Thy Kingdom Come" which will encourage and strengthen your faith in God.

Israel’s Jubilee

A Half-Century of Miracles

April 1998

Israel’s Jubilee celebration will witness a year of gala festivities. What a 50 years! To start withùthe rebirth of the state of Israel in 1948 was a miracle of history (Eze37:1-11; Lk 21:29,30). Never before has a nation been destroyed, its people dispersed to the ends of the earth, and then, nearly two thousand years later, re-gathered to their homeland and re-established as a nation.

When Israel declared itself an independent state on May 14, 1948, another miracle occurred. The armies of seven Arab nations marched on the newborn State, boasting that they would push the Jews into the sea. Outnumbered 100 to 1, Israel not only repelled the invaders but acquired more of Palestine than was granted in the UN partition plan. Yigael Yadin, Israel’s commander of operations in that war, had a terse explanation of Israel’s victory. "It was a miracle!"

Three Examples of Miracles

A Syrian column of 200 armored vehicles, including 45 tanks attacked Degania, the oldest kibbutz in Israel. What a psychological blow this defeat would be! Without artillery, Jewish forces were helpless to block the Syrian advance. Until then the only heavy weapons available in all Israel were four howitzers of the type used by the French army in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Two of these ancient fieldpieces were promptly dismantled and rushed to Degania. The local commander, Lieutenant Colonel Moshe Dayan, had them reassembled at the very moment the first Syrian tanks rumbled through the kibbutz perimeter, and they scored a hit on the advance tank. Had the Syrians known that these two obsolete weapons represented half the arsenal of field-guns in all Israel, they would have pressed the attack. Instead, the armored vehicles swung around in their tracks and clattered back up the mountain road.

In December 1948, the Egyptians were harassing Israeli settlements in the Negev. Yadin used the Bible for strategy. It mentioned an ancient road forgotten for centuries, which ran almost directly to Mushrafa, the Egyptians’ central garrison. Heavy boulders were pushed aside with bulldozers and soldiers in armored vehicles, jeeps and supply trucks sped under cover of darkness along the ancient road and surprised the Egyptians. Taking this garrison destroyed the Egyptian defense system and ended the war 14 days later.

The Syrian Army had regrouped east of the Galilee. A Jewish column of 24 homemade armored trucks and cars, on the way to relieve a besieged Kibbutz, took the wrong road and crossed the border into Lebanon. Before they discovered their mistake, they ran head on into a column of supplies for the Syrian Army in Galileeùdozens of trucks of ammunition, a string of light artillery and 20 new armored cars. The Israelis fired point blank at the first truckùa tanker loaded with gasoline. It exploded and set on fire the following truckload of hand grenades. Rapid repeating explosions were heard for miles around. Terrified, the Syrians abandoned their cargo and the Israelis scarcely had enough men to drive the captured supply train back into Galilee. Finally they reached the beleaguered Kibbutz, only to learn that the Arab besiegers heard rumors that the Jewish army had invaded Lebanon and fled Israel.

The Bible Helped Build Israel

David Ben Gurion, Israel’s dynamic first Prime Minister, was an ardent student of the Bible as an accurate history of Israel and its land. He dispatched engineers, horticulturists, botanists, etc., with the Bible in one hand and research tools in the other. Miracles happened!

Following Bible clues, copper and iron mines were established. One mining engineer, Abraham Dor observed that at the richest veins of copper ù"we come upon the slag and furnaces of ancient Israel. We often get the feeling that someone has just left." De 8:7-9 was often framed on the walls of mining offices:

For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land; a land

whose stones are iron and out of whose hills thou mayest dig copper.

Reclaiming the Wasteland

Barren land transformed to the fertility of ancient Israel is a miracle predicted in Scripture (Amos 9:14-15; Eze 36:34-35). It was long assumed that most of Palestine was wasteland, irreclaimable for agriculture. But archaeologists discovered the presence of more than 70 ancient settlement sites in one 65-mile stretch of the Jordan Valley alone, each with its own well for water. Lot, then, was not exaggerating when he "lifted up his eyes, and he saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, even as the garden of the Lord" (Ge13:10).

New agricultural settlements, from Dan to Beersheba, have risen beside ancient sites re-identified by Biblical archaeologists. Concrete pumping stations were set over ancient springs or wells. A well from Abraham’s day, now supplies water for residents on the outskirts of Beersheba.

One of the basic necessities in that arid country is reforestation. Ever since Jews began returning, they have been planting forests, naming them in honor of such leaders and friends of Israel as Chaim Weizmann, Lord Balfour, George V and scores of others.

The Bible has helped them decide what kind of trees to plant and where to plant them. Debating whether a certain barren hillside would be a suitable location for Israel’s immense "Forest of Martyrs," Israelis found the answer in Joshua, which proved that a forest had existed there. "Knowing that trees grow more easily where trees have flourished before," explained Professor Zohary of Hebrew University, "we rely on the Good Book."

"The first tree Abraham put in the soil of Beersheba was a tamarisk," said Israel’s outstanding authority on reforestation, Dr. Joseph Weitz. "Following his lead, we put out two million in the same area. Abraham was right. The tamarisk is one of the few trees we have found that thrives in the south where yearly rainfall is less than six inches."

The writer personally knew the Boyko Family who pioneered in developing Biblical principles of agriculture that helped the Aravah and the Negev blossom as a rose. The Bible made Israel the agricultural giant it is today exporting its products worldwide. It took another miracle to make this possible. In Bible times there were two copious rainy seasons in Palestineùthe "early and the latter rain." But for the past many centuries the "early rain" has been minimal while the "latter rain" and dew have disappeared completely. Since 1878, the "latter rain" is falling again. The precipitation of both has spiraled over the decades (Joel 2:23,24).

The Miracle of Immigration

Jews from the four points of the compass heard the call to come home (Isa 43:5,6). Israel’s Declaration of Independence stated that Israel "will be open to the immigration of Jews from all countries of their dispersion."

Even as war still raged and the little State faced possible destruction or bankruptcy, the newcomers poured in. During the first three years of statehood, the average reached 18,000 a month and in some months the figure exceeded 30,000. Between May 15, 1948, and June 30, 1953, the Jewish population of the country doubled. By the end of 1956, Israel’s population had nearly tripled, reaching 1,667,000. Imagine the economic shock of absorption!

Jews kept pouring into Israel over the decades. In 1984-1985 and again in 1991 harrowing airlifts brought Ethiopian Jews from utter despair to a Land of hope. Finally the long-expected prophetic fulfillment of Jews from Russia began in 1991. By 1998 over 800,000 have returned from the former Soviet Republics (CIS) and they are still coming. Over a million are expected. Israel’s population increased from 650,000 in 1948 to over 6,000,000 Jews in 1998. The miracle of absorption continues.

The Miracle of the ‘67 War

The Arabs boasted that they would destroy Israel. However, in six days Israel overran the combined forces of Syria, Jordan, Egypt and took the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem, the West Bank (Samaria and Judea), and the Sinaiùone of the greatest military feats in history. To many Orthodox Jews worldwide, especially in the United States, it was a wake-up call from God. Thousands poured into Israel and settled in Samaria and Judea to stake Israel’s eternal claim to the so-called West Bankùthe heartland of Israel. They are certain the Messianic Age is near at hand. As Biblical Zionists, they oppose any give- away of land in the peace process.

A Hi-Tech Leader

Ezekiel 38 predicts that Israel will become an economic envy of the nations. The immigration of Russian Jews is literally paying off. This year has witnessed an explosion in both hi-tech developments and the number of contracts Israeli hi-tech companies have signed with manufacturers worldwide. Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "The failure of Soviet communism to capitalize on the outstanding R & D skills of the Russian Jews was a stroke of good fortune for Israel. We now have the highest per capita of scientists in the world. This has put Israel on the cutting edge of technology." The New York Stock Exchange lists more hi-tech companies from Israel than any other nation.

Room for Expansion

A six-year study by over 250 scientists and experts predicts that by the year 2020 the population of Israel will exceed 8,100,000, making Israel by far the most densely populated developed country in the world. Israel will be more than 2.5 times more densely populated than Japan and the Netherlands, and there will be a serious shortage of land for residential construction.

Actually Scriptures (Isa 11 & Zec 10) indicate another large immigration of Jews from the CIS and a massive exodus from the U.S. even before 2020. But there will be no land shortage. A final Arab-Israeli war will precede this massive immigration. Israel’s borders will be expanded to include all of the Golan Heights, much or all of the sparsely inhabited nation of Jordan and Southern Lebanon (Isa 11:14; Zeph 2:8-9; Mic 7:11, 14; Ob18-20). All of this territory was promised Israel in the Balfour Declaration back in 1917. God will finally give to Israel even more than the nations promised.

The God of Israel is a God of miraclesùand He has only begun His miracles in achieving Israel’s ultimate destiny.

Is the Trinity a Mystery to You?

For those who have questions about the trinity

June 1998

This may help. Perhaps you have struggled to understand the doctrine of the trinity as taught in your church. But, on the other hand, the pastors must know after all, that is why they went to seminary schools. How could any Christian wonder about what is almost universally believed and taught for so many hundreds of years in the Christian churches? (There are those cults out there that believe deviant teachings and act strangely. You would not want to be caught up with any of their dreaded thinking.) Still there might be some unresolved, gnawing questions about the mystery of the trinity that just make your heart and mind a little uncomfortable. What does it mean, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit? How are three Gods really one and one three?

Possibly you have been told that the trinity is beyond the reach of logic and reason because it was meant to be incomprehensible. Isn’t that what faith is all about? But is the trinity beyond the reach of Scripture and History? What does the historic record teach us about the doctrine of the trinity? What do the Scriptures really teach us about the trinity? And doesn’t our God invite us, "Come let us reason together."?

Trinities in History

Yes, the trinity has been a prevailing belief for a very, very long time perhaps longer than most Christians would imagine. While worshipping innumerable minor deities, triads of gods appeared in all the ancient cultures of Sumer, Babylonia, Egypt, India, Greece and finally Rome. The "mysteries" of the first universal civilization, Babylonia, were transported down in time. The names of the gods changed. The details of ancient incomprehensible religions changed, but the essential ideas were the same. The Sumerians worshipped Anu (the Father), Enlil (the god of earth) and Enki (the lord of wisdom). The Egyptians worshipped Amun who was really three gods in one: Re was his face; Ptah his body and Amun his hidden identity "combined as three embodiments or aspects of one supreme and triune deity" (Oriental Heritage, W. Durant, 201).

Yet, you might ask, How do we know these trinities are not just misrepresentations of the real threeness of God? (After all there were "flood stories" in every culture too reminiscent of the Genesis account.) Assyrian clay tablets now available have most strikingly confirmed the narrative of Scripture which give us revealing insight into our questions (Edersheim Bible History 59-62). Where did the idea of a three- in-one God originate? After the flood, Nimrod a descendent of Noah’s son Ham settled in Asia: "And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel out of that land went forth Asshur [mar., "he went out into Assyria"] and builded Nineveh" (Ge 10:8-11). "Mighty hunter" was the title given to the great conquering warrior-monarchs of the time. In rebellion of God’s command to disburse and people the earth, Nimrod built the Tower of Babel, became very powerful and was even worshipped. We now know the ancient Babylonians worshipped the first person in the Godhead, the Great Invisible, also the Spirit of God incarnate in the human mother and also the Divine Son. Nimrod was this "Son," the first king of Babel, Babylon. And so the first notion of a triune God was born.

In the immediate centuries before the advent of Jesus Christ, we see Plato even in his deeply philosophical mode proposing a trinity of sorts. ("The Supreme Reality appears in the trinitarian form of the Good, the Intelligence, and the World-Soul" (G. Laing, Survivals of Roman Religion). Through all cultures, this perversion of the truth about God was handed down.

One God

One culture, however, escaped this corruption of truth. From the line of Shem, Noah’s other son, Abraham was called out of "Ur of the Chaldees" (Ge 11:31; 12:1,2), the ancient Babylonian empire. His descendants were given the revelation of God by Moses from Mount Sinai. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD" (De 6:4). No Hebrew scripture supports the idea of a trinity god. Some verses have been pressed into use by trinitarians, but without success. For example, in the creation account, Genesis says, "God [elohim, plural.] created the heavens and the earth" (Ge 1:1). However, the plural does not have to do with number; it is "plentitude of might" (Pentateuch & Haftorahs, The Soncino Press). In any case, the verb "created" is singular, and would not indicate two gods, let alone three. Even the New Catholic Encyclopedia admits that the doctrine of the Trinity is not taught in the Old Testament (Vol. XIV, 306).

While he walked the earth, Jesus clearly acknowledged, "My Father is greater than I" and that it was his Father who sent him, "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me" (Matthew 10:40). He consistently acknowledged God as the source of power for his miracles and finally implored his Father, "Not my will but thine be done." How then can Jesus be co-equal with God if the Father is "greater"? How could he be the one sent and also the Sender and why would he pray to himself that not his will but His other will be done? Is our only answer, "It’s a mystery"?

Mysteries Explained

If the trinity is supposed to be an unexplainable "mystery," why do the apostles always talk about revealing mysteries to Christians? "I would not have you ignorant of this mystery [about Jewish blindness] (Ro 11:25) the revelation of the mystery (Ro 16:25) the mystery hidden God hath revealed (1Co 2:7) Behold I show you a mystery (1Co 15:51) "having made known the mystery of his will" (Eph 1:9) "to make known the mystery of Christ" (Eph 6:19) "make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col 1:27), etc. So how did the Christian Church accept a mystery of a trinity?

In the early church the apostles needed to refute another rising belief system gnosticism. It considered matter to be evil and sought salvation through knowledge. Gnosticism also focused on the "mysteries" meant only for the intellectuals to understand. Christ, the gnostics said, entered Jesus at baptism and left just before he died on the cross. The Apostle John particularly addressed this budding heresy: "Many deceivers have gone out over the world, people who do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came as a human being" (2Joh 7; also 1Joh 4:1-3). Jesus’ humanity was repulsive to gnostics. After the Apostles died, Christians responded to gnosticism by claiming not only did Jesus Christ come in the flesh as the Son of God, but he was God Himself fully God and fully man.

Pagan Triads

By the third and fourth centuries, Christians were weary of Pagan persecution. The temptation was to compromise. Besides, the Pagan emperor Constantine needed Christians to salvage his shaky empire. Constantine embraced Christianity. Added to this happy blend of politics and people was the chief triumvirate of Roman gods Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. Jupiter was the principal deity of Roman mythology and Juno was the next highest divinity. Minerva, the "offspring of the brain of Jupiter" was regarded as the "impersonification of divine thought the plan of the material universe of which Jupiter was the creator and Juno the representative" (mcclintock & strong, Vol. 6). Many Pagan ideas, in fact, were incorporated into Christianity. "Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it" (Caesar and Christ, W. Durant, 595).

Contrary to popular belief, it was not Constantine’s fourth century Council of Nicea in A.D. 325 that formalized the "Doctrine of the Trinity." The Athanasian Creed in the fifth century finally included the three, "the godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost...the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal So likewise the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Ghost is God; and yet they are not three Gods, but one God." Furthermore, this creed added that belief in the trinity "is necessary to everlasting salvation." Strong belief led to action. "Probably more Christians were slaughtered by Christians in these two years ([A.D.]342-3) than by all the persecutions of Christians by pagans in the history of Rome." (Age of Faith, W. Durant, 8).

Truth is Reasonable

Truly, our Christian belief is based on faith. But it is a faith based on the Scriptures belief not born of the compromised traditions handed down through the centuries. When we say Jesus is the "Son of God," we mean he was the Son of God. He received life from his Father. When we read Jesus said, "I go to my Father," we understand he meant he was on earth then he returned to his Father. His Father was in heaven; he was on earth. When Jesus said, "Not my will, but thine be done," he meant he wanted to do his Father’s will. He was not praying in agony to himself. God cannot die. Jesus really did die for our sins.

When Jesus promised to send the holy spirit, he was promising to send the power of God as a transforming influence on the minds of Christians (Ro 12:2; 1Co 2:16). Would you expect to see each of these spirits as persons the "spirit of fear" (2Ti 1:7), the "spirit of bondage" (Rom 8:15) and the "spirit of the world" (1Co 2:12), etc.? Of course not. God’s holy spirit is not a spirit of fear working in us; it is not a spirit of bondage. It is a holy transforming influence in our minds and characters. This oneness of mind or spirit explains how Christians can be one with each other and one with God.

What a wonderful prospect Christians have in the complete and final fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer, "Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us" (Joh 17:20, 21). In glory, we shall be one with each other and the Father and the Son the same way God and Jesus are already one.

For a more complete scriptural and historical discussion of the subject of One God vs. a trinity send for your FREE copy of the NEW booklet, "The Doctrine of Christ."

The Resurrection of the Just and the Unjust

July 1998 (Also found at June 2000)

The doctrine of the resurrection electrified the early church. In the New Testament there are few doctrines on which more stress is laid, yet there are few doctrines in the churches today which are treated with more neglect. Why? Most traditional creeds in the Christian churches refer to the "resurrection of the body"ùthe same body we have in this life. Have you ever pondered what that means?

One Evangelical minister attempted to explain the "resurrection of the body." He said, that it will consist of a regathering and revivifying of all the bones, sinews, flesh, skin, etc., that ever constituted a human body, regardless of how these parts had been disposedùno matter if parts had been destroyed by fire or accident or eaten by fishes or beasts of prey; or if they had rotted in the ground and been absorbed as nutrients into various fruits, vegetables, grass, etc., and thus been over and over again transformed. He pictured the air filled with hands, arms, feet, fingers, bones, skins, sinews, etc., of the billions who have lived and died, seeking the other parts of their bodies; and that then the souls would come from heaven and hell and be imprisoned in those resurrected bodies.

How absurd! And yet, how else could one explain the "resurrection of the same body? No wonder very little mention is made of the resurrection in today’s pulpit. Hear the words of the Apostle Paul in 1Co 15:35-37:

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

The most complete discussion of the resurrection is given in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 where Paul unfolds the beautiful details of this doctrine:

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1Co 15:20-26).

Verse 20 shows Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead. But there would be afterfruits-all mankind. Verses 21 and 22 identify the afterfruits. Just as all mankind died because of Adam’s sin, so all will be made alive because of Jesus’ deathùas a "ransom for all" (1Ti 3:6).

Two Resurrections

Verse 23 shows that "all" mankind, for whom Jesus died, will be divided into two groupsùChrist the firstfruits, followed by "they that are Christ’s at his parousia" (Greek for presence). Christ the firstfruits refers to the Body of Christ, his Church. Jesus was the firstfruits from the dead. But the Body of Christ will be the firstfruits of the world for whom Jesus died. They are called the "firstborn" in Heb 12:23. These Christians are raised at Christ’s return (1Th. 4:16, 17).

Christ will be present for a thousand years (2Pe 3:7-12). "They that are Christ’s at his presence" in 1Co 15:23 clearly shows the afterfruits or remainder of mankind will be raised during Christ’s thousand-year kingdom (Re 20:1-6). This is confirmed by verses 1Co 15:24-27 which show that the resurrection work of verse 23 occurs during the Kingdom of Christ. Thus, there are two resurrections: first the church and second the remainder of mankind. No wonder Paul spoke of the "resurrection of the just and the unjust" in Ac 24:15. And this is just what Jesus tells us in Joh 5:28, 29.

Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth; they that have done good to a resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment (RSV).

Note, all will be raised from the deadùfirst, "they that have done good." This refers to the true Church. During Christ’s return they will be raised to spiritual life and united with their heavenly Lord. Then will follow the resurrection of the "evil class," all the remainder of men. They will come forth to a "resurrection of judgment." The Greek word in the text is krisis and it actually denotes "a crucial testing time." This Greek word is the source of our English word "crisis." And it has the same meaning. A doctor might say, "The patient will reach his crisis tomorrow morning." This does not mean that the patient will die tomorrow morning. Rather, the crisis of an illness is that period when the patient will take a turn for the better or for the worse.

The "crisis" or trial time for the Church is in this present life, but the "crisis" or trial time of the remainder of mankind will be at the resurrection in the Kingdom. Billions of mankind before and after Jesus’ earthly ministry died without receiving the light of Jesus. Yet John 1:9 states that Jesus is the light that "lighteth every man that cometh into the world" A further Scriptural confirmation that, for most, truth enlightenment will require an awakening from the dead.

Resurrection of the UnjustùWhen?

Both Jesus in Joh 5 and the Apostle Paul in 1Co 15 taught the resurrection of the unjust occurs during the 1,000 year Kingdom of Christ when they will be on trial for eternal life. Yet Re 20:4, 5 seems to place it after the thousand years.

4àthey [the Church] came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Re 20:4-6

Verses 4 and 6 clearly teach that the Church reigns with Christ in his 1,000 year Kingdom. Therefore, the Church must be resurrected at the beginning of the 1,000 years and verse 6 plainly states the Church’s resurrection is the "first resurrection." Yet verse 5 places the raising of "the rest of the dead" (the "unjust") after the thousand years are completed. It then calls the raising of the unjust "the first resurrection." This is a contradiction to verse 6 which identifies the raising of the Church as "the first resurrection."

Notice in verse 5 we italicized, "the rest of the dead did not come alive until the thousand years were completed." Why? These words do not appear in the earliest manuscripts that contain these verses.[1] By eliminating these spurious words, verses 4-6 harmonize. Now verses 4 and 5 agree with verse 6ùthe first resurrection applies to the Church.

Because of their theology, the translators have been less than objective on 1Joh 5:7-8 and Re 20:5. Finally the translators have, in the last couple of decades, admitted that parts of 1Joh 5:7-8 are spurious. Hopefully they will also concede that the first part of Re 20:5 is spurious. Thank the Lord there are reference books that enable us to prove it for ourselves.

Old Testament

The prophet Daniel wrote "many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall Awake"(da 12:3). In Ro 5:15-19 "many" is used interchangeably with "all" when referring to those who benefit from Jesus’ death. Daniel then divides the "many" into two classes. Some awake to "everlasting life" and "some to shame and everlasting contempt." Some translations say "age- lasting" or "age-abiding" "life" or "contempt." The Hebrew word translated everlasting or age-lasting is olam. Olam does not mean eternal or everlasting. It means "for the duration." The context or other scriptures will define the length of that duration. Some translators seem to get a satisfaction by rendering olam as everlasting or perpetual when referring to the punishment on the non-elect.

The following scriptures prove olam does not mean perpetual or everlasting. In Ex 29:9 the Aaronic Priesthood would be olam, and was incorrectly translated perpetual. Heb 7:12 shows the Aaronic Priesthood ended in Paul’s Day. It was replaced by the Melchisedec order. In Jer 25:9, 12, Nebuchadnezzar would make the land of Judah a "perpetual (olam) desolation." Incorrect translation! Verse 11 states that the desolation would be 70 years.

Recall Joh 5:28, 29. The evil are raised to a resurrection by "krisis" or trial. This trial includes the 1,000 years, plus the "little season" that follows. Some will pass their trial favorably during the 1,000 years and enjoy what Da 12:3 calls age-lasting life. But only those who pass the test of the "little season" will receive everlasting life. Certainly there will be nefarious persons among the evil who are raised to their trial time (Joh 5:29). They will endure age-lasting shame as they are confronted by those they had harmed. Whether they finally obtain eternal life is problematic.

Remember 1Co 15? At death "you do not sow the [same] body which is to be, but bare grain, [our ego or personality] But God gives it a body just as He wished." (1Co 15:37, 38, 40 NAS)

Jesus spoke of the resurrection of the "good" and the "evil". Paul called it the resurrection of the just and the unjust. The Revelator identified the raising of the Church as the first resurrection, thus implying a second resurrection. In the first resurrection, the "good" or "just" receive a spiritual or celestial body that is immortal (1Co 15:38, 40, 53, 54). In the second resurrection, the "evil" or "unjust" receive an earthly or terrestrial body (1Co 15:38, 40). This life is age-lasting. If they have the faith and obedience to pass their "krisis" or trial, they will have eternal life (Re 20:17).

END NOTES

1. These words are missing in the earliest Greek manuscripts, Codex Sinaitic and Codex Alexandrine. (The Codex Vatican

1209 does not contain the Book of Revelation.) These words are also missing in the earliest Syriac and Aramaic

manuscripts.

The Golden Thread of Salvation Proves the Bible is Inspired

October 1998 (Also April 1993)

If you read 66 different books, written by over 40 different authors with no contradiction between them, you could only conclude there was collusion between the different authors or one person was supervising them all. But what if these 40 authors lived over a period of 1600 years and there was still no contradiction between them. Impossible! Unless, a miracle happened.

There were 66 books written by over 40 different authors, whose lives did span 1600 years and their writings on diversified subjects didn’t contradict each other. Collusion was impossible. But a miracle happened. One person supervised their writings. That one person was God. This collection of 66 different books is usually printed in one volume entitled THE HOLY BIBLE, which is divided into two major sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament.

How do we know these 66 books are harmonious? How do we know the Bible is the inspired Word of God? There are many ways of proving the internal harmony of our 66 books of Scripture, but tracking the promised "seed" of salvation is doubly inspiring. It is the golden or Divine thread that weaves through the whole Bible, binding it together in its glorious promise of eternal life.

The first three chapters of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, describes the creation of Adam in the "image of God" dwelling in an Edenic paradise, with the assurance of this eternal home if they obeyed the laws of God. Disobedience would be penalized by death. "Dying thou shalt die." (Ge 2:17) The laws of God are necessary for the eternal well being of the human race. Satan tempted our first parents. They disobeyed and were banished from Eden. As a result of Adam’s fall into sin and death, the whole race is "born in sin and shapen in iniquity." By one man’s (Adam’s) offense all became sinners and were condemned to death. (Ro 5:16-19)

The last three chapters of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, prophesies that mankind will be restored to life in an Edenic paradise, which will be his eternal home, while Satan is destroyed. All the books of the Bible in between describe the process of redemption and reconciliation by which man and his earthly paradise are restored.

Who is the Seed?

The golden thread of the promised "seed" of salvation begins in Ge 3:15 when Adam fell from God’s favor of life. God promised that the "seed" or descendant of Eve would bruise the serpent’s head (representative of Satan, 2Co 11:3). A blow to the head can be fatal. Here was a glimmer of hope. If Satan is destroyed then man’s lot would be improved. But who is this "seed" or descendant of Eve that would accomplish this? Ge 22:17-18 reveals that the "seed" would come through the lineage of Abraham and it would consist of two classes. Abraham’s "seed" would be "as the stars of heaven" (a heavenly class) and as "the sand upon the seashore" (an earthly class). Now the glimmer of hope becomes bright. "And in thy (Abraham’s) seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed."

In Ge 26:1-4, when God repeats the promise of the "seed" to Isaac, God only likens it to the "stars of heaven" (a heavenly class) with no reference to the sands of the seashore. Again God promises that the "seed" or descendant of Isaac would bless "all the nations of the earth." Then, at the death of Isaac, the lineage of the "seed" of promise that was to bless "all the families of the earth" was narrowed to Jacob. In Ge 28:13-14 Jacob’s "seed" or descendants was likened to the "dust of the earth" which like "sand of the seashore" symbolizes an earthly class. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. The promised "seed" would be Israelitish.

The Isaac or Heavenly Seed

Now skipping over to the New Testament, Paul finally identifies the promised "seed" or descendant that is to bless "all the nations of the earth." In Ga 3:16 it states, "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. And to thy seed (singular), which is Christ." Yes, Jesus Christ is the "seed" or descendant of Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel) that is to bless "all the nations of earth." But Paul expanding on his lesson of 1Co 12:12 that the body of Christ is composed of many members yet is one body, makes a startling statement in Ga 3:27-29. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."

All those in Christ are Abraham’s "seed" and heirs of the promise. But remember the promise was not that the "seed" would receive the blessing but that the "seed" would do the blessing, that is, bless "all the nations of the earth." Remember Ge 26:4, Isaac symbolized the "stars of heaven" or heavenly phase of Abraham’s "seed." In Ga 4 Paul shows that Isaac pictured Jesus and his church, the Christ, head and body.

Similarly, in Ro 4:13-14, Paul teaches that through righteousness (justification) by faith Christians become the seed of Abraham who are the heirs of the world. The world thus inherited will be blessed by the church in Christ’s kingdom. Re 20:4

Remember Ge 3:15. The "seed" of the woman was to destroy Satan and He 2:15 informs us that Jesus will destroy the devil who brought the whole human race under the power of death. Now comes the conclusive proof that faithful Christians (spiritual Israel) are part of the "seed" of the woman. In Ro 16:20 Paul states that "the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." Although the second advent of Christ and his kingdom, when all of this would be accomplished, was nearly 2000 years future, yet from God’s perspective of time it would occur "shortly."

The Jacob (Israel) or Earthly Seed

Remember Genesis 28:14 shows that Jacob (Israel) pictured the earthly seed. The nation of Israel will play an important role in God’s kingdom (Zec 8:20-23; Isa 2:2-4; Eze 16:55-63) when human-kind are restored to perfect life in a worldwide Edenic paradise. Thus Ro 4:17 reveals that when God said to Abraham (Ge 17:5) "I have (past tense) made thee a father of many nations," He in His foreknowledge could speak of it as an accomplished fact. That is because God even then intended to resurrect the dead to fulfill His promise to Abraham.

Just as the sand of the seashore is innumerable, so the literal Hebrew of Ge 22:18 reveals that all the nations of the earth will become a part of the earthly "seed" as they come into the Israelitish Kingdom of God (Zec 8:20-22). Ge 22:18 "In becoming that ‘seed’ shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves." Thus Re 20:8 refers to all the nations at the end of the 1000 year Kingdom as the sand of the sea. Those who overcome the test of the Little Season will receive the blessings of eternity. Re 21:4-7

The golden thread of the "seed" of promise begins in Ge 3. It weaves through all the books of the Bible and its glorious fulfillment is prophesied 65 books later in the third chapter from the end of the last book of the Bible (Revelation) which was written 1600 years after Genesis. Yes, the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, 66 books are transformed into one harmonious book. No other book gives such a reasonable explanation for the permission of evil. No other book gives man such a wonderful hope.

Christian Unity and Ecumenism Today

November 1998

"Neither pray I for these alone. .. that they all may be one as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us. .. that the world may believe. .." Joh 17:20,21

Is this prayer of Jesus finally being answered? The Christian church since its beginning seems far from being united or "one" in Christ. In the sixteenth century the formal split of Protestantism seemed to forever divide the church. But even earlier after the first millennium of Christianity, the Great Schism between Rome and Constantinopleùdivided Christians....

Today Christians face a world whose liveliest faiths are materialism and Islam. Although it is true that Evangelical membership has grown significantly, mainline membership has drastically declined (CHRISTIANITY TODAY, 8/11/97). In his book, THE SECOND COMING OF THE CHURCH, the author laments America’s churches and their need for revival. He observes that church attendance and personal Bible study have gone down. People are too busy. "If we are ever going to be an effective and positive influence in American society, we must begin by taking steps to restore the Church." What he proposes is "influence via vision." The question is, what is the true "vision" of the church’s mission in this world? Is it the transforming of society? What is the oneness Jesus prayed for "that the world may believe"?

For over 100 years now, cautious, painful steps have been taken to achieve a unity of Christian churches. In 1846 the Evangelical Alliance was organized in London principally to effectively cooperate in the effort to "repulse common enemies and dangers" (MCCLINTOCK & STRONG’S, Vol. 3) What were the dangers at that time? ...Probably not materialism and the spread of Islam. But at that time new sects were arising and individual thinking on the Bible abounded. Why? Since 1803 Bible Societies were distributing a flood of cheap Bibles to the common man. In any case, the older denominations were alarmed wondering where it would all lead. This union of Christians decided to establish some "fundamental doctrines" as membership criteria to control this trend towards division and individualism.

Since then, in 1867 an American branch was formed, which later in 1944 dissolved and transferred its funds to the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America (FCCCA). Meanwhile, concern over the religion of secularism prompted delegates from the ecumenical Commissions,"life and Work" and "Faith and Order," to draft proposals for a "World Council of Churches." World War II interrupted the progress of ecumenism. But in 1948 an international organization of more than 320 Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches established the World Council of Churches. That was fifty years ago. Interestingly, the Federal Council (FCCCA)ùwhich evolved from the original Evangelical Allianceùmerged with other interdenominational bodies to form the National Council of Churches in 1950. That body later became a full member of the World Council of Churches! Is this the way God is answering Jesus’ prayer for oneness of the body?

The International Council of Christian Churches (ICCC)ùwhich also came into existence fifty years ago-doesn’t think so. Intent on bringing Christ to the world in obedience to the "Great Commission," they accuse the WCC of being too worldly and too liberal itself (CHRISTIAN NEWS, 1/25/93). Then there’s the Consultation on Church Union (COCU)ùthe multi-denomination organization formed in the United States in the 1960s which redefined "unity" as allowing for diversity, but recognizing ordinations of member denominations only (COCU, 8/18/98).

The Catholic Church has come a long way too. In 1928 "Pope Pius XI condemned unequivocally the ecumenical developments taking shape among Protestants....By 1964, with Vatican Council II’s decree on ecumenism (Unitatis redintegratio), the Church embarked on an almost 180-degree turn by acknowledging the authenticity of non-Catholic Christian churches...with whom the Roman Church should seek to achieve unity. In 1967, the Holy See appointed fifteen official observers to the Fourth Assembly of the World Council of Churches...." (VATICAN POLITICS: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION, F. Murphy)

However, the current mistrust between Catholics and Orthodox seems almost insurmountable. "One particularly thorny issue must be resolved before the Holy See and the Russian Patriarchate in Moscow can normalize their relations...the Russian Orthodox accusations against Greek Catholics." However, "the Holy See is cautiously optimistic concerning...improved relations with the Russian Orthodox Church" (INSIDE THE VATICAN, 5/98). Also, this year the Lutheran World Federation, representing over 57 million Lutherans in 69 countries, unanimously approved the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" with the Roman Catholic Church (NEW YORK TIMES, 6/26/98).

Yes, in this tumultuous world of unprecedented trouble, both Catholics and Protestants feel a sense of urgency for achieving unity by the new millennium year 2000. But what exactly is the "vision" Jesus gave to his disciples, his church?

The Bible’s language of symbols and prophecies tell another story. The "Great Commission" of Jesus was not a vision to make all nations his disciples, but to "make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19 NAS). Quite a difference! The "witness to all nations" was to find a Bride for Christ, a "little flock." James reminded the church that God would first "take from among the Gentiles a people for His name. .. that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles" (Ac 15:14-17). God has been first selecting a "people for His name" from "every kindred and tongue and people and nation" to be "kings and priests on the earth" (Re 5:9,10). Then they would be used to bless the "residue of men"ùthe vast majority of man in the Kingdom of Christ. Now is not the time for Christianizing the worldùor even America.

According to a report released this year by the "Global Evangelization Movement," only 33% of the world is Christian. If Jesus Christ "died for all," isn’t "all" somewhat of an exaggeration? (And 33% may be too generous.) Does this mean that God’s Plan for reaching man is only one third successful? Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world." He did not say, Please set up my Kingdom before I come. So, whose "world" is this? Apostle Paul’s tells us Satan is "the god of this world [who] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not..." (2Co 4:4). The whole purpose of Jesus’ return is to bless "all the families of the earth" (Ge 22:17,18; Ga 3:29) while Satan is bound for a thousand years "that he should deceive the nations no more" (Re 20:3).

So all the councils, synods and associations of Christians should not be alarmed that the numbers of dedicated Christians are dwindling. Nor should they be dismayed in the battle to win over society "Satan’s "world." Christians should not fear. Now is not God’s time for converting the whole world.

What these councils and alliances should be alarmed at are the prophecies that indicate their alliances are unlawful and that they will come to nothing. In one prophecy, Isaiah, using symbolic language with a double application, admonished both apostate Israel and apostate Christianity: "Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear...And he shall be for a sanctuary: but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel" (Isa 8:12-14).

The same Prophet talks about what is happening in the ecclesiastical "heavens" of Christendom ("Edom," Isa 63:1-4) Of course, Jesus is the one to fulfill the prophecy against "Edom" as he who "treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God" (Re 19:11-15). What happens before the symbolic "heavens" are dissolved is that "the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll" (Isa 34:4-6). A scroll has two ends, but can be rolled together. And so the opposing ends of Christendom Catholicism and Protestantismùare now rolling together. They are uniting. But it is uncomfortable, thorny. It is also flammable: "While they be folden together as thorns [for Protestantism and the Papacy can never perfectly assimilate; each will be a thorn in the other’s side], and while they are drunken as drunkards [intoxicated with the spirit of the world], they shall be devoured [they shall be overwhelmed in the great tribulation, and as religious systems, be utterly destroyed] as stubble fully dry" (Nah 1:9).

What Christians should really watch for is that church coalition will eventually impose restrictions on any who oppose them. Much like the Papacy of the "Dark Ages," anyone not agreeing would be a "heretic." And the Papacyùor have we forgotten history?ùused the arm of the state to implement its program of persecution. This brings us to the prophecy in Revelation about the "beast" the "image" and the number 666.

First, Revelation is a book of symbols (Re1:1). "Beasts" symbolize governments. The "little horn" that grew on the "terrible beast" of Imperial Rome was the Papacy which "made war with the saints" (Da 7:7,8,21). Now in Revelation this "little horn" is identified as a beast in its own right (Re 13:1-5). The Roman church became a beastly government itself. We know it is the same as the "little horn" because both are described as oppressing the saints for the same amount of time (Da 7:25; Re 13:5-7).

At the close of the age, we are warned that an "image"ùa likenessùwill be made of the Papal beast. A Protestant federation to act like its Papal counterpart. Daughters like mother! It will impose restrictions. The image of the beast will "both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." A requirement will be made that all "receive a mark...that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name" (Re 13:15-18). Either the "mark" of the "image" OR the "mark" of the "beast" will be acceptable. That is because they will have unity. This alliance, however, will soon be destroyed (Rev.19:20).

The true oneness of Christians is based on truth, not compromise. Jesus also prayed, "Sanctify [set apart] them through thy truth" (Joh 17:17). When the true church is complete, then the world will believeùand be saved. Then Jesus’ prayer will be fully answered.

Why WYE?

December 1998

"They Shall Say Peace, Peace When There Is No Peace"

For nine days world attention focused on the Wye Plantation peace negotiations. Why? In the eyes of the world powers, a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza is a must. Why? Is it because of Palestinian rights? Not really. The issue is not moral, as the public is led to believe, but pragmatic. Plain and simple, without Arab oil, the world economy would collapse.

When Prime Minister Netanyahu returned to Israel, he told the "right wing" leaders that he was subjected to incredible pressure to compromise and that he acquired the best deal possible under this pressure. President Clinton spent marathon hours pressuring, pressuring, pressuring Netanyahu. Wye was but another step towards-what Hillary Clinton has publicly declared as a right of the Palestinians-a Palestinian state.

There is something world leaders have overlooked. The Land is not theirs to parcel out. Nor does it belong to the Palestinians. It belongs to God and He has promised it to Israel. This peace will not last because God is angry with the nations for partitioning "His land." (Joel 3:1-3) The boundaries of the Land of Israel were set in God’s promise of Genesis 15:18-20. In God’s due time Israel will possess all of it.

Palestinian rights ???

PLO Chairman Yassir Arafat in his speech before the U.N. in 1974 declared, "The Jewish invasion began in 1881 ... Palestine was then a verdant area, inhabited mainly by an Arab people in the course of building its life and dynamically enriching its indigenous culture."

What happens when this claim is compared with the personal observations of the following recognized authorities? In 1738 Thomas Shaw observed a land of "barrennessà. from want of inhabitants." In 1785 Constantine Francois de Volney recorded the population of the three main cities. Jerusalem had a population of 12,000 to 14,000. Bethlehem had about 600 able-bodied men. Hebron had 800 to 900 men.

In 1835 Alphonse de Lamartine wrote, "Outside the city of Jerusalem, we saw no living object, heard no living sound. .. a complete eternal silence reigns in the town, in the highways, in the country ... The tomb of a whole people."

In 1857, the British consul in Palestine, James Finn, reported, "The country is in a considerable degree empty of inhabitants and therefore its greatest need is that of a body of population." This historic observation is a remarkable confirmation of the Biblical predictions that during Israel’s period of time of punishment and dispersion, the Lord would cause the Land to become desolate of man and beast (Jer 33:10; Zec 10:12; Jer 16:14-18). No wonder by 1857 it was just waiting for "a body of population"! In the Lord’s providence this needed body of population-the Jewish people-began to return after 1878 at the end of their Scriptural period of God’s disfavor.

The most popular quote on the desolation of the Land is from Mark Twain’s THE INNOCENTS ABROAD (1867), "Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes. Over it broods the spell of a curse that has withered its fields and fettered its energiesà.Palestine is desolate and unlovelyà. It is a hopeless, dreary, heartbroken land."

The records of history confirm the Biblical predictions that during the Jewish dispersion and period of God’s disfavor, the Land of Israel would become desolate awaiting the return of the Jewish people when its period of disfavor ended in 1878. The records of history simply do not confirm today’s Palestinian claim of Palestinian roots and culture in a "verdant area" since the Arab rule of the land (A.D. 640-1099).

Southern Syria vs. "Palestine"

Until the 1960s the Arabs in the Land called themselves Southern Syrians and clamored that the Land become a part of a "Greater Syria." This "Arab Nation" would include Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Transjordan as well as Palestine. An observation in TIME magazine well articulated how the Palestinian identity was born so belatedly in the 1960s:

Golda Meir once argued that there was no such thing as a Palestinian; at the time, she wasn’t entirely wrong. Before Arafat began his proselytizing, most of the Arabs from the territory of Palestine thought of themselves as members of an all-embracing Arab nation. It was Arafat who made the intellectual leap to a definition of the Palestinians as a distinct people; he articulated the cause, organized for it, fought for it and brought it to the world’s attention. ...

If there was an Arab Palestinian culture, a normal population increase over the centuries would have been expected. But with the exception of a relatively few families, the Arabs had no attachment to the Land. If Arabs from Syria or other Arab lands drifted into Palestine for economic reasons, within a generation or so the cultural tug would pull them back. This is why the Arab population average remained low until the influx of Jewish financial investments and Jewish people in the late 1800s made the Land economically attractive. Then sometime between 1850 and 1918, the Arab population shot up to 560,000. Not to absolve the Jews but to defend British policy, the not over friendly British secretary of state for the colonies, Malcolm MacDonald, declared in the House of Commons (November 24, 1938), "The Arabs cannot say that the Jews are driving them out of the country. If not a single Jew had come to Palestine after 1918, I believe the Arab population of Palestine would still have been around 600,000. .."

Jewish contributions and Jewish immigration continued to flow into the Land. The Jews created industry, agriculture, hospitals-a complete socio-economic infrastructure. As job opportunities increased, so did Arab immigration. In fact, in 1939 President Roosevelt observed that "Arab immigration into Palestine since 1921 has vastly exceeded the total Jewish immigration during this whole period." For one specific example, in 1934 between 30,000 and 36,000 Arabs from the Hauran Province in Syria left for "the better life" in Palestine.

On the other hand, Great Britain’s White Paper of 1939 closed the doors of Jewish immigration to their Land. Simultaneously, there was a large-scale Arab immigration to the new Land of opportunity during World War II. In 1946 Bartley C. Crum, a United States Government observer, noted that tens of thousands of Arabs had entered Palestine "because of this better life-and they were still coming."

The Testimony of Arabs

Because Arabs until the 1960s spoke of Palestine as Southern Syria or part of Greater Syria, the General Syrian Congress stated in 1919, "We ask that there should be no separation of the southern part of Syria, known as Palestine." George Antonius noted the Arab view of Palestine in 1918:

The representative Arab view was substantially that which King Husain [Grand Sherif of Mecca, the great grandfather of the current King Hussein of Jordan] had expressed to the British Government. .. in January 1918. In the Arab view, Palestine was an Arab territory forming an integral part of Syria.

As late as May 1947, Arab representatives reminded the United Nations in a formal statement, "Palestine is aàpart of the Province of Syriaà.Politically, the Arabs of Palestine were not independent in the sense of forming a separate political entity."

On May 31, 1956, Ahmed Shukairy had no hesitation, as current head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, in announcing to the Security Council the observation, "It is common knowledge that Palestine is nothing but southern Syria."

Syrian President Hafez Assad once told PLO leader Yassir Arafat:

You do not represent Palestine as much as we do. Never forget this one point: There is no such thing as a Palestinian People, there is no Palestinian entity, there is only Syria. You are an integral part of the Syrian people, Palestine is an integral part of Syria. Therefore it is we, the Syrian authorities, who are the true representatives of the Palestinian people.

In the words of the late military commander of the PLO as well as member of the PLO Executive Council, Zuhair Muhsin:

There are no differences between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. We are all part of one nation. It is only for political reasons that we carefully underline our Palestinian identityà.yes, the existence of a separate Palestinian identity serves only tactical purposes. The founding of a Palestinian state is a new tool in the continuing battle against Israel [emphasis ours].

These testimonies confirm the Christian Scriptures that God gave the Land to the Jewish people as an everlasting possession. The relatively few Arabs who wandered into the Land between A.D. 670-1878 were but temporary dwellers.

As observed by Ernst Frankenstein, substantial Arab immigration was a recent phenomenon:

The early "lovers of Zion" began the stimulation of Arab immigration. Some writers have come out with the conclusion that in 1942, 75 percent of the Arab population were either immigrants or descendants of immigrants into Palestine during the preceding one hundred years, mainly after 1882.

The Verdict Of History: Land Rights

Indeed, the verdict of history confirms the Prophets. The population of the Land of Israel would be minimal until the period of Israel’s disfavor ended in 1878 when the regathering of the Jewish exiles began (Jer 33:10; Zec 9:12 and Jer 16:14-18). The record of history testifies that the great influx of Arabs also began after that date. These facts of history explain why the United Nations needed to develop a definition that a "Palestinian Refugee" is any Arab who had been in "Palestine" for only two years.

Arafat’s demand for a Palestinian state contradicts his own bible, the Muslim Koran, which teaches that the Jewish people were given the Land of Israel by God’s decree and that they would return and resettle their ancient Jewish homeland in the latter days. Send for your free copy of the article which contains these passages from the Koran.

Write to request a copy of the article which contains the passages from the Koran.

Write to request a free printed copy of the booklet, The Israel-Arab Peace Process and Bible Prophecy, . or click on the title to read the booklet online.

The Only Way

Winter 1999

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.ö ô Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Joh 14:6; Ac 4:12

You see them everywhere you go these days. They live in your neighborhood. They actively support your school’s PTA. You see them at children’s sports leagues, piano recitals, the workplace, market and parks. They are often very friendly folkùmorally upright, hard working and community-minded. Their children often excel academically and are among the most respectful and successful students in our schools.

As professionalsùdoctors, researchers, educators and merchantsùthey do much to elevate our standard of living. We enjoy their company and their contributions to the society we live in. Yet behind our smiles, friendly conversations and extended hands our consciences may be twinging, even convulsing! There is something about them that tugs deeply at our hearts. These people are of non- Christian faiths.

They have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior.

We, as Christians, must ask ourselves, "What is their eternal destiny? Are they, and the vast non-Christian majority of earth’s people, in jeopardy of being eternally lost?"

Changing Demographics

Emigration from non-Christian countries has dramatically changed American demographics. Decades ago the vast majority of Americans were of one or another branch of Christianity. It was easier to ignore the destiny of peoples living in distant lands. The stereotypically comfortable view of America as a Christian society has been challenged by the flood of Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists and others of various faiths into our society.

Close association with people of other faiths is causing many Christian people to have a crisis of conscienceùas it should. Some, unfortunately, may begin to doubt that Christ is the only way to eternal salvation. We need not doubt the Bible’s sure statements that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation! We can dispel any doubts about the validity of our Christian faith by coming to the Word of God for answers. The problem is not with The Faith presented in the Scriptures. It is with Dark Age dogmas which have been accepted as "God’s truth."

Salvation by Geography?

Overwhelmingly, a person’s faith is the result of where and to whom they were born. Can it be that eternal salvation comes down to something so capricious as where we were born? Many Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, Muslims, Hindus, Shintoists, Buddhists, etc., are of that faith because they were born into it. It is mind staggering to think that our eternal salvation might come to us chiefly because we were fortunate enough to be born to Christian parents in America and not to Hindu parents in the land of India. This begs the question of God’s justice.

In reality, only about 30% of the world is Christian. Even that is a grossly liberal estimate. Nevertheless, accepting that percentage leaves us with at least a 70% non-Christian majority of earth’s masses. Take the logical step of thought and realize that now, two thousand years after Christ’s great commission to make disciples of all nations, the vast majority of humanity have not known the SaviorùJesus Christ.

Are We Being Narrow Minded?

Tolerance and "political correctness" are the prevailing attitudes in our time. The trend is to say, "My religion is OK and yours is OK too." However, one of our delights in the Christian faith is our trust that it contains absolutes of truth. Is it arrogant to hold fast to the doctrine of Christ’s atonement as the only way to salvation? Are we closing our eyes to the possible validity of other faiths as a way to eternal salvation?

CHRISTIANITY TODAY (January 12, 1998) dealt with this vital question in a rather probing article. It is good to see that the popular mouthpiece of "Evangelical Conviction" recognizes many faithful Christians are struggling with this issue. We sympathize greatly with all Christians who possess enough conscience to search open mindedly for a legitimate, Biblical answer to this crucial question. The CHRISTIANITY TODAY article calls upon one scripture as a possible solution to this dilemma, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isa 55:9. The thought developed from this scripture is that, hopefully, God will eternally save the non-Christian masses through Christ without their ever previously acknowledging him. We disagree, eternal salvation is through Christ and Christ alone.

Their proposal is earnest but falls far short of God’s plan as the clear word of Scripture presents it. The real solution to the question is to apply scripture statements to their proper time periods.

In Due Time(s)

The Apostle Paul gives us great insight, observing that God "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time[s]." 1Ti 2:4-6

The word "time" at the end of this verse is pluralù"times"ùin the original Greek language. What "times" are meant, when God will make His Ransom For All manifest? We turn to the Book of Acts for clarification.

"Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written, ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; from its ruins I will rebuild it, and I will set it up, so that all other peoples may seek the Lord-even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called. Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things." Ac 15:14-17 (NRSV)

In other words, God first calls out His Church (a people for His name) during our Christian era. After that, during Christ’s reign over earth at the Second Coming, "all other peoples" the masses of the human family who have not yet accepted Christ, will seek the Lord-even those "over whom my name has [previously] been called." This is the marvelous "times of restitution" Peter spoke of in Ac 3:19-21.

Not Universalism

Notice the sequence of events in 1Ti 2:4. God "will [1] have all men to be saved, and [2] to come unto the knowledge of the truth." What are all saved from, before they come to a knowledge of the truth?

They are saved from that which "the ransom for all" in 1Ti 2:6 will be the cure. They are saved from the sin-and-death curse all people have inherited from father Adam.

"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." "We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." 1Co 15:21-22; Heb 2:9

"For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

" For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Ro 5:17-19

Jesus Christ has tasted death for every man and the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. Please note that this is not "Universal Salvation." It is universal atonement-which will bring the opportunity for eternal salvation to each member of the human race.

What’s the Difference?

Generally speaking, Universalism proposes that all mankind will be eternally saved. The Scriptures speak contrary to this concept. Universal atonement recognizes the Biblical fact that Jesus died for all at Calvary and that, therefore, ALL will receive the blessings of His atoning sacrifice.

What if Adam’s sin was atoned for? What if his punishment (the death sentence) placed upon him was removed? The result would be the deliverance of Adam, and those that inherited his sin, out from the death sentence. Having suffered the effects of sin and dying for centuries, our race would need much rehabilitation, re-education in righteousness-restoration.

"In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. [Father Adam sinned and therefore humanity suffers under the curse of sin.] But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge." Jer 31:29-30

Yes, all peoples of the earth will be released from the penalty imposed on Adam and his descendants. Being saved, therefore, out of Adamic death they will be given a full knowledge of the things of God.

They will come to know Jesus as their King who will reign over the earth and establish the Golden Age of God’s kingdom on earth. "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Mt 6:10

"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Isa 11:9

"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Jer 31:34

The fallen race will be tutored under the loving, sympathetic care of Jesus and His Church, composed of faithful believers from the Christian age of faith. In their due (proper) time all mankind, regardless of their present faith, will be brought to a knowledge of the glorious gospel of Christ. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Re 22:17

What a glorious vision this is. We look forward to that time when, "in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords." That "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 1Ti 6:15; Php 2:10-11

The Big Bang and the Bible

March 1999

Science may just now be catching up with the Bible. Theories come and go, but just in the last couple of decades scientists are concluding that there was a BEGINNING to our Universe! And if there was a beginning, there must be a Beginner. Some scientists have balked at these conclusionsùeven though based on Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Even he at first resisted what his computations were telling him. He finally admitted "the necessity for a beginning"[1] and "the presence of a superior reasoning power."[2]

Perhaps this seeming confirmation for our faith comes at a good time! In our world, as we are barreling down to the next millennium of time, people are asking some ultimate questions about the destiny of the human race. World events seem out of controlà. Where are we heading? Where will it all end? Perhaps some of our answers can come from where it all began.

Where it All Began

Since the time of Aristotleùabout 2,300 years agoùscientific theory said the universe was without beginning. Up to the 1960s, two thirds of leading U.S. scientists surveyed believed the same.[3] Now with data from telescopes, scientists are finding Genesis 1:1 right after all: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earthà." There, indeed, was a beginning to our universe!

Einstein’s equations calculated both an expanding as well as a decelerating universe-both of which pointed toward a beginning point. But he never did accept the understanding of a personal God because of his bitterness toward clergy and his inability to resolve God’s omnipotence and man’s responsibility for his choices.[4] Perhaps if he had probed further into the Bible, he would have found a wonderful divine plan. This plan, in fact, presents a glorious outcome designed by an all-powerful, all loving God who also worked with man’s free moral agency of choice!

Scientists Need Faith

Still, some scientists may challenge that a beginning does NOT imply an Intelligent Beginner. They propose that the laws of nature allow for the creation of the universe without a Creator. They label it "quantum fluctuation."[5] But since both those scientists and Creationists agree that before the Universe there was no time or space as we know it -there would also be no laws of nature to spontaneously produce the highly unlikely result of our well-tuned universe! Another suggestion is that our finite universe is like only one bubble in an infinitely large eternal macro-universe with many bubble universes.[6] Of course, these ideas cannot be tested by observation. Scientists need more faith to deny a Creator than it takes to believe in one!

Birth of Universe

"Big Bang" sounds like a random explosion. (Actually it is the name given by one of its criticsùand the name stuck.) But, in fact, scientists say this phenomenal beginning point in time and space was very precise. Cosmologists today teach that ten to twenty billion years ago our entire universe was compressed into what scientists called a "singularity." This "singularity" was comprised of all the mass of our universe packed into an infinitesimally tiny volume of space, considerably smaller than an atomic nucleus. Space and time did not exist. This infinitely dense singularity exploded at unimaginable temperatures. Physicists concur that for our universe to have been able to support life, its original expansion rate had to be "fine-tuned to one part in 10 to the 60th powerùthat’s 1 with 60 zeros after it."[7] The head of the NASA COBE satellite team, George Smoot describes the big bang as "finely orchestrated."[8] If the rate of expansion one second after the big bang had been smaller by even one part in a hundred thousand million million," says Stephen Hawking, "the universe would have recollapsed before it ever reached its present state."[9] What deeper meaning we can now see in Ps 19, "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse [Strong’s 7549] is declaring the work of His hands."

Not only is the rate of expansion finely orchestrated, but the ratios of necessary elements essential for life in our universe are also fine-tuned. Harvard’s Astronomy Department Chairman, Robert Kirshner says: "A delicate match between the energies of helium, the unstable beryllium and the resulting carbon allows the last to be created. Without this process, we would not be here."[10] And where is the universe going? "Since the universe is a space-time continuum, this implies something outside space and time."[11] A non-universe plane of existence beyond our own impliesùyes againùa Creator! How much more we can appreciate what the Scriptures mean when they say, "He who created the heavens, He is God; He who fashioned and made the Earth, He founded it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited" (Isa 45:18).

Earth Created in Six Days

Wait a minute! say some Christians, how can science help confirm what we understand about Genesis when the earth was created in six days? Actually the opening verses describe the "heaven and earth" to be "without form and void" before the creative days began. In this unprepared state, the universe could have easily existed from 10 to 20 billion years.

But according to the Bible, were not the sun and moon created on the fourth day? "And God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. And placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night and to separate the light from the darknessàa fourth day" (Ge 1:14-19). First of all, it is hardly reasonable to suppose, the earth could have grass and fruit trees on the third day without sunlight (Ge 1:11-13) -if the sun was not created till the fourth day! What eventually happened on the fourth day was that the sun and moon became clearly discernible on earth so as to "govern" or mark the days and the months. The sun as part of the universe clearly existed before the third or fourth day of creation according to Genesis!

Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence?

It’s interesting how on one hand some may begrudge scientists who have concluded the evidence pointing to Intelligence, and yet our government has spent millions of dollars for NASA’s project called SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)! For years SETI has searched for signals to find "beings superior to us, not only technically, but perhaps spiritually and morally."[12] Man has an instinctive yearning to know about what is beyond his tangible world. But no signals or messages from outer space have been discovered.

The only intelligent messages discovered have been in the tiny universe of microbiologyùthey are the complex DNA codes for life! By 1967 Nobel prize winners Crick and Watson cracked the genetic DNA code which are information messages in each of our own cellsùlike sentences with grammar rules.[13]

But the search for Intelligence beyond our finite terrestrial boundaries should be concluded! The same God who intelligently prepared the Universe for life also designed the codes for life on earth. "Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf!" (Ps 66:5)

Intelligent Design

Intelligent Design is a theory to explain intelligent results. As we enter the twenty-first century, science has yet to come up with a consistent natural explanation for the origin of the universe and life. It would seem that the supernatural explanation given in Heb 11:3 is still the best one we have: "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."

The second step after concluding God made our universe is to conclude God will reward our search to know him personally. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb 11:6). When in ancient times Job questioned why God would permit him to suffer, what was God’s answer in reply? God comforted him by reviewing His power and wisdom in the wonders of His creation: "Then the LORD answered JobàWhere wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earthàKnowest thou the ordinances of heaven? Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?" (Job 38:1,4,33).

If we can appreciate the beautifully precise design of God’s physical universeùour faith can more easily trust His wisdom in His divine design for preserving his intelligent creation Man. Yes, we may confidently face the future because we have already seen what our wise, all-powerful Creator prepared for us in the pastà.

END NOTES

1. A. Vibert Douglas, "Forty Minutes with Einstein," JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA (1956), p. 100.

2. Lincoln Barnett, THE UNIVERSE AND DR. EINSTEIN (New York: William Sloane Assoc., 1948), p. 106.

3. S. Brush, "How Cosmology Became a Science," SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, Aug. 1992.

4. Einstein, Albert, OUT OF MY LATER YEARS (NY: Philosophical Library, 1950), pp. 27-28.

5. H. Pagels, PERFECT SYMMETRY, Michael Joseph, London, 1985.

6. Gerald L. Schroeder, THE SCIENCE OF GOD (NY: Broadway Books, 1997), p. 25.

7. "The Great Debate," COSMIC PURSUIT, Fall 1997, p. 22.

8. Ibid.

9. Stephen W. Hawking, A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME—FROM THE BIG BANG TO BLACK HOLES (New York Bantam Books, 1998), p. 122-123.

10. Robert P. Kirshner, "The Earth’s Elements," SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN (October 1994), p. 61.

11. Naftali J. Berg, SCIENCE IN THE LIGHT OF TORAH, Ed. Herman Branover (Jason Aronson Inc, Northvale, NJ), 1994, pp. 56,57.

12. Fred Heeren, SHOW ME GOD (Day Star Publications, Wheeling, IL, 1997), p. 71.

13. Ibid, p. 67.

Heart Communion with Jesus

April 1999

The last week of Jesus’ life pulses with drama. The drama gathered momentum with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Daily confrontations with the Pharisees ensued. Judas’ betrayal pushed the drama to a tragic, though victorious, climax. "It is finished" was his cry. But death was swallowed up in the victory of the resurrection.

Jesus died for our sins and was raised for our justification (Ro 4:25). "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world"(1Joh 2:2 NIV). His death as a "ransom for all" will be "testified [to all] in due times" (1Ti 2:6). In God’s Kingdom it will finally be fulfilled, Jesus is "the true light which enlightens everyone" (Joh 1:9 NRSV). Their wholehearted acceptance of Jesus will determine their eternal destiny.

First there is an intellectual understanding of the purpose of Jesus’ death. But faith doesn’t stop with head knowledge. There must be a heart response of full consecration-complete dedication. Jesus invited us to deny self, "take up his cross daily" and follow him (Lk 9:23).

Heart Communion

Heart appreciation, also, involves another aspect of Christian experience-heart communion with Jesus. If we take the time to meditate, to probe the meaning of all his experiences, we will find ourselves living in our hearts every event in that momentous life. To know Jesus is to love him and to love him is to emulate him-to want to be just like him. This is one way we become filled with the holy spirit. We will want to think like Jesus thought, talk like Jesus talked and love like Jesus loved. We will be very concerned to meet the needs of those around us. Why? Because Jesus died for them.

Sheer Pathos

The drama of Jesus’ last week climaxed in sheer pathos on his last day. The Jewish day began at sundown. We find Jesus in the "upper room" celebrating the Jewish Passover that he was about to fulfill by his own death as the antitypical Passover lamb (1Co 5:7). What drama! While Jesus is emotionally overwhelmed with his imminent death, his disciples are boasting which one would be greatest in the kingdom. Since the roads were dusty and people wore sandals, it was the custom for one to wash the feet of others. Being so concerned over whom would be greatest, they were too proud to wash one another’s feet. But Jesus humbly knelt before them and washed their feet. Are we willing to perform any menial task for others?

Then Jesus instituted the Last Supper-our communion of his death. Bread broken, wine poured out-again a grim reminder of his death. These were emblematic of his body that would be broken and his life soon to be poured out unto death, as "a ransom for all." After Judas departed to conclude his secret scheme of betrayal, Jesus lingered in the upper room with the eleven, his dearest friends. Jesus knew his imminent arrest and death would stagger their faith. Oh, how his heart ached for them. "Let not your heart be troubled"-in tender words of loving concern, Jesus tried to prepare them for the immediate events that would temporarily shatter their lives (Joh 14). At about 11:00 p.m. he said, "Arise, let us go hence." Yes, Jesus had a Divine appointment with his enemies in Gethsemane.

"I am the vine, ye are the branches." On the way to Gethsemane, Jesus used the imagery of the vine and the branches in Joh 15 to assure them of his oneness and presence with them. Further words of comfort followed in Joh 16. They were not grasping the full implications of Jesus’ words that "the shepherd would be smitten and the sheep scattered."

They stopped. And Jesus offered the most powerful intercessory prayer in the history of Christianity (Joh 17). So powerful that Christians today feel its benefits. Remember, Jesus prayed not only for the eleven but also for "those who believe on their words." This includes all Christians even to our time.

Somewhat comforted by Jesus’ prayer, the weary little band followed their Master over the brook Cedron and up the Mount of Olives to the peaceful Garden of Gethsemane. Finally Jesus confides, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death" (Mk 14:34). How selfless! During the whole evening Jesus ignored his own dire needs to comfort his disciples. Can we emulate Jesus and forget the needs of self to serve others? Despite Jesus’ plea that they watch with him, his closest friends slept while he agonized in prayer. "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me." Jesus was always there when they needed him. But they were not there when Jesus needed them. Where are we when others need us?

Arrest and Trial

As Jesus woke them he said, "Behold, he is at hand that doth betray me." Soon a band of temple soldiers led by Judas surrounded them. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas was to deliver Jesus to the High Priests and Pharisees, away from the multitudes who loved him and would have defended him. A kiss of betrayal by Judas would identify Jesus. That night and the next day, Jesus’ face was marred in many ways-bruised with blows, spat upon and rent with thorns. But nothing pierced his heart more than the profanity of this kiss of betrayal by a close friend.

Jesus could have escaped arrest. He stopped Peter’s attempt to protect him. He knew all the brutality that awaited him. Willingly he submitted. His mission was to die as a "ransom for all." Are we willing to perform the Heavenly Father’s will regardless of the cost in pain or loss?

During the long night and breaking of day, two trials (civil and religious) were held-each in two parts. In reality, it was a grueling ordeal of six trials. Jesus was continually abused, mocked, confronted by false witnesses, spat upon, ridiculed, beaten, taunted and scourged. Yes, he was scourged by a whip, with a cat-o’-nine-tails each containing metal cleats, that tore flesh out of his back.

In mockery the Roman soldiers dressed him as a king. A king must wear purple. And so they found an old cloak of this color and threw it over his shoulders. A king must have a crown so they crushed a crown of thorns upon his head. Each soldier advanced one after another to Jesus and bending low said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" After passing him with mock solemnity, each turned and with a burst of laughter, struck him with a rod and covered his face with spit.

There is an instinct in all of us to desire to see others cast down beneath us in esteem. Whenever we have the desire to belittle another, even in a dignified manner, think of this mockery of Jesus. The temple mob cried, "crucify him," "crucify him!" Jesus’ heart response was a willingness to die for them because he loved them. Are we willing to love our enemies?

Pilate "delivered Jesus to their will."

"And they led him away to crucify him." With the crushing weight of his cross, Jesus began the long journey to a place called Golgotha. But the merciless ordeal of the long sleepless night had so weakened Jesus it was necessary for the soldiers to constrain a bystander, Simon, to carry the cross. Finally the journey ended with their ascent of a hill shaped like a skull.

As the soldiers set about their preparations for the last act of history’s greatest drama, a common incident occurred, but Jesus filled it with significance. It was the benevolent practice to provide a stupefying drink for those condemned to the excruciating punishment of crucifixion, in order to dull the senses and deaden the pain. A cup was handed to Jesus. Exhausted with fatigue and burning with thirst he grasped the cup eagerly and lifted it without suspicion to his lips. But as soon as he tasted it and smelled the stupefying mix, he laid it down and would not drink. It was a simple act, yet full of heroism. Face to face with outrageous torture, Jesus chose not to allow his intellect to become clouded. His obedience was not yet completed. The Father’s plan for him was not fully carried out.

On the Cross

Jesus’ sufferings on the cross defy our comprehension. At 9:00 a.m., he was stretched upon a cross lying on the ground. The sound of a hammer against nails was mingled with the sound of groans as the nails tore through flesh and grated on bones. Several husky soldiers lifted the cross and dropped it into a deep hole. The pain of flesh tearing against nails was unbearable.

Jesus gazed at the crowd beneath him. The priests and Pharisees stood in front with hate radiating from their eyes. They lost their dignity and as common rabble hurled insults at Jesus. The crowds followed, then the soldiers and even the thieves so that the mob under his eyes became a sea of scorn like angry waves that dashed about his cross.

Suddenly at noon every voice was hushed as every light in creation seemed to be snuffed out and an intense darkness settled over the earth for three hours. Lightening flashes thundered across the sky. It was as if the wrath of God joined its fury with that of the mob against the forsaken One. The heart that so bravely endured man’s rejection could not seemingly endure separation from his God. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Then the cry, "It is finished." But before Jesus died, he confidently said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

Then God verified that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. The earth shook and the veil into the Most Holy of the Temple was torn from the top to the bottom. The death of Jesus had opened a new and living way into the Holiest (Heb 10:19, 20). Some said, "Truly this was the Son of God." WHAT A SAVIOR!

Much of this drama is diffused throughout the four Gospel accounts, but there is much repetition. We have published a seamless flow of JESUS’ LAST DAY from the Gospel accounts which eliminates duplications while capturing every descriptive phrase of this drama. JESUS’ LAST DAY is graced with a four-color cover of Jesus in Gethsemane. You will want to cherish it as a keepsake that you will re- read each year in remembrance of Jesus’ death. This special free gift is a one-time offer to our readers.

"I Will Come Again"

May 1999

Reissued from February 1993

When this age-abiding promise was first uttered by Jesus to his Apostles, it did not make sense. To the then "natural minded" men who followed Jesus, they assumed that Jesus’ next logical move would be to take charge as a King, throw off the yoke of Roman bondage, exalt the Jews and bless the world. Why should he leave now? There was work to be done here. When Jesus spoke of his death and strangely of his leaving, the idea simply did not fit into their expectations. But as they wended their way along the path to Gethsemane, Jesus had assured them, "if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again." Joh 14:3

Dazed, these words made little impression on his little band. But forty days later on Mount Olivet, huddled together in amazement with eyes turned heavenward, straining to catch the last glimpse of their ascending Lord, this promise came alive, "I will come again!" Yes, their beloved Master would return. The Apostles wove that glorious theme into the fabric of their ministry and their very lives.

Christ’s Second Coming is the most frequently discussed doctrine in the New Testament over one third of its writings deal with this momentous event! As Christians our hearts thrill at the hope of being united with the returned Lord Jesus, our heavenly Bridegroom, seeing him as he is, living with him and experiencing his love forevermore and the reality of reigning with him (Re 20:5) in a kingdom that extends to the ends of the earth, bringing "peace like a river and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream." Isa 66:12

Long have faithful Christians prayed with the Apostle John, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Long centuries passed during which, seemingly, nothing happened. But our day is suddenly charged with an atmosphere of great expectancy.

However, in order to appreciate the reasonableness of the Bible’s prophetic teaching on this deeply interesting subject, it is necessary that we have clear views of both the object of our Lord’s second coming, and of the manner in which he will be revealed.

The Manner and Objective of the Second Advent

As we have observed, the object of his coming is to reconcile "whosoever will" (Re 22:17) of the world to God, by a process of ruling, teaching and disciplining. This is called judging and blessing. The manner of our Lord’s coming and appearing is of paramount importance, as the student of prophecy strives to determine what manner of time the Holy Spirit does signify for the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth.

The Bible Student must hold clearly in mind the object, while studying the manner, of our Lord’s return and both of these, when studying the time. This is needful to offset erroneous views, already preoccupying many minds, based on false ideas of the object and manner of our Lord’s coming.

Grasp and hold in mind as firmly as possible the fact that God’s plan is one harmonious whole, which is being wrought through Christ. Hold in mind that the work of the second advent stands related to the work of the first as effect to cause: That is, that the great work of Restitution at the second advent follows the work of Redemption accomplished at the first advent as a logical sequence according to God’s divine plan.

Therefore, the Lord’s return is the dawn of hope for the world, the time for bestowing the blessings secured by the redemption. The Gospel Age has been merely a parenthesis, during which the Bride of Christ is selected, to be associated with her Lord in the great work of restitution, which he comes to accomplish.

Signs of His Coming

Few would question that we are living in an era of human history, which is without precedent. Most Bible-believing Christians feel we are living in the very time the Bible says Christ is to return. There is a surge of interest in prophecyùa revival of interest in the second advent. Many speak of the imminent coming of Christ.

Their expectations are based on our Lord’s Great Prophecy recorded in Mt 24, Mk 13, Lk 17, 21. Many believe that the nearness of Christ’s return is indicated by such signs as the following: Israel restored (Mt 24:32; Jer 16:13-18); knowledge and travel increased (Dan 12:4); evils exposed as never before (Lk 12:2; 1Co 4:5); infidelity rampant from university to pulpit (Lk 18:8; 2Ti 4:1-4); men seeking pleasure, morality rotting (2Ti 3:1-5, 13); strikes, walkouts (Jas 5:1-4); racial strife, riots (Zeph 1:7-9); juvenile delinquency (2Ti 3:2); wars and war preparations intensified (Joel 3:9-11); men crying fearfully for peace (1Th 5:3; Lk 21:26); trouble everywhere (Mt 24:21,22).

Coming or Presence

Let us take a closer look at our Master’s words and see what these signs really prove. "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming [Greek, parousia], and of the end of the world?" Mt 24:3

The Greek word here translated "coming" is parousia. It really means "presence." Therefore, if parousia means "presence," then the fulfillment of the signs given by our Lord in His prophecy would not mean that he is coming soon, but that he is already secretly presentùas "a thief in the night." Remember, the Scriptures teach that Christ’s initial return would be a thief-like, secret presence before "every eye shall see him." (See 1Th 5:2; 2Pe 3:10 ; Re 16:15)

Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible, Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words, Young’s Analytical Concordance, and many other standard works in fundamentalist and evangelical bookstores confirm this definition of "presence."

The Bible Definition

However, we are not confined to dictionary definitions. The Lord has graciously provided His people a Scriptural definition for the Greek word parousia thus leaving us in no doubt as to its true meaning.

Parousia occurs in Mt 24:37 where it is mistranslated "coming." The following chart compares its parallel citation in Lk 17:26 and, in so doing, the Bible provides its own definition for parousia.

Mt 24:37 Lk 17:26

But as the days = As it was in the days

of Noah were, of Noah,

so shall also the = so shall it be

parousia of the in the days of the

Son of man be. Son of man.

The phrase "parousia of the Son of man" in Mt 24:37 means the same as the phrase "in the days of the Son of man" in Lk 17:26. The "days of the Son of man" in Lk 17:26 refers to the time that Christ is present, just as the "days of Noah" refers to the time when Noah was present among his wicked generation. Therefore, parousia in Mt 24:37 should be translated "presence of the Son of man" instead of "coming of the Son of man."

The Scriptural definition of parousia is further confirmed by the Apostle Paul’s use of it. The thought of "presence" is plainly shown by the contrast with "absence" in Php 2:12. "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence [Greek, parousia] only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

While no doctrine is mentioned more frequently in the New Testament than Christ’s second advent, few doctrines have been as greatly fragmented into such diversified concepts. Much of the beauty of this doctrine has been wrested from the grasp of God’s people. All secular Greek dictionaries define parousia, "presence." Most Bible dictionaries likewise define parousia, "presence." Most current fundamentalist and evangelical writings on the second advent usually begin by correctly defining parousia, "presence." Then something strange happens. Somehow the word "coming" replaces "presence." Incorrect theology requires parousia to be translated "coming," but Scriptural harmony requires that it be translated "presence."

The Main Point

If, as we have seen, parousia means "presence," then all the signs that our Lord gave us in Mt 24, Mk 13 and Lk 17, 21 do not indicate his imminent coming-they indicate his secret thief-like presence. We see those signs being fulfilled all around us.

The Scriptures show that the first stage of our Lord’s parousia, presence, will be secret. "The day of the Lord will arrive [will be here, Greek, hekoùsee Strong’s, Young’s or Vine’s] as a thief." (2Pe 3:10, Rotherham) A thief enters a house quietly, doing a secret work. Consequently, the first works of our returned Lord are during a secret presence. The world will, at first, be unaware that Christ has returned. "But ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake [implies a period of overlapping] you as a thief." 1Th 5:4

Later, his presence will be made manifest to all. The Scriptures use another Greek word, apokalupsis, to describe this revealment to all. "The Lord Jesus shall be REVEALED [apokalupsis] from heaven in flaming fire taking vengeance." 2Th 1:7-8 It is in reference to this revealment to all, that Scriptures like Re 1:7 apply; "He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him." Christians, who are not overcharged with the cares of this life, will experience the joys of discerning the signs of his secret presence (Lk 21:34-36), before they are "caught up together" with him.

When Does the "Parousia" Begin?

A number of Christian writers are publishing works which propose the date of Christ’s return. The fulfillment of the "signs" which our Lord gave us indicate that we should be looking for his secret presence now. Space does not permit a complete discussion of Bible time prophecy nor a harmonization of seemingly conflicting scriptures [such as "every eye shall see him"] regarding the second advent. We encourage you to read the online book The Time Is At Hand which contains detailed studies of the time prophecies pointing to our Lord’s return. You can also write to obtain a hardcover copy of this book. Also read the online booklet, I Will Come Again.

Waiting for the Rapture?

June 1999

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. .." 1Th 4:17

All the longings of every Christian are summed up by John’s last words in Revelation when he says, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Re 22:20). What rapture it will be when, "It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is shown in weakness; it is raised in power" (1Co 15:44)!

Even the possibility of a "rapture" for some not-so-Christian people has become a subject of intense fascination as we approach the beginning of a new Millennium. How else could the novel on the rapture, Apollyon: The Destroyer is Unleashed, hit the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list?

Popular expectations surrounding the return of Christ and the gathering of his people are tied in with a period of "Seven Years’ Tribulation." Some feel Christ will first take his church secretly before these seven years (Pre-Tribulation); some feel it will be in the middle (Mid-Tribulation); some after (Post-Tribulation). And yet another view: Partial-Rapturism asserts that some will be taken before, during and the rest after. (RE-THINKING THE RAPTURE, pp. 24, 25) In any case, it is generally understood, "one shall be taken, and the other shall be left" (Lk 17:34). Then, many expect, after a temple is built in Jerusalem, abominable worship established and 144,000 converted Jews try to save others-Christ will come with his church and begin the 1,000-year reign.

"Caught up Together"

What was the Apostle Paul, by inspiration, really telling us? He was teaching us that those who have fallen asleep through the Christian Age would be raised first when Christ would return from heaven. Those living at the time would not precede those who slept, but afterward would join them in the same place. "We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. .. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to met the Lord in the air. ..( 1Th 4:15-17 NAS). "Together" here means the same place-not the same time. "Together" means place or location just as it does a few verses later when Paul says, "we may live together with him" (1Th 5:10). The place is the "air." Satan, the "god of this world," has been invisibly ruling as the "prince of the power of the air" (Eph 2:2). Jesus returns as a King invading Satan’s domain setting up his own Kingdom.

The "dead in Christ" rise first. Afterward those saints who are "alive and remain till the coming ["presence," Gk.] of the Lord" join them. They do not need to sleep to wait for Christ to return! Paul elsewhere explains, "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump..."(1Co 15:51,52). Thus those who were asleep are raised instantaneously upon Christ’s return from heaven. But those who die in the Lord from "henceforth"ùwhen he has returnedù"rest from their labors and their works do follow" (Re 14:13). One by one-as they prove "faithful unto death" (Re 2:10)ù"in a twinkling of an eye" each will join Jesus and the brethren who preceded. They join in one place, not at one time.

"One taken. .."

But didn’t Jesus say, "one taken, and the other left" (Lk 17:36)? If a driver of a car is a Christian, wouldn’t he just be "taken"? If an airline pilot is a Christian, won’t he just be "taken"? On the contrary, a careful look at the texts reveals that the ones on the "housetop" are warned not to go inside to take their things. There is time for choices! The one in the "field" should not decide to "return back" to his house before leaving. Furthermore, they are not being snatched away to heaven. But then, where are they going? The apostles, in fact, asked this logical question, "Where, Lord?" (Lk 17:37)

Jesus answered-as he usually did in symbolic Languageù"wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together." Faithful Christians are being gathered to a spiritual feast when he returns! Some respond to the opportunity. Some do not. Jesus, who had been saying to his church through the age, "Behold, I come quickly," finally says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me" (Revelation 3:11, 20). In keeping with one of the signs of his return, Jesus said he would provide "meat in due season" (Mt 24:45).

Spiritual food.

Therefore, the "carcass" to which we as eagles are gathered could not be the Lord’s fleshly body in heaven. He is spirit now (1Co 15:45). (We would not be eating his flesh in heaven anyway!) So some would be teachers "grinding at the mill" when the Lord would return. Some would be in the "field"ùin the worldùnot connected with any church ("house"). Some would be very comfortably lying in their creedbeds (Isa 23:20) when Jesus would return. The test would be, Would Christians be spiritually sleeping or spiritually awake to understand that Jesus had returned as a "thief"? Would they be investigating God’s "times and seasons" in the Scriptures? Would they understand the "signs" Jesus had given his disciples to confirm that he had returned invisibly? If Jesus’ disciples would be ready, they would feast on the truths the returned Lord would provide. They would understand he had returned!

The Great Tribulation

Tribulation was one of the signs Jesus gave for his return. "Then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Mt 24:32). The world has known trouble for a long time, but this trouble would be without precedent. Christ’s peaceable Kingdom is established in a time of trouble.

Just what would happen in this "great tribulation"? Do we know how long it would last? Why do some Christians believe Christ first comes secretly to take his saints before the worst of it? Jesus, in fact, does come like a "thief in the night" and faithful Christians are admonished not to be spiritually asleep so they would not know the "day of the Lord" had arrived (1Th 5:1-6). Thieves do not enter a house with trumpets or shouts. That is why Paul when talking about Jesus descending from "heaven with a shout...and with the trump of God," is warning God’s people that they should not be spiritually sleeping." Therefore let us not sleep as do others..." They hear a trumpet message and the "shout" of encouragement. He really does come secretly for his saints while the rest of the world sleeps on....

Just as "business as usual" was going on in Noah’s day, so it would be in the days of the Son of man. "And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives..." (Lk 17:26,27). Unless one was spiritually awake-investigating the time prophecies and reading the signs-he or she would not know Christ had returned and was assembling his resurrected saints in the "air"!

Other Signs

Actually, Jesus was quoting from Daniel’s prophecy regarding signs of Messiah’s return to take authority over the earth. And there were others signs besides tribulation and trouble. "And at that time shall Michael ["who as God," Jesus] stand up the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people [Israel], and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation...many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased" (Da 12:1,4). During "the time of trouble," there would also occur a restoration of Israel! Jesus mentions that sign in his prophecy too-the blossoming "fig tree" (Mt 24:32). Sounds like our times.... Never have we seen the potential for global annihilation. "This century," says former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in THE NEW YORK TIMES, 4/21/99, "has been the bloodiest in history. Over 160 million human beings have been killed in various conflicts and that number rises each day." But never have we enjoyed such travel and communication as we have been experiencing since the last century. Never have we seen a dead and scattered nation like Israel after 2,000 years come back to life as in our time!

Daniel’s Seventieth Week

How could the tribulation be only seven years? The idea of seven years, actually, is borrowed from a prophecy in Daniel about Christ’s first advent—not his second! While in Babylon, Daniel was informed that "seventy weeks" of favor from God would be given to his people to prepare them for the coming Messiah. A week would equal prophetic seven daysùor seven years. So 7 x 70 would equal 490 years beginning with the "commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem" (Da 9:16-27). Seven weeks or 49 years would be spent in rebuilding Jerusalem, "even in troublous times" where Messiah would present himself to his people. Then sixty two weeks (or 434 years) more of just waiting for Messiah. At the beginning of the last "week," Messiah would present himself.

Precisely 483 years after Nehemiah’s commission to rebuild Jerusalem, Jesus presented himself as Messiah at the Jordan River! Right in the middle of this last week of God’s favor, alas, the Jewish people rejected their Messiah. After 3½ yearsùanticipating his rejectionùJesus sorrowfully said, "Your house in left unto you desolate..." But still, although as a nation cast off, special favor to the Jewish common people themselves continued the last 3½ years until the first Gentile convert, Cornelius. Thus the last seven years of the prophecy was fulfilled. A "seven years’ tribulation," therefore, cannot be applied to the second advent from this prophecy!

Although the tribulation associated with Jesus’ return is much longer than seven yearsùstill the good that will come from it will be more than compensated in Christ’s 1,000-year Kingdom. Yes, this tribulation has begun already, and it will get worse. Yes, the saints have been gathering secretly to be with the Lord. But for those left behind when all the faithful Christians are all resurrected, there will be much joy and relief. "For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God" (Ro 8:19 NAS). When Christ with his bride as "the holy city, new Jerusalem" is revealed to the rest of the worldùthen all the longings of mankind, those left behind, will also begin to be fulfilled (Re 21:1-5).

EVOLUTION: The 20th Century Killer

September 1999

In 1859, Charles Darwin wrote his treatise, The Origin of Species, and ever since scholars and believers have debated the truth and value of Darwin’s assertion that species develop through a process of natural selection, or evolution. Currently, many people regard evolution as an accepted principle in the realm of science and fail to weigh the heavy negative impact which the theory of evolution has already had upon human life and society. Does it matter what we believe about the origin of man? Does it make a difference whether we believe an intelligent Creator designed and created man and the universe, or whether creation came about through natural or even random processes? Yes, this is a great matter, a matter of life and death!

William Provine, a Cornell biologist and evolution supporter, plainly states what Darwinism means for human values, "No life after death; No ultimate foundation for ethics; No ultimate meaning for life; No free will." If mankind was created by natural law or by chance then there can be no human choice, meaning, or purpose in mankind’s destiny, nor could there be a reliable moral compass to govern the individual members of society. If Darwinism is followed to its logical social conclusion, any course of action taken by the strong against the weak can be justified as harmonious with the process of natural selection. Modern human history has clearly shown the devastating impact of the evolution theory upon mankind.

In his book, Out of Control, Zbigniew Brzezinski notes that the twentieth century began as the century of promise and progress and yet it "became mankind’s most bloody and hateful century, a century of hallucinatory politics and of monstrous killings. Cruelty was institutionalized to an unprecedented degree, lethality was organized on a mass production basis. The contrast between the scientific potential for good and the political evil that was actually unleashed is shocking. Never before did it consume so many lives, never before was human annihilation pursued with such concentration of sustained effort on behalf of such arrogantly irrational goals." Wars for world or regional domination and attempts to create totalitarian utopias caused the deaths of approximately 175 million people in this century of insanity. How is it that the course of human history was so tragically directed toward the devaluing of human life on such an immense scale?

Social Evolution

To understand the unthinkable, the destruction of so much of humanity, it is necessary to discover the philosophical underpinning of those who perpetrated such destruction and horror upon their fellow human beings. The roots of Nazism are well known to have their source in the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche and his theory of the Superman. Nietzsche’s philosophy in turn drew from the writings of Darwin and Herbert Spencer. While Darwin’s work and conclusions were confined to the field of biology; Spencer attempted to apply the principles underlying evolution to other fields of science, including the social sciences. Spencer coined the phrases "struggle for existence," and "survival of the fittest." Yet it was Nietzsche who most clearly articulated that evolution showed that strength is the most desired quality and weakness the only failing. Will Durant notes the connection in The Story of Philosophy:

"The ethical philosophy of Spencer was not the most natural corollary of the theory of evolution. If life is a struggle for existence in which the fittest survive, then strength is the ultimate virtue, and weakness the only fault. Good is that which survives, and wins; bad is that which gives way and fails. Only the mid-Victorian cowardice of the English Darwinians, and the bourgeois respectability of French positivists and German socialists, could conceal the inevitableness of this conclusion. These men were brave enough to reject Christian theology, but they did not dare to be logical, to reject the moral ideas, the worship of meekness and gentleness and altruism, which had grown out of that theology. They ceased to be Anglicans, or Catholics, or Lutherans; but they did not dare cease to be Christians ... they had removed the theological basis of modern morals, but they had left that morality itself untouched and inviolate, hanging miraculously in the air; a little breath of biology was all that was needed to clear away this remnant of imposture. Men who could think clearly soon perceived what the profoundest of minds of every age had known: that in this battle we call life, what we need is not goodness but strength, not humility but pride, not altruism but resolute intelligence; that equality and democracy are against the grain of selection and survival; that not masses but geniuses are the goal of evolution; that not ‘justice’ but power is the arbiter of all differences and all destinies. ùSo it seemed to Friedrich Nietzsche."

Fascism and Communism

It is against this philosophical backdrop that the nations in the early 20th century justified the dividing of the world into colonies. The non-white peoples of the world became the burden of the Western nations, whose duty it was to extend their rule to a guardianship over the lesser, weaker nations. In the case of Germany, hegemony was sought over the entire world because all were considered inferior to the Aryan race. This idea influenced Kaiser Wilhelm before World War I as it later found full expression in Hitler during World War II. The total military and civilian deaths of just these two wars is more than 75 million, including the deliberate destruction of Jews and others in the holocaust, all this justified in the name of "survival of the fittest," and the claimed genetic superiority of one people over all others.

However, this philosophical madness was not limited to the German nation but was the source of the majority of the multitude of wars in the 20th century. Almost as tragic as the world wars are the deaths of nearly 60 million people as Communist states sought to create and control perfect socialist societies. Lenin, Stalin, and Mao all believed that strength and power were essential to survival and should be used ruthlessly, even against their own people. It was the consolidation of Communist rule, rather than the civil war that created the Communist government, which brought the majority of these deaths through forced collectivization of society, elimination of opponents, and manufactured famines in areas of resistance. Again, "survival of the fittest" was appealed to for justification as the weakest of society were sacrificed to ensure the continued dominance of the strong.

Even today with the grim histories of Fascist and Communist regimes, the same story of man’s inhumanity to man has been replayed in a smaller but no less inhuman fashion in Bosnia, Rwanda, Cambodia, Kosovo and other places. Even in the richest of nations, the United States, the principle of "survival of the fittest" can be found pervading its institutions, particularly the financial, industrial and political segments of society. While a democracy ostensibly provides protection and opportunity to all of its citizens, in fact the rich and influential exercise a disproportionate influence to secure power and control to themselves. The fact that the rich are getting richer is reflected in a U.S. News and World Report editorial:

Despite the economic boom, poverty rates have dropped only a smidgen and the number of people living in extreme circumstancesùless than $6,750 a year for a family of threeùhas actually increased from 13.9 million in 1995 to 14.6 million in 1997. One in every 5 youngsters is still poor, compared with 1 in 7 in the 1970s.

Just as in the United States itself, the world is experiencing a growing gap between the rich and poor, and that is a poisonous mix. That is going to create a crisis in the future-warning of potential anarchy in Africa as well as Russiaà. The United Nations has issued a stinging reportà.It says that even as corporate executives, scientists, entertainers, and others are now forming a "global professional elite," inequality is rapidly increasing within many countries. The income gap between the top and bottom fifth of the world’s population has more than doubled since 1960.

Personal Amorality

Personal experiences of many individuals also corroborate the sad influence of the evolution theory. For example, Provine’s statement above about the meaning of Darwinism for human values was challenged by a young listener who said:

"My background is murder and rape. I once thought that was okay, because who cared about life?" But now he went on, he had come to realize that "life does matter" and "there are absolutes." The man’s words were a stunning reminder that the origins debate is not merely academic; it involves the most fundamental principles by which people live and die.

Does it Matter?

Does it matter then whether we believe in creation or in evolution? Based on the overwhelming historical evidence alone we answer emphatically, YES! The theory of evolution has had an extraordinarily adverse impact on mankind and should be committed to the dust bin of history. Let us reexamine the scriptural testimony which the theory of evolution was meant to replace:

1. "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Ge 1:26 Man was created in the mental and moral likeness of God, with ability to reason and to exercise his free will to choose right or wrong. Man exists on a higher plane than the animals and "a little lower than the angels." Man is responsible to the Creator for failing to observe his law.

2. "For as all in Adam die, even so all in Christ shall be made alive "All that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth." 1Co 15:22; Joh 5:28-29 Adam’s fall into sin affected the entire human race. It is through Adam that mankind inherited sin and death. Jesus tasted death for every man that all might have an opportunity for fullness of perfect life. Contrary to evolution man will have a return from death.

3. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth." "And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Mt 6:10; Re 5:10, 20:4, 6 The faithful church is privileged to reign with Christ for the thousand years of judging and blessing mankind in the kingdom. The purpose of the Millennial Age is to teach every man the law of God that at its close the will of God will be done on earth as fully as it is now done in heaven. Those of mankind who are shown to be incorrigible, who will not obey Christ will be cut off from life in the second death.

What a contrast is shown when the principles of life in the scriptures are compared with the effects of the theory of evolution on mankind! Evolution held out the hope of mankind ever rising to higher levels, but this dream turned out to be a nightmare. The scriptures have always exercised an uplifting influence upon man, whereas evolution has degraded him. Belief in the intelligent Creator and Designer of all things is indeed a matter of life, and belief in the evolution theory a matter of death!

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Joh 17:3

The Bible Millennium

November 1999

The new Millennium-what will it bring? Will it bring the second coming of Jesus Christ? Will world wide troubles come, or perhaps the end of the world itself? Will it be the year in which God’s Kingdom is established on earth? The answers to these questions are vitally important. As Christians, we must consult the Bible to know the truth on these matters.

"Millennium" as defined in Webster’s dictionary, is a period of 1000 years. Only two scriptures in the New Testament mention a 1000-year period (a millennium). The first is 2Pe 3:8. The last is Re 20:4. We will examine these Scriptures after considering whether the coming year 2000 AD is the third millennium from the birth of Jesus Christ.

When Was Jesus Born?

Many Bible commentaries have placed Jesus’ birth at 4 BC (BC means "before Christ"). Two thousand years from then brings us to the year 1996 AD, four years earlier than the year 2000. The most accurate dating for Jesus’ birth is 2 BC (see The Time Is At Hand, pages 54-62 offered at the end of this article). Two thousand years from then leads to the year 1998 AD, which is still 2 years shy of the year 2000. In reality, the BC and AD calendar division is a rather arbitrary time measure used only for convenience but is not useful for accurate measurement of Bible chronology

What Have We Learned?

The year 2000 AD is a date of great concern and curiosity for the world, but has no real Biblical significance. The Bible Millennium DOES NOT begin with the year 2000, that year is not 2000 years from the birth of Christ. Furthermore, the Word of God does not tell us to watch for the 2000th year from Christ’s birth.

Which 1000-Year Period Are We To Look For?

Careful study of the Scriptures teaches that the Bible Millennium is the seventh 1000-year period from the entrance of sin and death upon the human family through father Adam. That is to say, since Adam sinned, 6000 years of suffering, dying and finally death have passed over his descendants, the entire human race. When considering creation (Ge 1), we notice that God worked for 6 days (six periods of time, each equal in duration) and then He rested on the seventh day. In like manner, the nation of Israel was required to work six days a week and rest on the seventh day or Sabbath. This pattern of six days labor ending in a seventh day of rest is very helpful in locating the Bible Millennium.

How Long Is A Day With The Lord?

We are not left to guess. The Apostle Peter supplies us with the answer in 2Pe 3:8, "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."

Applying this Scriptural definition to the divine pattern, we perceive that six 1000 year "days" of human bondage and labor under sin and death are to be followed by the seventh 1000 year day of rest in which the burdens of sin and death will be removed from the human race. We see then that 7000 years were allotted in the divine plan for the entrance of sin, its reign of death and, ultimately, its complete eradication. This same 1000-year day is spoken of in Re 20:4 as the time in which the saints will reign with Christ. The Apostle Paul tells us that the purpose of the 1000-year reign is to put all enemies under his [Christ’s] feet and the last enemy of mankind, as a result of sin, which will be destroyed is death. (1Co 15:25, 26)

This 1000-year period or millennium is described in Ac 3:19-21 as ‘the times of restitution of all things." In other words, this is the era in which mankind will be brought back (restored) to their original condition-that is, made perfect. (See Ge 1:27, 31)

When Does This Millennium Begin?

By carefully considering the chronological evidences of the Bible, we are able to pin-point the very year of Adam’s sin and subsequent death sentence at 4126 BC. Adding the following 6000 years reign of sin and death to that date brings us to the year 1874 AD-the year for the great seventh 1000-year day, the Bible Millennium to commence. (see The Time Is At Hand, pages 33-63 for a detailed presentation of this chronology). Let’s consider the Scriptural evidences that we are in the Bible Millennium.

What Events May We Expect In This 1000 Year Day of the Lord?

Peter states that ," The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up ... Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the DAY of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2Pe 3:10, 12, 13) The thousand year day of 2Pe 3:8, is also characterized as the day of judgment (vs. 7), the day of the Lord (vs. 10) and the day of God (vs. 12). These terms define various aspects of God’s work during the Millennium.

These and many other scriptures reveal that this 1000-year day does not begin peaceably, but with trouble-terrible trouble. The millennial day arrives as "a thief in the night." That is, it comes quietly, unobserved by the world, which is in a state of spiritual slumber. We are, in fact, living in the beginning of the Day of the Lord. Jesus has arrived as a thief (Mt 24:43) and the world is unaware of it. Why? Our Lord returned to earth’s atmosphere not again as a man, but as a glorious invisible spirit being. Peter reveals that our Lord was "put to death flesh, quickened [resurrected] spirit." (1Pe 3:18) Paul clearly teaches that our Lord is no longer in the flesh for "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God." (1Co 15:50)

In What Great Work Does the Lord Jesus Engage upon His Return?

His first work is to bind Satan, who is the god of this present evil world. (Re 20:1-3; Ga 1:4; 2Co 4:4) Satan must first be bound if his house (dominion-the present evil world) is to be spoiled or destroyed. (Mk 3:27) This means the removal of false religions and oppressive governments (the "heavens") along with the present social order (the "earth") which is largely based upon selfishness.

How Is Satan Bound?

Does our Lord use a literal chain and throw Satan in an actual pit? No, of course not. Satan is not a flesh and blood being, he is a spirit being. Since he can’t be physically restrained his great influence, by which he rules mankind, will be bound. God, in His wisdom, has determined to restrict in a gradual manner Satan’s usual method of operating.

The chain he is using to render Satan powerless is Truth. Yes, the Truth, which has shone forth from the time of our Lord’s return at the beginning of the Bible Millennium, is dispelling the ignorance, superstition and errors of the dark ages. Light (knowledge, understanding and truth) shining upon earth’s spiritual and temporal matters, is exposing and weakening the influence of the ruler of darkness -Satan.

How Has the Prince of Darkness Reacted to the Increased Light of the Millennial Day?

Like a wounded animal, caught in a trap, Satan is fighting for his life! His weapons are the new errors of higher criticism, greed, evolution, rampant immorality and sadistic violence. These weapons have been forged in an attempt to fight off or diminish the increasing light of the Millennial Day. This is the reason that unprecedented troubles are sweeping over the world. The wicked one, Satan, is being destroyed with the spirit of [our Lord Jesus’] mouth -the Truth! Satan will not go down in defeat without a fight. He will respond with all power, signs and lying wonders. (See 2Th 2:8-12)

Daniel Spoke of This Millennial Day

Daniel called this day "the time of the end [when] many will run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (Da 12:1-4) Have these two signs identifying the time of the end had their fulfillment in our day? Is mankind running to and fro? Has knowledge ("light," which is used to bind Satan) significantly increased since 1874? A resounding, "Yes!" is the answer to both questions. These two signs have had a remarkable fulfillment and confirm that we are in the dawning of the Millennial Day.

Why Does the Millennium Start With Trouble?

In the beginning of the Millennium, the Golden Age of blessing, God establishes His kingdom "in the days of these kings." That means that earthly kings and kingdoms must be removed from power-and that spells trouble. (see Da 2:44) How does the world react to the setting up of God’s glorious Kingdom? Do they rejoice and receive it with open arms? No. On the contrary; they are angry and fearful because they do not understand why their world is crumbling around them. Their flawed laws, governments and erroneous creeds are being exposed as failures. (Re 11:15-18) Neither do they recognize that it is Christ (earth’s rightful King) who is taking the reins of power-therefore the nations resist Him.

Our Lord indicated that the great trouble associated with this time of transition will be greater than any other mankind has ever experienced. (Mt 24:21) Paul likened it to a woman in birth pains, "For when they shall say peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1Th 5:3)

Considering today’s headlines regarding world wide economic troubles, governmental corruption, civil unrest, pollution etc. confirm that we are in a time of trouble without precedent. We are living in the time of transition from the present evil world into the Bible Millennium.

Israel, God’s Time Clock

Our Lord Jesus said that in this time we would begin to see the restoration of the nation of Israel, an indication that the Kingdom of God is at hand. (Lk 21:29-32) Prior to 1874 AD, the nation of Israel had been scattered and persecuted throughout the world for over 18 centuries. Since 1874, beginning at 1878 with Petah Tikvah (the first permanent settlement for returning Jews) to the proclamation of Israel in 1948 and to the present, this sign hails the dawn of God’s Millennium.

What Is Next On the Prophetic Time Line?

One prominent event that we expect in the near future is the coming cooperative effort between churches and the state to maintain the status quo-to resist the establishment of God’s Kingdom. This powerful allegiance will resemble the Holy Roman Empire of old (a civil and religious government). We expect that this nominally Christian government will have the power to persecute all, including true Christians, who do not cooperate with them-receive the mark of the beast. (Re 13:16, 17) The movement toward union between various religious groupings as well as the rising tide of political influence from the "Christian right" is documented almost daily in news headlines.

The climax of the great time of trouble is an event referred to as "Jacob’s trouble." (Jer 30:7) At this time all nations will come against the restored nation of Israel. (Zec 12:2, 3; 14:2) However, He who restored Israel will not allow her to be destroyed. God will fight, victoriously, for Israel as He did in the days of old. (Eze 38-39; Zec 14:3) After this great victory, God will establish His New Covenant with the nation of Israel. (Jer 31:31)

The Dead Will Live Again!

Sometime after the establishment of the New Covenant with Israel, the resurrection of mankind will begin. They will be raised up in a world which has a beauty, peace, justice, righteousness and love that far surpasses the world they formerly knew. This will be a time when the dead must return to life-when all who are in their graves will hear the voice of the son of God and come forth. ALL will come forth because Jesus died for ALL. (Joh 5:28, 29; 1Co 15:22; 1Ti 2:4, 5)

The risen dead will then be educated. They must overcome their old habits and sinful characteristics which they practiced in their former lives. Developing along this line, they will also be learning the benefits of keeping God’s perfect law. (Isa 26:9) In Isaiah’s vision of God’s Kingdom, this process of education and personal growth is characterized as a highway leading to holiness. (Isa 35:8-10) In that day (the peaceable portion of the Millennial Kingdom) God’s educational program will be so complete that "all will know the Lord, from the least to the greatest." (Jer 31:34; Isa 11:9)

A Final Test Is Necessary

At the end of the 1000-year Millennial Day, mankind will have been perfected by God’s program of education and discipline (Re 2:27) Then a final test will be supplied to prove all mankind to see whether, after experiencing both evil and good-blessing and cursing-they obey of force or their own free will. (Re 20:7-9) The vast majority of mankind will pass the test and go on to life eternal. The disobedient minority will die the second death (going into oblivion, extinction), from which there will be no resurrection.

A Glorious Ending to the Millennial Day!

When the Bible Millennium is complete, all things will once again be in harmony with the great Creator. God will have wiped away all tears from mankind’s eyes. The oft repeated request of the Lord’s Prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth-as it is done in heaven" will be fulfilled. From that time forward mankind will enjoy enduring peace, health, happiness, security and life everlasting. (Re 21:4; 22:17; Isa 2:4; 33:24; Mic 4:4)

The Time Is At Hand is an extensive study of Bible chronology, the manner and time of Christ’s second coming and the revealment of the Man of Sin. We encourage you to get a copy and consider its timely message.

Write to receive a hardcover copy of The Time is at Hand (enclose $5.00 postpaid)

After Armageddon. ..

December 1999

"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. .. which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. .. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." Re 16:12-16

Y2K or not, many are distressing or at least musing about "Armageddon." Why? When? What is it anyway?

Back in 1912 former President Teddy Roosevelt, seeing the growing tensions of international anarchy among European nations before World War I, popularized the term "Armageddon." "With unflinching heart and undimmed eyes, we stand at Armageddon and we battle for the Lord" (The Boston Globe) Even further back history, in ancient Israel, the Valley of Megiddo was the battleground of many famous battles. (Thus the name Armageddon.) But with the Apocalyptic setting of a beast, dragon and frogs, John the Revelator sees the whole world ominously gathering to this place called Armageddon for a final "battle." John portrayed it as imminent. When is it? Is it soon?

What is often not noticed is that John also states the purpose of Armageddon: "that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared." Who are these kings? What about the Euphrates River and "unclean spirits, like frogs" coming out of the mouths of a dragon, beast and false prophet? So strange...What does it all mean?

A Symbolic Book

The Book of Revelation speaks in symbolic language. "The Revelation...signified [Gk., sema, a sign, VINE’S EXPOSITORY] by his angel to his servant John" (Re 1:1). Whether an animal or a celestial body or a city, the language is symbolic in this special Book. "Babylon," an ancient city long in ruins, is mentioned several times in this last Book of the Bible. Interestingly, it was a splendid City of walls hundreds of feet high and wide, supported by the River Euphrates. Babylonùwith a system of pagan worship, festivals, ceremonies, priesthood, complete with "Mysteries"ùwas the chief seat of idolatry in the ancient world.

The Prophet Jeremiah referred to the city standing in his day: "Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, that made all the earth drunken...of her wine...we would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed; forsake her...for her judgment reacheth to heaven" (Jer 51:6-9). Similarly, the Revelator speaks of symbolic Babylon as "Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and abominations...a great city...sitting on "seven mountains" (Re 17:5,18,9). Yes, Rome is called "the seven hilled city" by both poets and historians. Just as ancient Babylon was the seat of Paganism, so too papal Rome is its counterpart. It was not possible for Mystic "Babylon the Great" to be "healed" in the Reformation. In fact, for 300 years Protestants identified the great papal system as Antichrist. But for the most part, many of the Protestant daughter churches gradually became much like their mother. They associated themselves with human civil government.

Now, true Christians are advised to flee the nominal apostate churches. "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen...Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues" (Re 18:2,4).

The Fall of Babylon

Ancient Babylon’s downfall came in an unusual way. While King Belshazzar was feasting in his palace, a strange handwriting appeared on the wall (Da 5:1-31). Daniel interpreted it to mean his kingdom’s days were numbered. Meanwhile, Cyrus had diverted the flow of the River Euphrates which came into the city so that it dried up! His army entered through the iron gates of the dry riverbed. The Prophet Isaiah had predicted this very conquest! "Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him...to open before him the two leaved gates...I will go before thee...I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron...I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me" (Isa 44:27-45:4).

God used Cyrus, whose name means "sun" (YOUNG’S CONCORDANCE), as a picture of Christ who will conquer mystic Babylon at the end of this Age. With him will be "the righteous" who will "shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Mt 13:43). These are "the kings of the east" (Re 16:12) who will bless all the families of the earth after Armageddon. ...

Today the "waters" of the Euphrates also support nominal Christendom. The "waters" are the people! How so? Revelation identifies the woman as "Babylon the Great" as sitting on the waters. The symbolic "waters" are even decoded for us: "The waters which thou sawest where the harlot sitteth are peoples, and multitudes and nations and tongues" (Re 17:5, 15).

While on one hand fundamentalist churches are growing in membership, the older historic mainline church attendance and donations have been somewhat drying up. In spite of this paradox, this alarming situation has encouraged those churches to try to work together. Thus the ecumenical movement. However, in cooperation with civil governments (the "dragon") the churches (the "beast" and the "false prophet") will begin to eventually croak their unified message. Who are they...and what are they saying that would bring the nations to Armageddon?

Spirits Like Frogs?

A "spirit" is a doctrine. Apostle John says to "try the spirits whether they are of God" (1Joh 4:1). True Christians are to not believe everything they hear taught. They are to test everything by the Word of God. These false teachings are described as "unclean spirits like frogs." They would seem small, innocentùbut puffed up, arrogant, continual.

Why will the "frogs" croak? Because the people’s support will be drying up for the Great City of Christendom, their confederation will croak, "Status quo!" They want try to gather for survival. Ironically, they will be gathering for Armageddonùthe destruction of the political and religous systems of this old order.

The Earthquake

This short-lived triple alliance will result in an "earthquake" (Re 16:18-21). While literally a violent disruption of the earth, this earthquake is symbolic of society in upheaval. The people themselves will revolt against these imposed restraints and split this union: "the great city was divided into three parts..."

The effect of this "earthquake" will reach a climax in the Holy Land when the nations come against Israel. "There shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel...the earth shall shake at my presence" (Eze 38:1-23). Then, "every man’s sword shall be against his brother"ùanarchy (Eze 38:21). Then anarchy will spread worldwide completing Armageddon.

But Armageddon ending in anarchy will have a final, blessed purpose: "Thus will I magnify myself and sanctity myself and I will be known in the eyes of many nations and they shall know that I am the LORD" (Eze 38:23).

Gathering for Peace

Similarly, the Prophet Zeph 3:8,9 (NAS) tells us what follows the gathering then the "fire" of anarchy: "Indeed, my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out on them My indignation, all my burning anger; for all the earth will be devoured by the fire of My zeal. For then [afterwards] I will give the peoples purified lips that all of them may call on the name of the LORD to serve Him shoulder to shoulder." Instead of brother against brother, peopleùwho did not know the Lord beforeùwill be serving God "shoulder to shoulder" in harmony!

After Armageddon, those who will have come against Jerusalem to destroy God’s people will instead come to worship (Zec 14:1-3, 16). They will also come to learn of God’s ways. "In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established...all the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways" (Isa 2:1-4). Instead of man’s "armed peace," God’s peace will be established permanently. Resources for armaments will be devoted to peaceful purposes: "They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war."

All those who died in Armageddon will be brought forth from the deadùas well as those who ever died in preceding generations. The handicapped physically, mentally or morally will be healed. After Armageddon will be the time for the "healing of the nations," the peoples of earth (Re 22:1-3).

Then, the "kings of the east," those faithful Christians who suffered with Christ, will reign with Christ (Ro 8:17). For what purpose? ùto bless all the families of the earth! The "New Jerusalem" will be the spiritual counterpart of the Jerusalem on earth. Both will work together, "For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." With Satan bound, no longer able "deceive the nations," most of earth’s billions will chose God and righteousness. And as they reach personal perfection, each one will be a "king" bringing tribute to the Lordùto the New Jerusalem (Re 21:24).

We recommend that you read the Christian Classic, The Divine Plan of the Ages

The God of Science

Winter 2000

Science is a systematic knowledge of the physical or material universe gained by observable facts. The sacred writings of all world religions basically contain a system of faith. Yet each do make statements within the province of science that provides a uniquely valid test to prove their authenticity. If their scientific observations are in reality superstitions reflective of the culture in which they were written, these so called books are disqualified as the inspired Scripture of God.

If, indeed, the scientific observations of any of these purported Holy Scripture agree with the facts of science today, then that Bible is the inspired Word of a true and living God. Why? The Creator and God of the universe is the God of scienceùthe author of the scientific laws that govern His universe. Only the God of science could cause scientific facts to be recorded in a bookùthe Bibleùhundreds or thousands of years before scientists discover them.

Only the Judeo-Christian Bible contains scientific facts that anticipated scientific discovery by hundreds and in some cases several thousand years. The following are examples of remarkable scientific observations found in the Judeo-Christian Bible.

What Holds the Earth Up?

Three thousand years ago the Hindu scriptures recorded the earth was resting on the backs of several huge elephants. The elephants were resting on the back of a very large turtle that was swimming in a sea. Greek mythology claims that the god Atlas was holding the earth on his shoulders. But our Bible says in Job 26:7 -"[God] hangeth the earth on nothing." What a remarkable statement of fact. The earth is suspended in space. Nothing is holding it up. Job wrote about the same time the Hindu Scripture was written. How did Job know this scientific fact? Only God could have revealed this to Job.

Flat Versus Round Earth

For thousands of years people believed the earth was flat. If one went too far, he would fall over the edge. This was taught in both Hindu and Buddhist scripture. In the 1500s, the first ship sailed around the world. This provided empirical proof for many that the world was round. But the round earth was recorded in the Judeo-Christian Bible long before.

The prophet Isa 40:22 spoke of the "circle of the earth." Solomon wrote, "He [God] set a compass [circle] upon the face of the deep." Pr 8:27. In our century, Arabs spoke of infidels being pushed over the edge into space. About 3,000 years ago, our Bible said the earth was round. Indeed, the Judeo-Christian Bible is the inspired Word of God.

The Bottom of the Ocean

Until modern times people thought the ocean floor was sandy like the desert and saucer shapedùdeepest in the middle. This was even true of the pre-1900 geologists. But in the 1900s oceanographers found the sea had many deep valleys or canyons. The deepest canyons were called trenches. The Marianas Trench in the Pacific is so deep that if Mt. Everest (29,000 feet high) was dropped into it, the peak would still be a mile below the water’s surface. There are also underwater mountains. The Atlantic Ocean contains an undersea range of mountains 10,000 miles long.

In addition, 3,000 years ago the Judeo-Christian Bible spoke of the valleys and mountains of the sea. In Ps 18:15 (NIV) David wrote of God being the creator of "the valleys of the sea." God asked Job (Job 38:16 NIV): "Have you walked in the recesses [valleys] of the sea?" The prophet Jonah was thrown off a ship and spoke of falling to the bottom of the mountains in the sea (Jonah 2:6).

The Judeo-Christian Bible spoke of the valleys and mountains of the sea thousands of years before scientists discovered them. Indeed our Bible is the inspired Word of God.

The Paths of the Sea

In the 1800s, Matthew Maury, an officer in the United States Navy believed his Bible. One day Maury was reading Psalm 8. He was amazed that verse 8 (Ps 8:8) spoke of the fish and all creatures that swim in the "paths of the sea." "Paths of the sea"ùhow could this be? He never knew there was such a thing. He was determined to find them. Maury discovered that the oceans have many paths or currents, which were like rivers flowing through the sea. Maury wrote the first book on oceanography and became known as "the pathfinder of the Seas"ù"the father of modern navigation."

Maury received his idea about ocean currents from reading Ps 8:8 which was written about 3,000 years ago by King David. David wrote as he was moved by the Spirit of God and probably never actually saw an ocean.

Incidentally, Ps 8:8 also spoke of fish in the "paths of the seas." All fishing boats make a good catch in the currents or paths of the sea. They have learned this is where the fish swim.

Lightning, Thunder and Rain

In ancient times, most religious scripture taught that lightning bolts were missiles thrown in anger by their gods. Since rain is so necessary to life, ancient people pondered what caused it. Some tried to stab holes in the clouds with spears. The Vedas (Hindu scripture) advised to tie a frog with its mouth open to the right tree and say the right words and rain would fall.

Job stated (Job 28:26): "God made decrees [rules] for the rain. And He set a way for the lightning of the thunder:" About 300 years ago, Galileo discovered the "rules for the rain" or water cycle that Job talked about. The sun evaporates water from the ocean. That water vapor rises and becomes clouds. This water in the clouds falls back to earth as rain, collects in streams and rivers and makes its way back to the ocean. That process repeats itself again and again.

But amazingly the Scriptures described this cycle centuries before. The prophet Amos 9:6 wrote that God "calls for the water of the sea. He pours them out on the land." Amos wrote as he was moved by the Spirit of God.

Pleiades, Orion and Arcturus

Job 38 deals with the wonders of His creation. In Job 38:31, 32 we read:

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades

or loose the bands of Orion?

Canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

ORION

"Canst thou ... loose the bands of Orion?" Garrett P. Serviss, the noted astronomer, wrote about the bands of Orion in his book CURIOSITIES OF THE SKY.

At the present time this band consists of an almost perfect straight line. In the course of time, however, the two right-hand stars, Mintaka and Alnilam, will approach each other and form a naked-eye double; but the third, Alnitak, will drift away eastward so that the band will no longer exist.

Thus, these stars that we see forming one of the bands of Orion are like three ships out on the high seas that happen to be in line at the present moment, but in the future will be separated by thousands of miles of ocean. In fact, all these stars that at the present time constitute the constellation of Orion are bound for different ports, and all are journeying to different corners of the universe, so that the bands are being dissolved.

THE PLEIADES

"Canst thou bind the sweet influence of the Pleiades ...?" Notice the amazing astronomical contrast with the Pleiades. The seven stars of the Pleiades are in reality a grouping of 250 suns. Photographs now reveal that 250 blazing suns in this group are all traveling together in one common direction.

From Lick Observatory came this statement of Dr. Robert J. Trumpler:

The Pleiades stars may thus be compared to a swarm of birds, flying together to a distant goal. This leaves no doubt that the Pleiades are not a temporary or accidental agglomeration of stars, but a system in which the stars are bound together by a close kinship.

INCREDIBLE! God’s laws of cosmology are loosing or dissolving the constellation Orion. Sometime in the far distant future, Orion will be no more. Conversely, wonder of wondersùevery last one of the 250 blazing suns in the Pleiades are ordained of God to orbit together in their symmetrical beauty throughout eternity.

ARCTURUS

"Canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?" Garrett P. Serviss wrote:

Arcturus, one of the greatest suns in the universe, is a runaway whose speed of flight is 257 miles per second. Arcturus, we have every reason to believe, possesses thousands of times the mass of our sun. Think of it! Our sun is traveling only 12 ½ miles a second, but Arcturus is traveling 257 miles a second. Think then of the prodigious momentum this motion implies. It could only be stopped by collision head on with a body of enormous mass. Barring such accidents, it must, as far as we can see, keep on until it has traversed our stellar system, whence it may escape and pass out into space beyond to join perhaps one of those other island universesà

The wonders of God’s universe never cease to amaze us. Arcturus and his sons are individual runaway suns that seem to be out of orbit in our galaxy. Traveling at such incredible speeds, why don’t they crash with other suns or planets? Where are they headed? Only God knows. Indeed they are not runaways. They will not crash. Why? God is guiding them.

When Mr. Burckhalter of Chabot Observatory had his attention called to this text in the book of Job, he studied it in the light of modern discovery and made a statement that has attracted worldwide attention:

The study of the Book of Job and its comparison with the latest scientific discoveries has brought me to the matured conviction that the Bible is an inspired book and was written by the One who made the stars.

Which Bible is Inspired by a Living God?

The Judeo-Christian Scripture made scientific observations that were confirmed centuries later by modern science, while the sacred scripture of other world religions merely reflected the scientific superstitions of their culture. How could the Judeo-Christian Scripture anticipate scientific discovery by 3,000 years? The Judeo-Christian Bible was written by men who were inspired by the Creator and God of the Universeùthe God of science. Only the Judeo-Christian Bible is the Divine Revelation provided by our infinite Creator to direct us in the path to eternity.

God Will Bring Middle East Peace

March 2000

Many Christians today believe the regathering of the Jewish People to the reborn State of Israel is God’s handiwork. They trust that Middle East events are under Divine guidanceùbecause they accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God and grasp, by faith, its message.

Now two peoples, Jews and Arabs, are locked in an epic struggle on several fronts in the Middle East. The news media daily chronicles this great drama. Syrians want Israel to give them the Golan Heights, yet refuse to shake Israeli hands at negotiations. Syrians say, "Give us the land and then we’ll negotiate." Palestinian Arabs want more land from Israel yet lapse upon previously agreed commitments to end terrorism. What, realistically, would this "peace," arranged by fallen man, be like? Very cold at best.

To the worldly, not enlightened by the prophetic lamp of the Scriptures, the struggle is merely political. It is not. Surely, at the very heart of Middle East struggles lies the question, "Who is the true God?!"

Is God the mighty Jehovah of Judeo-Christian belief or Allah of the Muslim faith? The final outcome of the struggle between Jews and Muslims will answer the question. We firmly believe God will vindicate himself.

Where Christians stand on this issue is of utmost importance. Do we support the Arab side of the land struggle? If so, we may unwittingly be opposing our God. The prophet Ezekiel shows us God’s perspective on the contested land and the embattled Jewish people. Speaking to the invading forces of Gog at the time of Israel’s final battle, God warns, "And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes." Eze 38:16

The phrases "my people" and "my land" emphasize that centuries after the Diaspora, God still considers the Jews his people and the Land of Israel his land. Note that this occurs before Messiah is revealed to the Jews. Zec 12:10. The land of Israel and the Jewish people are inseparableùby Divine decree! God promised the land to Abraham and his seed after him-passing from Abraham to Isaac, then to Jacob and on to the twelve tribes of Israel. The promise still remains.

Stephen’s public discourse recorded in Ac 7:5 confirms this. Though Jesus had proclaimed the House of Israel "desolate" just before his crucifixion, Stephen subsequently made a profound observation. Although God promised the land to Abraham, "he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child." Two points are confirmed. First, the resurrection of the dead (Abraham must be raised to inherit the Divine promise of the land) and, second, the Land of Israel would be possessed by Abraham’s seed in the last day-the great day of Restitution. Ac 3:19-21

Turning again to the land issue, if Allah’s Islamic people succeed in wresting the land of Israel from the Jewish peopleùthe promises and prophecies of the JudeoùChristian Bible will have failed! The Bible would be invalidated; the Koran exalted. Friends, we are full of faith that God’s word will not return to Him void. The Bible will be magnified and vindicated. The Jewish people will receive the Biblically promised land. They will do so even if the whole world opposes them-for God, who wills it to be so, is on their side.

The prospect of Israeli-Arab peace and resolution of territorial conflict under human solutions are painfully epitomized in Hebron. We hear of Hebron’s little band of Jewish residents and their struggles to thrive as a community. We were there a few years ago, here’s what we learned ...

A Brief History Lesson

Many are unaware of the modern history of the Jews in Hebron. Until 1929 there was a thriving Jewish community there. Jewish merchants and citizens lived in peaceful coexistence with their Arab neighbors. Civility characterized their interaction. Additionally, Jewish physicians and nurses ran the sole health clinic in Hebron. They provided the Arab community a large amount of charitable care, being the only source of health care available to the Arabs.

Riots plagued Jerusalem prior to 1929, instigated by Arabs. The result of these riots was murderous persecutions of Jews in the "City of Peace." Hebron, however, remained quiet. Harmony between Jews and Arabs prevailed until Arabs from Jerusalem came to foment uprisings in Hebron. The quiescent way of coexistence there was soon to be shattered.

Britain ruled over the Holy Land at the time under the provision of the League of Nations 1920 Mandate. British officers, as eyewitnesses recalled, told Hebron’s Jewish community leaders that they were short on weapons and couldn’t guarantee British protection of Hebron’s Jews should the Arabs attack them. Unfortunately, the British made sure the Arabs were also informed.

This helped trigger the bloody month of August 1929 in Hebron. Arabs began attacking Jews. With knives, axes, machetes, picks-whatever they could findùArabs raged in indiscriminate attacks of violence. Strong young Jewish men brutalized, and also women, the elderly and even tender young children. When Arab fury was satiated, for the time being, 67 of Hebron’s Jews had been slaughtered. Many others were mutilated. Photographs of the survivors keep the story fresh. Pictorial records of victims’ horrible wounds jarred our Christian sensibilities deeply.

Having their fill of Jewish blood the rioters began to turn on the British, who were standing by to watch the melee. Seeing the advancing mob, an officer on horseback drew his pistol and fired two shots into the air. The riot stopped immediately. If only the officer had fired his precious two bullets an hour or two earlier, much human suffering would have been averted.

The survivors were told that their safety could no longer be guaranteed. They had to leave their homes, synagogues, businesses and fields without any financial compensation. Suffering such material loss compounded the pain of their physical wounds. The Jewish medical clinic was closed, the Arabs had deprived themselves of adequate health care. The Jewish community of Hebron faded and, after the 1948 War of Independence, was completely gone. The Jordanian Army occupied Hebron until the ‘67 Warùbanning all Jews from that sacred city.

In 1979, Jews finally began to return to their homes and synagogues left behind for a half-century. What drew them there? What could impel them to move to such an inhospitable placeùwhose bloody past looms over the present? Quite simply and powerfullyùthe Word of God.

Scriptural Reasons

Hebron is called the "Mother of Israel." Jewish roots here are deepùthe result of a history that goes back thousands of years. Abram dwelled in Mamre, which is in Hebron. Ge 13:14-18 Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah in Hebron for 400 shekels of silver. Ge 23:17-20 Joshua took Hebron as part of the promised land of Canaan. Jos 14:6-14 Hebron was one of the six Cities of Refuge. Jos 21:13 David began his reign over Judah in Hebron. 2Sa 2:1-4 In Hebron David was anointed king over all Israel. 2Sa 5:1-3 It is of interest that Hebron is not mentioned at all in the Koran.

The Tomb of the Patriarchs holds the bones of the Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives-the parents of the Jewish people. Is it any wonder that the Jews are compelled to live here beside their ancestors? Their deep roots of faith yearn to be connected with the land and cities God gave to their fathers. The Bible assures us that one day their hopes will be thoroughly satisfied.

Christians Beware

Some Christians embrace the concept of Replacement Theology. Briefly stated, that means Israel has been everlastingly superseded by the Christian Church. Supposedly, Israel’s national role in God’s plan is finished. (We do not agree. Limited space does not here permit a verse-by-verse consideration of Ro 11. We commend careful study of the chapter. It powerfully confirms Israel’s present and future role in God’s plan.)

Generally the traditional Christian churches tend to hold Replacement Theology’s tenants. Having lost sight of the Biblical promises to Israel as existing any longer, these churches actively support the Muslim cause. They say that Israel should give up land. In December 1996 they sponsored a full-page advertisement in THE NEW YORK TIMES calling for Israel to give up sole administration of Jerusalem. Doubtless they will apply more pressure as negotiations for the final status of Jerusalem heat up.

Ironically, in supporting Islam’s aims, these Christians are hurting the cause of Christ. Islam’s goal is world domination. Listen to their fiery rhetoric, "The governments of the world should know that Islam cannot be defeated. Islam will be victorious in all the countries of the world, and Islam and the teachings of the Koran will prevail all over the world. Only then will their Jihad [Holy War] be complete." "We shall export our revolution to the whole world. Until the cry ‘Allahu Akbar’ resounds over the whole world, there will be struggle. There will be jihad." We note the burgeoning growth of mosques in the United States and Europe, the nations of so-called "Christendom."

PLO flags covered with Arabic script are displayed in public gatherings. Their popular Messageù"first we will kill the Saturday people and then we’ll kill the Sunday people."

Christians must support the message of our Bible. Israel, dwelling in its God given land as a blessor nation, is part of that message. The God of Israel, not of Islam, shall reign over all the earth. "As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD." Nu 14:21

Concluding Thoughts

Hebron is an example, a microcosm of the larger struggle. That larger contest for possession of the land will greatly intensify when the issues of final redeployment and sovereignty over Jerusalem come to the bargaining table. Remember God’s promises regarding the land and the people of Israel. As Christians, perceiving the role of the Jewish people in the plan of God, may our faith give us the courage to make a stand and speak up for truth.

Christian leaders and governments are exerting tremendous pressure on Israel to give up land. United States leaders want Israel to give the Golan Heights to intransigent Syrians and more land to Palestinian Arabs to achieve "peace." There is sad irony in God’s Israel suffering (temporary) loss of land because professed Christians unwittingly choose to side with the position of Islam’s Allah. God will bring peace to the Middle Eastùnot man.

"Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD." Eze 38:23

Prayer Before School. ..

April 2000

As long as man has walked on the face of this earth, he has reached up to God in prayer. "Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord" (Ge 4:26). The poet has once said, "Prayer is the soul’s sincere desireùuttered or unexpressed." To the extent that a man or woman is still in the "image of God," prayer is a natural inclination.

Adam, of course, communicated with God in the Garden of Eden. But sin changed this precious fellowship. Abel brought an acceptable sacrifice in worship when he "brought of the firstlings of his flock" (Ge 4:3,4) Why did God have "regard for Abel and for his offering"ùbut not Cain’s vegetables from his fields? It was because Abel worshipped God while acknowledging sin and the need for blood to be shed.

Prayer in the Beginning

The Prophets of old, of course, communicated with God all the time. They showed their faith by their works and were counted righteous (Jas 2:21-23). As friends, they could speak to God in prayer. But by faith, they looked forward to the coming of a Messiah who would redeem them from their sins as well as bless the world. Jesus said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad" (Joh 8:56).

Later on, God entered into covenant relationship with the children of Israel under the Law Covenant at Sinai. The whole nation of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, were received as God’s people and were treated as if without sin. They had the privilege of going to him in prayer. But the sins of the Jewish nation were only typically blotted out from year to year. The blood of bulls and goats could never really take away sin, and the Jews held only the relationship of servants to God.

In the Tabernacle and then the Temple, the High Priest would offer sweet incense-representing prayersùon the Incense Altar. "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense. .."( Ps 141:2). However, yearly he would also bring blood atonement under the Second Veil to sprinkle on the Ark (Le 16:11-14).

However, the Gentiles were altogether without God. They had no privilege of prayer. Yes, they could praise or acknowledge the God of Israel. .. But if they petitioned Him, he was not under any obligation to answer.

Jesus Opens a New Way for Prayer

Jesus, of course, opened up "a new and living way" when he himself died as an offering for sin. So now we can "draw near" in prayer in full assurance we are being heard as sons of God.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb 10:19-22

But Jesus warned that Christians should not pray "as the hypocrites"ùor use "vain repetitions as the heathen do" (Mt 6:5,7). We might ask ourselves, Do we just use forms of words in our prayers without our hearts being in them? Do we just repeat words without their meaning anything to us? Do we just "say prayers"? We need to enter into our "closets" alone with God. With sincere hearts, we are to come "boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:14-16).

Our Lord’s Sample Prayer

In the prayer taught us by our Lord, we first give honor to God recognizing Him as "Our Father"ùacknowledging His greatness and expressing the desire that His name be hallowed (Mt 6:9-13). We emember the Kingdom that is promised. We tell Him that our desire of heart for that Kingdom to come. We pray that His will may be fully done on earth. (This implies that we have given up our own will, that we wish to have God’s will completely done in our mortal bodies.)

In this prayer there is a brief mention of our daily temporal needs: "Give us this day our daily bread." There is no request for our "wants" of delicacies, etc.ùbut simply the necessities for our day. We ask no more-we wish no more. Then we pray that our "trespasses" may be forgiven "even as we forgive." How can we ask our Heavenly Father’s forgiveness if we have not forgiven others ourselves? We cannot. ...

Finally, comes the petition for our protection from evil influences. There are temptations everywhere from the powers of evil: the powers of the air, and from our own flesh, and the world all around us. We ask for this divine aid in prayer.

Asking for the Holy Spirit

Are we to ask for temporal wealth and health? If God had promised the Christian temporal prosperity and healthy bodies, then we should pray for them. But He did not promise the Christian these earthly rewards. James says that when you for them, "Ye ask amiss" (Jas 4:3). While we must be wise stewards over our temporal advantages, Jesus has invited us to "suffer with him" (Ro 8:17) and walk in his footsteps. While Israel under the Old Law Covenant was promised prosperity if they would follow the Law (Le 26:4-12), the Christian is invited to "to fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ" (Col 1:24; 2Co 1:5). Ours is a way of sacrifice: "Present your bodies a living sacrifice. .."( Ro 12:1)

Yes, the good gift Jesus told his disciples to pray for was the holy Spirit (Lk 11:13). Just as parents know how to give appropriate and good things to their children, God gives us the holy Spirit for wisdom, peace and strength in all our affairs of life. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. .."( Jas 1:5). God has promised wisdom.

In the early church "gifts of the spirit"ùsuch as healing and tongues-were given to establish the infant church. The power of conferring those gifts was vested in the apostles-and to them only. None others in their day or since have been able to confer those gifts (Ac 8:13-20). Instead of miraculously expecting gifts as at first, we now should pray for the Lord to help us grow the fruits of the spirit-meekness, gentleness, patience, brother kindness, love (1Co 12:30,31-13:1-8; Ga 5:22).

Watch and Pray

Perhaps if we pay no attention to our prayers after they are uttered it would indicate that we have might not really appreciated the answer if and when we receive it. In fact, the Lord sometimes makes us wait for the answer. Remember the Lord’s answer may be yes, or no or wait. But He is never indifferent to the pleading of his children. However, when we have to watch and wait, we learn patience, and even hunger more for the answer.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told his disciples, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation." He knew his crucifixion would be a severe trial to his followers. He himself prayed to the Father, "Not my will, but thine be done." Likewise, today we must still be sober and pray for the Lord’s will to be done in our lives. So there is a condition to the promise, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (Joh 15:7). Only if we are abiding in Christùlike Jesus wanting only the Father’s willùcan we expect to ask in prayer and receive our answer.

Children Praying in School

Can anyone else pray and expect to be heard besides fully committed, consecrated Christians? Yes. "For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy" (1Co 7:14). The children of all believers are justified through the faith of their parents up to the time they reach years of mental maturity. Family prayer is very desirable in the homes of the Lord’s people. Children should be taught from earliest age to thank the Lord for their blessings and ask Him to help them in time of need. If we would have our children actively and properly pray, we should not expect others to bring or guide them to the "throne of grace" especially in a secular setting. Daily morning, afternoon and nightùwe as parents can pray together with our children about our thankfulness, our needs and our cares. Children learn best when parents actively and properly pray together with them.

Should children pray in school? Of course, they should. But they do not need to have formal legislation that allows for community prayer in the classroom. In fact, it would be unfair to impose such a religious practice in a public school. Children should be encouraged to pray anywhere, any timeùbefore school, on the bus, in the cafeteria, the classroom, etc.ùas well as in their bedrooms before sleep at home.

Praying Without Ceasing

Our lives should be a prayer. As we wake till the time we sleep at night, we should have an attitude of conscious awareness of our Heavenly Father’s presence. "In everything give thanks. .."( 1Th 5:17, 18) Prayer is the vital breath of the new creature in Christ. How often do we breath? Do we claim in prayer His rich promises as revealed in His Word?

Is the End-Time Antichrist scenario near?

THE POPE’S VISIT TO JERUSALEM AND THE VATICAN’S HIDDEN AGENDA

May 2000

Jerusalem is the focal point of End-Time prophecy, but first we must understand the Vatican’s own agenda for Jerusalem. As soon as the Pope stepped off the plane, The New York Times, March 21 said, "He outlined a larger role for himself than just a humble Catholic pilgrim." The Pope said, "In this area of the world there are grave and urgent issues of justice, of the rights of peoples and nations." Such words make Israeli leaders nervous, for they know the Pope opposes Israel’s sole sovereignty over Jerusalem.

The Vatican’s agenda had already gained momentum when full diplomatic relations between the State of Israel and the Vatican were established on June 15, 1994. Before such recognition, the Vatican gained the promise to be included in negotiating the final status of East Jerusalem. At the time, Israel claimed this only involved non-sovereignty issues.

In turn, Israel’s leaders were elated that the Vatican agreed to give up its demand for the "internationalization" of Jerusalem. But exactly why did the Vatican give up this demand?

The Vatican’s Dilemma

Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem presents a basic dilemma for the Vatican. Remember, the Vatican demanded Jerusalem’s internationalization during the UN debate of the Partition Plan in 1947. New York’s Cardinal Spellman committed all his energy to keep Jerusalem out of Israeli control. He telegraphed the Papal nuncios (ambassadors) in South American countries with the demand that they urge their home governments to take an uncompromising stand at the UN for the internationalization of Jerusalem.

The Vatican’s ostensible reason for this policy was that thus all three major faiths would be guaranteed free access to their holy places. However, from 1948 to 1967 when Jordanian forces occupied Jerusalem, Jewish holy places were shamefully desecrated and synagogues destroyed. Furthermore, Jews were denied access to East Jerusalem and the Western Wall. During this time, the Vatican never once raised a cry for internationalization.

By contrast, since acquiring Old Jerusalem in 1967, Israel has guaranteed all (Christians and Moslems in addition to Jews) free access to their holy places. Yet since 1967 the Vatican renewed and continued its insistence that Jerusalem be internationalized to provide free access. How absurd! Obviously, a deeper reason exists for the Vatican’s opposition to Israel’s possession of East Jerusalem.

Replacement Theology

The Roman Catholic Church believes Israel’s right to be the Kingdom of God ended forever with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Roman Legion in 70 CE. When the Roman Catholic Church grew to world prominence, it claimed to be the rightful heir of the Kingdom of God. Rome (the Vatican) became the "New Jerusalem." The long centuries that followed of non-Jewish control of their land seemed to validate Papacy’s claim. Then the rebirth of Israel challenged Catholicism’s "Kingdom of God" theology. But the boast of Rome to be "the eternal city" was completely deflated when Jerusalemù"the Eternal"ùbecame the capital of Israel in 1967. Why?

The Vatican’s claim to be the "New Jerusalem," if true, would be the fulfillment of a Biblical type and many prophecies. (Biblical "types" are spoken of as "shadows" which continue until their reality occurs. For example, Israel was to celebrate the Passover annually with a slain lamb. The reality of that type was the coming of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, which fulfilled that type. The slaying of the Passover Lamb came to an end shortly after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Until this day a lamb is no longer killed and eaten during Passover) The Roman Catholic Church for centuries has claimed to be the fulfillment of the type of Jerusalem as the capital of the actual Kingdom of God. In type-and-shadow theology, if the type reappears, then the supposed reality is not valid. Thus, the re-emergence of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital destroys the Vatican’s claim to be the "New Jerusalem"ùthe capital of the actual Kingdom of God.

Why does the Vatican act like a world political power, exchanging ambassadors with other nations? No other Christian church claims this civil government status. The only excuse the Vatican has to act as a world power is the claim that it is both the spiritual and the temporal Kingdom of God on earth, the New Jerusalem

The Vatican’s Hidden Agenda

Why then did the Vatican in 1994 drop its demand for internationalization if it doesn’t want Israel to have Jerusalem? The answer is plain and simple. The Vatican caved in to PLO pressure, not Israeli, on the internationalization issue. The PLO was vigorously opposed to internationalizing Jerusalem because it wanted East Jerusalem to be the capital of a Palestinian state. The Vatican’s main concern was that East Jerusalem should not be in the hands of the reborn Jewish State.

That the Vatican was determined to terminate Israel’s exclusive sovereignty over East Jerusalem was reflected in the statement of the Vatican’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Louis Tauran in Amman, Jordan, July 9, 1994 (less than a month after the Vatican recognized Israel):

Before territorial problems are resolved, we have to find international guarantees to safeguard the uniqueness of the cityàand assurances that never again one party should claim Jerusalem as its possession [emphasis ours]. It [Jerusalem] should be a crossroads of peace, a bridge between Earth and Heaven.

Of course, the Vatican wants a major part in the administration of that "bridge," preferably in a Palestinian-administered Jerusalem. The prestige of administering the holy sites of a Palestinian-ruled Jerusalem would greatly enhance the Vatican’s larger agenda as the "New Jerusalem," the Kingdom of God on earth. Consequently, the Vatican is now demanding-a modified version of "internationalization", a "special statute" on Jerusalem that would provide "international guarantees" of freedom of religion and access to holy places.

Over the years the Vatican waged a continuous aggressive campaign that East Jerusalem legally belonged to the Palestinians. But it has become apparent to both the Vatican and Arafat that Israel will not yield East Jerusalem. Therefore the Vatican and the PLO signed a new agreement.

Vatican and PLO Pact

Commenting on the reason for the February 16, 2000 Vatican and PLO Pact, Arafat’s spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaineh said, Arafat is willing to share an undivided Jerusalem with a Vatican-sovereignty over all the holy sites in the Old City. Should Israel and Arafat fail to reach an agreement on sharing Jerusalem, PA Legislative Council Speaker Ahmed Qurei said, Arafat would agree to an internationalized East Jerusalem as stated in UN Resolution 181.

Of course, all of this is subject to some modification during negotiations. But the bottom line is that the Vatican will never rest until Israel’s exclusive sovereignty is terminated. In other words, since Israel’s sovereignty over East Jerusalem challenges the Vatican’s claim to be the capital of the Kingdom of God on earth, Israel’s sovereignty must be terminated. Why?

The Vatican’s Greater Agenda

All heads of state are eager to meet with Pope John Paul II (Time, August 23, 1993). Why? Because he is not just the head of a church, the Vatican is the capital of a church-state. He is also head of the Papal State. Through his priesthood he has an intelligence gathering network that is the envy of every government. This network reaches down into almost every town and villa over much of the globe. John Paul II plays power politics with a skill that awes world leaders. Nations are anxious to exchange ambassadors with the Vatican. Pope John Paul and former President Reagan successfully plotted the downfall of the Communist Empire (Time, February 24, 1992). During this clandestine campaign Archbishop Pio Lashi said to the diplomat, Vernon Walters, "It is a very complex situationàlisten to the Holy Father [Pope]. We have 2,000 years experience at this." It was further observed, "Step by reluctant step, the Soviets and the Communist government of Poland bowed to the pressure imposed by the Pope and the President."

The Pope’s ultimate agenda is revealed in the following statement he made on April 21, 1990ù"a united Europe is no longer a dream. It is not utopian memory from the Middle Ages. The events that we are witnessing show that this goal can be reached." The Pope wants to revive the Holy Roman Empire of the Middle (Dark) Ages with the Vatican and Jerusalem axis as its capital. Listen to what the Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls said, "With all the symbolism this trip carries, not just for Catholics but for the whole world, the presence of the Pope underscores the arrival of God in human history. Clearly, seeing the Pope in this place makes the whole world think."

Forget that the Pope is of precarious age and health. Popes come and go. But the Vatican’s agenda moves forward. .. .Reviving the Holy Roman Empireùthis sounds like End-Time prophecy. This sounds like the book of Revelation and the Antichrist. It is!

Notwithstanding Arafat’s, the Pope’s or Antichrist’s plans, there is only one agenda for Jerusalem that will ultimately succeedùthe Divine agenda. The Torah will go forth from Zion and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem (Isa 2:3). At that time Israel will not only enjoy exclusive sovereignty over Jerusalem but also exclusive dwelling rights.The Christian churches would do well to heed the warning of Zec 12:3.

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. Many believe the Antichrist, False Prophet, Image of the Beast scenario is near.

Send for the newly published Bookletù"can We Identify ANTICHRIST?"

As an introductory, it is free.

The Resurrection of the Just and the Unjust

June 2000 (Also found at July 1998)

The doctrine of the resurrection electrified the early church. In the New Testament there are few doctrines on which more stress is laid, yet there are few doctrines in the churches today which are treated with more neglect. Why? Most traditional creeds in the Christian churches refer to the "resurrection of the body"ùthe same body we have in this life. Have you ever pondered what that means?

One Evangelical minister attempted to explain the "resurrection of the body." He said, that it will consist of a regathering and revivifying of all the bones, sinews, flesh, skin, etc., that ever constituted a human body, regardless of how these parts had been disposedùno matter if parts had been destroyed by fire or accident or eaten by fishes or beasts of prey; or if they had rotted in the ground and been absorbed as nutrients into various fruits, vegetables, grass, etc., and thus been over and over again transformed. He pictured the air filled with hands, arms, feet, fingers, bones, skins, sinews, etc., of the billions who have lived and died, seeking the other parts of their bodies; and that then the souls would come from heaven and hell and be imprisoned in those resurrected bodies.

How absurd! And yet, how else could one explain the "resurrection of the same body? No wonder very little mention is made of the resurrection in today’s pulpit. Hear the words of the Apostle Paul in 1Co 15:35-37:

But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

The most complete discussion of the resurrection is given in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 where Paul unfolds the beautiful details of this doctrine:

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1Co 15:20-26).

Verse 20 shows Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead. But there would be afterfruits-all mankind. Verses 21 and 22 identify the afterfruits. Just as all mankind died because of Adam’s sin, so all will be made alive because of Jesus’ deathùas a "ransom for all" (1Ti 3:6).

Two Resurrections

Verse 23 shows that "all" mankind, for whom Jesus died, will be divided into two groupsùChrist the firstfruits, followed by "they that are Christ’s at his parousia" (Greek for presence). Christ the firstfruits refers to the Body of Christ, his Church. Jesus was the firstfruits from the dead. But the Body of Christ will be the firstfruits of the world for whom Jesus died. They are called the "firstborn" in Heb 12:23. These Christians are raised at Christ’s return (1Th. 4:16, 17).

Christ will be present for a thousand years (2Pe 3:7-12). "They that are Christ’s at his presence" in 1Co 15:23 clearly shows the afterfruits or remainder of mankind will be raised during Christ’s thousand-year kingdom (Re 20:1-6). This is confirmed by verses 1Co 15:24-27 which show that the resurrection work of verse 23 occurs during the Kingdom of Christ. Thus, there are two resurrections: first the church and second the remainder of mankind. No wonder Paul spoke of the "resurrection of the just and the unjust" in Ac 24:15. And this is just what Jesus tells us in Joh 5:28, 29.

Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth; they that have done good to a resurrection of life and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment (RSV).

Note, all will be raised from the deadùfirst, "they that have done good." This refers to the true Church. During Christ’s return they will be raised to spiritual life and united with their heavenly Lord. Then will follow the resurrection of the "evil class," all the remainder of men. They will come forth to a "resurrection of judgment." The Greek word in the text is krisis and it actually denotes "a crucial testing time." This Greek word is the source of our English word "crisis." And it has the same meaning. A doctor might say, "The patient will reach his crisis tomorrow morning." This does not mean that the patient will die tomorrow morning. Rather, the crisis of an illness is that period when the patient will take a turn for the better or for the worse.

The "crisis" or trial time for the Church is in this present life, but the "crisis" or trial time of the remainder of mankind will be at the resurrection in the Kingdom. Billions of mankind before and after Jesus’ earthly ministry died without receiving the light of Jesus. Yet John 1:9 states that Jesus is the light that "lighteth every man that cometh into the world" A further Scriptural confirmation that, for most, truth enlightenment will require an awakening from the dead.

Resurrection of the UnjustùWhen?

Both Jesus in Joh 5 and the Apostle Paul in 1Co 15 taught the resurrection of the unjust occurs during the 1,000 year Kingdom of Christ when they will be on trial for eternal life. Yet Re 20:4, 5 seems to place it after the thousand years.

4àthey [the Church] came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Re 20:4-6

Verses 4 and 6 clearly teach that the Church reigns with Christ in his 1,000 year Kingdom. Therefore, the Church must be resurrected at the beginning of the 1,000 years and verse 6 plainly states the Church’s resurrection is the "first resurrection." Yet verse 5 places the raising of "the rest of the dead" (the "unjust") after the thousand years are completed. It then calls the raising of the unjust "the first resurrection." This is a contradiction to verse 6 which identifies the raising of the Church as "the first resurrection."

Notice in verse 5 we italicized, "the rest of the dead did not come alive until the thousand years were completed." Why? These words do not appear in the earliest manuscripts that contain these verses.[1] By eliminating these spurious words, verses 4-6 harmonize. Now verses 4 and 5 agree with verse 6ùthe first resurrection applies to the Church.

Because of their theology, the translators have been less than objective on 1Joh 5:7-8 and Re 20:5. Finally the translators have, in the last couple of decades, admitted that parts of 1Joh 5:7-8 are spurious. Hopefully they will also concede that the first part of Re 20:5 is spurious. Thank the Lord there are reference books that enable us to prove it for ourselves.

Old Testament

The prophet Daniel wrote "many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall Awake"(da 12:3). In Ro 5:15-19 "many" is used interchangeably with "all" when referring to those who benefit from Jesus’ death. Daniel then divides the "many" into two classes. Some awake to "everlasting life" and "some to shame and everlasting contempt." Some translations say "age- lasting" or "age-abiding" "life" or "contempt." The Hebrew word translated everlasting or age-lasting is olam. Olam does not mean eternal or everlasting. It means "for the duration." The context or other scriptures will define the length of that duration. Some translators seem to get a satisfaction by rendering olam as everlasting or perpetual when referring to the punishment on the non-elect.

The following scriptures prove olam does not mean perpetual or everlasting. In Ex 29:9 the Aaronic Priesthood would be olam, and was incorrectly translated perpetual. Heb 7:12 shows the Aaronic Priesthood ended in Paul’s Day. It was replaced by the Melchisedec order. In Jer 25:9, 12, Nebuchadnezzar would make the land of Judah a "perpetual (olam) desolation." Incorrect translation! Verse 11 states that the desolation would be 70 years.

Recall Joh 5:28, 29. The evil are raised to a resurrection by "krisis" or trial. This trial includes the 1,000 years, plus the "little season" that follows. Some will pass their trial favorably during the 1,000 years and enjoy what Da 12:3 calls age-lasting life. But only those who pass the test of the "little season" will receive everlasting life. Certainly there will be nefarious persons among the evil who are raised to their trial time (Joh 5:29). They will endure age-lasting shame as they are confronted by those they had harmed. Whether they finally obtain eternal life is problematic.

Remember 1Co 15? At death "you do not sow the [same] body which is to be, but bare grain, [our ego or personality] But God gives it a body just as He wished." (1Co 15:37, 38, 40 NAS)

Jesus spoke of the resurrection of the "good" and the "evil". Paul called it the resurrection of the just and the unjust. The Revelator identified the raising of the Church as the first resurrection, thus implying a second resurrection. In the first resurrection, the "good" or "just" receive a spiritual or celestial body that is immortal (1Co 15:38, 40, 53, 54). In the second resurrection, the "evil" or "unjust" receive an earthly or terrestrial body (1Co 15:38, 40). This life is age-lasting. If they have the faith and obedience to pass their "krisis" or trial, they will have eternal life (Re 20:17).

END NOTES

1. These words are missing in the earliest Greek manuscripts, Codex Sinaitic and Codex Alexandrine. (The Codex Vatican

1209 does not contain the Book of Revelation.) These words are also missing in the earliest Syriac and Aramaic

manuscripts.

The Christian Sabbath

July 2000

Most people cannot wait for the weekend. Saturday and Sunday are days supposed to be for rest, relaxation and enjoyment. Although most stores are now open on Sundays, some people still go to church. Although Saturday is a big recreation day, other people still go to their synagogue or in some cases their church services. Why one in seven days? Why not one in ten? Is Sunday really a Sabbath?

God Rested

Even God rested on the seventh day of creation (Ge 2:1-3). But of course, God’s "days" are not man’s 24-hour days. God "ceased from his own works" (Heb 4:10) and gave it over to his Son-according to Bible chronology-over 6,000 years ago. Since then, man has been toiling under the taskmaster of sin and death. The law of God originally written in man’s heart became obliterated. The plan for rewriting God’s Law in man’s heart will not be finished till the end of God’s seventh day when Jesus Christ turns back a restored perfected creation to his Father (1Co 15:27,28).

But from creation-for 2,000 years-God did not say anything to man about keeping a Sabbath. Noah was minutely instructed by God, but nothing was said about keeping a Sabbath. In all of Abraham’s long life, nothing is mentioned about his keeping a day of rest.

The Law of Sabbath

Not until it was time for God to deliver his special people Israel from slavery was there any ordinance or obligation to keep a Sabbath. Even the Passover, which was to be kept as "an ordinance for ever," was commanded before the Israelites left Egypt (Ex 12:14). Likewise, while the first Sabbath was observed before the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai-it was also still considered part of the Law codified at Sinai. Thus, before they reached Sinai, they were then given the Law of Sabbath-and a very clear object lesson for observing it faithfully! Six days they could gather manna, but not on the seventh (Ex 16:26-30). Eventually, at Mount Sinai the Law Covenant was formally inaugurated.

But in God’s counting seven is not exclusively assigned to days. The seventh day, the seventh month, and the seventh year were, in fact, all prominent under the Law. The seventh day was observed as a period to cease from toil, a period of physical rest. In the seventh month, atonement for sin was effected that Israel might have rest from sin: "And this shall be a statue for ever unto you: in the seventh month. .. to cleanse you. .. it [the tenth day of the seventh month] shall be a Sabbath of rest unto you. .."( Le 16:29-31). In the seventh year, one might be released from the bondage of servitude (De 15:12).

Additionally, the grandest of all Sabbaths was the Jubilee when the Sabbath year was multiplied by seven and climaxed by the added fiftieth year. Then all mortgages, liens and judgments against persons and lands were canceled-actual real estate was returned to every family. Such equity was unheard of in all the histories of civilizations. Truly a GOD-given wonderfully fair Sabbath ordinance! The arrangement was designed to be a "shadow" or picture of the equity and rest of Christ’s Millennial reign. The Jubilee Sabbath was a living pictorial of "the times of restitution [restoring] of all things [promised] which God hath spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets" (Ac 3:21). No wonder Jesus healed on the Sabbath!

Pentecost-the 50th Day

Israel’s seventh day also found its fulfillment by another multiple of sevens. In this case the week was to be counted seven times with a special fiftieth day added. That fiftieth day was the Hebrew day Shavouth-better known to Christians as the Day of Pentecost. In spite of the uniqueness of this Law of Moses, that Law was a mere "shadow" of the beautiful reality God had planned. Since that special fiftieth-day Sabbath when the holy Spirit was given to the Christian church, there has been an inexpressible rest for the footstep followers of Jesus!

Some, however, in the early Christian church-predominantly those of Jewish background-experienced difficulty letting go of the regulations of Law of Moses. Issues such as circumcision, eating of certain meats, keeping Sabbath days, etc., challenged the teachings of the apostles who needed to emphatically advise that such observances were no longer acceptable to the Lord. "Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath dayùthings which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ" (Col 2:16).

Since Jesus opened up the new and living way, his followers of are in no sense of the word bound by the Jewish Lawùeither by the Sabbath days or Sabbath years. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth" (Ro 10:4).

Lord of the Sabbath

Didn’t Jesus Keep the Law? Yes, Jesus did keep the Law to which Israel was bound at Mount Sinai. Why? Born a Jew, Jesus was obligated to keep the Lawùand that included keeping Sabbath. Although he healed on the Sabbath and was soundly criticized for that act of mercy, he pointed out the true purpose of the Sabbath. He also customarily taught on the Sabbath (Mt 19:17). Jesus fully understood, "till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled" (Mt 5:18). He kept the Sabbath in "letter" and "spirit."

\But Jesus went beyond keeping the Law. He fulfilled it. His death marked the beginning of the fulfillment of everything the Law pointed towards. "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Mt 5:17). Once Jesus fulfilled it, from then on anyone who believed on him was no longer bound by the Law. Paul gives the logic: "Wherefore, my [Jewish] brethren, ye also are become dead to the law [of Moses] by the body of Christ: that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the death, that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (Ro 7:1-4).

But didn’t the Lord of the Sabbath say, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments"? (Joh 14:15) What are Jesus’ commandments? Jesus’ commandments went beyond just loving God and one’s neighbor, the essence of the Mosaic Law. Jesus gave us, his followers, a new commandment which goes to the extent of sacrificing one’s life: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (Joh 13:34 NIV; see also 1Joh 3:15 NAS). Jesus was offering more than a day of rest from physical toil. He was proposing a rest of faith to those burdened with the weight of sin: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. .."( Mt 11:28-30).

Witnessing on the Sabbath

Of course, the Apostles used the seventh day as an ideal time for preaching Christ, especially because on that day the Jewsùtheir most likely hearersùmet for worship and study (Ac 13:14, 26, 27, 43, 44; 16:13; 17:1,2; 18:4). However, when Apostle Paul was preaching to brethren who were already disciples, it is evident they were meeting for worship on the "first day" of the week (Ac 20:7; 1Co 16:2).

How significant that the disciplesùas we might expectùchose to meet together on the "first day" of the week to remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Also, the first day of the week was the day Jesus’ made his appearances to his disciples during the forty days after his resurrection. Sunday was not a new obligatory law on Christians, but it was merely a commonly cherished practice. Later, when Christianity became the state religion under Constantine, not only was the Bible canonized, but the observance of Sunday as a day of rest was instituted as a legal duty. But the Holy Scriptures were already the accepted Word of God-and neither a Roman emperor nor a pope needed to ordain Sunday for worship.

The Christian’s Rest

All who believe in Christ may enter into rest, and thus keep a continual Sabbath, "For we which have believed do enter into rest" (Heb 4:3). As new creatures, we rest all the time. Each Christian-in proportion to his or her knowledge and faith-will have rest. But the rest we have entered into is not our ultimate rest. A permanent rest awaits us: "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. ... Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief" (Heb 4:9-11).

Christians will enter into that rest when they experience their resurrection change, when they will enter into the joys of their Lord. In addition, so far as the world is concerned, the great Messiah’s reign of a thousand years will be the Sabbath for the world in general. Their rest will also mean coming into complete harmony with God. What a sublime prospect!

For the present, Christians are thankful for any day set aside for the opportunity to worship God and fellowship with fellow Christians. The Christian Sabbath is not broken by physical labor. Nor is it dependent on physical ease. It is deep and lasting rest, only broken by doubt in Jesus Christ. The Christian Sabbath is Sunday through Saturdayùall week, all the time.

Miracle Healings of Forgiveness

October 2000

FORGIVENESS-of what value is it? Up to 15 years ago it was considered-well-such a "churchy" thing. A social grace perhaps. But in the competitive world of reality "holding a grudge" often provided the drive to trample over others on the way up the ladder of success. If you researched the word forgiveness in Psychological Abstracts at a university library you would find nothing.

All this has changed. Why? Miracles are occurring. A case in point-Ray’s cardiovascular illness took a turn for the worse. The doctor suggested to his wife that the children visit because Ray may not survive. When she told Ray, his face reddened with anger as he said, "don’t invite John!" Ray had not spoken to his son John for twenty years. Nevertheless, John showed up. As the eyes of Ray and John met, tears ran, hearts melted and flowed together in love. Ray forgave John, as father and son embraced. Ray had a miraculous recovery.

Dr. Glen Mack Harnden, a noted Psychologist, is enthusiastic about the personal benefits of forgiveness. "It not only heightens the potential for reconciliation," he says, "but also releases the offended from prolonged anger, rage, and stress that have been linked to physiological problems, such as cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, hypertension, cancer, and other psychosomatic illness." Yes cancer is now classified as stress related.

The American Psychological Association, Boston August 1999, concluded, "holding a grudge is hazardous to health" and that "humility encourages people to let go of slights and betrayals."

"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"

Well did the Psalmist say, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Ps 139:14. The human body is indeed an awesome creation of God. Our body contains a complex and delicate chemical plant. Because of our imperfection and the polluted environment, toxic chemicals and harmful bacteria continually assail cells in our body. But our body has defensive chemicals to withstand these assaults. If our minds are in a happy or contented mood, our nervous system activates these defensive chemicals to the occasion. That is one reason "Godliness with contentment is great gain." 1Ti 6:6. If our minds are agitated or stressful, our defensive mechanism is weakened. Of course, because of Adamic condemnation our delicate chemical plant eventually loses its balance and all are overtaken by death. Also some are born with greater diseased prone bodies than others.

Harnden observes, "Forgiveness does not preclude the enforcement of healthy and natural consequences on the offender. Smedes, a counselor, agrees. "Some people view forgiveness as a cheap avoidance of justice. If forgiveness is a whitewashing of wrong, then it is itself wrong. Nothing that whitewashes evil can be good."

God’s Justice

The Bible has always taught this. God is the Judge of the universe. Laws are necessary for the welfare of all. To be effective, the violation of law requires a penalty. Once Adam was informed that death was the penalty for disobedience, then that penalty was just.

A basic fact to remember is that God in His foreknowledge knew that Adam would disobey. Therefore, long before the creation of Adam, God’s wisdom devised a plan of recovery and ultimate happiness for the human race that would require the death of His only begotten Son. Thus 1Pe 1:19, 20 speaks of the blood of Christ for the redemption of mankind as foreordained before the world began. The Creator used the time-space situation in Eden to demonstrate the dependability of His justice. It is vital for man to know that "justice and judgment [just decisions] are the habitation of your [God’s] throne" Ps 89:14.

If when Adam disobeyed, God said, "Oh, I will overlook your disobedience this time, I will pardon you. I will not punish you as I promised to do." Adam might say, Wonderful! I am glad God is more loving than just.

Wonderful? No! Arbitrary! The Creator and Ruler of the whole universe could never be trusted throughout eternity. At any time, in any place, God might at the slightest whim change His mind and turn on His creatures. Eden proved the unchangeableness of God’s justice. Thus God declares in Mal 3:6, "I am Jehovah, I change not." And Jas 1:17 states, "The Father of lights in whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Why didn’t God first create us perfect like father Adam and try each one of us individually? Lacking experience, each one of us would probably have disobeyed like Adam. Then where would we be? Instead, we were tried collectively in father Adam.

Thus as the Psalmist observed (Ps 51:5), we are born in sin and shaped in iniquity. Consequently, we could be redeemed collectively. "As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive." 1Co 15:22; Ro 5:18

Daily we sin and daily through faith in Jesus’ cleansing blood, we have forgiveness of sin. We are thankful that Jesus is not only "the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins ... but for the sins of the whole world." 1Jo 2:2 Therefore, like Jesus, we can forgive all who Jesus died for-all humankind. To the degree we love and forgive like Jesus, to that degree our minds will be less stressful and anxious. Consequently, our body can attain its maximum as we lay down our "bodies a living sacrifice" in God’s service. Ro 12:1

These columns have often presented the Biblical teaching that Jesus died for the sins of every man. Heb 2:9; 1Jo 2:2; 1Ti 2:5,6. That God is only calling a "little flock" during this Christian Age. Lu 12:32; Ac 15:14-17. Then this little flock will share with Christ as kings, judges, and priests (Re 20:4; 1Co 6:2; Re 22:17) in God’s Kingdom, helping the world during their time of probation.

Compounded Revenge

The bitterness, anger, and hate raging in the unforgiving heart of unregenerate man is compounded by the national, racial, tribal and ethnic thirst for revenge. Harnden observed, "From the 1500s to the 1800s-four centuries-a total of 34.1 million died in war." Wars have killed nearly five times that many (165 million) during the 1900s alone. Why the spiraling increase-retaliation by unforgiving victims of war. The cycles of ethnic cleansing in former Yugoslavia, tribal massacres between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes, strife between capital and labor, black payback murders of white estate owners in Zimbabwe and South Africa after decades of white suppression are examples. This ongoing cycle of repaying vengeance with vengeance contributes to the perpetuation of an increasingly violent society. Revenge-unforgiving hearts is the scourge of our time. This is the substance of papers by Psychologists.

Where will it lead? End-Time prophecy is upon us. The Antichrist/False Prophet scenario will yet play out, followed by the last feature of Armageddon-the invasion of Israel by the armies of the north (Eze 38$). While God is fighting for Israel and setting up His Kingdom in Israel (Eze 39$; Zec 12:9-12), these group hatreds will erupt. Nations will be torn from within by class violence. Classes will disintegrate as "every man’s hand is against his neighbor." Zec 14:13.

While the masses are in the throes of anarchy, God will command these raging Gentiles-"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the Gentiles. I will be exalted in the earth." Ps 46:10. Satan will be bound. Re 20:1-3. War and all violence will cease as a massive education program is set up. "The knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea." Isa 2:4; 11:9. Christ and his church, the spiritual rulers of God’s Kingdom, will appoint the Jewish people as the agency of the Kingdom blessings (Re 20:4,6; Zec 8:20-23) with Jerusalem as its capitol.

What a humiliation to many in realizing they are not of the true church but were Christians in name only (Mt 7:22, 23). Under Jewish administrationùwhat a humiliation to most Gentiles and to those professed Christians who believed they replaced Israel in God’s plan. Remember the reports at the American Psychological Associationùholding a grudge is hazardous to health and humility encourages people to let go of their grudges.

Forgiveness in God’s Kingdom

Humility makes one teachable. Being humbled the Gentiles will more readily accept Jesus as their Savior. By asking for forgiveness of the Lord for their sins, their hearts will experience the healing of repentance. But personal grudges will still burden their hearts. They will need to interact with their enemies, estranged friends and even estranged family members. Murderers will face victims, robbers those they robbed and whoever disfigured others those they maimed. These agonizing dramas of confrontation and forgiveness will play a major role as minds and bodies respond to the healing dynamics of both repentance and forgiveness.

The resurrection of the unregenerate to their trial or probation time will have begun. Joh 5:28,29 NAS. All will be taught to develop a pollution-free Eden. Isa 30:23; 29:18. Television drama of sex and violence will be replaced with heart-rending drama of once dysfunctional families struggling to replace their selfish cravings with justice, love, kindness, generosity and patience. Christ and his church will reward each step of love and obedience with a healing of body and mind until perfected.

Today, the Creative Arts reveal the ills of a society. In the Kingdom, the Creative Arts will extol God’s holy principles and the joy, peace and brotherhood that come from living these principles. Eternal life will be the reward of the obedient. For a complete discussion of the healing work of God’s Kingdom send for the free booklet offered. Remember, holding a grudge is hazardous to one’s health.

Why are you a Christian?

November 2000

2Co 5:14, 15

Some become a Christian just to escape eternal judgment. But God saves us and forgives our sins "for His name’s Sake"(ps 25:11; 106:8). Then there are those who become Christians in order to gain health and prosperity, believing that faith in a "secret kingdom" and its power will grant their reward. How sad! The height of Christian concern should not be "what can God do for me" but rather "what can I do to glorify God." Remember the words of Psa 31:3 -"For thy name’s sake lead me and guide me."

Self-centered vs. Christ-centered Christians

Evidently the church at Corinth included many self-centered Christians. Paul had to chide them in 1Co 4:8-14.

"You are already filled, you have already become rich, you reign as kings without us; and I would that you indeed had become kings so that we also might reign with you... We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak but you are strong, you are distinguished, but we are despised. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even unto now. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children." (NAS)

The Apostle Paul expressed the essence of the Christ-centered life in 2Ti 2:11,12, "It is a faithful saying: if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him." The Apostle Peter said, "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you" (1Pe 4:12). In Mt 10, Jesus enumerates the trials, hardships and persecutions that his faithful followers would suffer; then he says, "But he that endureth to the end shall be saved."

The Secret Kingdom???

The time in which the Kingdom of God shall "rule from the rivers to the ends of the earth" is, of course, future. Yet, at Jesus’ first advent it was declared, "The Kingdom of God is at hand" (Mk 1:15). Some use Lk 17:21, "The Kingdom of God is within you" as proof of the secret kingdom concept. However, the Greek text literally means, "The King is in your midst." Since the faithful followers of Jesus are to reign with him (Re 20:4,6), Jesus also called them the "Kingdom of heaven" (Mt 13). Mt 11:12 shows that "the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence." Jesus and his church are to be the kings (Re 20:6) in God’s future Kingdom. The sufferings of the Christian walk are the training grounds for reigning in this future Kingdom (He 5:8,9; 2Ti 2:11,12).

Unknown to the world, Christ-centered Christians are now being trained for their future work of reigning with Christ in his Kingdom. They are not using prayer selfishly for physical and material prosperity. Like the Apostles, they pray for strength to endure privation knowing "that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried in the fire" (1Pe 1:7). By bitter experiences they are developing Christ-like love. "Love your enemies, bless them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you." Mt 5:44

The Purpose of the Kingdom

Most Christians have overlooked the main purpose of the Kingdom. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, born-again Christians, Mormons, etc., believe that all who do not accept Christ and/or the Gospel before "The Great Tribulation" is over are lost eternally.

How sad that Christians try to give God’s love a narrowness that He will not own. God has not been trying to convert the world. In Mk 4:11,12, Jesus showed that he purposely hid the Gospel from many "lest at any time they should be converted and their sins should be forgiven." Joh 1:9 speaks of Jesus as the "Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." Yet millions died before the time of Christ never hearing the only "name (Jesus Christ) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Ac 4:12). Despite all the missionary efforts since the time of Christ, other millions died not hearing the message of salvation. God is not trying to convert the world during the Christian Age. He is only selecting a little flock (Lk 12:32).

Ac 15:14-17 shows that "God for the first time did visit the Gentiles to take out of (not convert) them a people for his name (Christ-centered Christians, His Church)... After this I will return (second advent) and build again the tabernacle of David (Christ’s Kingdom)... that the remainder of men might seek after the Lord." Jesus said in Joh 5:28,29, "The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life (to reign with Christùre 20:6); and they that have done evil (the vast majority of mankind), unto the resurrection of krisis" (Greek for judgment or trial). Christ and his church will enlighten the "remainder of men" in the Kingdomùtheir crisis or probation, "for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isa 11:9).

This is the great "restitution" (restoration) project foretold by all the Old Testament prophets (Ac 3:19-21). This restoration of the willing of "the remainder of men" (Ac 15:17; Re 22:17) to mental, moral and physical perfection of life that was lost in Eden will not be completed until the end of the 1000-year Kingdom of Christ. For this reason Re 20:5 states, "The rest of the dead* ("the remainder of men" of Ac 15:17) lived not again until the 1000 years were finished." All not mentally, morally and physically perfect are dead in God’s sight. Thus Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their dead" (Mt 8:22). It will require the balance of the 1000 years to bring the willing up the highway of holiness (Isa 35:8) to perfect human life.

*Some ancient manuscripts do not contain the words "the rest of the dead."

The School of Christ

How do Christians develop the love, justice, sympathy, understanding, etc., to qualify for a share with Christ as kings, priests (blessers), judges (Re 20:6; 1Co 6:2) in His Kingdom? Christ-centered Christians learn Christ-like love through their sufferings and privations (1Pe 1:7; 2Pe 1:5,6; 1Co 13:5,6). In that way, they will know just how to help "the remainder of men" in their trial time for eternal life. If you are a Christ-centered Christian, you might be interested in the following ad:

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Your success or failure will be measured by how carefully you follow the instruction manualùa book which the greatest minds in the world cannot understand and have dismissed as "foolishness." Your course will inspire many hatreds, for which you will be obliged to offer a sacrificing love in return; and the more of this love you master, the more of its servant you will become. Wages offered during the training period consist of a few promisesùconsidered by most as highly doubtful of fulfillment.

Anyone who faithfully completes this course is guaranteed a position as an administrator in the Kingdom of Christ which by Divine intervention will shortly bless all the families of the earth. For further details, send for this free bookletùWHY ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?