Why Do the Heathen Rage?

As the 2024 election approaches, the Christian might ask, how will the result fit into God’s plan for our country and the entire world. Psalm 2:1-3 describes our current day. “Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!”—New American Standard Bible

Ever since the garden of Eden, man has cast God’s instructions and law aside for his own. This has led to heartbreak, a multitude of sorrows and tears and a race condemned to death due to their disobedience to God. Still, man continues to search vainly for a solution to their problems, being blinded by Satan to the most obvious solution, returning back to God and asking him to save them.

Even the nation of Israel, released from Egyptian bondage and led by God back to the land promised to their father Abraham, failed to obey the Law God gave them at Mt. Sinai. In punishment, God cast them out of the promised land and dispersed them for 2500 years before gradually regathering them back to the land as promised.—Jer. 23:7,8

God foresaw man’s disobedience through his foreknowledge and allowed it, to teach man the futility and utter disaster of trying to live
apart from him and his law of righteousness. Jesus said that allowing man to rule himself would lead to a time of “great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” (Matt. 24:21,22, NASB) When man reaches the point of self-destruction, God through “the elect” will intervene to stop man and then begin the process of drawing man back to himself, on God’s terms and his principles of righteousness through Christ’s kingdom.

While man continues to imagine a vain thing, solving his own problems based on human wisdom, selfishness and powerful leaders, God says in Psalm 146, there is no salvation there. “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.” (Ps.146:3,4, New Living Translation) Human leaders only live for a few short years and then die and their plans die with them.

However, God has selected a leader who will never die and together with a group of associates, will bless all the families of the earth. We are speaking of Christ and his faithful followers, the church. Also described as a “little flock” or the “bride” of Christ, together with Jesus, they will be kings and priests and reign over the earth for 1,000 years.—Luke 12:32; Rev. 19:7,8; 20:6; 21:2,9

This kingdom will restore all the willing of mankind back to the perfection, everlasting life and harmony with God that Adam and Eve
enjoyed before they disobeyed in Eden. This opportunity will be available to all human beings that have ever lived.

Jesus prophesied in John 5:28,29 (NLT): “Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.”

This judgment will not condemn man for what he did in this life. No, man will be judged in Christ’s kingdom for what he does then, after his eyes have been opened to God and been taught God’s principles of righteousness. Isaiah prophesied, “For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.”—Isa. 26:9, NASB

Rev. 20:13,12 (NASB) explains how this will work: “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.”

Jesus described this judgment in the parable of the sheep and the goats found in Matt. 25:31-46. The sheep represent those of mankind who successfully learn God’s righteousness and demonstrate it through their love for their fellow man. “‘When did we [sheep] see You [Jesus] a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” (Matt. 25:38-40, NASB) By their love for their fellow man, they will gain everlasting life.

What will convince man to abandon the ways of evil, pride, disobedience and selfishness that so prevail in today’s society? It will be the overwhelming blessings of Christ’s kingdom that will soften man’s heart and enable him to love his brother, regardless of ethnicity or background. Psalms 146:7-9, (NASB) describes some of these blessings. [God] “Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises up those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous; The Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked.”

Because of Jesus’ faithful sacrifice unto death, God will remove the oppression of sin and death from all mankind allowing them to be raised from the dead. Likewise, he will remove the oppression of Satan, the rich and the powerful off the backs of the poor. (Isa. 65:22) None will be hungry either for temporal food or God’s truth. (Isa. 25:6) God will set the entire human family free—from the grave, illness, darkness, lies and superstition of this present evil world. (Isa. 60:2,3) God will heal both man’s literal blindness as well as his spiritual blindness. (Isa. 29:18) He will also heal the deaf, the lame, the mute and all of man’s physical ailments. (Isa. 35:5,6) In Christ’s kingdom, “no resident will say, ‘I am sick;’ The people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.”—Isa. 33:24, NASB

God will raise up those bowed down by the effects of sin. They will be able to stand before God in righteousness. God will love them for they will become his children. “‘As I live!’ declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways!’” (Ezek. 33:11, NASB) All will have a chance to turn from wickedness and live forever.

In this kingdom, God will protect all, Jew and Gentile alike, the fatherless and the widow. But He will thwart the plans of the wicked, especially Satan. As a result, all creation will praise the Lord. “Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!” (Psa. 117:1,2, NASB) This result is only possible through the wisdom, love, justice and power of our Heavenly Father, the one who created the heavens and the earth and keeps his promises forever. —Psa. 146:6

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The Battle is the Lord’s

Doers of God’s Law

Does a Christian need to be only a hearer of the Gospel of Christ and accept it? The Apostle Paul wrote: “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.” (Rom. 2:13, English Standard Version) As these words indicate, walking in the Christian way requires being both “hearers” and “doers” of God’s law. By this the Christian will mature in faith and bring forth spiritual fruit. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. … and increase the fruits of your righteousness.”—II Cor. 9:8,10, New King James Version

An oft repeated theme in the Apostle Paul’s ministry is that none will be made righteous by works of the law. This has frequently been misunderstood by Christians to mean, “No works are required.” This has contributed to a misunderstanding. It is the works of the law given to Moses that will not, and cannot, make us righteous. However, being made righteous by faith in Christ and his shed blood, works will come forth. This is the fruit-bearing Jesus spoke of in the Gospel of John, and it is an evidence of our union with Christ and the working of his spirit within us. “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”—John 15:8, ESV

Faith is manifested in actions. Paul acknowledged this Christian ethic in I Corinthians 15:10. “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (ESV) Paul clearly understood the purpose of God’s grace manifested toward us. His grace makes our works of faith acceptable, even when they are inevitably stained by our human sinfulness and frailty.

James affirmed the relationship between our standing with God by faith and the consequent works that must accompany it. “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”—James 2:17,18, NKJV

James affirmed the relationship between our standing with God by faith and the consequent works that must accompany it. “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”—James 2:17,18, NKJV

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Our Lord’s Memorial – A New Feast

For Christians the holiest time of the year is the commemoration of Jesus’ death and the resurrection. They understand Jesus’ willing
and perfect sacrifice satisfied God’s justice for Adam’s disobedience that brought the condemnation of sin and death upon all mankind. Through Jesus’ acceptable sacrifice, in due time the curse of death would be lifted and a resurrection of the dead would take place. “For since by man [Adam] came death, by man [Jesus] came also the resurrection of the dead.”—1 Cor 15:21

To redeem Adam, Jesus had to become flesh and as a perfect man, take Adam’s place in death. He would need to be a ransom for Adam—a perfect life for a perfect life. “The Son of man came … to give his life a ransom for many.”—Matt. 20:8

The night before his death, Jesus and his apostles gathered in an upper room to celebrate the Passover supper which commemorated Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage. This deliverance came via the tenth plague God brought upon Egypt—death of the firstborn. Jesus desired to eat this Passover with them knowing this would be his last night on earth with his apostles. He still had lessons to teach them before he returned to the Father.—John 16:12

In one lesson Jesus washed his disciples’ feet showing them to care and sacrifice for one another. (John 13:3-17) Another lesson was to love one another as he had loved them. (John 13:34,35) That same night Judas betrayed Jesus to the Jewish leaders who had him arrested, tried, and put to death. It was a life-changing night for the apostles and all those who would become followers of Jesus.

The Passover supper Jesus and the apostles celebrated foreshadowed Jesus’ death the next day. This fulfilled Jesus’ statement: “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Jesus was “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”—John 1:29

Following the Passover supper, Jesus instituted a new feast for his disciples to observe. (Matt. 26:26-28 New American Standard Bible)
“While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.’”

Jesus’ mission to die as a ransom for Adam was about to be completed. He was the fulfillment of the Passover lamb whose blood protected the Jewish firstborn from the tenth plague. While the tenth plague led to Israel’s release from Egyptian bondage, Jesus’ sacrifice would release Israel and mankind from the penalty of sin and death. “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22) Through Christ’s sacrifice, all that are in the grave will hear Jesus’ voice and come forth to an opportunity for everlasting life.—John 5:28,29

Jesus instituted this new feast in remembrance of his death. “Do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:25 NASB) Remembering Jesus’ actual death would replace remembering the Passover lamb which pictured Jesus.

What was the meaning of the bread and the cup which our Lord used in this new feast? These symbols mirrored the flesh and blood of the Passover lamb and Jesus’ statement in John 6:54-56 (NASB): “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. … He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” The bread and cup represent the benefits Jesus’ sacrifice and death made available to all mankind.

The bread represented Jesus body or flesh. “This is my body.” (Matt. 26:26) But how do we eat Jesus’ body? The Passover lamb’s flesh was eaten by Israel during the Passover night. This gives us a hint. Additionally, Jesus said in John 6:63 (NASB): “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” We cannot eat Jesus’ literal flesh but we can feast on his words and example. Jesus abides in us through his word. “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” (Col. 3:16 NASB) If Jesus words and example abide in us, we will bring forth much fruit.—John 15:5,7,8

The second part of this new feast was the drinking of the cup. What was in the cup? Jesus’ blood of the new testament [covenant]. (Matt. 26:28) But how do we drink Jesus’ blood? The Passover lamb’s blood was splashed on the doorposts and lentils of the Jewish homes in Egypt protecting their firstborn from the 10th plague. This gives us a hint. It is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all sin and protects us as members of the church of the firstborn. (1 John 1:7; Heb. 12:23) By accepting Jesus as our Savior, we are justified or made right in God’s sight by his blood. (Rom. 5:9) This is how we abide in Jesus, by maintaining our faith in his blood as the ransom for Adam.

What is meant by the new covenant in Jesus’ blood? (Luke 22:20 NASB) When the Israelites rejected Jesus, their house was “left unto them desolate.” (Matt. 23:38) But God promised them a future, new arrangement in Jer. 31:31-34. “‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, … ‘I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. … for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.’” Israel was to be the first blessed under the covenant and an example to the other nations who would then flow unto her to learn of God and be blessed as well. “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” —Zech. 8:23 NASB

God sent Jesus, the promised Messiah, to redeem mankind and especially his chosen people the nation of Israel. (Amos 3:2) By Jesus’ willing and faithful sacrifice, the promise of restoring God’s chosen people to favor and life could be fulfilled. No longer would Israel be condemned under the Law Covenant because their fallen flesh could never keep its law perfectly. Under the New Covenant, God would write his law in their hearts and make them his people. Under the New Covenant, God would give to them a pure language so they would turn and worship God and he would bless them and be their God.—Zeph. 3:9

As the world observes Israel’s blessings under the New Covenant, they will come to the LORD to be blessed as well. “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

The blood of Jesus, pictured by the cup, was an offering for sin. As a sin offering, Jesus took Adam’s place taking Adam’s condemnation of sin and death upon himself. (2 Cor. 5:21) Jesus knew that his suffering and death as a man was required to provide for man’s and Israel’s redemption. (Isa. 53:4-6) His perfect human life, pictured by his blood in the cup, made it possible for the New Covenant to become operational in the Heavenly Father’s due time.

Why not put the New Covenant into effect immediately after Jesus was resurrected? God’s plan was that Jesus would have associates in administering the New Covenant. “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, … so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. … Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. (1 Cor. 12:12-13,27 NASB) By offering the bread and cup to his apostles, Jesus was offering to them the opportunity to become part of this group, his body. This opportunity is still open. All who come into covenant relationship with Jesus, by faith in his shed blood and being baptized into his death, thereby participate in his sacrifice and become members of his body. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” (Rom. 6:3 NASB) “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him.”—2 Tim. 2:11,12 NASB

The Lord is using the time between his first and second advents to select and develop his body members in preparation for the New Covenant. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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.” (Rom. 8:16,17) These will become a spiritual priesthood that will bless Israel and the world of mankind under the New Covenant, being prepared as “able ministers” of the New Covenant. (2 Cor. 3:6) This priesthood will be a sympathetic one, having had the same experiences as men, but having been obedient to God’s commands as was their head, Jesus. The entire priesthood, Christ and his body members, will then be able to teach mankind how to conquer iniquity in their hearts so they can become God’s people under the New Covenant and pass the test for everlasting life. Then, the human family will once again be in harmony with their God.—1 Cor. 15:24-28

This is the reason why our Lord Jesus gave up his heavenly position, was made flesh and then suffered and died—to redeem Adam and all his descendants from sin and death. He “brought life (for Israel and mankind under the New Covenant) and immortality (through baptism into Jesus’ death) to light through the Gospel. (2 Tim. 1:10 NASB) As we remember the great sacrifice of Jesus, “Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor. 5:8 NASB) Let us abide in Christ through faith in his blood and have his words abide in us that we may bear much fruit. (John 15:4,57) Let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and let us partake worthily of this new feast set before us by our Lord and Master Christ Jesus.

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“In the Last Days …”

The Apostle Paul described our day in 2 Tim. 3:1-4 (New American Standard Bible): “In the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” This describes the attitude of many people, particularly mankind’s leaders.

These are the last days of this present evil world, under the control of Satan, the god of this world. (Gal. 1:4; 2 Cor. 4:4) Jesus has returned, as a thief in the night, to wrestle control of this world out from Satan’s hands. Ultimately, Jesus will bind Satan for 1,000 years so he might “not deceive the nations any longer.”—Rev. 20:1-3 (NASB)

Jesus said, “How can anyone enter the strong man’s [Satan’s] house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.” (Matt. 12:28,29 NASB) Jesus has returned to bind Satan and then, carry off the human family, currently Satan’s house through deception, bringing them back to God.

But this transition to Christ’s earthly kingdom will be difficult. Peter writes, “The day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” (2 Pet. 3:10 NASB) We are in the day of the LORD. The symbolic heavens [church systems] are being destroyed and the elements, earth and its works [this world’s financial, social and political institutions] are being burned up or destroyed. They must all be swept away to make room for Christ’s perfect, righteous, earthly kingdom so man can be taught righteousness and brought back to harmony with God.

This transition is described in Psa. 2:1-3 (NASB): “Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!’” From the Ukraine war to Israel’s fight with Hamas, from the rivalry between the US and China to the struggle over immigration, inflation and people’s rights, the nations and the peoples are in an uproar. They are struggling against one another for solutions to these many intractable problems.

But they are also struggling against the establishment of Christ’s earthly kingdom which will solve all of these problems. Nevertheless, God has selected His king, our Lord Jesus, during Jesus’ first advent and is now installing Jesus as king, upon God’s holy hill of Zion. Zion pictures Jesus’ resurrected followers, the church of the first-born. (Heb. 12:22,23; Rev. 14:1). Once that process is complete, God will give the nations to Jesus as his inheritance, because Jesus purchased them with the sacrifice of his perfect human life nearly 2,000 years ago.

God is shaking the nations and then, the desire of all nations, Christ’s earthly kingdom, will come. (Haggai 2:7) Paul describes this desire, “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God (Christ’s kingdom). … that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Rom 8:19,21 NASB) Mankind wants to be free from its slavery to sin, sickness and death and that is what Christ’s earthly kingdom will bring.

This promised kingdom revolves around regathering the Jewish people to their promised land, Canaan, because Christ’s earthly kingdom begins with God making a New Covenant with the house of Israel and Judah. (Jer. 31:31-34) Paul writes, “What will their [Jewish people] acceptance be [back to God under the New Covenant] but life from the dead?” (Rom 11:15 NASB) This is resurrection of the dead Jesus promised in John 5:28,29. This resurrection will offer every human being who has ever lived the opportunity for everlasting life here upon the earth through obedience to the laws of Christ’s earthly kingdom. God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”—1 Tim. 2:4 King James Version

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Fixing the Death and Birth Date of Christ

Our first parents disobeyed the Lord’s command and put the human race into a dying condition. (Genesis 2:16,17; 3:17-19) However, God promised a seed (heir) that would destroy Satan (Genesis 3:15). This meant man’s return to favor with God, and no more death. Death would be swallowed up in victory.—Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:54

Eve hoped that her son Cain would be the promised seed. Thus, she named him Cain which means acquired. Little did Adam and Eve know that it would be thousands of years before the promised seed would come to save mankind. Several Millennia later, the prophet Daniel prayed for an understanding of the vision God had given him. The Angel Gabriel was sent to Daniel to explain the vision so Daniel could record it.—Daniel 9:23

God’s due time for the seed’s arrival is shown in this prophecy of the Seventy Weeks found in Daniel chapter 9. “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”—Daniel 9:24-25

Here, the time length for fulfilment of the vision (prophecy) regarding Messiah’s coming was 70 weeks. The rebuilding of the walls at Jerusalem establishes the prophecy’s starting point. Bible chronology shows us this rebuilding of the walls and the city was accomplished in 454 B.C. Next, the prophecy tells us the overall time period covered is 70 weeks or 490 days. Numbers 14:34 reveals the concept that in time prophecies, each day represents a calendar year. “After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years.” With a starting point is 454 B.C., the Prophecy (490 years) would end in 36 AD.

Now, the focus of this prophecy is the coming of the Messiah, culminating in the death of our Lord Jesus on the cross. God made it possible for our Lord to become the satisfaction of justice for Adam’s sin by preparing a perfect human body for him. (Hebrews 10:5) This allowed Jesus to give his earthly life as a ransom for Adam releasing him and his descendants from the condemnation of death. “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: … And he shall confirm the covenant with many [in Israel] for one week.” (Daniel 9:26-27) Daniel 9:25 tells us that the vision was for seven and 62 weeks or 69 weeks. Thus, in the 483rd year of the prophecy, at age 30, Jesus was baptized at the Jordan river becoming Israel’s Messiah. For the next 3½ years he preached the good news of the Gospel—the promised ransom, restitution and resurrection of all mankind. His death—Messiah being cutoff—took place “in the midst” of week 69, or year 486 of the prophecy—Friday, April 3rd, 33 AD.

Confirming this, Caesar’s decree for the census was B.C. 2. Thus, Jesus was born around September 29 of that year. He was baptized and began his ministry 30 years later—29 AD. Jesus was killed after 3½ years later, in the midst of the prophecy’s last weed—33 AD. Thus, the Scriptures provide the true dates for Jesus’ birth and death.

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Violence in the Middle East

Once again violence has taken place in the Middle East, this time between Israel and Hamas. On October 7th, over 1,000 Hamas militants invaded Israel and killed over 1,300 Israelis. Hamas’ avowed mission is to destroy Israel and “raise the banner of Allah over each inch of Palestine.”

What do the Scriptures say about such an effort? Will Hamas succeed? How will Israel and its few allies hold back such an onslaught?

The prophet Isaish wrote, “Behold, I [God] will gather them [Jewish people] out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, in My wrath and in great indignation; and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety. … I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; …  I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.—Jeremiah 32:37,40,41 New American Standard Bible NASB 

Israel was driven away from the promised land (modern-day Palestine) because of their disobedience to God and their rejection of the Messiah, Jesus. Jesus prophesied this in Matthew 23:37-38 NASB: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, … How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.  Behold, your house is being left to you desolate!” He added in Luke 21:24 NASB: “Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

Israel’s punishment was to be only temporary as the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 11:25-27 NASB: “For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery … that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;  and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” While Israel lost their relationship with God under the Law Covenant due to disobedience, they were not cast off forever. God promised to re-gather them from all the lands to which He had scattered them and make with them a new, an everlasting covenant.

“’Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,  not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,’ declares the LORD.  ‘But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more’”—Jeremiah 31:31-34 NASB 

The apostle Paul quoted this prophecy in Hebrews chapter 8 adding that Jesus is the one who makes this covenant possible. “We have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, … But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.  For if that first [Law] covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.  For finding fault with them [Jewish people], He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH.” (Hebrews 8:1,6-8 NASB) Because of their imperfection, the Jewish people could not keep the first covenant, established at Mt. Sinai. They needed a better high priest and a better sacrifice—a ransom for Adam—to be cleansed from sin so they can come back into harmony with God. Jesus provided that better sacrifice with his death on the cross and as a result, became that better high priest. As that high priest, Jesus is the guarantor and mediator of a better covenant, the New Covenant under which Israel and eventually, all mankind will be cleansed from sin and re-gathered to God.  

Since 1878, God has been re-gathering the Jewish people back to their promised land in preparation for the establishment of this New covenant. When this covenant is established with Israel, Paul writes, “What will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11:15 NASB) The New Covenant will result in the resurrection of all mankind from the grave, both Jew and Gentile.

Now we see the Jewish people being re-gathered to their promised homeland. While the heathen, particularly Hamas and others rage against it, it is a sign that God’s plan for man’s salvation is progressing toward the promised result of blessing all the families of the earth. (Psalm 2:1-9; Genesis 22:16-18) God’s plan to re-gather Israel to their homeland and bring them back into harmony with himself, will not be thwarted by Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran or any earthly nation or organization. Neither will it be thwarted by spiritual wickedness in high places—Satan and the fallen angels.—Ephesians 6:11-12

By re-gathering Israel back to the promised land and establishing a New Covenant with them, “’I [God] will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, … Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘when I prove Myself holy among you [Jewish people] in their sight.  For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.’”—Ezekiel 36:23-28 NASB 

God has promised in this re-gathering of Israel that they will never be uprooted again. “‘I will bring My exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. … I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,’ says the LORD your God.” (Amos 9:14-15 New Living Translation NLT) “They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with My own hands in order to bring Myself glory.” (Isaiah 60:21 NLT) “They will live in the land I gave My servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren after them will live there forever, generation after generation.”—Ezekiel 37:25 NLT

How we long for these wonderful promises to be fulfilled for they will mark the end of man’s nighttime of sorrow and death and the beginning of a bright, new day in the experience of all mankind, both Jew and Gentile.

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Observing the Vision of the Last Days

Paul tells Timothy “that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”—2 Timothy 3:1-5, New Living Translation

Perhaps Paul is looking back to Proverbs Chapter 29 and verse 18 where Solomon is writing prophetically saying “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is one who keeps the Law.” When we include verse 16 with verse 18, we get a clear vison and timing of what Paul calls the last days: “When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes, but the godly will live to see their downfall. When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.”—NLT

According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word in Prov. 29:18 translated “vision” is H2372 châzôn (khaw-zone’) and means “a sight mentally, revelation, dream, or oracle.” The meaning of vision here in Proverbs is a prophecy and all Biblical prophecy is from God.

With the vision so clearly stated, why doesn’t mankind recognize their sin-sick condition, repent and turn to the Lord? We are told by our Lord Jesus that at this time, the deep things of God are meant for those in relationship with Jehovah. Jesus told his disciples, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. … This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’” (Matthew 13:11,14-15 NLT) Here, Jesus was quoting from Isaiah 6:9-10. Just think of how far the hearts of the Israelites were from God when while expecting the Messiah, they could not recognize Jesus as he walked among them. How much worse is the condition of the people in our day!

When Jesus was asked for a sign, he told the scribes and Pharisees that they were an “evil generation.” (Luke 11:29) He added that in the days of his return or the last days, it would be like in the days of Noah and Sodom. Mankind will be drinking, taking in marriage and doing all sorts of immoral acts and they will not see their destruction or repent of their ways. (Luke 17:26-33). Daniel adds, “the wicked will not understand the vision but the wise will understand.”—Daniel 12:10

Thus, to all those who would desire to be of the wise class spoken of by Daniel, and to understand the vision or prophecy of these last days, you must come into covenant relationship with the Heavenly Father, be found desiring to understand God’s word, striving to develop a Christ-like character and following the law of Love. These will be able to observe, through the calamity, the signs of the establishment of Christ’s kingdom here on earth and have great joy.—Psalm 50:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; Philippians 2:5; Romans 13:1

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A Word in Disarray

Artificial Intelligence vs the Mind of God

One of the most discussed topics in today’s world of technology is Artificial Intelligence, often referred to simply by its initials “AI.” Briefly stated, Artificial Intelligence is defined as the ability of machines to perform tasks that are typically associated with human thinking and intellect. Whether we realize it or not, most of us are users of AI in some limited way. When we search the Internet, watch a YouTube video, shop on Amazon, use voice recognition tools such as Siri and Alexa, or operate a self-driving car, we are often influenced, unknowingly perhaps, by Artificial Intelligence.

Such uses, as well as others, can prove to be of assistance to people in today’s technology-focused world. However, there are limitations to the value and validity of Artificial Intelligence applications. These limitations stem primarily from the fact that, ultimately, humans are responsible for the decisions made by AI systems. Are these decisions fair, ethical, transparent, and accountable? Humans must also take responsibility for any “unintended consequences” from AI systems’ failures. In many cases, such shortcomings of an AI application may require only minor adjustments. However, in a worst-case scenario, an AI failure could be catastrophic for an individual or for the masses.

At a more detailed level, the limitations of Artificial Intelligence can best be identified in three ways.  First, an AI system, developed and “trained” by humans, is only as good as the initial data put into it to act as its training. AI decisions and actions can be biased or flawed if the data it is given by their human trainers is likewise biased or flawed. Second, AI lacks emotional intelligence since it cannot factor human emotions, sentiments and mindsets into its decision-making. Third, although organizations are increasingly mindful of the need for adopting AI innovation, they often fail to approach it from a strategic, business-model, point of view.

The bottom line regarding Artificial Intelligence is that, given the limited and often faulty nature of human reasoning in this present sinful world, faith in the benefits of AI comes with a host of restrictions and cautions.

On the other hand, faith in the Almighty God of the Bible, the Creator of the universe, should be unwavering and limitless. God’s supreme intelligence, as well as his perfect character in the use of that intelligence, is not only far above that of any AI application, but also, far superior to any human mind which has designed these systems.

We note these powerful Scriptures: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8,9) “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” (Rom. 11:33,34) “Where wast thou [Job] when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof?”—Job 38:4-6

Thanks be to God that there neither has been, nor ever will be, any “unintended consequences” from the results of his intelligence. It is based upon his four supreme and unwavering character attributes: his foundation of justice, his infinite wisdom, his boundless love, and his almighty power. Indeed, “Faith can firmly trust him, come what may!”

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Signposts of Our Lord’s Return

The two most important events in world history are the first and second advents of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Wouldn’t you agree? Jesus’ disciples asked him an important question in Matthew 24:3: “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (Greek aion – age)?” As we consider the second coming of our Lord, we look at the scriptures and find something very interesting in the Greek of the New Testament. Did you know that according to the Rotherham Bible, the Greek word “parousia” typically translated “coming” in English language Bibles should be translated “presence” in most cases? Does it make a difference? Absolutely.

If I asked you if your spouse or friend was on their way home (coming) or if they were at the door of your home (presence), there would certainly be a shift in meaning. One is you’re on your way and the other is you’re there already. In the Rotherham’s Bible appendix, p. 271, it says that the original Greek word “parousia” being translated “coming” in Matt. 24:3 (and 21 other times in the New Testament) is obviously wrong. For example, in 2 Corinthians 10:10,“parousia” clearly means presence. In 2 Corinthians 10:10, the translators couldn’t translate the Greek word as “coming” because it would have been absurd to do so. Here, Paul is contrasting his bodily presence with his absence to the Corinthians. Paul is contrasting his bodily “presence” with his being away and writing letters to them. Neither in Philippians 2:12 could the translators substitute “coming” for “parousia.” The verse reads, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence (parousia) only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” “Presence” for the Greek “parousia” is obviously the only correct word choice. Not “coming”! Therefore, the question arises, why not always translate the Greek word “parousia” as “presence”?

Thus, the question Jesus’ disciples were asking him in Matt. 24 was, “what shall be the sign of thy presence”? Jesus could have answered, “Well, just look for me in the sky” – but he did not. Why? Because Jesus also said in John 14:19, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me (Greek: “to be a spectator”) no more.” That is a plain statement. The world sees Jesus NO MORE! Thus, Jesus said in the verses following in Matt. 24:3, do not be in too much of a hurry. A lot of events and time will pass before you see me again.

But since Jesus gave up his perfect human life as a ransom for all (I Tim. 2:5-6), he will not be taking it back again as a human being. Although Jesus appeared as a man several times after his resurrection (Matt. 28:9,10,16-20; Luke 24:15-31,36-51; John 20:14-23,26-29), his disappearance at the end of each showed that he was no longer human but a great spirit being, whose appearance in his spiritual glory blinded Saul of Tarsus. (Acts 9:3-8) Jesus will NOT fly through the sky in a rapture scenario for the world to see.

Instead, we will have to look for the signs of his invisible presence because he will never return as a human being again.  Even Paul told the Thessalonians in 2 Thess. 2:2, something quite similar when confronting those who were teaching that the “day of Christ” had already come. Paul could have said, “Christ could not be here yet, otherwise you would see him in the clouds.” That would have been a simple answer to their mistaken assumption. Instead, in verse 3 Paul gave them two signposts of events that would have to take place before Christ’s day would come and Jesus’ returned. Those signposts would be (1) a falling away of the faith and (2) the man of sin being revealed.

There are many signposts of Christ’s presence in the world today. Israel, returning to their land after 26 centuries, is a huge signpost (Daniel 12:1; Matt. 24:32,33). A time of trouble such as never was before in the world was prophesied by both Daniel (Daniel 12:1) and Jesus (Matt. 24:21,22) as another signpost. Daniel prophesied knowledge being incredibly increased, and travel being dramatically increased as well as signposts (Daniel 12:4). When reading Daniel 12: 1-4, recognize that Daniel’s people were Israel.

Most of the world and Christianity are in the dark regarding our Lord’s return. However, if you would like to walk in the light of what the scriptures give us as signposts of our Lord’s invisible return, we offer the booklet “Our Lord’s Return” listed below. For a more in-depth study, we offer the books The Divine Plan of the Ages and The Time is at Hand, both from the series Studies in the Scriptures. See the advertisements for these under the Books listed on our website.

May the eyes of your understanding be opened to this great truth is our prayer. Amen.

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Christianity at a Crossroads?

It seems as if Christianity is at a crossroads. Some promote “Christian nationalism” while others mix politics and the Christian faith. Christianity is being pulled into such conflicts as gender identity and racial, social and income inequality. How should the follower of Jesus navigate these conflicts?

Shortly before his death, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “What shall be the sign of thy presence and of the end of the age?” (Matt. 24:3 Revised Version Improved Corrected) How would they know when Jesus had returned? In his response Jesus said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be thereafter. And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt. 24:21,22 RVIC) Jesus’ return would be identified by a great time of trouble.

Daniel prophesied about this same trouble in Dan. 12:1, New American Standard Bible: “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.” Michael (Christ) would stand up (return) and begin the process of bringing “the sons of your people” (Jewish people) back to their homeland. The reestablishment of Israel fulfilled this. At this time, Jesus would also reward his followers, “everyone who is found written in the book” with a resurrection to the spiritual home he promised them.—John 14:2,3

Peter described this troubled time: “The day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10, NASB) The returned Jesus is bringing this present evil world of which Satan is the prince, to an end so he can replace it with his earthly kingdom. (Gal. 1:4; 2 Cor. 4:4) “But according to his promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth (Christ’s earthly kingdom), in which righteousness dwells.”—2 Peter 3:13, NASB
Meanwhile, there is a great separation taking place in Christianity. The parable of the wheat and the tares promises the tares (imitation Christians) would be separated from the true Christians, grouped together in bundles, and exposed as imposters. (Matt. 13:23-30,36-43) Similarly, Jesus’ parable of the dragnet describes a great separation between true, and imitation Christians at this time. (Matt. 13:47-50) The conflicts mentioned above are doing that separation.

Not everyone today, who says they are a Christian, is a true follower of Jesus. In this trouble, the true Christians will be separated from the false and receive the great spiritual reward God has promised. The imposters will have a chance for an earthly salvation in Christ’s kingdom.—1 Cor. 2:9; 1 John 3:2

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