

## God's Plan for Your Future

### Purpose, History, and Destiny of Humanity as Revealed in Scripture

## David Charles Cole

Copyright 2015 by David Charles Cole.

6th Edition April 2020.

ISBN 978-0-692-42236-6

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold but it may be given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please consider purchasing an additional copy for each recipient.

Scripture taken from the King James Version and Young's Literal Translation, both in the public domain, and the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover

Ascending Spirit (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

Background courtesy morgueFile.com.

Design elements from stained glass windows,

St. John's Anglican Church, Boerne, Texas.

Wood Cut from Original 1611 King James Bible
Table of Contents

About the Author

Note from The Author Acknowledgments Preface

Introduction

THE GROWTH OF A NATION

Chapter 1: In the Beginning

Creation of The Universe, Man, And Woman

Presence of Evil and the Gap Theory

"In Our Image, After Our Likeness"

The Fall of Man and Woman

The Sabbath Belongs to the Lord

Cain and Abel

Noah and the Ark

Chapter 2: The People of God

The Family of Abraham

God's Chosen People

Jacob, Joseph, Moses, The Exodus, And Joshua

Moses and the Law

The Promised Land: What, Why, When?

Yahweh And Monotheism

King David and the Holy City

The Prophets

A Divided Kingdom – Israel and Judah

Israel Is Defeated – The People Scattered

Judah Is Defeated – The Babylonian Exile

Daniel's "Seventy Weeks of Years"

Permission to Return and Rebuild the Temple

Apocrypha and The Books of Maccabees

"The Silent Years"

THE CHURCH AGE

Chapter 3: The Coming of the Messiah

A Scepter Shall Rise Out of Israel

God's Covenants with Mankind

The Anticipated Messiah

Birth of Jesus

His Coming Was Foretold

Epiphany – Witnesses to the World

Christ On Earth – Fully Human, Fully Divine

The Early Years

A Light to the Nations

What is Truth?

His Baptism

Acts and Signs

Remission from the Law

Sermon on the Mount

Parables and Their Understanding

The Transfiguration

The Final Week

Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem

Olivet Discourse

"Last Supper" and The Garden of Gethsemane

"I Must Go Away"

The Crucifixion

Doubters, Then and Now

Fate and Freewill

Chapter 4: The Resurrection and Ascension

"He Descended Into Hell"

"First Fruits"

The Risen Christ Appears to Many

The Ascension

Pentecost – The Coming of The Spirit

Redemption, Atonement, Justification, Salvation

Paul The Apostle – "Father of Christianity"?

Replacement Theology

Chapter 5: The Present Interval

Satan – "Prince of The World"

Jews Are Blinded to The Word

Jerusalem is Destroyed – The People Scattered

Pollution of Scripture

Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment

Return to the Land (1948) and Jerusalem (1967)

The Interval Will End Without Warning

THE END TIME

Chapter 6: The Faithful Will Be with God

Bride and Bridegroom

Doctrine of Election

Faith and Belief

Faith and Works

Faith – A Gift of Grace

Forfeiting Grace – Blaspheming the Spirit

Confessing Our Sins

Repentance

Blessings to Those Who Overcome

Certainty of Resurrection

Rapture of The Faithful

Chapter 7: Things That Must Yet Come

Overview

Beginning of The End

Sorrows to Precede Christ's Return

Appearance of The Antichrist

The Third Temple

Abomination of Desolation

144,000 Are Chosen to Serve the Lord

Translation of the Living

Time of Jacob's Trouble

Chapter 8: Vengeance of the Lord

Assurance to the Faithful

Prophecy of the Wrath – The Day of The Lord

Christ and His Warrior Angels

Armageddon

All Who Call on the Lord Are Saved

The Remnant

Chapter 9: The Second Coming and The Millennium

Return of the Messiah

A Millennium of Peace

Defeat and Destruction of Satan

Heaven and Hell – Are They Real?

The Judgments

Second Death

A New Heaven and a New Earth

Chapter 10: What Follows Death?

Body, Soul, And Spirit

God and Classical Physics

Death is a Transition

The Soul and Time

Spiritual Bodies

Purgatory and Limbo

What About Fluffy?

Chapter 11: The Kingdom to Come

The Kingdom of God Has Come

Water of Life, Living Waters, and River of Life

"Be Warned – He Is Coming Soon"

Chapter 12: Epilogue

What Is Life All About?

How Should a Christian Live?

APPENDICIES

I. Creation, Evolution, Golden Ratio, Anthropic Principle, Singularity

II. Books of Hebrew Scripture and The New Testament

III. Genealogy—Jesus and The House of David

IV. Astrology, Occult, Demons, and False Prophets

V. Why Do the Good Suffer? Coping with Fear and Worry

VI. A Bible for the People

VII. Issues Facing Christianity Today – Viewpoint

Serial Marriage and Abortion

The Human Heart Without the Spirit

"God Hates Sin, But Loves the Sinner"

The Misuse of Scripture

Plucking Verses from Scripture

Churches That Seek to Amuse

Spreading the Word

The Spirit and Wealth

The Fall of Empires and Nations

"The Separation of Church and State"

The Instruction of Children

The Nicene Creed

The Apostles' Creed

Venite

The Kingdom To Come

# About the Author

David Charles Cole (Colonel, United States Air Force, Ret.) served as Principle Director of Communication at The Aerospace Corporation in Los Angeles; Commander of the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service Broadcast Center in Hollywood; and Director of Public Affairs operations for all United States and NATO Air Forces in Europe.

David holds a BA in the Humanities from Hobart College, Geneva, New York; an MA from the University of Oklahoma School of Journalism. He also completed graduate study at the UCLA School of Business; Boston University School of Public Relations /Communications; The Royal College, Cranwell, England; and Haus Rissen School of International Study, Hamburg, Germany. He mentors abused and abandoned children in the care of Father Flanagan's Girls and Boys Town in San Antonio and leads Bible study groups of all ages. Presented 2006 San Antonio _Spirit of Family Award_. David can be reached through godsplanforyourfuture.org.

Without faith it is impossible to please Him:

For he that comes to God must believe

that He is, and that He rewards those

that diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

#  Note from the Author

I have observed many cultural and social changes during my eighty-three years. When I was young, moral and ethical standards based on Scripture were routinely taught in homes and schools. People understood and adhered to a common set of scriptural guidelines on what was right and wrong.

Now, the situation is different. Bible-based tenets have fallen out of fashion. Its teachings are even ridiculed by some, creating an environment without common standards. Traditional models of family and long-accepted attitudes concerning social intercourse, devotion, and behavior no longer apply.

Many today make life-altering choices without the benefit of sound guidance. Young adults regularly defer to peer pressure, making their choices based on canards such as: "If it feels good, it must be good," or, "Everyone is doing it." Those are not decision guidelines. They are excuses for bad choices often resulting in unfavorable consequences affecting lives and eternal destinies.

Scripture tells us every individual is unique, created by a loving God, full of potential and promise, charged with their own fate, and responsible before God for their choices. Most students in my first-year Bible study classes lacked the moral foundation and perspective Scripture provides. They are drifting along unaware that choices in life have eternal consequences. They don't realize that the soul is immortal, involved in a finite earthly experience on its journey from before time to beyond, and choices in life determine its destiny.

I wrote this book for those who want to know what Scripture reveals about their future. It provides a sweeping survey of key verses drawn from Hebrew and Christian Scripture grouped by subject and accompanied by useful commentary.

To provide the necessary background, the first two chapters of this book center on the history of the Jewish people and the lessons it teaches. The next two examine the profound implications of the earthly existence of Jesus Christ. The fifth deals with the interval of time in which we live. The next six detail what Scripture proclaims about what must happen in the years to come. The twelfth and final chapter summarizes what God expects of His created. Finally, seven appendices offer ancillary information on related topics. As a whole, the book is a package of knowledge that will help you control the destiny of your soul.

The seventeenth century philosopher Blaise Pascal reasoned that, since he could not know whether God was real or not, the practical thing to do was to wager that He exists because that can lead to eternal bliss. If he wagered against God's reality, he could experience unrestrained earthly pleasure, but if wrong, his sinful acts would merit eternal damnation. Paschal concluded it is better to believe.

Belief based on reason alone is insufficient. It is necessary to progress from belief that God exists to faith in His power to save. Studying the Word of God is a trustworthy pathway to faith (Romans 10:17) and God comforts those who seek Him (Luke 11:9-10). No soul should be put in jeopardy because of a personal lack of knowledge of Scripture.

God has a glorious plan for your future, but He needs your cooperation if it is going to succeed. Eternal salvation is within everyone's grasp. The decision to accept or reject the offer is a personal responsibility.

**REVELATION 3:20** "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in..."

My aim in writing this book is to help you hear and respond to His voice.

#  Acknowledgements

This undertaking was inspired by the expositional commentaries of Dr. Chuck Missler, who turned a love of teaching the Bible into a lifelong commitment. I am indebted to him for his thoughts and observations. He and his wife Nancy established Koinonia House, an organization dedicated to creating, developing, and distributing materials to stimulate, encourage, and facilitate serious study of the Bible as the inerrant Word of God. Koinonia House can be found on the Internet at www.khouse.org.

Special thanks to Reverend Donald Hughes, Rector, St. John's Anglican Church, Boerne, TX, for his advice; Arun Rana, Innovated Edge Solutions, for his graphic design assistance; Rabbi Joseph Zavala, Baruch HaShem, San Antonio, TX, for his counsel; Drs. William E. Sponsel, Jeremiah Brown, Fernando Trujillo, and Gary Penny for restoring my eyesight and lucidity, allowing me to complete this work; and to a trusty proofreader, my wife Nancy. Thanks also to the following for use of their illustrations: Compass International (Seventieth Week); The Mayo Clinic (Jesus' Final Walk); and Koinonia House (Abraham's Genealogy).

It is also proper to acknowledge the many unknown individuals involved in creating modern computers and word-processing software, without which this project would have been an impossible task.

Most humbly, I thank God for an amazing life and the influence of the Spirit in guiding my thoughts throughout this project.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime

were written for our learning,

that we, through patience and

comfort of the Scriptures,

might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

# Preface

The sixty-six books of the Bible are an integrated communication system. The sometimes complex, often mystical messages in each are fully understandable only when one is familiar with the contents of the others. Like a good detective novel, the clues are scattered throughout.

I decided many years ago to assemble and catalogue verses from the Old and New Testament under various topic headings. I began by collecting those dealing with Heaven. After sorting and reading them all, I discovered a uniformity that could not have occurred from random chance. This convinced me there must be such a place and it is nothing like the images I carried in my head for a lifetime. I next assembled relevant verses on a wide variety of subjects (e.g. Hell, Satan, Faith, End Time, etc.). Friends learned of my research and asked me to publish my findings. This book is the result.

I worked with the King James Version (KJV) published in 1611 by the Church of England, as it is still considered one of the most authoritative. Quotations lifted and used in this book have been modified slightly for clarity. In all cases, quoted material is referenced by chapter and verse to aid the reader. Antiquated KJV spelling and verbiage is replaced with what is in common use today (i.e. Savior for Saviour, shall for shalt, etc.). I also replaced "Holy Ghost" and "Holy Spirit" with "Spirit," as found in most later translations. The odd punctuation in the KJV, however, is left largely unchanged. Spirit, He, and Him are capitalized when referring to a member of the Trinity. "Messiah" is capitalized only when it applies to Jesus Christ.

"Believer" and the plural refer to those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Simply believing is not enough. Even demons "believe" in Him and acknowledge His power (Matthew 8:30-32). The "faithful", by contrast, are steadfast believers who trust in Him, repent, and intend to lead a new life as evidenced by their actions in the world (John 13:34-35; 1 John 2:29; 1 Peter 1:8-9). Belief is a function of the mind and often transitory; faith is a permanent condition of the heart, inspiring righteous action (James 2:18). It is not something suited to a lifestyle. It is a lifestyle.

I suggest keeping a personal Bible handy for reference purposes as you read this book. My favorite general-purpose Bible is either the Revised Standard Version (RSV) or the International Standard Version (ISV). Study Bibles with accompanying commentaries may prove helpful to some. Choose any Bible you are comfortable with, avoiding those translated into street vernacular, as contemporary wording can mask the message.

Scripture is more readily available today than at any prior point. On the Internet, biblegateway.com is an excellent site for chapter and verse searches; blueletterbible.org for subject matter searches, commentaries, and maps; and jewishvirtuallibrary.org for the history of Israel or a Jewish perspective. The websites khouse.org and firefighters.org offer reliable audio commentaries and other study tools.

This is a scholarly book rich in detail, best consumed in small doses. There is much material that is likely new to many. I suggest approaching each chapter with a highlighter in hand.

# Introduction

How reliable is the Bible as a source of truth? A great many people accept Scripture as the unwavering Word of God, literal in all it contains. Others consider it the inspired Word, truthful in its message, but not precise on every point. Some think it is neither.

Ask yourself what you think. Is Scripture 1) the unerring Word of God; 2) the inspired Word of God embellished by humans, yet still relevant; or 3) perhaps applicable to earlier generations but of little value today? As we go on, reconsider your hypothesis in light of what you learn. You might find your view changing as you come closer to God through the Word. My own view has matured over time, reaching the point where I now believe Scripture is the inspired Word of God given for our learning.

C. S. Lewis quipped that Hamlet could have known about Shakespeare only if the author wrote himself into the play. God did exactly that in the Bible.

Here are my beliefs concerning the authenticity and authority of Scripture.

SCRIPTURE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD

All Scripture is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16). It is a "user's manual" for mankind, designed to help us understand Him and what He expects of us. The Word is literal when quoted as spoken by God or the Son directly, or through the prophets.

"God said..." appears as early as Genesis 1:3 and is repeated ten times in the first chapter. "Thus said the Lord..." occurs more than 500 times in the first five books of Scripture (i.e. the Pentateuch or Torah), and nearly 300 times in the historical books and wisdom writings (i.e. Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Psalms, etc.). God is quoted directly more than 1,000 times in the writings of the Prophets.

A bit of leeway should be allowed, however, when reading I and II Samuel, I and II Kings, and I and II Chronicles, as hyperbole was likely employed to emphasize for the people that all things are possible with God at their side. Much of Hebrew Scripture was intended to unify the people and remind succeeding generations of the loving power of God. It is fair, therefore, to wonder if King Solomon actually had seven hundred foreign wives and three hundred concubines, or if such details are there to demonstrate his power and far reaching influence (1 Kings 11:1-7).

IT CONTAINS EVERYTHING NEEDED FOR SALVATION

Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the substance of salvation. That faith comes to individuals in various ways, but always through the inspiration of the Spirit. The study and understanding of Scripture is a pathway toward faith and, through faith, salvation.

**ROMANS 10:17** So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

IT IS THE SOURCE OF UNIVERSAL TRUTH

Jesus came into the world to testify to the truth (John 1:17, 14:6, 18:37) received from the Father (John 8:40). Scripture holds that truth. After His death, Jesus sent The Comforter (Spirit of truth) into the world to help the faithful understand and share that truth (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7).

IT COMES FROM OUTSIDE OUR TIME DOMAIN

God is not hostage to physical bounds. He is all powerful, multi-dimensional, everywhere at once, unconstrained by time and unaffected by the laws of physics. His message comes to us from outside our universe and time domain. The Bible is supernatural. The truthfulness of its prophecies has been validated in history.

IT HOLDS MANY ENCRYPTED MESSAGES

Scripture holds hundreds of references to the coming of Christ, many hidden from the casual reader. A wonderful example lies in the root meaning of Hebrew names in the line from Adam to Noah, here in parentheses: Adam ( _Man_ ), Seth ( _Appointed_ ), Enosh ( _Mortal_ ), Kenan ( _Sorrow_ ); Mahalalel ( _Blessed God_ ), Jared ( _Shall Come Down_ ), Enoch ( _Teaching_ ), Methuselah _(His Death Shall Bring_ ), Lamech ( _Despairing_ ), Noah ( _Rest, Comfort_ ). Read in order, they reveal an encoded prophecy of the coming Messiah: _Man (is) Appointed Mortal Sorrow; (but) Blessed God (Jesus) Shall Come Down Teaching His Death Shall Bring Despairing Rest (and) Comfort_. It is unreasonable to think that the original Jewish scribes and later copiers/translators intentionally encrypted the coming of Christ in the Torah! God did.

I am thankful to Dr. Chuck Missler of the Koinonia Institute for pointing out another example found in the first five books of Scripture. Starting with the first Hebrew letter in Genesis and Exodus, and sequencing to each 49th letter, you find the four-letter Hebrew word "TORH," the Hebrew spelling of the name of the five books. Doing the same in Numbers and Deuteronomy, you find the reverse, "HROT". Apply the 49-letter equidistant procedure to the third book Leviticus and the ineffable name of God appears, "YHVH." Therefore, the first two books point to the right, the last two to the left, with God's ancient Hebrew name at the nexus: the source from which all truth flows.

TORH => TORH => YHVH => HROT => HROT

In another example, "Yahweh," the name for God found in early Hebrew texts, is represented as a tetragrammaton composed of four letters and no vowels (YHVH): a Yod, Hey, Vav, and Hey. Each Hebrew letter has its own meaning. Yod represents a hand from the wrist to the fingertips. Hey means, "to behold", "show", or "reveal." Vav is masculine, meaning a nail, peg or hook, nailed or bound together. Hey again, "to behold", "show", or "reveal." Reading the Hebrew (right to left as in all Hebrew texts) God's name appears: "Behold the Nail" followed by "Behold the Hand" or synthesized, "Behold the nailed hand". Add the Hebrew meaning of "Yahweh" ( _Salvation_ ) and His nature is rendered, "Behold, the nailed hand is salvation."

Coincidence? A rabbi once told me, when it comes to Scripture there is no such thing. "Coincidence is not a kosher word." Faithful Jews and Christians view such occurrences as authenticating the spiritual nature of the text.

A computer scan won't reveal the term "Trinity" in Scripture, although it is at the heart of Christian belief. To unveil the consubstantial Godhead ( _Father, Son, Spirit_ ) one must combine Genesis 1:1 ( _God_ ), Genesis 1:26 (the plural adjective " _our_ "), John 1:2 (the _Son_ , "by whom all things were made"), and Luke 4:1 (the _Spirit_ that led the _Son_ ).

In the only clear reference to the Trinity, Jesus instructed His disciples, "Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).

IT REWARDS THE DILIGENT STUDENT

Hermeneutics is the study of individual understanding of written texts. In the case of the Bible, it is the relationship between the reader (individual presuppositions), and the text presented by the author (chapter and verse). The level of inspiration gained from Scripture is determined at the point where the intent of the author (God) intersects with the predispositions of the reader.

It is important to guard against exclusionary "truths" that might keep you from considering the unfamiliar. Put aside the Sunday school concept of a bearded Creator standing on a puffy white cloud (God is not flesh and bone, and there are no clouds in heaven); harp-strumming female angels (only male angels are identified in Scripture); or even three kings visiting the newborn baby Jesus (they were not kings, the number is unknown, and Scripture points to Jesus being nearly two years old at the time of the visit).

Scripture declares different things to different people. This is particularly true when dealing with the many rhetorical devices (e.g. parables, similitudes, models, idioms, metaphors, analogies, allegories, etc.). "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings shall you trust," (Psalm 91:3-4) is not intended to signify God is a bird.

There are many double or triple references, verses applicable to the time that also serve as prophecy. Ezekiel (36:22-27) and Jeremiah (23:1-4) both address the return of the people from the Babylonian exile. The verses can also be understood to relate to the return of Jews to the land in 1948, and the final gathering of His people in the End Time.

" **HE WHO HAS EARS, LET HIM HEAR"**

"Hear ye, hear ye" calls the Town Crier before sharing an important message. The loudspeaker announcement begins, "May I have your attention, please?" A professor stomps the floor during a lecture indicating a point that will be on the final exam.

These and other techniques draw attention to something special. Jesus did the same when He said, "Verily, verily I say unto you ...", "Truly I say unto you" and, most particularly, "He that has ears to hear, let him hear." In prophecy, watch especially for the alert, "lift up your eyes."

Near the end of His ministry, Jesus spoke in parables not understandable by anyone unprepared to receive the Word. Only those of faith (with the Spirit) could comprehend the message (Matthew 13:10-23).

Failing to trust the Word of God and its authority is the first step in a dangerous spiral into sin. Satan placed doubt about what God had said into Eve's heart (Genesis 3:3-4) causing her to act against His will, with fatal consequences for humanity.

#  THE GROWTH OF A NATION

#  Chapter 1: In the Beginning

Nearly everyone begins reading a good book with the first chapter, allowing excitement to build to a climax in the final pages. The Bible should be read in the same way. Each of the sixty-six books is intended for our learning and ordered in a way that builds knowledge to the point we can grasp the power of the final prophecy. The many instructional stories recall the actions of those who did and did not abide by the will of God, and the resulting consequences.

Scripture begins with the creation of the cosmos and everything in it, seen and unseen. It next moves through the history of the Jewish people, recounts the life and death of our Lord and Savior, and ends with the Book of Revelation foretelling the inevitable climax of God's plan for mankind. The numerous antidotes tell us of real people who walked in antiquity, of their failures and triumphs. Each offers lessons on how we should or should not live in order to maintain a proper relationship with God.

Adam and Eve fell from a state of innocent obedience to God and entered a state of submission to the world. They misused God's gift of freewill, spurned a close fellowship with the Father, and entered into a state of evil self-centeredness. This rebellion occasioned the loss of the Spirit God breathed into their souls. Their new sinful nature moved on to successive generations.

God preternaturally, through His incomparable mercy and inimitable grace, reconciled Himself to mankind by ascribing their sins to His Son, Jesus Christ. His sacrifice on the cross wiped away the burden of sin and offered eternal fellowship to all who accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior. The glorious truth is the Spirit and Salvation are within everyone's reach.

Scripture is God's personal owner's manual given to us for training in righteousness (Luke 24:25-27; John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is a "how to" guide for those seeking the return of the Spirit and fellowship with God.

CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE, MAN AND WOMAN

The two creation reports (Genesis 1+ and Genesis 2:4+) offer insight into two sides of God. In the first, He is transcendent, almost aloof in His mighty power. In the second, He is personal and intimate, a compassionate supporter of His creation.

Reflect as you read on how long it took to create the cosmos. The Hebrew word for "day" as it first appears in Genesis 1:5 is _Yowm_ , which depending on its use, simply means a period of time. Was it literally six earth days, or more than 13 billion years using evolution as a mechanism? Is "day" intended to represent a 24-hour period, or a metaphor for an unknown interval of time? Recall, there was no sun or solar day until "day" four.

God, unconstrained by the dimensions of space and time, could have created all things in a "twinkling of an eye" had He wished. He might have wanted mankind to understand the process involved six distinct episodes, perhaps to establish a pattern whereby labor for six days was followed by one day set aside for praise and thanksgiving, replenishment of the body and soul, and communion with Him (Deuteronomy 5:14; Exodus 20:10; Mark 2:27). His six units of creation and one unit of rest set the rhythm of the seven-day week. You will see that seven throughout Scripture represents completeness or the perfection of God.

**GENESIS 1:1-2** 1 In the beginning God (Hebrew: _Elohim, plural masculine noun_ ) created (Hebrew: _to make from nothing_ ) the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

**GENESIS 1:3-31** 3 And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good, and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. ( _Not necessarily a solar day, for there was as yet no sun. God is the source of light that defeats prevailing darkness. "Evening" gloom yields to "morning" light, completing the daily cycle._ ) 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament (Hebrew: _extended surface, expanse_ ) in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters (Hebrew: _transitory things_ ) from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters under the firmament from the waters above the firmament, and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear, and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land earth; and the gathering together of the waters He called seas, and God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth, and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind, and God saw that it was good. 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day. 14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven ( _planets, stars, galaxies_ ) to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights ( _sun and moon_ ); the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night... 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness, and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 20 And God said; Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind, and God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. 24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the earth after his kind, and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps upon the earth after his kind, and God saw that it was good. 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ( _Note the possessive adjective "our"_ ) and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created them; male and female created He them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creeps upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat, and it was so. 31 And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

**JOHN 1:1-4** 1 In the beginning was the Word (Christ the Lord), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. 4 In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.

**PSALM 33:6-9** 6 By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. 7 He gathered the waters of the sea together as a heap: He laid up the depth in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. 9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

**ISAIAH 45:18** For thus said the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He has established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else. (KJV) (Note: "He did not create it a chaos" See RSV, OJB, etc.)

A careful reader will note the word "create" appears in the first verse of Genesis and not again until the introduction of life in the fifth and sixth days. In Hebrew, the word translated as "create" means to "produce out of nothing." As John relates, life is a manifestation of the Word. It could not be otherwise.

Consider the source of the "stuff" by which all else was "made." According to the first law of thermodynamics, matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed—only changed. Proponents of the "big bang" theory have a problem explaining how everything came from nothing.

The second law of thermodynamics relates to entropy, the gradual decline of everything into a state of disorder. The universe should, therefore, be heading toward an eventual heat death as the chaos increases and gravity pulls everything back into a "big crunch." Astronomers have found the opposite is true. The universe is actually expanding at an accelerating rate. (See Appendix I.) Space is not emptiness as the ancients imagined, but a fabric of plasma with physical characteristics just as Scripture describes (a firmament) containing more suns than the number of seconds in the history of the universe.

The answers to all questions concerning the marvel of creation rest with God. Only He can (and did) create/make all things from nothing. All was "good" up to the point of Adam's fall when God's created became subject to sin, decay, and death.

**GENESIS 2:7-8** 7 And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed.

**GENESIS 2:9, 15-25** 9 And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the Tree of Life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. 18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help mate for him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam (Hebrew: _dust, a genderless noun_ ) and he slept: And He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Did you note in reading Genesis 2:7 that God formed Adam and then "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life" making him a "living soul"? Consider the theological significance of God being the source of life for the soul, and that there are souls without life before and after an earthly existence. More on this later.

God uses metaphors, similitudes, and other linguistic devices to make the message comprehensible to the human mind. Genesis 2:21-23 holds a wonderful illustration of that point: Adam's rib. God used a rib from Adam's breast to create Eve, transferring his bone marrow with its genetic instructions. Eve (Hebrew: _source of life_ ) was of one flesh with Adam, at once united and equal, of his essence from near his heart. Ribs are a major source of red and white blood, plus stem cells that develop into many types, including muscle and brain cells. The rib is also the only human bone that regenerates; meaning Adam's body remained complete as made.

Eve was not Adam's clone, but a distinct being with special qualities and a greater capacity for nurturing. She was made to be his "help mate." Adam and Eve were one being divided, companions destined to become "one flesh" again through the sacrament of matrimony (Genesis 2:24).

One of the great wonders is that God created them in the first place, knowing they would fall into sin. Paul writes that God did so in order that they might be "reborn" through His mercy to spend eternity with Him, confirming His boundless love (Ephesians 2:4-8).

God created the cosmos to cradle the earth. He created the earth for mankind. He created mankind to be in fellowship with Him, to love and to be loved. Any good toy maker can make a doll that plays "I love you!" at the pull of a string. God could have programmed humans that way, but He wants devotion, adoration, and thanksgiving as an act of volition (Deuteronomy 10:12-15)

**REVELATION 4:11** 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.

PRESENCE OF EVIL AND THE GAP THEORY

Most readers whiz by two potential mysteries early in Genesis. How could the fallen angel Satan be in an otherwise perfect world waiting to beguile Eve, and could there have been a universe before the one we know?

Dealing with Satan first, we know God created all things. That means He created Satan and evil. He said He did (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16). How else could the "shining one" ( _ha-Nachash_ ) be waiting in the Garden of Eden to tempt Eve? (Genesis 3:1).

God existed before creation. The potter precedes the pot. Satan and other angels also existed before our universe was formed. We learn when reading Job that the "sons of God" ( _angels_ ) "shouted for joy" as they witnessed creation (Job 38:4-7).

The "Evil One" preexisted the Garden of Eden and waited there for Eve. He had already "fallen" and was present in the newly created universe. (We will deal with how and why later.) In that case, he could most certainly have worked his wiles in a previous universe destroyed by God for unabated sinfulness (Genesis 3).

The Gap Theory addresses what might have been before God created all things we know. It serves as an example of how biblical scholars can spend a great deal of effort debating even a blank space in Scripture (e.g., between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2).

To some, a close reading of the first two verses of Genesis points to a preexistence of some kind, "And the earth was (Hebrew: _became_ ) without form (Hebrew: _confused, chaotic_ ), and void (Hebrew: _empty_ ) and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters ( _but, He does not gather the waters or let the dry land appear until Genesis 1:9, day three._ )" (Genesis 1:2-3). Young's literal translation reads, "In the beginning of God's preparing the heavens and the earth..." The verb "prepare" means "to make ready for use." Perhaps God did not begin with a blank slate, but worked with what was before.

Was there an unrecorded gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2? Did our universe replace one destroyed earlier by a vengeful God? (Jeremiah 4:23-26). There is no reason to be vexed by such questions, but the issue serves as a good example of the many mysteries encrypted in Scripture.

Astronomers have concluded that the universe was formless and chaotic for billions of years after the "big bang" before gases solidified into stars, super nova, and galaxies. This coalescing brought order and light where only formless, void, and dark chaos existed, just as recorded in Scripture and contrary to the known laws of physics. The question remains, what (if anything) preceded our universe?

Those who ascribe to the Gap Theory believe there was order (Genesis 1:1), then a void (Genesis 1:2), and then a new order (Genesis 1:3-23). The implication is that an earth of some sort existed (Genesis 1:1), was destroyed for its wickedness (Genesis 1:2) and regenerated (Genesis 1:3).

God blessed those He created and said, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and _replenish_ the earth, and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28). The word translated from the original text as "replenish" has several meanings in Hebrew: To fill, refill, or replenish, fenced, and to satisfy. For some, "to replenish" is the correct meaning, as in "to restore to the former level."

Those who hold fast to The Gap Theory point to Jeremiah as supporting the idea.

**JEREMIAH 4:23-26** 23 And the Lord said to His prophet Jeremiah, 23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form (Hebrew: _tohu_ : confused), and void (Hebrew: _bohu_ : empty); and the heavens had no light. 24 I beheld the mountains (before there was form or light?) and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. 25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled (man and birds fled?) 26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place (that had been) was (had become) a wilderness, and all the cities (implies inhabitants?) thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger.

Proponents of the theory suggest Genesis 1:2 can be paraphrased, "But the earth _became_ without form and void _having been ruined and uninhabitable_ ; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the ( _preexisting_ ) waters..." Taking the Jeremiah passage literally means judgment and punishment were poured out by God making a wilderness of fruitful places. If correct, perhaps some form of intelligent life existed, occupied cities, and incurred God's punishment.

The Book of Job also appears to reveal an otherwise unrecorded episode of God's wrath supporting the hypothesis that something happened before recorded history to account for the chaos reported in Genesis 1:2.

**JOB 9:4-8** 4 He ( _God_ ) is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who has hardened himself against Him and has prospered? 5 Which _removed_ the mountains, and they know not, which overturned them in His anger. 6 Which shook the earth out of her place ( _out of orbit?_ ), and the pillars thereof trembled. 7 Which commanded the sun, and it rose not; and seals up the stars ( _bringing darkness_ ). 8 Which alone spreads out the heavens ( _only recently discovered that stars are accelerating in their spread_ ), and treads upon the waves of the sea.

There is also Psalm 18 where it is recorded, "Then the earth shook and trembled ( _past tense_ ); the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken because He was angry... the valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils." (Verses 7-15)

Turning now to Satan's existence, consider what Isaiah reveals.

**ISAIAH 14:15-17** 15... you ( _Satan_ ) shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see you shall narrowly look upon you, and consider you, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble that did shake kingdoms; 17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof ...

When did Satan make the "world as a wilderness?" Was it before the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the water in Genesis 1:2 to create something new and "good?"

The earth experienced a rebirth following the flood (Genesis Chapters 6-8), and it will have a fresh beginning again when replaced by a new heaven and a new earth in the End Time (Revelation 21:1-2). The flood "blotted out" the sinning sons of God (angels) who mixed with daughters of man forming giant demi-angels, the Nephilim (Hebrew: _fallen ones_ ). Abject sinning caused God to destroy "every living substance... which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven..." except Noah, his family, and representatives of animal and plant species (Genesis 6; 7:23). If He destroyed all life once and restarted with Noah's family, and will create all things new in the End Time, who is to say He did not do so before time as we know it?

Subjects such as the gap theory, the rapture, and the millennium (among others) are interesting, provocative, and worthy of consideration. However, the acceptance or rejection of any such hypotheses will have no bearing on individual salvation. Jesus tells us in The New Testament that faith in Him as Savior (or the absence of such faith) is what has everlasting consequences.

" **IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS"**

**GENESIS 1:26** And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ...

Note, first, the possessive adjective "our," referring to the Godhead. Humans were created in the image and likeness, in the essence and nature of the Triune God. This should not be taken to mean we have a similar physical appearance, for He is not flesh and bones but Spirit (John 4:24).

God is God, beyond what humans are able to devise or describe. We can picture a four-mast schooner in our thinking because we have either observed one or have seen enough sailing ships to conjure how one must appear. Not so when considering God. We simply lack the tool set—the necessary symbols.

Scripture refers to Him metaphorically when mentioning His hands and His ears (Isaiah 59:1), His eyes (2 Chronicles 16:9), His nose (Genesis 8:21), and His mouth (Matthew 4:4). Such references should not be used to anthropomorphize God. That would be blasphemous, for it implies His abilities are limited, like ours.

The seventeenth century poet, John Milton, perhaps best known for his epic works, _Paradise Lost_ and _Paradise Regained_ , put it well.

"There can be no doubt but that everything in the world, by its beauty of its order, and the evidence of a determinate and beneficial purpose which pervades it, testifies that some supreme efficient Power must have pre-existed, by which the whole was ordained for a specific end.

"It is therefore to contemplate the Deity, and to conceive of Him, not with reference to human passions, that is, after the mariner of men, who are never weary of forming subtle imaginations respecting Him, but after the manner of Scripture..." (John Milton, _On Christian Doctrine_ ).

God made mankind in His image—His Spirit. He also gave them aspects of His likeness with qualities not found in other creatures: Creativity, forgiveness, faith, generosity, hope, tolerance, and the capacity for dignity and nobleness. He also bestowed the right to choose their own destiny through the exercise of freewill, and an ability to differentiate between good and bad, right and wrong. Such qualities cannot be attributed to evolution for they are not factors required for the species to survive.

God entrusted humans with dominion (sovereignty, authority, power, and stewardship) over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, over the cattle, over all the earth, and everything that creeps on the earth (Genesis 1:26). He forbad only one thing: They must not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17).

Adam and Eve were in His image. They held His Spirit. They forfeited the gift of the Spirit when they rebelled against God, substituting their will for His, becoming subject to evil and death. All who came after are in the image of Adam—without the Spirit and sinful by nature.

THE FALL OF MAN AND WOMAN

"For this said Jehovah, Creator of heaven; He is God, former of earth, and its maker, He established it, not empty He prepared it, for inhabiting He formed it" (Isaiah 45:18 YLT). God formed the cosmos to cradle the third planet from the sun, specifically prepared for Adam and his descendants!

Adam came from dust and became flesh. He received the Spirit from God "breathed into his nostrils" (Genesis 2:7). He acted against the will of God, following his own desires (Genesis 3:1-24). At that instant, mankind became subject to sin and death.

Eve was a "helpmate" for Adam, one with him in flesh. She was made to be his partner. "For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man" (1 Corinthians 11:8-9). Man and woman were instructed to leave their parents to form a new family unit (Genesis 2:24).

Eve sinned first. Satan tempted her to become self-reliant and God-like, determining for herself what is "good" and "evil," right and wrong.

**GENESIS 3:1-6, 13-21, 23-24** 1 Now the Serpent (Hebrew: _Nachash, one who hisses, whispers, shines_ ) was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, has God said you shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said to the Serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it; neither shall you touch it, lest you die. 4 And the Serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die, 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit of it, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat.

13 And the Lord God said to the woman, What is this that you have done? And the woman said, The Serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14 And the Lord God said to the Serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life: 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed ( _the Antichrist to come_ ) and her seed ( _the Messiah to come from the Jews, Jesus Christ_ ); it shall bruise your head ( _Satan's mortal wound_ ), and you shall bruise His heel ( _on the cross_ ). 16 To the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in sorrow you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you. 17 Then to Adam He said, Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: Cursed is the ground ( _not just living things_ ) for your sake; You shall toil to eat of it all the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return. 20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve because she was the mother of all humanity. 21 To Adam and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

23 Therefore, the Lord God sent him from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from where he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the Garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the Tree of Life. ( _Closed to the sinful, opened to the faithful in the End Time._ )

The account of the Fall underscores the peril of human self-centeredness and the rejection of external constraints. It is intended to help mankind understand the consequences of choices made in life, including the option to accept or reject His Word. Like Adam and Eve, individuals can adhere to the will of God, or not—accept His offer of Salvation, or not.

Eve likely learned of God's command "of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat" from Adam, for she was not yet formed when God instructed Adam. She stood sinless in the garden as the Serpent spoke, but chose to sin by substituting her will for God's. Sin is still defined as putting personal desires ahead of God's—of acting against His will in thought, word, or deed.

Satan's approach to Eve was similar to his approach to all humans. He questioned Eve about the will of God. He raised doubts, "You shall not surely die, for God knows that in the day you eat of the tree, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods..." (Genesis 3:4-5). Eve paused and wondered. Satan caused her to question and then defy God.

Eve reasoned she _could_ be like God; that she _could_ act independently without consequence. An exaggerated sense of her own ability (pride) caused her to act as she did. "The serpent and I know best!" Pride remains at the core of much human sin.

When Adam joined her in defying God's will, a sinful nature replaced the Spirit of God. The world and all in it were cursed (Genesis 3:17; Galatians 1:4; 1 John 5:19).

Adam tried to blame his sin on God and Eve, "The woman whom _you_ gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat" (Genesis 3:12). Eve, for her part, would not accept responsibility either. She blamed the tempter, "The serpent beguiled me..." (Genesis 3:12-13). Humans still try to blame others for their sins. Temptation may come from elsewhere, but sin rests with the individual.

A Sunday school child asked in innocence, "How far did Adam fall?" The teacher's answer was simple enough for a child to comprehend, "So far that he did not have the power to raise himself up." Adam's sinfulness, passed on to all generations, was so complete that it required God's perfect remedy. For as in Adam all died, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22).

Adam ate the forbidden fruit offered by Eve (Genesis 3:6). He accepted it willingly, but he was not deceived, "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression" (1 Timothy 2:14). Adam understood what he was doing, for he was yet perfect as a son of God.

Why did Adam eat the forbidden fruit? Romanticists believe he chose to take Eve's sin upon himself because of his love for her. He took on her sin as an act of love, as Christ would take on our sins centuries later (2 Corinthians 5:21). Adam was a model of Him that "was to come" Romans 5:14).

God asked Adam, "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9) God knew, but posed the rhetorical question to help Adam grasp the consequences of his sin. Adam must have instantly understood he was a lost sheep (John 15:16).

Adam and Eve tried to cover their nakedness (sinfulness) with fig leaves, but they could not. Neither can humans cover moral shame by their own handiwork.

God offered animal skins to hide their nakedness as a sign that the shedding of innocent blood was necessary to cover sin. He later provided the Passover experience and instituted the Feast of Passover to help mankind understand that only the blood of an innocent Lamb can protect them from the penalty of sin. God's gift of animal skins was an early sign that it would be through the shedding of innocent blood at Calvary that mortal sins would be forgiven.

God forced Adam and Eve from the Garden. He closed the gate behind them, withdrawing access to the Tree of Life. History will run its course until, according to God's plan, the gate will reopen and the Tree of Life "in the midst of the paradise of God" will again be made available to the righteous (Revelation 2:7, 22:14).

**GENESIS 5:3** And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth ( _third born after Cain and Abel_ ).

Seth was in Adam's likeness, after his image not God's. The Spirit of God was no longer present.

God created the universe for human habitation, made man and woman, placed them in an ideal environment, gave them the Spirit of everlasting life, entrusted them with freewill, and permitted them to act as they wished. Their actions caused Him to withdraw the Spirit, making them subject to sin and death, destined to struggle and endure hardship in a cursed world, and incapable of regaining the Spirit through individual merit.

THE SABBATH BELONGS TO THE LORD

One of the first lessons God teaches is the importance of setting aside a time for Him—for rest, worship, and thanksgiving. The Sabbath (Hebrew: _Shabbat "to cease"_ ) from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday was a holy day for early followers of Christ accustomed to worshiping at the temple on the Lord's Day. (Leviticus 23:3)

**GENESIS 2:1-3** 1 Thus, the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work that He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it He had rested from all the work which God created and made.

**ISAIAH 58:13-14** 13 If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shall honor Him by not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words: 14 Then shall you delight in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.

Jesus rose from the dead on the day following the Sabbath (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1) and appeared to His disciples on four successive Sundays. This is the reason Christians came to venerate and worship on Sunday. Emperor Constantine formally instituted Sunday as the Lord's Day in 321 AD, in part to counter pagan worshipers who set the day aside for their purposes. The Sabbath will again be the day of universal worship when the Messiah returns (Isaiah 66:22-23).

God condemned the hypocrisy of sanctimonious worshipers (Isaiah 1:12-15) and prophets protested the abuse of the Sabbath. The destruction of Jerusalem in the sixth century BC, and the following seventy-year captivity of the Jews in Babylon, came as a result of their desecration of the Sabbath (Jeremiah 17:27; Ezekiel 20:23-24).

It can be argued that requirements set down by the Lord for Jews to honor His day should apply to Christians on the day they have set aside to honor Him (Exodus 20:8-11).

CAIN AND ABEL

Satan's unrelenting passion is to undermine God's divine stratagem for Israel and His plan for mankind. Emboldened by his success with Eve, the Evil One next focused on the children of Adam (Cain, Abel, and Seth) in an attempt to cut the satin cord leading to Jesus of Nazareth.

Cain, the first born of Adam and Eve, tilled the soil. Abel, the second born, was a shepherd. Cain's offering to God did not please Him; it was the work of his hands. God prefers exhibits of faith more than the works of one's hands (Hebrews 11:4).

Abel offered God the firstling (first fruits) from his flock. It pleased the Lord, foreshadowing the presentation of the finest lamb for atonement. The mystery of the Eucharist continues in that tradition.

**LEVITICUS 17:11** For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: For it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.

**HEBREWS 9:22** There is no remission of sin without the shedding of innocent blood.

**HEBREWS 11:4** By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous ( _not sinless_ ), God testified of the ( _Abel's_ ) gifts: And by it, although he is dead, yet he ( _Abel)_ speaks ( _by example_ ).

Cain became angry at God, the sign of a sinful soul. God urged him to control his temper lest a crouching beast ( _Satan_ ) should devour him. Cain did not listen and slew Abel out of jealousy. God came looking for Cain asking, "Where is your brother Abel... What have you done?" As with Adam, God knew the answers, but He wanted Cain to understand the seriousness of his sin (Genesis 4:9).

God punished Cain by making him wander in the wilderness and receive reduced yields for his labor. In His mercy, God placed a mark on Cain to protect him (Genesis 4:12-15), affording him time to consider his sin and repent.

**GENESIS 4:5-17** 5... And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry and why is your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, shall you not be accepted? And if you do not well, sin lies at the door. You ( _the first born_ ) shall be his ( _Satan's_ ) desire, and you must master it. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: And it came to pass, when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And He said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground. 11 And now are you cursed from the earth, which has opened her mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand; 12 When you till the ground, it shall not henceforth yield to you her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shall you be on the earth. 13 And Cain said to the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from your face shall I be hidden; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that everyone that finds me shall slay me. 15 And the Lord said to him, Whosoever slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him. 16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bore Enoch:

Some wonder where Cain found a wife. Adam and Eve had daughters as well as sons (Genesis 5:4), and God initially blessed intra-marriage to accomplish His purpose to "replenish the earth" (Genesis 1:28). Cain and his wife went to the land of Nod (Hebrew: _wandering_ ) east of Eden seeking sanctuary from family members who might do him harm. There, his wife bore Enoch (not the holy man Enoch, a later ancestor of Noah in the line of Seth) and he founded a city for his progeny. For their wickedness, Cain's lineage was blotted out by the flood.

Cain was banished. Abel was dead. God intervened and a third son, Seth, was born to Adam and Eve preserved the appointed line. Seth also married an unnamed daughter born of Eve, for there were no other women.

**GENESIS 4:25-26** 25 And Adam knew his wife Eve again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth, (Hebrew: _appointed_ ) For God, said she, has appointed me another seed instead of Abel whom Cain slew. 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: ( _in a line leading to Noah_ ).

**GENESIS 5:4** And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years, and he begat sons and daughters:

The line of Seth leads to Noah. Noah "lived five hundred years and begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth" (Genesis 9:28).

NOAH AND THE ARK

There were ten generations from Adam to Noah spanning 1656 years. The average lifespan for the male head of a family at the time is recorded as 912 years.

Many wonder at the lifespan of each and speculate they could not possibly be as recorded. They ignore the fact that Scripture reveals that the world was protected by God before the flood. There is no mention in Scripture of rain until the days of Noah. Rain was not necessary in a perfectly balanced biosphere (Genesis 2:5).

God created conditions supporting optimal genetic expression under ideal atmospheric conditions, bathing everything in a vapor mist shielded from the sun's harmful radiation. Such a flawless biosphere could explain the long life spans.

Evil spread throughout the world in the first ten generations after Adam. Fallen angels mated with human women to create hybrid Nephilim (Hebrew: _the fallen ones_ ). The existence of such mutants is recorded in Genesis 6:1-6 and confirmed by Jude, half-brother and apostle of Jesus (Jude 6-7).

God saw that wickedness had overtaken His creation and determined to remove "man whom I have created from the face of the earth" (Genesis 6:7). The flood was His solution to the problem.

Eight members of Noah's family, the descendant of Seth, were the only humans spared by the Lord.

**HEBREWS 11:7** By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not yet seen ( _rain_ ), moved with fear, prepared an ark to save of his household; by which he condemned the world and became heir of righteousness which is by faith.

Many are skeptical about an earth-wide flood, although there is scientific evidence to suggest the earth once went through such a cataclysmic event. Others accept that it could or did happen, but doubt there was a literal ark large enough to save samples of all animals and plants.

God instructed Noah to build an ark of three stories, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits abeam, and 30 cubits high. A cubit is the distance between the elbow and the tip of the fingers, or approximately 18 inches. Cubits in various cultures ranged from 17 to 25 inches. Assuming an 18-inch cubit, the ark had an internal space of 1.5 million cubic feet, enough to hold the contents of more than 500 railroad cars, the equivalent of 125,000 sheep-size animals. Most were smaller than sheep. If a 25-inch cubit is applied, the capacity nearly triples. It seems that for the doubters, faith, not space, is the real problem.

Consider the faith exhibited by Noah, his wife, their sons, and their sons' wives. They loyally built an ark against a coming flood, though they had never witnessed rain, and filled it with animals and plants as God commanded. They then went inside and allowed God to shut the only door. They remained within for seven days before the flooding began, endured forty days and nights of rain, and one hundred and fifty more as the waters abated. The ark came to rest on a mountaintop on the seventeenth day of the seventh month (Genesis 8:4).

Whether considered literal or figurative, every detail in the Bible is there for our learning. Why did the Lord want us to know the ark rested on the seventh month, on the seventeenth day? (Genesis 8:4) The gospels reveal Christ rose from the dead on the seventeenth day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar (17 Nisan). The world's "new beginning" following the flood anticipated a day of "new beginning" for all mankind on the same date centuries later.

Recall God closed the single door/gate. Anything not already inside perished. The gate to the ark is seen by some as a metaphor foreshadowing God's plan for the faithful in Christ, "... the narrow gate is the way which leads to life, and few will find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

God wants people to know the door to eternal life will remain open until the End Time. At that point, it will be closed to all but the faithful. Then the gate to Paradise will open, "And there shall not enter anything that defiles, neither works abomination, or makes a lie: But only those written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (Revelation 2:7, 21:27, 22:14-15).

**GENESIS 6:1-2, 4-14, 17-22** 1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God (Hebrew: _Bene HaElohim, angels_ ) saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and the sons of God came into the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men that were of old, men of renown (Hebrew: _Nephilim, fallen ones_ ). 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. 7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it sorrows me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah (Hebrew: _Noah—without blemish, sound, healthful, without spot, unimpaired_ ) was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted His way upon the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, I have determined to make an end of all flesh; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make an ark of gopher wood; rooms shall you make in the ark, and shall pitch it within and without with pitch.

17 And, behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh with the breath of life from under heaven; and everything that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with you will I establish my covenant; and you shall come into the ark, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shall you bring into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come to you, to keep them alive. 21 And take also all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to you; and it shall be for food for you, and for them. 22 Thus, Noah did all according to what God had commanded him.

**GENESIS 7:1-3,6-12, 17-22** 1 And the Lord said to Noah, Come you and all your house into the ark; for you have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 2 Of every clean ( _suitable for sacrifice_ ) beast you shall take to you by sevens, the male and his female: And of beasts that are unclean by two, the male and his female. 3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are unclean, and of fowls, and of everything that creeps upon the earth, 9 They went in two and two to Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and lifted up the ark, and it was lifted above the earth. 18 And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered. 20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. 21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both birds, and cattle, and beasts, and every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth, and every man 22 all in whose nostrils had been given the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died.

**GENESIS 8:1-19** 1 And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: And God made a wind pass over the earth, and the waters receded; 2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; 3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually: And after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. 5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. 6 And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: 7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. 8 Also he sent forth a dove to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; 9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned to him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: Then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her into the ark. 10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; 11 And the dove came to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf: So Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which did not returned again. 13 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month ( _start of a new calendar for mankind_ ), the waters were dried up from off the earth: And Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14 And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. 15 And God spoke to Noah, saying, 16 Go forth from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons, and your sons' wives with you. 17 Bring forth with you every living thing that is with you, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. 18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatever creeps upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

**GENESIS 9:13-16** 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

God spared Noah and his family, establishing an everlasting covenant with their descendants. He created the seven-colored rainbow as a sign of this covenant of grace "with every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth" (Genesis 9:13-16). When a rainbow appears it is a sign God remembers His covenant and will be faithful to His promise. When we see a rainbow, we should be thankful.

The flood marked a new beginning. Unfortunately, the nature of mankind had not changed. Sin would soon return.

Noah gave special blessings to his firstborn son, Shem. Noah's second born, Ham, fathered Canaan, patriarch of the Canaanites. Noah placed a curse on Canaan after a drunken Ham "saw his father's nakedness" (Genesis 9:20-27). The curse of Noah led to the ultimate subjection of Canaan to the descendants of Shem and Noah's last born son, Japheth (Genesis 9:24-27).

Shem is the most important of Noah's sons for Jews and Christians. His line runs from Terah, father of Abraham (Abram), to Isaac, Jacob and his sons, and on to King David, Joseph, and Mary.

What messages has God sent through Scripture as found in this first chapter?

For me, He underscored:

There is only one God,

He is the triune Godhead (Father, Son, and Spirit).

He made all that is, seen and unseen.

He created the cosmos to cradle the earth.

He made the earth for mankind.

He provided everything necessary for human

welfare and happiness.

The Theory of Evolution violates the laws of

thermodynamics.

The Sabbath day is holy in the eyes of the Lord.

He made Adam in His image, with His Spirit.

He made Eve as Adam's companion and helpmate.

He loves those He creates and wants their love in return.

He directed the union (cleaving) of man and woman to head the family unit.

Adam and Eve were sufficient to stand, but free to fall.

He made Satan and gave him earthly power.

Eve gave in to Satan's temptation.

Adam and Eve substituted their will for God's, forfeiting His Spirit.

Through their fall, entropy and death entered creation.

Sin is thought or action contrary to the will of God.

God rewards the faithful and punishes unrepentant sinners.

God brought the flood to cleanse the earth, but spared the righteous.

Wickedness remains in the human heart.

#  Chapter 2: The People of God

THE FAMILY OF ABRAHAM

Abram (Hebrew: _the Father is exalted_ ) is in the tenth generation after Noah in the line of Shem, and the twentieth generation after Adam. His virtue and faith pleased God who chose him to be the patriarch of His people and father to the nation Israel. He was a model of faith and a guarantor of Israel's survival.

God changed Abram's name to Abraham, the chosen "father of many nations" (Genesis 17:9). His wife's name (Sar'ai) changed to Sarah (Hebrew: _princess_ ). She was mother to Isaac of whom God said, "and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him" (Genesis 17:15-19). Name changes in Scripture always signify the assignment of a special role in God's plan.

God's covenant with Abraham is outlined in Genesis Chapters 12, 15, and 17. It flowed to his son Isaac and his descendants. God introduced circumcision as a sign of His unconditional and everlasting promise to Abraham (Genesis 17).

God's covenant with Abraham is a blessing for all people, including Christians who are spiritual descendants of Abraham (Galatians 3:7-10; Ephesians 2:15-16). God's promises will not be fulfilled completely until the End Time (Genesis 15:18-21; Revelation 21:1-27).

**Abraham (Abram)** "Loved by God," he was the father of ( **Ishmael** ) by his wife's Egyptian handmaiden ( **Hagar** ) and ( **Isaac** ) by his wife Sarah.

**Sarah (Sar'ai)** Abram's wife (Genesis 11:29-31). She was Abraham's half-sister (20:1-18) and mother to his only true son, Isaac. Before she conceived Isaac, Abraham had no heir and Sarah "gave" her maidservant Hagar to him so that he might have an heir, Ishmael.

**Hagar** , therefore, bore Abraham's first son, Ishmael. Enmity existed between Sarah and Hagar after Ishmael's birth, and especially after God intervened and Sarah conceived Isaac in her old age (16:1-21).

**Ishmael** , the son of Abraham by Hagar (16:1-17:27), later had twelve sons by various wives (25:12-16). Islamic tradition considers Ishmael the ancestor of the tribes of northern Arabia and the twelve tribes of Ishmaelites (37:25-28).

**Isaac** , Abraham's only son by Sarah, married Rebecca (22:1-25:34) who bore him twin sons, **Esau** and **Jacob.** Esau came first and held the birthrights of the firstborn. Rebecca greatly favored the other twin, Jacob, and helped him secure the birthright from Esau. The descendants of Isaac (Israelites) and Esau (Edomites) remained enemies throughout history.

The descendants of Ishmael and Isaac multiplied into great nations. Ishmael fostered a legacy of hatred toward Isaac and his descendants (Galatians 4:22-31).

This is seen by some as God's judgment against Sarah for failing to trust Him to provide a son, relying instead on Hagar to provide an heir for Abraham. God expects His servants to trust Him to provide what is needed for their wellbeing.

It can be tricky sorting out the members of Abraham's family. The adjacent chart and following summary may prove helpful.

**Isaac** and his descendents received God's permanent blessing. His son **Jacob** fathered twelve sons, patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 21:12; Romans 9:7-11).

**Jacob** married **Leah** and then **Rachel** , daughters of his uncle **Laban** (27:43-29:30). God blessed Jacob and changed his name to **Israel** (32:28). The twelve tribes of Israel, ancestors of all Israelites, emerged from the marriages of Jacob's twelve sons (29:31-49:33).

**Judah** was his fourth son, born of Leah. Through trickery and God's intervention, Judah slept with his daughter-in-law, **Tamar** , thinking her a prostitute. Tamar gave birth to the twins, **Pharez** and Zerah.

The line descending from Pharez is the "royal line" leading to King David, Jesus' legal father Joseph, and Mary His mother.

**GENESIS 12:2-3** 2 I will make of you Abram a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curse you: And in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.

**GENESIS 15:2-4, 12-14, 18** 2 And Abram said, Lord God, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house ( _and potential heir_ ) is Eliezer (Hebrew: _Comforter_ ) of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me you have given no seed: And, lo, one born in my house (Eliezer) is my heir. 4 And, behold, the Word of the Lord came to him, saying, This shall not be your heir; but he that shall come forth out of your own bowels shall be your heir. 12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a dread of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And God said to Abram, Be assured that your seed shall one day be a stranger in a land that is not theirs ( _Egypt_ ) and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; ( _Acts 7:6-7_ ) 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, I will judge: Afterward shall they come out with great substance. ( _The Exodus_ ) 18 In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates:

**GENESIS 16:1-12, 15** 1 Now Sar'ai Abram's wife bore him no children: And she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. 2 And Sar'ai said to Abram, Behold now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing: I pray you, go into my maid; so that you may obtain children by her. And Abram harkened to the voice of Sar'ai. 3 And Sar'ai took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 And he went into Hagar, and she conceived: When Hagar saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. 5 And Sar'ai said to Abram, My wrong be upon you: I have given my maid into your bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, she despised me: The Lord judge between me and you. 6 But Abram said to Sar'ai, Behold, your maid is in your hand; do to her as it pleases you. And when Sar'ai dealt harshly with Hagar, she fled from her face. 7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. 8 And He said, Hagar, Sar'ai's maid, where did you come from and where do you go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sar'ai. 9 And the angel of the Lord said to her, Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her hands. 10 And the angel of the Lord said to Hagar, I will multiply your seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for its great multitude. 11 And the angel of the Lord said, Behold, you shall bear a son, and call his name Ishmael (Hebrew: _God will hear_ ) because the Lord has heard of your affliction. 12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. 15 And Hagar bore Abram a son: Abram called his son's name, Ishmael.

**GENESIS 17:1-11, 15-17, 19, 21** 1 And when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be perfect. 2 And I will make a covenant between you and me, and will multiply you exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face: And God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall your name anymore be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham (Hebrew: _"father of many nations"_ ) for a father of many nations have I made you. 6 And I will make you exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to you, and to your seed after you. 8 And I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land wherein you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. 9 And God said to Abraham, You shall keep my covenant therefore, you, and your seed after you in their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you; every man-child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between me and you.

15 And God said to Abraham, As for Sar'ai your wife, you shall not call her Sar'ai, but Sarah (Hebrew: _Princess_ ) shall her name be. 16 And I will bless her, and give you a son also by her: Yes, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born to me that is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear?

19 And God said, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son indeed; and you shall call his name Isaac (Hebrew: _He will laugh_ ), and I will establish an everlasting covenant with him and with his seed after him.

21 But the covenant ( _I have made with you_ ) will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear to you at this set time in the next year.

**GENESIS 21:1-3, 9-10** 1 And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born to him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born to Abraham, mocking. 10 Wherefore she said to Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: For the son of this bondwoman shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.

God later spoke to His prophet Hosea, telling him that He would use similitudes (models or likenesses) to prophesy (Hosea 10:12). In one of the most recognizable, God tests Abraham's faithfulness by directing him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. God chose Mount Moriah for the sacrifice, foreshadowing the offering of His son at the same location generations later.

Abraham set off on the three-day journey from Hebron to Moriah accompanied by Isaac and two young men. There, Abraham prepared an altar to sacrifice Isaac as instructed.

Isaac didn't know of God's demand, but saw no lamb for sacrifice on the altar his father built. He asked, "Where is the lamb?" Abraham answered, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb," presaging the offering by God of His perfect Lamb in the person of the Son He loved. Like Isaac, Jesus trusted His father and remained submissive, prepared to fulfill prophecy.

**GENESIS 22:1-12, 15-18** 1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said to him, Abraham: And he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And He said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get to the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of. 3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 And on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, Abide here with the ass; and the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and return to you. 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac his son to carry; and he took the fire in his hand and a knife; and they went together. 7 And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, My father: And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: But where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering: So they went together. 9 And they came to the place that God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the Lord called to him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: And he said, Here am I. 12 And He said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you anything to him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.

15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, said the Lord, for because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice.

**GALATIANS 3:6-9, 29** 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know therefore that they, which are of faith are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached the gospel to Abraham, saying, In you shall all nations be blessed. 9 So they that are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

29 And if you are Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed ( _spiritually_ ), and heirs according to the promise.

All in Christ will receive the inheritance promised to Abraham, "For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith" (Romans 4:13).

Genesis 24 contains another memorable similitude. This one characterizes the relationship between the Church (bride), and Christ (bridegroom). Abraham represents God the Father, Isaac the Son of God, and elder servant Elieser (Hebrew: _Comforter_ ) the Spirit leading the bride to the bridegroom.

**GENESIS 24** (abridged) 2 And Abraham said to his eldest servant of his house ( _Elieser_ )... 4 you shall go to my country, and to my kindred, and find a bride for son Isaac. 10 And the servant took ten camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: And he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor. 11 And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. 12 And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray you, send me good speed this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: 14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, "Let down your pitcher, I pray you, that I may drink;" and she shall say, "Drink, and I will give your camels drink also:" let the same be she that you have appointed for your servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that you have showed kindness to my master. 15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebecca came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, and she bore a pitcher upon her shoulder. 16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: And she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, "Let me, I pray you, drink a little water of your pitcher." 18 And she said, "Drink, my lord:" and she let down her pitcher from upon her hand, and gave him drink. 23 And he said, Whose daughter are you? Tell me, I pray you, is there room in your father's house for us to lodge in? 24 And she said to him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bore to Nahor. 29 And Rebecca had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out to the man at the well. 31 And he said, Come in, you blessed of the Lord; for I have prepared the house, and have room for the camels. 51 Behold, Rebecca is before you, take her, and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as the Lord has spoken. 57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire of her wishes. 58 And they called Rebecca, and said to her, Will you go with this man? And she said, I will go. 61 And Rebecca arose, and her servant girls, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: And the servant took Rebecca, and went his way. 66 And the servant Elieser told Isaac all things that he had done. 67 And Isaac brought Rebecca into his mother Sarah's tent, and Rebecca became his wife; and he loved her, and Isaac was comforted by her after his mother's death.

**GENESIS 25:20-24, 27-28** 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebecca to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: And the Lord answered him, and Rebecca conceived. 22 And two children struggled together within her womb; and she said, Why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her, Two nations are in your womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from your bowels; and the one people ( _descendants of Jacob_ ) shall be stronger than the other people ( _descendants of Esau_ ); and the elder ( _Esau_ ) shall serve the younger ( _Jacob_ ). 24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 27 And the boys grew: Esau ( _first out of the womb_ ) was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he ate of his venison, but Rebecca loved Jacob.

**GENESIS 35:9-12** 9 And God appeared to Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, Your name is Jacob: Your name shall not be called anymore Jacob (Hebrew: _may He [God] protect_ ), but Israel (Hebrew: _one who strives with God_ ) shall be your name: And He called his name Israel. 11 And God said to him, I am God Almighty: Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of your loins; 12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to you I will give it, and to your seed after you will I give the land.

GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE

**PSALM 33:12** Blessed is the nation where God is the Lord; and the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

God told Abraham, "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing" (Genesis 12:1-2). God will not cast away His people (Isaiah 41:8; Romans 11:1-2) chosen to carry His light to the world (Isaiah 44:6-7).

**DEUTERONOMY 7:6-8** 6 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God: Your God has chosen you to be a special people to Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7 The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the Lord loved you, and because He will keep the oath which He had sworn to your fathers...

**2 CHRONICLES 33:7-8** 7 In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever; 8 and I will not again remove the foot of Israel from the land which I have appointed for your fathers...

**ISAIAH 41:8-9** 8 But you, Israel, are my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. 9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called you from the chief men thereof, and said to you, You are my servant; I have chosen you, and will not cast you away.

**ISAIAH 44:1-5** 1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: 2 Thus said the Lord that made you, and formed you from the womb, which will help you; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and you whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon your seed, and my blessing upon your offspring: 4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. 5 One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

The people prove unfaithful (Isaiah 41:8-9, 42:1, 43:10), but remain beloved for His name sake (Isaiah 62:1-2).

JACOB, JOSEPH, MOSES, THE EXODUS, JOSHUA

Isaac and Rebecca's twin sons, Esau and Jacob, competed for supremacy. God's election of Jacob for His purposes breached the established order of inheritance.

Jacob, with the aid of his mother, tricked Esau into surrendering his birthright and the blessings that normally flow to a firstborn son (Genesis 27:10-28). Esau traded away his birthright and was greatly angered when his father's blessing went to Jacob.

Fearing for Jacob's wellbeing, Isaac sent Jacob to the household of Rebecca's brother, Laban, to find a bride from among Laban's daughters. Laban tricked Jacob into marrying the daughter he did not love.

Jacob worked on the land owned by his uncle Laban in Padanaram (modern day Syria). He prospered greatly, fulfilling God's promise given him in a dream (Jacob's ladder) (Genesis 28:10-17). Jacob had no possessions and no herds when he entered Padanaram. He departed twenty years later with a large family and herds of great value. Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter by Leah, Rachel, and the slave girls Bilhah and Zilpha.

The biblical account of Joseph and other members of Jacob's family in Egypt is well known, yet there is scant archeological or written evidence to confirm they were there. An Egyptian victory stela dated 1220 BC associated with a battle against the Israelites holds a poem describing the campaign. One line notes "Israel is laid waste, its seed is not." This is the earliest record of Israel outside Scripture, and the only known mention of Israel in Egyptian history.

This is not to suggest biblical accounts are fictitious. Instead, it can be seen as a sign that God expects the faithful to accept His Word without physical evidence.

**GENESIS 35:22-26** 22 Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: 23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: 24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: 25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: 26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: These are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

**GENESIS 37:3-4, 23-24, 28** 3 Now Israel ( _Jacob_ ) loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. 4 And his brethren saw that their father loved him more than his brethren; and they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph came to his brethren, they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors; 24 and they took and cast him into the pit: The pit was empty, there was no water in it.

28 And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites ( _enemies of Jacob sons_ ) for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph into Egypt.

**GENESIS 39:1-5** 1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down. 2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he became a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with Joseph and that the Lord made all that he did prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found grace in his master's sight, and he served him: And he made Joseph overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into Joseph's hand. 5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

**GENESIS 41:1-7, 14-37, 39-41, 53-57** 1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: And, behold, he stood by the river. 2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well-favored cows sleek and fat; and they fed in a meadow. 3 And, behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ill and gaunt; and stood by the other cows on the brink of the river. 4 And the ill-favored cows did eat the seven well-favored and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: And, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, plump and good. 6 And, behold, seven thin ears blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. 7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven plump and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold it was a dream.

14 Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon, and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it, and I have heard said that you can understand a dream to interpret it. 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. 17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream I stood upon the bank of the river: 18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven cows well-favored and they fed in a meadow: 19 And, behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ill-favored and lean, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt: 20 And the lean and the ill-favored cows did eat the first seven fat cows: 21 And when they had eaten them, it could not be known that they had eaten them; for they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: 23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: 24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears, and I told this to the magicians; but there was none that could explain it to me. 25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God has showed Pharaoh what He is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: The dream is one. 27 And the seven thin and ill-favored cows that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. 28 This is the thing that I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he showed unto Pharaoh. 29 Behold, there will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. 32 And for that the dream was given to Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh find a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the bounty of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land shall not perish through the famine. 37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

39 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Forasmuch as God has showed you all of this, there is none so discreet and wise as you: 40 You shall be over my house, and according to your Word shall all my people be ruled, only in the throne will I be greater than you. 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt. 53 And the seven years of plenteousness in the land of Egypt were ended. 54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, as Joseph had said: And the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, Go to Joseph; what he said to you, do. 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries came into Egypt and to Joseph to buy corn; because the famine was so sore in all lands.

At this point, God called Jacob and his remaining sons from Canaan into the land of Egypt to make a great nation there (Genesis 46:3). Seventy members of the house of Jacob entered Egypt (Genesis 46:26). Four hundred and thirty years later, Moses led six hundred thousand men, plus women and children of Jacob's extended family, out of Egypt (Exodus 12:37-41).

**GENESIS 42:1-3** 1 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, he said to his sons, Why do you look one upon another? 2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: Go down and buy for us that we may live, and not die. 3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4 But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob did not go with his brethren; Lest mischief befall him. 5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn, as did others that came, for the famine was also in the land of Canaan.

**GENESIS 46:2-4** 2 And God spoke to Israel ( _Jacob_ ) in the visions at night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. 3 And He said, I am God, the God of your father: Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation: 4 I will go down with you into Egypt; and I will also surely bring you up again:

**GENESIS 49:1, 8, 10** 1 And Jacob called to his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, so I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. 8 Judah ( _son of Jacob_ ), you are he whom your brethren shall praise: Your hand shall be in the neck of your enemies; your father's children shall bow down before you. 10... The scepter shall not depart from Judah, or a lawgiver from between his feet, until He comes to whom it belongs ( _the Messiah_ ); and to Him shall the obedience of the people be.

**GENESIS 50:22-25** 22 And Joseph dwelled in Egypt, he, and his father's house: And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 And Joseph saw his son Ephraim's children to the third generation: The children also of Machir son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees. 24 And Joseph said to his brethren, I am about to die and God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land to the land that He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.

Satan's primary objective is to prevent the redemption of mankind, as any soul not freed from sin is his to hold! He must have been thrilled when Jacob identified Judah's line as the holder of the scepter. He now knew where to concentrate his forces: The line of Judah. He believed, if he can cut the golden cord leading from Judah to King David, he could prevent the coming of the Savior.

God uses people and events to achieve His ends. The flood cleansed the world of all but the righteous. (People slid back into sin.) God selected Abraham and his people to carry the light of His truth to all nations. He blessed aged Sarah allowing her to bear Abraham a legitimate son to inherit God's covenant promises. He used a scheming Rebecca to reverse the birthright of Esau and Jacob. He maneuvered Jacob's sons to send Joseph to Egypt to make Abraham's people "a great nation." He called on Judah's line to bear of the royal scepter awaiting the One "to whom it belongs."

The first book of the Bible is one of beginnings, from the creation of all things to the election of a chosen people and the forming of a nation. The second book, Exodus, is a record of redemption, as God frees His people from bondage in Egypt and sets them on a journey to the land He promised. Watch as you read for more instances where God taps unlikely candidates to be His instruments.

There are five books in the Torah. All are attributed to Moses. In the third, Leviticus, Moses records the Laws, proper ways to draw near to God through holy worship, and details the seven major Jewish feasts. The fourth book, Numbers, records the experiences of the people as they wander in the wilderness. The final book, Deuteronomy, contains an address by Moses to the people. In it, he faithfully reviews their history in the light of God's glory.

A brief outline of all thirty-nine books of Hebrew Scripture is provided in Appendix II.

God wants us to understand that He hardened Pharaoh's heart to necessitate ten plagues before he would let the people go. The plagues and the parting of the Red Sea were God's way of showing all nations that, "I am the Lord" (Exodus 7:5). God could have softened the Pharaoh's heart, but He wanted the world to respect His might when compared to the gods of Egypt. God hardened the hearts of others throughout history to accomplish His will and demonstrate His power (Hebrews 3:7-9; Romans 9:16-18).

There is considerable speculation about the Pharaoh who persecuted the Hebrews. Stephen, a deacon to the Apostles, tells us, "Another king arose who knew not Joseph" (Acts 7:18). The term used in the Septuagint is _heteros_ meaning another of a different kind, not _allos_ , another of the same kind. This Pharaoh appears to have been of a different family and country.

The Jewish historian Josephus makes note of this fact: "The crown being come to another family" (Antiquities ii, 9). It might have been the Assyrian written of in Isaiah 52:3-4. An Assyrian pharaoh would have been uncomfortable with the growth of a non-Egyptian constituency in the province of Goshen, and Jews are the historic enemies of Assyrians.

The ascension of a Pharaoh who "knew not Joseph" and the plagues it necessitated were part of God's plan to move His people to Canaan and institute the feast of Passover. John the Baptist, in his first public introduction of Jesus, declared, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world," a reference to the Passover Lamb and "a shadow of things to come" (Colossians 2:17).

The plagues caused multitudes to respect and fear the God of the Israelites. A Canaanite harlot (Rahab) came to the aid of Joshua and his armies because she, "heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea" causing her to exclaim, "the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath" (Joshua 2:8-11, 24; 4:23-24).

**EXODUS 1:1-10** 1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls, for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. 8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not of Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when a war comes, they join our enemies, fight against us, and escape from land.

**EXODUS 2:1-10** 1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and he took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2 And the woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 3 And when she could no longer hide him, she made for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the reeds by the river's brink. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to witness what would be done to him. 5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the reeds, she sent her maid to fetch it. 6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: And, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, this is one of the Hebrews' children. 7 Then said the child's sister to Pharaoh's daughter; shall I go and call a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you? 8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother. 9 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him again to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses (Hebrew: _to draw out or lift out_ ) and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

**EXODUS 2:23-25** 23 And it came to pass in the process of time, that the king of Egypt died and the children of Israel sighed because of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up to God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect for them.

**EXODUS 3:2-10** 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush, and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here I am. 5 And He said, Draw not near: Put off your shoes from your feet, for the place whereon you stand is holy ground. 6 Moreover He said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. 7 And the Lord said, I have seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.

Moses' mother placed him on the water of the Nile and a princess of the royal house lifted him out. He gained great knowledge as part of the Pharaoh's family and became God's instrument to lift His people from bondage.

The narrative in Exodus 6 describes the plight of the people and their journey to the land of promise. It is both fact and a metaphor. It serves as an early model of the coming Messiah's redemption of the faithful from the bondage of sin and their journey to a place of refuge.

To reveal the similitude, substitute the word "world" for Egypt, "sin" for bondage, and "everlasting life" for the land.

**EXODUS 6:1-8** 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, Now shall you see what I will do to Pharaoh: For with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. 2 And God spoke to Moses, and said to him, I am the Lord: 3 And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah I did not make myself known to them. 4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: 7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, which brings you out from under the burden of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you into the land, which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you as a heritage: I am the Lord.

**EXODUS 7:3-5** 3 And the Lord said, I will harden Pharaoh's heart and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 But Pharaoh shall not harken, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt and bring forth my armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

**EXODUS 10:1-2** 1 And the Lord said to Moses, Go to Pharaoh: For I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these my signs before him: 2 And that you may tell your son, and of your son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am the Lord.

**ROMANS 9:17-18** 17 For in Scripture He said to Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show my power through you, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore, God has mercy on whom He will have mercy, and for whom He will, he hardens.

The Pharaoh was God's instrument. He remained unrelenting until God administered the tenth plague: The death of the firstborn.

**EXODUS 12:1-3, 5-7, 12-13, 18, 21-23, 29-32, 37-41** 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 This month shall be the beginning of months: It shall be the first month of the year to you ( _Nisan in the Hebrew calendar_ ). 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for each house:

5 The lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: You shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month, and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening ( _15 Nisan_ ). 7 And they shall take the blood and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper doorpost of the houses, where they shall eat the lamb.

12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 And the blood shall be to you a token upon the houses where you are: And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days, until the one and twentieth day of the month at evening.

21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel, and said to them, Draw out and take a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of his house until the morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you. 24 And you shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever.

29 And it came to pass that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh on his throne to the firstborn of the captive that is in the dungeon; and all the firstborn cattle. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and go forth from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, beside children. 38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very many cattle. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any provisions. 40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, lasted for four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even on that day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.

**EXODUS 14:4-11** 4 I will harden Pharaoh's heart that he shall pursue them; and I will be honored above Pharaoh and all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. And they did so. 5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? 6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: 7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel, and the children of Israel went out with a high hand. 9 But the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. 10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid, and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Have you dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

This is the first of many instances where His "murmuring," "stiff-necked" people demonstrated a lack of faith in Moses and their God. It initiates a pattern where the people call on God, He answers their prayers, they stray and find themselves in trouble again, call on Him, benefit again from His mercy, and stray once more. This is seen by some as representing mankind's dilemma: sinful by nature and possessing freewill. Sin leads to a need for forgiveness and, after finding forgiveness through God's mercy, freewill again leads to acts against the known will of God, once more putting an individual in the position of needing God's mercy.

In return for the faithlessness of the people during the days in the wilderness, only two of the adults who left Egypt were allowed to cross the Jordan into the land the Lord promised.

**EXODUS 14:16-30** 16 Lift you up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it: And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: And I will get glory over Pharaoh, and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when am honored by Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen. 19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face and stood behind them: 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these, so that the one came not near the other all the night. 21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: And the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to pass that in the morning watch the Lord looked to the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25 And took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove heavily so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians. 26 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea parted to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled into it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea 28 as the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after the people; there remained not even one of them. 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land as they crossed the sea; and the waters were a wall for them on their right hand, and on their left. 30 Thus, the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. 31 And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: And the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.

**EXODUS 15:22** So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness.

**EXODUS 20:1-6** 1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord your God that brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 You shall not bow down to them nor serve them: For I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And showing mercy to thousands of them that love me, and I keep my commandments.

**EXODUS 32:7-9, 15-16, 19, 25-28, 33** 7 Then the Lord said to Moses, Go down ( _from the mountain_ ); for your people, which you brought out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: 8 They have turned aside quickly from the way I commanded them: They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed to it, and said, These are our gods, O Israel, which brought us up out of the land of Egypt. 9 And the Lord said to Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people:

15 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tablets of the testimony were in his hand: The tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came near to the camp he saw the golden calf ( _they worshiped_ ), and the dancing, and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount.

25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; ( _for Aaron made them naked to shame them among their enemies_ ) 26 he stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered unto him. 27 And he said unto them, Thus said the Lord God of Israel, Everyman here put his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor who has worshiped the idol. 28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and there fell that day about three thousand men of the people.

33 And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book ( _the book of life_ ).

**EXODUS 34:1-2, 4, 8-10, 12-16** 1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew two tables of stone like the first and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which you broke. 2 And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me at the top of the mount

4 And God hewed two tables of stone like unto the first. Moses rose up early in the morning and went up to Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.

8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head to the earth, and worshipped. 9 And he said, If now I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, come among us; for it is a stiff-necked people; come and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for an inheritance. 10 And He said, Behold, I make a covenant before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation, and all the people shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

12 Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you go, lest it is for a snare in the midst of you: 13... you shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: 14... you shall worship no other god: For the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: 15. ( _you shall not_ ) make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and go a whoring after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and one calls you, and you eat of his sacrifice; 16. ( _you shall not_ ) take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods and make your sons go a whoring after their gods.

After forty days in the desert, the people came near to the land of Canaan.

**NUMBERS 13:1-2** 1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Send men that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel: Of every tribe of their fathers shall you send a man, everyone a ruler among them.

Joshua the son of Nun was one of the twelve spies selected to scout the land of Canaan. He and Caleb trusted in the Lord and reported back that the people there, while mighty, could be defeated. The other spies lacked faith, feared the might of the people in the land, and sought to stone Joshua and Caleb. They cried out against God, mourning the fact that He brought them out of Egypt and they encouraged Moses to "make a captain, and let us return into Egypt" (Numbers 13:31-14:10).

The fearful spies soon died of a plague (no coincidence) and the faithless multitude, poised to enter the land after a journey of only forty-days, instead wandered in the Sinai for forty years. All twenty and older (except Joshua and Caleb) were forbidden by God from entering the Promised Land in retribution for their lack of faith in Him (Numbers 14:25-33).

**NUMBERS 14:1-12, 22-33** 1 ( _Upon hearing the report of the ten faithless spies_ ) all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: And the whole congregation said to them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore has the Lord brought us to this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Was it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6 And Joshua (Hebrew: _Yahweh is Salvation_ , English: _Jesus_ ) the son of Nun, and Caleb which were with them that searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spoke with all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us; a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not against the Lord, neither fear the people of that land; for they are bread for us: Their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: Fear them not. 10 But all the congregation said, Stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, How long will this people provoke me? And how long will they not believe me, for all the signs that I have shown among them? 12 I will smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and will make of you a greater nation and mightier than they.

22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not harkened to my voice; 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, I will bring him into the land where he went; and his seed shall possess it. 25 Tomorrow turn and go into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea. 26 And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 27 How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. 28 Say to them: As truly as I live, said the Lord, as you have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you: ( _See vs. 14:2_ ) 29 Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, 30 Doubtless you shall not come into the land, concerning which I swore to make you dwell save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, which you said should be a prey, I will bring them into the land, and they shall know the land that you have despised. 32 But as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years and bear the weight your faithlessness, until your carcasses are wasted in the wilderness.

God will forbid Moses from entering the new land as punishment for his failure to follow the command of the Lord, striking the rock rather than speaking to it as told. It was an act of self-will and a sign of unbelief. **NUMBERS 20:7-12** 7 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and gather the assembly together, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth His water, and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock, so you shall give the congregation and their beasts drink. 9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; must we fetch your water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: ( _instead of speaking to it as the Lord had commanded_ ) and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe me ( _and do as I commanded_ ) to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore, you shall not bring this congregation into the land that I have given them.

**DEUTERONOMY 3:25-28** 25 ( _Moses said_ ) I pray you, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: And the Lord said to me, Let it suffice you; speak no more to me of this matter. 27 Get up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with your eyes: For you shall see the land but not go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him, for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land that you shall only see.

**DEUTERONOMY 4:22-31** 22 ( _Moses said_ ) I must die in this land, I must not go over the Jordan, but you shall go over and possess that good land. 23 Take heed yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and should then make a graven image, or the likeness of anything, which the Lord your God has forbidden you. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. 25 When you shall beget children, and children's children, and you shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the Lord your God, to provoke him to anger: 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereto you go over Jordan to possess it; you shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. 28 And there you shall serve other gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which cannot see, or hear, or eat, or smell. 29 But if from then on you shall seek the Lord your God, you shall find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in tribulation, and all these things are come upon you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the Lord your God, and shall be obedient to His voice; 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers that He swore to them.

**DEUTERONOMY 34:1-6** 1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah that is over against Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land from Gilead as far a Dan, 2 And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the utmost sea, 3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, to Zoar 4 And the Lord said to him, This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, I will give it to your seed: I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you will not go over there. 5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the Word of the Lord. 6 And they buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor, but no man knows the place of his sepulcher to this day.

**HEBREWS 3:10-12, 19** 10 Wherefore I ( _the Lord_ ) was grieved with that generation and said, They do always go astray in their hearts; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest. 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

19 For we know that they could not enter because of unbelief.

Members of the congregation of Israel failed to keep faith with the Lord, and were forbidden from crossing the Jordan into the land of peace and plenty. The message should be clear. All who fail to put their trust in Him will be denied entrance into His eternal kingdom.

Note particularly the message in Deuteronomy 4:29-31: "If you seek the Lord your God with all your heart and soul, you will find Him. When faced with tribulation, and all things are come upon you, even in the latter days, turn to the Lord your God and be obedient to His voice. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; He will not forsake you, neither destroy you... even in the latter days!"

MOSES AND THE LAW

God formed an unconditional, everlasting covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:8-11), Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 17:7-8), David (2 Samuel 7), and the House of Israel (Jeremiah 31:28-31). The covenant with Moses is unique. It is conditional on the people adhering to the Law God gave them (Deuteronomy 28).

He also instructed them to build an altar for sacrifice and a tabernacle where they could seek remission for their sins. There would have been no need for a sacrificial altar had the people been able to keep the Law. God knew they would fail and, in His mercy, provided a means by which they could find temporary remission from their sins.

The Law remains holy and relevant, even for Christians. To know the Law is to be conscious of how God expects the faithful to live and what He finds abhorrent. Sinning is acting contrary to the will of God, and it is necessary to understand His will if we are to act in harmony with His desires.

**EXODUS 20:1-17** 1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord your God that brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 You shall not bow down to them nor serve them: For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And showing mercy to thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your in vain. ( _A warning to not "take" His name, claiming to be His without functioning as He desires, or using His name without appropriate respect, perhaps by wearing a cross as a fashion adornment rather than a sign of a personal commitment._ ) 8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: 10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God: In it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor any stranger that is within your gates: 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God gives you. 13 You shall not murder. 14 You shall not commit adultery 15 You shall not steal. 16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's.

**EXODUS 24:3** And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: And all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord has said will we do.

Those who use verse 13 to argue against the death penalty do not know Scripture, for God also proclaimed, "Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be put to death... Moreover you shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of a death, but he shall be surely put to death" (Numbers 35:30-31).

The people accepted God's Laws eagerly, believing wrongly that they would be able to adhere through their own efforts (works) (Exodus 24:3).

Mankind's sinful nature after the Fall made the Law an intolerable burden, rather than a blessing. It is a stumbling block to personal salvation (Galatians 3:10), as no one is able to remain faithful to its requirements (Deuteronomy .11:26-28).

Some outwardly devout Pharisees credited themselves with being able to adhere to its standards and assumed a mantle of self-righteousness, the very opposite of the humble demeanor God desires.

**DEUTERONOMY 28:15, 36, 64-67** 15 But it shall come to pass, if you will not harken to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes that I command you this day; that all these curses shall come upon you, and overtake you:

36 The Lord shall bring you, and the king which you shall set over you, to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known; and there will you turn to serve other gods, wood and stone. ( _Think of the sixth century BC Babylonian exile_ ).

64 And the Lord shall scatter you among all people, from the one end of the earth even to the other; and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known, even wood and stone. ( _Think of the two-thousand year Diaspora_ ) 65 And among these nations shall you find no ease, neither shall the sole of your foot have rest: But the Lord shall give you a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: 66 And your life shall hang in doubt; and you shall fear day and night, and shall have no assurance of your life: 67 In the morning you shall say, Would God it were evening! And at evening you shall say, Would God it was morning! For the fear in your heart shall fear, and for the sight of your eyes what you shall see.

Christians are subject to the principles of the Law, but not its punishment. Through an understanding of the Law they know what God expects of all who have faith in Him (Romans 7:7, 12). Striving to live in obedience with the Law demonstrates love for Him (1 John 5:1-5), but it is not a condition for salvation. Salvation results from faith in Christ, not works.

**ROMANS 7:6-7, 12** 6 But now we ( _faithful in Christ_ ) are delivered from ( _the penalty of_ ) the Law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not under the old written code. 7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? God forbid. Nay, I would not have known of sin, but by the Law: For I had not known ( _what was_ ) lust, except the Law had said, you shall not covet.

12 Wherefore the Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

**ROMANS 8:2-4** 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the Law of sin and death. 3 For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

**1 JOHN 5:1-4** 1 Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God: And everyone that loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments. ( _Not as a condition of Salvation._ ) 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not grievous. 4 For whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

THE PROMISED LAND—WHAT, FOR WHOM, WHY, WHEN?

The Book of Joshua follows Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It picks up the story of God's people after the journey through the desert and are poised to cross the Jordan into the land God promised.

All the earth is God's. It is His to apportion (Leviticus ƒ25:18, 23; Psalm 24:1). He pledged a specific geographic area to the descendants of Abraham, a place where they ƒwould live in peace forever (Genesis 17:8). His pledge was only partially fulfilled when Joshua led the people across the Jordan into Canaan.

His promise of the land is taken literally by Jews and rejected by Arab peoples. Possession of the land remains a major political issue in the Middle East. It is a permanent impediment to peace. It underlies regional tension, has resulted in wars, and will be a source of dispute until the End Time. It could even lead to international warfare, as nations and multi-national companies covet control of the area's natural resources, particularly its oil reserves.

The land promised by God is vast (Genesis 15:1). It includes everything from Port Said southeast down the Suez Canal to the Red Sea, and along the Euphrates River northwest from the Persian Gulf to the point where it enters what is today Turkey near the ancient city of Gaziantep. The boundaries are the Mediterranean on the west, Red Sea to the southwest, Gulf of Aden/Arabian Sea to the southeast, and the Persian Gulf to the northeast. The full scope of the legacy includes what is today Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen and South Yemen. This message is well understood by the Arab leaders of these countries.

The land acquired through Joshua's conquests (Joshua 24:11) included all Canaan except that controlled by the Kenites, a clan on the southern border of Judah; the Kenizzites, an ancient people of Canaan; the Kadmonites, a Canaanite tribe inhabiting the north-eastern part of the region; and the Rephaims, an ancient people also in the land of Canaan. King David later conquered the Arabah Valley running south from Canaan to the River of Egypt. King Solomon extended his economic influence over the territory north to the Euphrates River.

Joshua (Hebrew: _Hoseha_ ) was from the tribe of Ephraim. Moses changed Joshua's name to Jehoshua (Hebrew: _helped by YHWH, whose help is Jehovah; Help of Jehovah or savior_ ) (Numbers 13:7-16). It is translated as "Joshua" in the KJV and most modern Bibles. It is the name Mary was instructed to give her son. The Greek form is "Jesus." Christ in Greek is _Khristós_ meaning "the anointed one."

Joshua is a common name among the people. It is for this reason Jesus the Messiah is at times identified in Scripture as "Jesus of Nazareth" (John 18:7) or "Jesus the son of Joseph" (John 6:42) to distinguish Him from others of that name.

God chose Joshua to lead the people beyond the Jordan (Deuteronomy 3:25-29). Providentially, God arranged behind the scene for a new pharaoh to rise to power in Egypt. The pharaoh soon found himself deeply involved with troubling domestic issues. In the north, the king of Mesopotamia was forced to deal with the threat of invasion from the neighboring Hittite Kingdom. Neither empire was in a position to come to the aid of Canaanite princes who called for help to repel the invading Israelites.

As with Pharaoh, the Lord also hardened the hearts of the kings in Canaan, causing them to join in battle against Joshua (Joshua 11:20). God remembered the Canaanites placed their faith in false deities (Deuteronomy 9:4-5) and a great many were killed. Women and children were also killed to prevent them from assimilating with the Israelites, bringing their false gods and idols with them (Deuteronomy 7:2-4).

Joshua warned the people before the crossing: If they turned again to idols, the Lord would "no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you" (Joshua 23:11-13).

**DEUTERONOMY 7:2, 4** 2 And when the Lord your God shall deliver your enemies to you; you shall smite them, and utterly destroy them; you shall make no covenant with them, nor show mercy to them: 4 For they will turn away your son from following me so they may serve other gods: So will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy you suddenly.

As you remember, God passed His blessing of the land to the descendants of Isaac, but offered no timetable. If you believe the land is promised to the descendants of Isaac, and accept the principal of the Millennium, the land will be theirs when Christ rules from the throne of David for a thousand years, preceding the prophesied new heaven and new earth "where the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be... and they shall reign forever and ever" (Matthew 25:31-34; Revelation 22:3-5). It will be "an everlasting possession" for the remnant (Genesis 17:6-8).

God's reputation preceded the armies of Joshua. The Almighty demonstrated His power to the world by His actions in Egypt and in parting the Red Sea. Nations knew He was God, and feared Him (Exodus 7:3-5, 16-17; 29:45-46).

**JOSHUA 1:1-2** 1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you, and all this people, to the land which I give to them, even to the children of Israel.

**JOSHUA 2:1, 8-11, 24** 1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into a harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 8 And before they were laid down, Rahab came up to them upon the roof; 9 And she said to the men, I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain anymore courage in any man, because of you: For the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

24 And they ( _the two spies upon returning_ ) said to Joshua, Truly the Lord has delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.

**JOSHUA 4:23-24** 23 For the Lord dried up the waters of Jordan from before them, until they were passed over, as the Lord God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: 24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you might fear the Lord your God forever.

**JOSHUA 11:20** For it was of the Lord to harden their ( _the kings_ ) hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that Joshua might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them.

**JOSHUA 23:11-13** 11 Take heed therefore to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. 12 Else if you do go back, and cleave to the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you: 13 ( _If you do_ ) Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the Lord your God has given you.

Joshua is not listed among the prophets, but God used Joshua to warn the people what would happen if they strayed from the covenant.

**JOSHUA 23:15-16** 15 Therefore, it shall come to pass that as all good things have come upon you, which the Lord your God promised; so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which He has given you. 16 When you have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you.

As we shall see, the people will fail to heed Joshua's prophecy and "perish from off the good land" for more than two centuries as punishment for their transgressions.

Before he died, Joshua spoke to the people, emphasizing that the salvation of the nation rested on their decision to follow the Lord, not their own desires. It is a message that resonates in the gospels.

**JOSHUA 24:2, 13-15** 2 And Joshua said to all the people, Thus said the Lord God of Israel. 13 I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities that you did not build, and you dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive yards that you did not plant, you eat. 14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: Put away the ( _false_ ) gods that your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve the Lord. 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the ( _false_ ) gods which your fathers served or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

The people are in the land as the Book of Joshua ends. The period of the Judges is about to begin, to be followed by the period of Kings, the divided monarchy, foreign invasion, and exile in Babylon. Joshua warned the people. Their choice: Follow the Lord and receive His blessings, or kneel down before false gods and suffer His vengeance. History reveals the consequences of the choice they made.

YAHWEH AND MONOTHEISM

No one knows when religion (the worship of a divine being or force) was born. It might have begun when humans became aware of their mortality, the "Can this be all there is?" effect.

Religious thought is first evidenced in the ceremonial treatment of the dead. Ritual burials demonstrate an awareness of life and death, and perhaps an afterlife of some sort. The oldest known human burial site is a cave in Israel dating back approximately 10,000 years.

The earliest likely site of worship found to date is Gobekli Tepe in southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border. The collection of stone monoliths there was constructed more than 11,500 years ago—seven millennia before the Great Pyramid of Giza and the circle of massive stone pillars at Stonehenge in England. It is an astounding architectural achievement for a hunter-gatherer culture. The effort required over generations implies that it was part of an organized religious belief. One pillar is 18 feet in height, weighs 16 tons, with animal carvings positioned like guardian spirits.

God, when He appeared to Abraham, identified Himself simply as "El Shaddai" or "God Almighty." It is a title, not His name. He was surely mighty, but not yet understood as the only god.

The divine name of God (Yahweh, YHWH, Yehovah, Adonai "my Lord") can be traced only as far back as Moses, where "I am" entered Scripture. (Exodus 3:1). The books of Moses were central in introducing "Yahwism" to subsequent generations.

Early Yahwism was polytheistic, accepting the existence of other gods, but considering Yahweh "greater than other gods" (Exodus 18:10-11). The people took Yahwah as their own ( _their God_ ), the "God of the Hebrews" (Exodus 3:18) who demanded faithfulness from His people and punished those who turned to other gods.

Joshua instructed the people to "put away" other gods (Joshua 24:14) in response to the commandment given by God to Moses (Exodus 20:3) and was rewarded by Moses with the name "Yehoshua" (Joshua) proclaiming "Yahweh-is-Salvation" (Numbers 13:1-16).

Yahweh declared Himself the God of Israel and the only god the people should worship. What He had yet to make clear is that there _are no other gods_. It is not until the period of the Exile and the reign of King Cyrus II of Persia that Yahweh revealed to all the world that there is no other God, a point recorded by Isaiah (Isaiah 45:5-8, 21-22; 46:9-10).

**ISAIAH 43:10-11** 10 You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and my servants whom I have chosen that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am He: Before me there was no god, neither shall there be any after me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.

**ISAIAH 44:6** Thus said the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

**ISAIAH 45:21-22** 21... I am the Lord and there is no God besides me; a just God and a Savior; There is none beside me. 22 Look to me, and be saved all the ends of the earth: For I am God and there is none else.

**ISAIAH 46:9** ... I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.

Monotheism is the belief that there is only one God. Polytheism accepts there are many specialized gods. Henotheism emphasizes a single special God, leaving open the possibility of other gods for other people. The Jewish people moved from polytheism, to henotheism, and ultimately to the belief in the one and only almighty God, Creator and preserver of the universe. He was _their_ God and, as we shall see, one they were not eager to share.

Knowing there is only one God, and that He is at first the God of Israel, makes folly of the idea that Christianity has replaced Judaism in God's plan for mankind. The Jews were chosen by the "One God" to be the light to the world. They proved unfaithful to the task and God turned to the Gentiles to carry that light, but did not abandon His people.

God elected the Jews as an instrument to share His truth with the nations. He did not intend for them to simply absorb the light, but reflect it. They wrongly considered Him their God alone and failed to share His Word with the world. More on the consequences of this later.

KING DAVID AND THE HOLY CITY

The Book of Judges follows the Book of Joshua in the Hebrew Canon. It echoes a recurring theme in the history of God's "stiffed necked" people: They are blessed and loved by God, but turn from His ways, are disciplined, call out for His mercy, are forgiven, and stray again from His ways, only to be punished and again call for His mercy.

**JUDGES 2:7-8, 10-12, 14-17** 7 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that He did for Israel. 8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being a hundred and ten years old.

10 And all that generation died and were gathered unto their fathers: And there arose another generation after them, which did not know the Lord, or the works that He had done for Israel. 11 And the people did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim: 12 And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed to them provoking the Lord's anger.

14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and He sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. 15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for their evil, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them, and they were greatly distressed. 16 Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges, who delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. 17 And yet they would not harken to their judges, but they went whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves to them: They turned quickly out of the ways in which their fathers had walked obeying the commandments of the Lord; they now did not so.

**JUDGES 3:9** And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

Othniel became the first of the Hebrew Judges thirty years after Joshua died. The people again turned from God during the period of the Judges and prayed instead to false gods. God punished them for their sins. They grew weary of the resulting wars and pleaded to God for a king so they could be "strong like other nations," demonstrating again a lack of faith in God to protect them from their enemies. God answered their prayers in a manner. He gave them Saul.

Saul assumed the throne of a united kingdom of Israel in ca.1046 BC initiating the period of the monarchy. He was anointed by the prophet Samuel, the last of the Hebrew Judges and the first of the prophets. Samuel lived on the cusp between the era of the judges and the monarchy.

Saul proved faithless before God and a disastrous military leader for the nation. He fell on his sword to avoid capture in the battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, where three of his sons were killed.

King David was chosen by God to succeed Saul on the throne. His son, King Solomon, built a great temple as the house of God in the nation's new capital Jerusalem. The monarchy lasted another 334 years, but the nation split into two kingdoms: Israel in the north and Judah in the south, each with its own king.

The people ignored God and put their trust in human leaders. Their faith in the rule of kings soon created a nation divided, the defeat and dispersion of the tribes of the northern kingdom, the destruction of Solomon's Temple, the leveling of Jerusalem, and the exile to Babylon of the tribes of the southern kingdom. It would be more than 2,500 years before the people would again be a sovereign nation.

Scripture records a great deal about the period of the monarchy for our learning. It teaches important lessons about God's relationship with mankind.

**1 SAMUEL 8:7-8, 10, 14-22** 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, Harken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me ( _wanting a king, not trusting in the Lord alone_ ), that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, wherewith they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also do to you.

10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of Him to have a king.

14 ( _Samuel warned a king_ ) ... will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive yards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep and you shall be his servants. 18 And you shall cry out in that day because of your king that you shall have chosen; and the Lord will not hear you in that day. 19 Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the warnings of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 that we may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, Harken to their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go you every man to his city.

**1 SAMUEL 9:1-2, 15-16** 1 Now there was a man of the tribe of Benjamin, whose name was Kish... a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man and goodly: And there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: From his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 Tomorrow about this time I will send a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be captain over my people Israel.

**1 SAMUEL 10:1** Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon Saul's head, and kissed him, and said, because the Lord has anointed you to be captain over his inheritance.

**1 SAMUEL 15:10-11** 10 Then came the Word of the Lord to Samuel, saying, 11 I repent that I have set up Saul to be king, for he is turned from following me, and has not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried to the Lord all night.

**1 CHRONICLES 10:13-14** 13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the Word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one (a seer) that had a familiar spirit; 14 And inquired not of the Lord: Therefore He slew him ( _at the hands of Israel's enemy_ ), and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

David was Jesse's youngest son, a mere shepherd boy, but God chose him to rule the nation after Saul's death. God continued to show His love for David despite his failure to abide by the Law.

David never lost his love for the Lord. He remained humble before God and begged earnestly for God's forgiveness of his many sins. He remains a model of mortal repentance and a sign that God will forgive the sins of those who return to Him in faith.

**1 SAMUEL 16:1-12** 1 And the Lord said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go: I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite ( _of the tribe of Judah, residing in Bethlehem_ ); for I have provided a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me. And Jehovah said, Take a heifer with you, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do, and you shall anoint him whom I will name. 4 And Samuel did that which Jehovah spoke, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Come you peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably; I come to sacrifice to Jehovah: Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab ( _Jesse's first and mightiest son_ ), and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before us. 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him, for the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither has the Lord chosen this. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither has the Lord chosen this. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, The Lord has not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, Are these all your children? And Jesse said, There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he keeps the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and fetch him, for we will not sit down until he comes. 12 And he sent, and brought David in. Now he was ruddy, and with a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look upon. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he.

**1 SAMUEL 17:1-4, 10-11, 25, 32-33, 37, 40-42, 45-46, 48-50** 1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, and there was a valley between them. 4 And there went out a champion of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

25 And the men of Israel said, Have you seen this man that is come up? Surely it is to defy Israel that he come up: And it shall be, the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33 And Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight, for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

37 David said, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

40 And David took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had; and his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bore the shield went before David. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

45 Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have hast defied. ( _David had rejected Saul's armor_ ). 46 This day will the Lord deliver you into my hand; and I will smite you, and take your head from you; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines to the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took out a stone, and slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead. The stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine: There was no sword in the hand of David.

**2 SAMUEL 5:1-5** 1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David in Hebron, and spoke, saying, Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2 Also in time past, when Saul was king, the Lord said to you, You shall feed my people Israel, and you shall be a captain over Israel. 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: And in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel ( _the northern kingdom_ ) and Judah ( _the southern kingdom_ ).

King David made Jerusalem the capital of the United Kingdom and moved the Ark of the Covenant to a tabernacle erected in the city. He hoped a new capital and a planned temple would bond the northern and southern peoples in a religious and political union.

David lusted and sinned against the Lord.

**2 SAMUEL 11:2-5** 2 And it came to pass in an evening, that David arose from his bed, and walked on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness and returned unto her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

**2 SAMUEL 11:14-17, 26-27** 14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, commander of his army, and sent it by the hand of Uriah, husband to Bathsheba. 15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and pull back from him, that he may be smitten, and die. 16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew that valiant men were. 17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: And there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

26 And when the Bathsheba heard that Uriah her husband was dead; she mourned for her husband. 27 And when her mourning was past, David sent and fetched Bathsheba to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But, the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

**2 SAMUEL 12:1-18** 1 And the Lord sent Nathan ( _court prophet_ ) to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had many flocks and herds: 3 But the poor man had nothing, but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished: And it grew up with him, and with his children; it ate of his own meat and drank of his own cup, and lay on his bosom, and was to him as a daughter. 4 And there came a traveler to the rich man, and the rich spared his own flock and of his own herd to feed the wayfaring man; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man to eat. 5 David's anger was greatly kindled against the rich man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord lives, the man that has done this thing shall surely die: 6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. 7 And Nathan said to David, You are the man. Thus says the Lord God of Israel. 8 I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul; 8 And I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the houses of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have given to you such and such things. 9 Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord to do evil in his sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite and have taken his wife to be your wife. 10 Now; therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house; because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 11 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly: But I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. 13 And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David, The Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 But, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme Him, the child that is born to you shall surely die. 15 And Nathan departed to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick. 16 David besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the earth. 17 And the elders of his house arose and went to him to raise him up from the earth, but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day; the child died.

God punished David by raising "evil up against" his house. David's firstborn son by Bathsheba died after seven days and God denied David the honor of building a temple in Jerusalem.

The first temple, built under the direction of David's son Solomon, served as an inspiration for all humanity. It pointed the way to the Lord, manifesting God's glory before the whole world. Recall God's "mission" for His people was to be a light to shine forth His glory.

Solomon's Temple stood as visible proof of the people's devotion to their God. When they again turned inward, God had the temple destroyed by Israel's enemies and called on the Gentiles to be His instrument to "shine before men" to glorify the one true God (Matthew 3:15).

**1 CHRONICLES 22:7-10** 7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the Lord my God: 8 But the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, You have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about, for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.

**2 SAMUEL 7:17, 12-13, 16** 17 According to all these words, and according to all the Lord had shown him; the prophet Nathan did speak the Word of the Lord to David.

12 And when your days are fulfilled and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He ( _Solomon_ ) shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you: Your throne shall be established forever.

**1 KINGS 2:10** So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David (Jerusalem).

**2 CHRONICLES 7:11-12, 14-20** 11 Thus, Solomon finished the house of the Lord Jehovah, and the king's house: And all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of Jehovah, and in his own house, he accomplished successfully. 12 And Jehovah appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him, I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for a house of sacrifice.

14 If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes shall be open, and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now have I chosen and hallowed this house that my name may be there forever; and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. 17 And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and shall observe my statutes and my judgments; 18 Then will I establish the throne of your kingdom, as I have covenanted with David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel. 19 But if you turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; 20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast it out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

Solomon built the temple to hold the Ark and serve as a house for the Lord. He asked for and gained wisdom from the Lord (1 Kings 3:5, 9-12) who promised to make of him an everlasting kingdom.

**1 KINGS 9:1-7** 1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do, 2 That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the Lord said unto him, I have heard your prayer and supplication that you have made before me: I have hallowed this house, which you have built, to put my name there forever; and my eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually. 4 And if you walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and will keep my statutes and my judgments: 5 Then I will establish the throne of your kingdom upon Israel forever, as I promised to David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man upon the throne of Israel. 6 But if you shall at all turn from following me, you or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go instead and serve other gods, and worship them: 7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, and will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

Solomon sinned in the eyes of the Lord, as did his father, but, unlike David, he did not repent. The nation became politically divided soon after Solomon's death ( _the will of the Lord_ ) and eventually fell to its enemies, the northern kingdom to Assyria and the southern kingdom to Babylonia.

**1 KINGS 11:1-4, 8-13** 1 But king Solomon loved many strange ( _foreign_ ) women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2 Of the women of the nations the Lord said unto the children of Israel, You shall not enter them, neither shall they come to you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these same in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned away his heart from the Lord. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart toward other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 8 And also did he for all his strange ( _non-Jewish_ ) wives, which burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. 9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared to him twice, 10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: But he did not obey that which the Lord commanded. 11 Wherefore Jehovah said to Solomon, Forasmuch as you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely rend the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant Jeroboam. 12 In your days I will not do it for David your father's sake, but I will rend it out of the hand of your son and heir. 13 But I will not rend away all the kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son and heir, Rehoboam, for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, which I have chosen.

Jeroboam, who was not of royal blood, stirred up the people who feared King Rehoboam would tax them heavily as did his father Solomon. Older men of the court counseled King Rehoboam to accommodate the needs of the people, but the new king rejected their wisdom and sought the advice from his younger friends. They told the king to show strength, not weakness, and to tax the people more, not less.

**2 CHRONICLES 10:13-15** 13 And the king forsook the counsel of the old men, 14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it: My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15 So the king harkened not unto the people, for the cause was from God, that the Lord might perform the words which He spoke by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

Jeroboam and the people rebelled against King Rehoboam. Jeroboam and ten tribes broke away and formed a separate kingdom in the north, the Kingdom of Israel (aka the northern kingdom, Samaria, Ephraim). King Rehoboam continued on the throne of the southern Kingdom of Judah composed mainly of two tribes, Judah and Benjamin.

Recall the people pleaded with God for kings to lead them "so that they might be like other nations." God answered their request. Israel got the kings it deserved and, as Samuel prophesied, the kings led to the ruination of the nation.

Scriptural records concerned with the lives of David and Solomon were written at least three hundred years after the fact. Some books were penned in the eighth century BC, others in the seventh century BC when oral accounts were committed to stone, leather, and papyrus.

The late recording of the events, and the lack of concrete evidence confirming their accuracy, is taken by some biblical minimalists as "proof " they are not factual. Such scholars want Scripture to be like an _Oxford Encyclopedia_ with every detail confirmed as fact. It will never be, and that is fine with God. He expects those who love Him to see the truth in Scripture through faith.

THE PROPHETS

Sixteen prophets played pivotal roles in the years following Solomon's death, the ascension of King Rehoboam and King Jeroboam, the fall of the divided kingdom, the assimilation by Assyria of the tribes in the northern kingdom, and the exile to Babylon of the tribes in the southern kingdom.

The title "prophet" is derived from a Greek word meaning "fore-speaker", the equivalent of the Hebrew root signifying to declare or announce. Prophecy spoken and written through God's elect reveals history before it happens. The messages come from outside time. Appreciate that the purpose of prophecy is more than to let us know what is to come, but to bring glory to God when it is accomplished as the prophets have spoken.

Accurate foretelling is an essential element of prophecy. Validation is found in its fulfillment. A true prophet is a spokesman who pronounces in God's name and by His authority (Exodus 4:12, 7:1-2). He or she is a messenger through which God communicates with the people (Jeremiah 1:9; Isaiah 51:16). The words are of the Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21). In a sense, all Scripture is prophetic, as the Spirit inspired those who penned it.

The principal task of a Jewish prophet is to call attention to ethical and religious abuses, while proclaiming moral and religious truths associated with the character of God. Enoch, Elijah, Elisha, the patriarchs, and Moses were the earliest prophets.

The words of sixteen prophets are recorded in separate books in most Bibles. These prophets spoke to the people from the eighth to the fifth century BC and are generally divided into four groups:

The prophets of the northern kingdom (Israel): Hosea, Amos, Joel, and Jonah.

The prophets of the southern kingdom (Judah): Isaiah, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah.

The prophets of the Babylonian captivity: Ezekiel and Daniel.

The prophets of the Restoration: Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Malachi is the last of the recorded Jewish prophets. After Malachi, God fell silent until John the baptizer spoke of the coming of the Lord. John marked a transition from Scriptures focus on the Law to the preaching of the kingdom of God (Matthew 11:13; Luke 16:16).

Prophets are categorized as either "major" or "minor." The term "major" in this context simply means the prophet's message is preserved in a lengthy book covering a wider variety of subjects than are the writings of the "minor" prophets. (See Appendix II for details on the subjects each prophet addressed.)

While "major" prophets, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, are well known, many Christians are unfamiliar with the shorter prophetic books of the Old Testament. Zephaniah and Malachi are examples of those read less frequently, yet they are powerful voices of prophecy.

The books of Zephaniah, Malachi, and Habakkuk are little jewels. The first, Zephaniah (686-642 BC), born in the reign of Manasseh (2 Kings 21:16), focuses on the Day of the Lord. He describes the end times, when the people will again be gathered in the land and return to the use of pure Hebrew (Zephaniah 3:9). Zephaniah also hints at a rapture event (Zephaniah 2:3) and notes the nation of Ethiopia will bring a special gift to the Messiah in Zion in the End Time (Zephaniah 3:10). This last point is particularly fascinating, as it is in Ethiopia that the Ark of the Covenant is rumored to rest today. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church claims to possess the Ark under guard in Axum, a city in northern Ethiopia. It would be a suitable gift for the Messiah!

The writings of Malachi include an interesting challenge. Recall that the books of Moses warn God is not to be tested (Deuteronomy 6:16) and Jesus emphasized several times that we are not to test God (Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12). Yet, in Malachi we find an amazing exception. God actually dares us to put Him to a test (Malachi 3:6-10). Take time to read it. It seemingly even offers an answer on all financial problems, if we take advantage of His promise. Malachi ends his writing with a prophecy concerning a return "in the spirit of Elijah." It can be seen as a promise of the return of a messiah, a concept unknown in Judaism.

In Habakkuk we find, "The just shall live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). Paul's epistles, echoing Habakkuk, are often credited with motivating Martin Luther to expound his position on the issue of justification by faith. Here we have the seed of the Reformation in Hebrew Scripture.

Habakkuk's comments on faith might have been a partial motivation for Paul's epistles where he asks: "How shall we live?" (Romans 1:17). The answer is, "by faith" (Galatians 3:11). The author of the Book of Hebrews ( _thought to be Paul_ ) quotes Habakkuk 2:4 when making the point that the righteous live by faith (Hebrews 10:38).

Prophets of this period warned the people what would happen if they didn't change their ways and adhere to the commandments of the Lord. They were largely ignored, with predictable results recorded in Scripture.

As prophesied, the nation fell into civil war soon after Solomon's death (ca. 930 BC). The people divided into northern and southern kingdoms, the house of Israel in the north and the house of Judah in the south. This was the will of God (1 Kings 11:31). Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom (Israel) and Jerusalem of the southern kingdom(Judah).

### Period of the Monarchy - The Divided Kingdom

A DIVIDED KINGDOM—ISRAEL AND JUDAH

It is proper to commit a bit more space to the fall of Solomon's kingdom and the fate of its faithless people. Some think the message is relevant to trends in the United States at the time of this writing. Is there a warning here for our learning?

Solomon ascended to the throne when King David died after 40 years as king (ca. 970 BC). As prophesied, the nation fell into civil war after his death (ca. 930 BC). The people divided into northern and southern kingdoms, with the House of Israel in the north and the House of Judah in the south, according to the will of God (1 Kings 11:31).

The tribes of Judah and Benjamin, joined by many Levites and other faithful Jews from the tribes throughout the land, united under King Rehoboam in the south. The remaining tribes united under Jeroboam in the north.

God continued to speak to the people through His prophets who forewarned both nations of the punishment to come. A careful reading of the writings of the prophets reveals a great deal about the nature of God, and what He expects of nations and individuals.

Ahijah the Shilonite, a prophet of Shiloh, a city in the Ephraim hill country and religious capital of Israel since the time of the Judges, announced the rending of the ten tribes from Solomon, the death of the king's son, the destruction of Jeroboam's house, and the captivity of Israel "beyond the river" (1 Kings 11:31-39, 14:6-16).

**1 KINGS 11:31, 34-40** 31 And he ( _the prophet Ahijah_ ) said to Jeroboam, Take you ten tribes: Thus said the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you:

34 But I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon's hand: I will make him prince all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes: 35 But I will take the kingdom out of Solomon's son's hand, and will give it to you Jeroboam, even ten tribes. 36 And to Solomon's son ( _King Rehoboam of the tribe of Judah_ ) will I add one tribe ( _Benjamin_ ), that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen to put my name. 37 And I will take you Jeroboam, and you shall reign according to all that your soul desires, and shall be a king over Israel ( _northern kingdom_ ). 38 And it shall be, if you will harken to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do that which is right in my eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; then I will be with you, and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you. 39 And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not forever. 40 Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam; but he arose, and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

**1 KINGS 12:20-21** 20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard this, they sent and called Jeroboam to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: There were none that followed the House of David ( _in the south_ ), but only the tribe of Judah. 21 And when King Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men that were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel and Jeroboam, to unite the kingdom again to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon.

Both kingdoms turned from God, did evil in His sight, and worshiped idols. God punished them for their faithlessness. The kingdom of Israel in the north fell first.

**HOSEA 5:9-10** 9 Ephraim ( _name used by Hosea and Isaiah as an idiom for the northern kingdom_ ) shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: Among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. 10 The princes of Judah ( _southern kingdom_ ) were like them that remove the landmark: Therefore, I will pour out my wrath upon them also.

ISRAEL IS DEFEATED —THE PEOPLE SCATTERED

God first punishes the people of the northern kingdom for their immorality and failure to heed the Word given by the prophets. Through Hosea, God condemns the people for their "lack of knowledge," that is, their failure to know and adhere to His will (Hosea 4:6-7).

Hosea was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah and Amos. His principal audience lived in the north, yet he spoke to all the people. He wrote one of the most remarkable books of the Old Testament. No other messenger gives so complete an outline of the way God deals with His earthly people. He reveals to us that 1) God suffers when His people are unfaithful to Him; 2) God cannot condone sin; 3) God will never cease to love His own; and 4) God seeks to win back those who forsake Him. Hosea's writing also makes it clear that material prosperity is not a guarantee of safety in the world. It is a message for all generations.

Among the provocative insights in the gospel of Matthew is his application of Hosea 11:1 as a link between God's fatherhood of Israel "my son" and the later calling of His own Son out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15). It is a fine example of the many double references found in prophecy (both denotative and connotative) and how the deeper meaning of some verses is concealed in the Old Testament and unveiled in the New (Mark 4:22).

**HOSEA 11:1** When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

**MATTHEW 2:14-15** 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

The people in the north forgot, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10). The House of Israel had the Torah and the word of the prophets, but neglected their teachings. They were warned repeatedly that God is to be obeyed (Deuteronomy 28:15-64), but they failed to hear.

God brought death to the people and infertility to the land. They were expelled from the area at the hands of the Assyrians, as instruments of God's punishment, and "wandered among the nations" for thousands of years as Hosea prophesied (Hosea 9:16-17).

The people had acquired great wealth. They attributed this bounty to the work of their hands instead of crediting God for His graciousness (Hosea 12:8). Years of prosperity nurtured a sense of self-confidence and self-reliance, leading them away from the Lord. In their pride, they did not praise and thank God, the provider of all good things. The people's covetousness, greed, and ingratitude heated God's anger with predictable results. It is a message for all peoples.

The northern kingdom fell to the invading Assyrians (ca. 722 BC). The ten tribes were assimilated or scattered widely throughout the Assyrian Empire, leading to the legend of the ten lost tribes.

**2 KINGS 17:22-23** 22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam that he did; they departed not from them; 23 Until the Lord removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said He would by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria to this day.

God told His people He would not return to "the place of His coming" until they acknowledged their offence, and sought His face (Hosea 5:15). Having the benefit of the Book of Revelation, we know the forces of Satan will be unleashed in the End Time, causing many to seek His return.

**HOSEA 3:4-5** 4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: 5 Afterward shall the children return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.

But first, the people will suffer for their sins.

**DEUTERONOMY 28:15, 49, 63-65** ( _Double reference—Assyrians and Romans disperse the people into unwelcoming lands—Diaspora_ ) 15 But it shall come to pass, if you will not harken to the voice of the Lord your God, to observe and do all His commandments and His statutes which I ( _Moses_ ) command you this day; that all these curses shall come upon you, and overtake you:

49 The Lord shall bring a nation against you from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies; a nation whose tongue you shall not understand.

63 As the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked off the land where you go to possess it. 64 And the Lord shall scatter you among all people, from the one end of the earth even to the other; and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known, made of wood and stone. 65 And among these nations shall you find no ease, neither shall the sole of your foot have rest: but the Lord shall give you a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind.

**AMOS 9:9-10** 9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. 10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which says, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.

**HOSEA 1:6** For I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

**HOSEA 4:6** My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: Because you have rejected knowledge ( _of me_ ), I will also reject you ( _Israel_ ), that you shall be no priest to me, seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

**HOSEA 9:17** He will cast them away, because they did not harken unto Him, and they shall be wanderers among the nations.

**HOSEA 11:2, 5-6** 2 As I called them, so they turned from Me and they sacrificed to Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

5... the Assyrian shall be their king, because they refused to return to Me. 6 And the sword shall abide on the cities, and shall consume the branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

**HOSEA 13:6, 16** 6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled ( _with plenty_ ), and their heart was exalted; but they have forgotten me. 16 Samaria ( _capital of the northern kingdom, idiom of the nation_ ) shall become desolate; for she has rebelled against her God: They shall fall by the sword, their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

Individuals (and nations) will be judged. Those that turn from their sins and call on His name will be spared.

God takes no pleasure in punishing the wicked, but He is just (Ezekiel 18:23-26). Sin must be punished. His ways are equal—He will deal harshly with the wicked and gently with the penitent who turn from their sinfulness.

**EZEKIEL 18:1-5, 9, 14, 20-22** 1 The Word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 What mean you, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? 3 As I live, said the Lord God, you shall not have an occasion anymore to use this proverb in Israel. ( _Sons will no longer be punished for the sins of their fathers._ ) 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: The soul that sins, it shall die. 5 But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right...

9... and walks in my statutes, and keeps my judgments, to deal truly; if he is just, he shall surely live, said the Lord God. 14 Now, lo, if a son sees all his father's sins which he has done, and considers, and does not such...

20... The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him alone, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him alone. 21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be mentioned to him: In his righteousness that he has done he shall live.

JUDAH IS DEFEATED —

THE BABYLONIAN EXILE

Assyrian invaders destroyed the northern kingdom (Israel) and scattered the people. A little more than a century later God punished the southern kingdom (Judah) for its sinfulness and sent the people into exile.

**PSALM 145:20** The Lord preserves all them that love Him; but scatters abroad all the ungodly.

**2 KINGS 23:27** And the Lord said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.

The Babylonians attacked Judah and led the people into captivity through a series of invasions over a period of years (597-586 BC). The invaders destroyed much of Jerusalem, leveled the temple, and exiled the people to Babylon. God recalled His covenant promise to Jacob and David, and did not totally destroy the House of Judah as He had the House of Israel.

The people of Judah cried out, arrogantly reminding God that, "we are all your people," as though God was obligated to save them from themselves (Isaiah 64:9). But, the people failed to put their full trust in God and chose to follow the rule of kings. They were warned by the prophets, but failed to heed the Word.

**2 CHRONICLES 21:6-7** 6 ( _The King of Judah_ ) walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: For he had the daughter of Ahab as a wife, and he did that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord. 7 Nonetheless, the Lord would not destroy the House of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David, and as He promised to give a light to David and to his sons forever.

**2 CHRONICLES 36:14-17, 21** 14... all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord, which He had hallowed in Jerusalem. 15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent His messengers the prophets ( _again and again_ ); because He had compassion on His people, and on His dwelling place: 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against His people, until there was no remedy. 17 Therefore, He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans ( _aka Babylonians_ ), who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, the old man, or the aged: He gave them all into his ( _King of Babylon's_ ) hand.

21... until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths: ( _Sabbaths of the land: a field was to remain fallow every seventh year_ ), to fulfill threescore and ten years ( _seventy years, the length of the exile in Babylonia_ ).

**2 KINGS 24:12-14** 12 Then Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers went out to the king of Babylon; and the king of Babylon, in the eighth year of his reign, took him prisoner. 13 And he carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king's house, and he cut in pieces all the articles of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the Lord, as the Lord had said. 14 Also he carried into captivity all Jerusalem, all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land.

**JEREMIAH 25:10-11** 10 Moreover, I ( _the Lord_ ) will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. 11 And this whole land shall be desolation, and astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. ( _Note the specificity of the prophecy._ )

**2 KINGS 25:8-11** 8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem: 9 And he burned the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house. 10 And all the army of the Chaldees that were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around. 11 Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away.

God clearly has a tipping point beyond which He will no longer endure faithlessness. He nonetheless holds out His promise for His "elect" and those who "sought Him," but will punish those who "forsake the Lord" and do that which does not delight Him. This message is relevant to Jews and Christians throughout all generations.

Recall God's promise to Solomon. If He brings punishment against the people, He will return to bring healing when they call His name, humble themselves, and turn from their wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:12-14). He also promised through the prophet Hosea that He will return when His people acknowledge their offences and seek His face (Hosea 5:15). Scripture reveals that in the latter days a remnant will repent, call on His name, be spared, receive His blessing, and inherit a new earth, "and the former ( _sins_ ) shall not be remembered, nor come into mind" (Isaiah 65:17, 46:11-13).

In His covenant with Noah, God promised to never again destroy all things through flooding. In a covenant with Abraham, God pledged that Isaac's seed would dwell forever in the land. In a covenant with David, He promised that David's "house" and throne would be established for evermore.

God will punish His people for their multiple transgressions, but He will not abandon them. His covenants with the people are eternal. A remnant will always be secured.

DANIEL'S "SEVENTY WEEKS OF YEARS"

Some of the most astounding prophecies in Scripture are found in the Book of Daniel. There we find the words the angel Gabriel spoke to Daniel predicting the precise day Jesus would enter Jerusalem for His crucifixion and an outline of end-time events.

Daniel, a Jew in exile with his people and servant in the court of the king of Babylon, studied the writings of Jeremiah. It became clear that the prophesied seventy years of servitude to the kings of Babylonia would soon end (Jeremiah 25:12-15). Daniel began praying for his people. The angel Gabriel interrupted his prayer and spoke a remarkable four-verse prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27).

It is critical to understand the particulars of this amazing prophecy, already partially fulfilled. The four verses include: 9:24—the grand scope of the prophecy; 9:25—events of the first sixty-nine weeks of years, to include Jesus' triumphant arrival in Jerusalem; 9:26—the interval between the sixty-ninth and seventieth week of years, the period where mankind is today; and 9:27—the seventieth and final week marked by the tribulation of the living and the "great and terrible" Day of the Lord.

One must begin by understanding the phrase "weeks of years." Well understood by the people at the time, it pertains to the Sabbath of the Land required by Mosaic Law. Harvested land was to lay fallow every seventh year, resting just as humans were instructed to rest on the seventh day. Israel's failure to observe this law contributed to God's sending the nation into captivity under the Babylonians (Leviticus 25:4-5).

The seventy weeks of years (seven days x seventy years) spoken of by Daniel equals 490 calendar years of 360 days each. Four hundred and eighty-three years (the first sixty-nine weeks of years) have passed.

History is now positioned in an interval preceding the start of the seventieth and final week. The beginning of that seven-year period (one week of years) will mark the end of the Church Age and, in the eyes of some, usher in the rapture.

The focus of Daniel 9:24 is on "your people and upon your holy city." That is, the people of Israel and Jerusalem, not the Church as some scholars argue. The scope of the complete prophecy includes a series of events that must take place before the Christ returns "... 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" (9:24).

The prophecy is mysterious to many and greatly misunderstood by others, but an understanding is basic to comprehending the Book of Revelation and the Second Coming. It is entered into the narrative at this point because it is during this period in Jewish history that Gabriel shared the prophecy with Daniel.

Jesus will later rebuke the Jewish people in Jerusalem for not understanding the full meaning of this prophecy and applying it to Him (Luke 19:41-44).

**DANIEL 9:21-27** 21 Yet, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give you skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show you; for you are greatly beloved: Therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 24 Seventy weeks ( _weeks of years, 70 x 7, 490 years_ ) is determined upon your people and upon your 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. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem ( _March 14, 445 BC_ ) to the messiah the Prince ( _shall come in_ ) will be seven weeks ( _of years_ ), and threescore and two weeks ( _total 69 weeks of years, 483 years on the Jewish calendar_ ) the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after the threescore and two weeks ( _sixty-two_ ) shall the messiah be cut off ( _crucified_ ), but not for himself ( _for the sins of the world_ ): And the people of the prince that shall come ( _the Antichrist's agent_ ) shall destroy the city and the sanctuary ( _Jerusalem and the temple_ ); and the end thereof shall be with a flood ( _meaning in a rush, not of water—see Genesis 8:11_ ) and to the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he ( _the Antichrist_ ) shall confirm the covenant ( _treaty of peace_ ) with many ( _Israel_ ) in the final week ( _seven times twelve or eighty-four months_ ): And in the midst of the week ( _after forty-two months_ ) he ( _the Antichrist_ ) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease ( _in the temple_ ), and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate ( _declaring himself a god in the temple_ ), even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Keep this prophecy in mind as you read about the events leading to the birth of Jesus, His ministry, and His triumphant arrival in Jerusalem on the Sunday before His crucifixion. The date of His final arrival in Jerusalem on the Jewish calendar, celebrated today as Palm Sunday by Christians, was precisely as Daniel prophesied and marked the end of the first sixty-nine weeks of years. One week of seven years remains and it will follow the interval where the world now finds itself.

Will the events of the final week occur as Daniel prophesied? The test of any prophecy is the accuracy with which it is satisfied. The first sixty-nine weeks of years occurred exactly as Daniel foretold, to the precise day! This is reason to believe the balance will prove as accurate. We will deal with it again in Chapter 6.

PERMISSION TO RETURN AND REBUILD THE TEMPLE

**JEREMIAH 29:1-7, 10-14** ( _Foretells the length of the exile and serves as a double reference, return from exile and end-time gathering_ ) 1 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the elders which were carried away as captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon; 4 Thus said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all that are carried away captives, whom I caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon; 5 Build houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit; 6 Take wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried as captives, and pray to the Lord for it: For in the place, there shall you have peace.

10 For thus said the Lord, After seventy years is accomplished in Babylon I will visit you and perform my good work toward you, causing you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end ( _of the exile_ ). 12 Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, said the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place from which I caused you to be carried away as captives ( _in the Diaspora_ )

**JEREMIAH 30:1-3, 10-11** ( _Also a double reference_ ) 1 The Word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write the words that I have spoken in a book. 3 For, lo, the days come, said the Lord, that I will end the captivity of my people Israel and Judah: And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

10 Therefore fear not, O my servant Jacob, said the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: For, lo, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. 11 For I am with you, said the Lord, to save thee: Though I make a full end of all nations to which I have scattered you, yet will I not make a full end of you, but I will correct you in measure, and will not leave you altogether unpunished.

**JEREMIAH 31:31-33** 31 Behold, the days come, said the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, said the Lord: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, said the Lord, 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.

Persia defeated and occupied Babylonia while the Jews were there in exile (539 BC). Cyrus, king of Persia, became the ruler of the Babylonian territories and the people of Israel. He served as an instrument of God by decreeing the Israelites could return to their land, reestablish the city, and rebuild the temple. Isaiah and Jeremiah write of this return in a double reference: The end of the exile and the final restoration of the people in the End Time (Isaiah 14:1-3; Jeremiah 29:1-7, 10-14).

To his astonishment, when shown the Book of Isaiah for the first time, Cyrus found his name and the text told him of the role he would fulfill in God's plan.

**ISAIAH 44:28** ( _The Lord God_ ) said of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying to Jerusalem, You shall be rebuilt; and also the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.

**ISAIAH 45:1-6, 13** 1 Thus said the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open the gates before him; and the gates shall not be shut; 2 I ( _the Lord_ ) will go before you ( _Cyrus_ ), and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 3 And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, which calls you by your name. I am the God of Israel. 4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my elect, I have even called you by your name: I have surnamed you, though you have not known me. 5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded you, though you have not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the setting in the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. 13 I have raised him ( _Cyrus_ ) up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: He shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, neither for price nor reward, said the Lord of hosts.

**EZRA 1:1-4** 1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the Word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Thus said Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has charged me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Who is there among you of all His people, his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, He is the God, which is in Jerusalem. 4 And whosoever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. (Also recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:22-23)

This revelation astounded Cyrus. He instantly acknowledged the God of the Jews as the only god and authorized the Jew Zerubbabel, a governor of the Persian Province of Judah (Haggai 1:1) and the grandson of King Jehoiachin, to begin work on a new temple (536 BC). Reconstruction of the wall of the temple mount began, but non-Jewish residents who occupied the land during the exile period stopped the work in 534 BC. This required the issuing of a second command to restart construction.

Many years passed and King Cyrus died. King Artaxerxes I, fifth in line from Cyrus, was the king from ca. 465 to 424 BC. Jews who wished to return to the land had done so, but Judah remained a province of the Persian Empire and without a temple. The king commissioned Ezra, a Jewish priest-scribe and prophet, to take charge of ecclesiastical and civil affairs of the Jewish province.

Nehemiah, cupbearer to the king, appeared sad one day while serving King Artaxerxes I. The king asked about this, and Nehemiah shared his concern for his people and the city to which they returned. The king dispatched Nehemiah to Jerusalem with letters of safe passage. He carried instructions to the keeper of the royal forests to make beams for the rebuilding of the citadel by the temple, the city walls, and his own home. The king also appointed Nehemiah governor of Judea.

**NEHEMIAH 2:1-8** 1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: And I ( _Nehemiah_ ) took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been before sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king asked me, Why is your countenance sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3 And I said to the king, Let the king live forever: Why should my countenance not be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchers, lays waste, and the gates there are consumed with fire? 4 Then the king said to me, For what do you make request? So, I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' sepulchers, that I may build it. 6 And the king said to me ( _the queen also sitting by him_ ) For how long shall your journey be? And when will you return? So if it pleased the king to send me; I will set him a time. 7 Moreover, I said to the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over until I come into Judah; 8 And a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.

Nehemiah surveyed the city secretly at night and completed a detailed plan to proceed with its restoration despite local opposition. The Jewish people labored with great skill and energy, completing the city wall in only fifty-two days and the temple soon thereafter (Nehemiah 6:15).

The decree by Artaxerxes I authorizing Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem to take up the rebuilding again can be traced by biblical accounts and archeological finds to March 14, 445 BC. That day also marks the beginning of Daniel's prophecy of the seventy weeks of years (Daniel 9:24-27).

The first sixty-nine weeks of years ended as prophesied 173,880 days later (360 x 7 x 69) on the exact day (10 Nisan) Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Jesus held the people accountable for failing to recognize that His arrival on that day fulfilled the prophecy (Luke 19:37-44). With His crucifixion, history entered the current interval (aka Church Age) between the sixty-ninth and seventieth week.

Jews returning from exile completed a temple to replace Solomon's Temple destroyed by the Babylonians and reinstated blood sacrifice for the atonement of their sins.

**EZRA 3:12** ... many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first temple wept aloud when they saw the new temple's foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy.

**EZRA 6:5** And also the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, were restored, and brought again to the temple in Jerusalem and placed in the house of God.

The Ark of the Covenant, the urim and thummim, and the holy water vestal were not there. The location of these items remains a matter of speculation. A careful reading of The New Testament reveals where the Ark can be found today (Revelation 11:19).

The Jews in exile gathered in synagogues to study the books of the Hebrew Canon, but they were unable to sacrifice to the Lord, an act that can take place only in the temple in Jerusalem. These informal gatherings along the banks of the Euphrates River in Babylon served as the basis for the formation of synagogues found throughout the world today. They are unconsecrated community centers, houses of learning and prayer, not substitutes for the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

The people were in the land, but under Persian control. No king ruled from the throne of David. The power of the Persian Empire soon reached its peak. Stirrings in Macedonia would alter the course of history for the Jews.

Philip II of Macedon ascended to the throne in Macedonia in 359 BC. He was assassinated and succeeded by His son, Alexander III (The Great). Alexander inherited a strong kingdom and an experienced army. The twenty-year old led the armies of Greece east and destroyed the power of Persia in a series of battles.

Alexander next moved toward Egypt, intending to lay siege to Jerusalem en route. When word of this came to the Jews in Jerusalem the high priest gathered the sacred writings of Daniel and met Alexander outside the city walls.

Josephus, the Jewish historian, reports that Alexander related a vision where God promised to show him something of great significance. According to Josephus, the high priest then opened the scroll to the prophecies of Daniel where Alexander, like King Cyrus before him, read that his life had been prophesied, and he would succeed as the destroyer of the power of Medio-Persia. The accuracy of this prophecy stunned Alexander and he spared Jerusalem from a siege.

Alexander captured Egypt in 332 BC, but died in 323 BC leaving no heir. Four generals from Alexander's army divided the empire. Two are particularly noteworthy: Ptolemy who controlled Egypt and the northern African countries, and Seleucus who controlled Syria. Daniel foretold in his writings the many years of conflict that followed between the king of the North (Syria) and the king of the South (Egypt).

Greek influence replaced Persian power throughout the region. In Egypt, one of the Greek Ptolemies directed the Hebrew Canon be translated into Greek. This occurred in stages in the third and second century BC. Jewish scholars in Alexandria scribed the Septuagint, still revered as a highly accurate translation of the Hebrew text.

Peace in the region remained illusive. Antiochus the Great came into power in Syria in ca. 203 BC, captured Jerusalem, and established Syrian rule over a vast area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan. His son Antiochus Epiphanes soon took the throne and began a vicious and violent persecution of the Jews.

In 171 B.C. Antiochus IV invaded Egypt and the Jews were again caught in the midst of rival powers. The land remains one of the most fought over in the world. Jerusalem was pillaged, burnt, or destroyed more than twenty-seven times.

Antiochus IV forced his way into the temple's Holy of Holies, destroyed the scrolls of the Law, and offered a pig sacrifice on the sacred altar. Dominance of the region by the Romans came next.

Where, the people must have wondered, is God? He had not and will not abandon them. It is their faith that had abandoned them.

**HAGGAI 2:4-5** 4 Be strong, all you people of the land, said the Lord, and work, for I am with you, said the Lord of hosts: 5 According to the Word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remains among you: Fear not.

God was there, punishing them for their sins! Yet, through His mercy, "When the fullness of the time has come, He will send forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem all that were under the Law..." (Galatians 4:4-5).

APOCRYPHA AND THE BOOKS OF MACCABEES

The Apocrypha (Greek: _"secret books"_ ), a collection of writings of historic value, is found in the Greek version of Jewish Scripture (the Septuagint), but not in the canonical version of the Hebrew Bible (the Tanakh) or most Protestant Bibles. It was an integral part of the King James Version of 1611 and English language Bibles that followed, but is not included in many versions today. This is partly because most of the writings were never found in any original Hebrew form. They passed from Greek into the Latin Vulgate and remain part of the Roman Catholic Bible, providing a link between the Old and New Testament, between the rebuilding of the temple and the time of Jesus.

The value of the Apocrypha lies in the perspective it provides on the history of the people and the philosophy the writings offer. A portion is entered here as representative of the troubled times the people endured after their return from exile and before the birth of Jesus.

In 168 BC, the ruler of the Syrian kingdom, Antiochus Epiphanes IV, stepped up his campaign to eradicate Judaism, wanting all subjects in his vast empire to worship the Syrian gods. His armies attacked Jerusalem and vandalized the temple. He outlawed the study of the Torah, the observance of the Sabbath, and the circumcision of Jewish boys, all of which became punishable by death. He also decreed that the Jews engage in idol worship.

At Modin (twelve miles northwest of Jerusalem), the Syrians demanded the local leader, Mattathias the Kohein (a member of the priestly class) to serve as an example to his people by sacrificing a pig on a portable altar. Instead, Mattathias killed both the Jew who stepped forward to do the Syrian's bidding and the king's representative.

Mattathias and his five sons (Jonathan, Simon, Judah, Eleazar, and Yohanan) fled to the hills and caves of the Judean wilderness. They were simple farmers dedicated to the laws of Moses. The Maccabees, as Mattathias' sons and those who joined them became known, defended their beliefs and fought a guerilla war against the well-armed, well-trained forces of the mercenary Syrian army.

The Maccabees battled their way back to Jerusalem and reclaimed the Temple Mount. On the anniversary of the day on which Antiochus attacked the city, the Maccabees rededicated the temple with proper sacrifices and relit the golden menorah. Eight days of celebration and praise to God followed. This event is celebrated annually as Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights.

**II MACCABEES 10:1-6** 1 Now Maccabeus and his company, the Lord guiding them, recovered the temple and the city: 2 The altars that the heathen had built in the open street, and also the chapels, they pulled down. 3 And having cleansed the temple they made another altar, and striking stones they made fire and offered a sacrifice after two years, and set forth incense, and lights, and showbread. 4 When that was done, they fell flat down, and besought the Lord that they might come no more into such troubles; but if they sinned anymore against Him, that He himself would chasten them with mercy, and that they might not be subjected to the blasphemous and barbarous nations. 5 Now upon the same day that the strangers profaned the temple, on the very same day it was cleansed again, even the five and twentieth day of the same month, which is Casleu. 6 And they kept the eight days with gladness, as in the feast of the tabernacles, remembering that not long before they had held the feast of the tabernacles, before they wandered in the mountains and dens like beasts.

There was no peace in the land. The neighboring peoples (all enemies of the Jews) joined with the Syrians, supplying soldiers and money, and attacking Jews living in their countries. Jews outside Judea lived in constant fear and danger.

Judah, leader of the Maccabees, sent punitive expeditions to punish cities that mistreated their Jewish inhabitants. A new Syrian army came to destroy the Maccabean forces. According to the narrator of the Books of the Maccabees, the Jews fought heroically until they were forced to retreat to Jerusalem and the protection of the city walls.

The opposing army laid siege to the city and made the Jews an offer of peace. Unwilling to compromise their faith, remnants of the Maccabean army took refuge in the hills to begin a guerrilla campaign.

The story is told in I and II Maccabees. Second Maccabees stresses God is the defender and protector of His people and the temple. One of the most poignant stories concerns a mother and her seven sons who were captured by Antiochus IV shortly before the revolt of Judas Maccabeus (2 Maccabees 8).

The captors tried to force them to eat pork. When they refused, the seven sons were tortured and killed one by one in the presence of their mother. The narrator records the speech each of the six sons made praising God after being tortured and before death. Antiochus appealed to the remaining son, the youngest, and promised him riches and an enviable position if he would turn from his Jewish faith.

**II MACCABEES 7:25-32, 37-41** 25 Since the young man would not listen to him at all, the king called the mother to him and urged her to advise the youth to save himself. 26 After much urging on his part, she undertook to persuade her son. 27 But, leaning close to him, she spoke in their native tongue, deriding the cruel tyrant: My son, have pity on me. I carried you nine months in my womb, and nursed you for three years, and have reared you and brought you up to this point in your life, and have taken care of you. 28 I beseech you, my child, to look at the heaven and the earth and see everything that is in them, and recognize that God did not make them out of things that existed. Thus also mankind came into being. 29 Do not fear this butcher, but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death, so that in God's mercy I may get you back again with your brothers. 30 While she was still speaking, the young man said, "What are you waiting for? I will not obey the king's command, but I obey the command of the Law that was given to our fathers through Moses. 31 But you who have contrived all sorts of evil against the Hebrews will certainly not escape the hands of God. 32 For we are suffering because of our own sins. 33 And if our living Lord is angry for a little while, to rebuke and discipline us, He will again be reconciled with His own servants.

37 I, like my brothers, give up body and life for the laws of our fathers, appealing to God to show mercy soon to our nation and by afflictions and plagues to make you confess that He alone is God, 38 and through me and my brothers to bring to an end the wrath of the Almighty which has justly fallen on our whole nation. 39 The king fell into a rage, and handled him worse than the others, being exasperated at his scorn. 40 So he died in his integrity, putting his whole trust in the Lord. 41 Last of all, the mother died, after her sons.

Many Jews and early Christians facing persecution found strength in the martyrdom of the seven brothers.

" **THE SILENT YEARS"**

God nurtures His people. He "walked" among them in the days of the Patriarchs, and spoke to them directly. He remained their defender, but by the seventh century BC He began to speak only through His prophets. Malachi is the last of the Hebrew prophets. After Malachi, God fell silent until the appearance of John the Baptist.

The Hebrew canon and the Old Testament end with the writings of the prophet Malachi. Through him, God closes Hebrew Scripture with a warning of the coming day of judgment, but holds out the promise of salvation to all who heed his Word.

**MALACHI 4:1-6** 1 For, behold, the day comes, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedness, shall be stubble: And the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the sun ( _play on words?_ ) of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the Lord of hosts. 4 Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Keep this promise of the sending of Elijah in mind as you read about the coming tribulation, its probable purpose, and the remnant of His people to turn to Christ in the End Time. Now, pause again and consider what messages has God sent in this chapter?

For me, He underscored:

Satan's aim is to disrupt God's plan for the salvation of the faithful.

Satan failed to sever the scarlet cord leading from Seth to David.

God chooses/elects some individuals/nations to serve as His instrument.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their descendants were chosen by God.

The people of Israel were chosen to share His truth with the world.

The Jews are and will remain God's People.

God tests the faith of those He loves.

Seek the Lord with all your heart and soul, and you will find Him.

The Lord your God is merciful; He will not forsake you.

God punishes unbelief.

Repentance is required for the Lord's forgiveness.

God cares about His reputation.

He provided the Law to show us how to live righteously.

It is impossible to live in unity with the Law—to find salvation through works.

The people sought protection through kings.

Trust in the monarchy, rather than God, led to foreign domination.

God fell silent when His people did not heed His Word.

### History of the Jewish People

CHRONOLOGY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE BEFORE THE BIRTH OF JESUS

**ca. 1800-BC** The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Migration to Egypt.

**ca. 1400-BC** Exodus from Egypt: Torah received at Mount Sinai.

**ca. 1300-BC** Israelites settle in Canaan

**ca. 1150 BC-1025 BC** Period of the Judges

**ca. 1025 BC-734 BC** Period of the Kings

**ca. 960 BC** Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem completed

**ca. 931 BC** Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) and Kingdom of Judah Divided

**ca. 740 BC-722 BC** Kingdom of Israel falls to Neo-Assyrian Empire

**597 BC** First deportation to Babylon

**586 BC** Jerusalem and Judah fall to Nebuchadnezzar

**539 BC** Jews allowed to return to Jerusalem, by permission of Cyrus

**516 BC** Second Temple of Jerusalem consecrated

**460 BC** Xerxes' sent Ezra to restore order in Jerusalem

**332 BC** Alexander the Great conquers Phoenicia and Gaza

**167-161 BC** The Maccabeus (Hasmoneans) revolt

**157-129 BC** Hasmonean dynasty establishes its royal dominance

**63 BC** The Romans intervene, Judea now a Roman province

**40 BC-4 BC** Herod the Great, appointed King of the Jews
THE CHURCH AGE

# Chapter 3: The Coming of the Messiah

A SCEPTER SHALL RISE OUT OF ISRAEL

God conferred the scepter of the coming Messiah on the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:1-2, 8, 10). The messianic line can be traced from Judah to Mary, the mother of God, and to her husband, Joseph (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38).

The Jewish people looked for the coming of their messiah. They anticipated the arrival of a great warrior to save them from the enemies and failed to recognize Him when He walked among them speaking of peace and love. They did not read their own Scripture carefully enough to recall Jacob promised his sons the One would be a powerful warrior and avenger, "in the last days." In their anxiety for an armed deliverer they could not conceive of One who would come twice, first as the peacemaker and in the End Time "with a rod of iron" (Revelation 2:27, 12:5, 19:15).

**GENESIS 49:1-2, 8, 10** 1 And Jacob called to his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days. 2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, you sons of Jacob; and harken to Israel your father.

8 Judah, you are he whom your brethren shall praise: Your hand shall be in the neck of your enemies; your father's children shall bow down before you.

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, or a lawgiver from between his feet, until He comes to whom it belongs ( _Christ_ ); and to Him shall the gathering of the people be.

Prophecy addressing the coming of a messiah (deliverer/ redeemer/divine king of the Jews in the line of Judah) is recorded in many books of the Hebrew Canon. The people knew from prophecy that the messiah would be born of the tribe of Judah in the House of David (Isaiah 7:13-14). Matthew carefully recorded Jesus' royal genealogy (1:1-16) to confirm He rose from the tribe of Judah.

Matthew shows that Joseph (betrothed to Mary) was a descendant of Abraham and King David's son Solomon, and therefore in the royal line of Judah. Luke traces Mary's ancestry back through King David's son Nathan to Judah and on to Adam.

According to Luke's gospel, Jesus was the son ("as was supposed") of Joseph (His legal father), and Joseph was "the son of Heli" (Luke 3:23). Matthew records Joseph's father was named Jacob (Matthew 1:16). This appears a contradiction, as Joseph could not be the son of both Heli and Jacob. Some use this inconsistency as evidence the gospels are in conflict and therefore not universally accurate.

Both genealogies are correct because "son" in the gospel of Luke comes from the Greek _"nomizo"_ meaning son or son by law. Joseph was surely Heli's son-in-law because Mary was Heli's daughter. Joseph was both the son of Jacob and son-in-law of Heli.

Mary, like her husband to be, was a descendant of King David and of the tribe of Judah. The difference is that Mary was in the line of David's son Nathan and Joseph was in the line of David's son Solomon. (See Appendix III for a detailed genealogy of Jesus Christ as found in Scripture.)

Think back to Genesis 49:10. "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, or a lawgiver from between his feet, until He comes to whom it belongs ( _Christ_ ); and to Him shall the gathering of the people be" and the promise to Abraham, "and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him...", and to David as recorded in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles:

**2 SAMUEL 7:16** And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you: Your throne shall be established forever.

**1 CHRONICLES 28:4** However the Lord God of Israel chose me ( _David_ ) from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever: For He has chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father;

Hear also what God and the prophets said.

**NUMBERS 24:17** There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel...

**LEVITICUS 26:12** And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people.

**ISAIAH 7:13-14** Then He said, Hear now, O House of David! ... The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel (Hebrew: _El_ God plus _Immanu_ , with us).

**ISAIAH 9:6-7** 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

**ISAIAH 11:1-2, 4** 1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse ( _father of David_ ), and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. 4 But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth, and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.

**JEREMIAH 23:5-6** 5 Behold, the days shall come, said the Lord, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. 6 In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: And this is His name whereby He shall be called, the Lord our righteousness.

**JEREMIAH 33:15** In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow unto David; and He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

It is no wonder the Jews expected a warrior messiah to "slay the wicked... and execute judgment." The peaceful Jesus of Nazareth was not what they anticipated or wanted. He told them He would come again to render judgment, but they could not comprehend His meaning.

**ZECHARIAH 10:6** And I ( _the Father_ ) will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: And they shall be as though I had not cast them off: For I am the Lord their God, and will hear them.

**REVELATION 22:16** ... I ( _Christ_ ) am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

GOD'S COVENANTS WITH MANKIND

God's Word is immutable. His commitments in the special relationship with mankind are contracts, often universal and at times conditional. His covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and King David are rooted in Hebrew Scripture. The prophet Jeremiah first reveals the sixth and final covenant between God and all mankind (the New Covenant). It is spoken of by Jesus at the Last Supper and celebrated in the sacrament of Eucharist.

It is useful to refresh our memories on these before moving on. All (but the penalty of the Law) are in play today, impacting Jews and Christians who are spiritual descendants of Abraham. God's first promise, the Covenant of Grace given in the Garden, (Genesis 3:15, 21) was fulfilled in the coming of His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to do for man what man could not do for himself.

Covenant with Adam—The Covenant of Grace

God established a covenant with Adam, Eve, and their descendants (Genesis 3:15) when He declared a "seed" of the woman would crush the seed of the Serpent. By extension, the Covenant of Grace offers eternal life to all who seek and receive forgiveness for their sins through Christ.

Covenant with Noah

This covenant is recorded in Genesis 8:20-9:17. God's redemptive design is demonstrated as Noah and his family are delivered from the judgment of water. The narrative of the flood plays on the creation theme (and the gap theory) as the earth is "uncreated" and then recreated. Sin remains part of the nature of people and the ground is still cursed (Genesis 8:21).

Covenant with Abraham

The covenant is recorded in Genesis 12, 15, and 17. Unlike the universal covenants with Adam and Noah, this promise addressed Abraham and his descendants.

God promises Abraham an everlasting "seed" and an eternal homeland for the descendants of Isaac. God also promised Abraham "all the nations will be blessed in you."

The Apostle Paul writes that the promised "seed" is Christ (Galatians 3:16). All who turn to Christ are blessed, both Jew and Gentile, and are Abraham's heirs "according to the promise."

Covenant with Moses

In the Mosaic covenant, God pledges to His people, "I will be your God, and you will be my people" (Exodus 6:7; Leviticus 26:12), and "I will dwell with the children of Israel" (Exodus 29:45). It is considered the "old covenant" in contrast to the new covenant to come. It is part of God's redemptive plan for His people, exclusively (Exodus 20:1-2; Jeremiah 31:31-34).

Unlike earlier covenants, the promise to Moses is two-sided. It demands obedience to the Law on the part of the people. It requires "works" to "earn" salvation.

Because of their sinful nature, humans are incapable of remaining faithful to the Law. The covenant is a stumbling stone for the Jews, blocking the way to salvation. God introduced the sacrificial system for the temporary remission of sins. It is a sign of the coming sacrifice on the cross that brought salvation to the faithful, without the need for total observance of the Law, an impossible task.

Davidic Covenant

In the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) the Lord proclaims He will build a "house" and lineage for David, an everlasting kingdom. God promises to preserve David's descendants despite their wickedness (1 Kings 11:26-39, 15:1-8; 2 Kings 8:19, 19:32-34), but He will not withhold His judgment for their evilness (2 Kings 21:7, 23:26-27; Jeremiah 13:12-14). The promise will be completely fulfilled when Christ sits on David's throne in Jerusalem at the end of time.

The New Covenant

The new covenant is first revealed by the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34) as a promise between God and the Jewish people. Later, Jesus refers to this prophecy and restates Isaiah 49:8 when with His disciples at His Last Supper. He offers His cup as, "the blood of The New Testament, shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28). The writer of Hebrews restated Jeremiah 31:31-34 in his epistle.

**HEBREWS 8:7-13** 7 For if the first covenant ( _Mosaic_ ) had been faultless, then no place should have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, the Lord said ( _Jeremiah 31:31-34_ ): Behold, the days come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in my covenant, and I regarded them not, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: And I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that He says, A new covenant has made the first old.

God sent His son (the seed promised to Adam, Abraham, and David) into the world to fulfill the promise of the Covenant of Grace by defeating Satan and sin on the cross. God's promise, made at the beginning of time, is realized in Christ. It is an ongoing relationship between the faithful and God to reach full fruition after the Second Coming of Christ.

THE ANTICIPATED MESSIAH

Biblical scholars estimate there are no less than 300 clear references to His coming. One of the earliest is God speaking to Moses saying plainly He would "walk" with His people, which He did as Jesus Christ.

"Messiah" is the English transliteration of the Hebrew word _Mashiach_ or "Anointed One." To be anointed in ancient Hebrew culture meant to be chosen as the rightful heir to authority as a priest or king, or both. The Greek form of Mashiach is _Xristos_ , from which we get the English title "Christ."

The Aramaic-Hebrew name given to the Christ child is Joshua ( _Yeshua_ ), meaning "Salvation" or, in its concatenated form, "Lord who is Salvation." It was translated into ancient Greek ( _Ihsouv or Ieesous_ ) and later into Latin ( _Iesus_ ). It appears as "Jesus" in English translations. Yeshua is a common name among Jews even today and is favored throughout the West where it is spelled Joshua.

God chose this earthly name and the angel Gabriel instructed Mary the child should be called Yeshua. (Matthew 1:21) Mary would have certainly grasped the significance of His name.

David bursts forth in Psalm 9:14, "I will ( _future tense_ ) rejoice in thy salvation," or in Hebrew, thy _"Yeshua."_ When Simeon came to the Temple and held Jesus in his arms he exclaimed, "Lord, now let thou your servant depart in peace, according to thy Word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation (Hebrew: _Yeshua_ ) which you have prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).

Hebrew Scripture makes no specific reference to a "messiah" except in the Book of Daniel (9:25-26), although Jewish scholars point out the Tanakh identifies the "end of days" as the time of the coming of an anointed one, a kingly warrior to defeat the enemies of Israel and usher in everlasting peace.

The Tanakh specifies the anointed one will be a descendent of King David (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Jeremiah 23:5), a suffering servant (Isaiah 53, although some interpret the "servant" to represent the nation of Israel), faithful to Jewish Law (Isaiah 11:2-5), a righteous judge (Jeremiah 33:15), and a great military leader. There is no mention of the messiah being divine.

Hebrew Scripture also signifies the messiah's arrival will usher in the peaceful age described in the Tanakh: peace among all nations (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3); perfect harmony and abundance in nature (Isaiah 11:6-9); a return to the land (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4-5); the universal acceptance of the Jewish God and religion (Isaiah 2:3; 11:10; 66:23; Micah 4:2-3; Zechariah 14:9); compliance with the commandments (Zephaniah 3:13; Ezekiel 37:24); an end to sin and evil; and the reinstatement of temple worship (Ezekiel 37:26-27).

First century Jews and their sages were looking for the kingly messiah. They had remained subject to foreign control since the defeat of Judah by the Babylonians. Persians kings replaced the Babylonians, Greeks replaced the Persians, next came the Macedonians under Alexander, Ptolemy of Egypt replaced the Hellenistic Greeks, the Syrians defeated the forces of Ptolemy. His armies were defeated by the Romans. They occupied the land and controlled the daily life of the Jews at the time of Jesus birth.

The people did not pray for or anticipate a savior of souls, but a savior of the nation. He was not to be a prophet of peace, but a warrior king sent to remove the yoke of foreign oppression. Jesus came as a man of peace preaching love and was rejected.

Many at first thought Jesus was the one, but He could not be, for He allowed Himself to be killed by Israel's enemy, Rome.

The people were still looking for the arrival of their messiah a century after Jesus' death. Many Palestinian Jews (Jews living in what was Judah and renamed Palestine by the Romans in an attempt to minimize Jewish identification with the land of Israel) accepted the proclamation of Rabbi Akliva, a proselyte to Judaism, that Bar-Kokhba was the promised messiah. Some even joined him in a revolt against the Romans. The results were catastrophic, as they suffered a devastating defeat.

Centuries later, even large segments of the Jewish community believed Shabbetai Zvi, a Turkish Jew, was the messiah, and confidently waited for Turkey's sultan to deliver Palestine to them. Instead, the sultan threatened to execute Shabbetai, who adroitly converted to Islam.

A twentieth century movement within orthodoxy placed increased emphasis on the imminence of the messiah. A Jewish religious underground was active in Israel for decades. The group plotted to blow up the Muslim Dome of the Rock sanctuary to clear the Temple Mount for the construction of the Third Temple. Some welcomed the possibility of a resulting "holy war," feeling a worldwide invasion of Israel would force God to send a messiah to their rescue. There are Christians today who would welcome an Islamic jihad against Israel as a sign the world is moving closer to the Second Coming.

The Jews wanted a kingly messiah, a warrior savior. That was their redemptive strategy, not God's. God sent His Son to free the world from sin and its penalty, not to satisfy the secular desires of one people.

THE BIRTH OF JESUS

**PHILIPPIANS 2:10** Christ came from heaven to dwell on earth, to live among us and die for our sins...

**ISAIAH 60:1, 3** 1 Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Adam, a "son of God" (Luke 3:38), was imbued with His Spirit (Genesis 2:7). The Spirit departed when Adam and Eve acted against God's will (Genesis 3:6-19). In time, the Father sent His Son into the world to return the Spirit to all who accept Him as their Savior.

Paul reminds us in his letter to the Christians in Rome, "Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the ( _human_ ) figure of Him that was to come" (Romans 5:18). In his sinless state, Adam was a figure of the sinless One who became flesh and bone, so the sons of Adam (humanity in its sinful state) could receive the Spirit and become Sons of God once more (John 1:11-12).

Christians in the West celebrate His birth on December 25th, following the tradition of the Church of Rome. It is doubtful His birth occurred in December, or even January as celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox Christians.

Messianic Jews believe Jesus appeared in Mary's womb at the beginning of the Feast of Hanukkah (December) and entered the world during the autumn Feast of Tabernacles (late September to early October), the final and most important holiday of the Jewish calendar. It is the only time of the year when shepherds are in the field at night watching over their flocks.

**MATTHEW 1:17-25** 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying to Christ are fourteen generations. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: When His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with the child of the Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, being mindful to put her away privately. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Spirit. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus _(Yhoshu'a, Joshua_ Hebrew: _Yahweh delivers or rescues_ ) for He shall save His people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet ( _Isaiah_ ), saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, God with us. 24 Then Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had bid him, and took Mary as his wife: 25 And knew her not ( _sexually_ ) until she had brought forth her firstborn son and he called His name Jesus ( _Yeshua_ ).

**LUKE 1:26-38** 26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her, and said, Hail, you are highly favored, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and wondered what manner of salutation this was. 30 And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: And the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David: 33 And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I have not known a man? 35 And the angel answered and said to her, The Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you: Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born to you shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, your cousin Elizabeth, she has also conceived a son in her old age: And this is the sixth month with her, who was barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your Word. And the angel departed from her.

**LUKE 2:10-11, 15-20** 10 And the angel said to the shepherds, Fear not: For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For to you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go to Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all that heard it wondered at those things that were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, as it was told to them.

**JOHN 1:14** And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham: an everlasting "seed" through whom "all the nations will be blessed." Christians and Jews are Abraham's heirs, "according to the promise" (Galatians 3:16). This blessing to all nations, the mighty Son of God, entered the world in the most humble of settings, lying in a straw-filled manger surrounded by quietly shuffling animals in adjacent stalls.

**ROMANS 5:12-19** 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death came upon all men, for we all have sinned: 18... as by that offense one judgment came upon all men to be condemned; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men... 19 For as by one man's disobedience ( _Adam_ ) many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one ( _Jesus_ ) shall many be made righteous.

HIS COMING WAS FORETOLD

Jesus held the Jews responsible for failing to recognize who He was and the time of His coming. God had alerted them through the prophets (Amos 3:7).

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 offers profound prophecies written over 700 years before His coming. Isaiah 53, detailed elsewhere, describes the aspects of the life of this "suffering servant" so clearly that Jewish rabbis in the early centuries after His death tried to have the chapter expurgated from the Tanakh, thinking it must have been inserted surreptitiously by early converts to Christianity.

Archeological discoveries over the past 300 years, including what are called the Dead Sea Scrolls uncovered between 1947 and 1956, contain that chapter. Carbon dating of the scrolls places them at one to three centuries BC, proving it was part of Isaiah's writings centuries before Jesus' birth. Additionally, the Greek Septuagint copied from Hebrew writings between the 3rd and 2nd century BC includes Isaiah 53, confirming its prophetic source is God.

Some have argued these passages refer to Israel, not Jesus. That explanation does not hold up when viewed in context.

Israel is represented as a woman in the Old and New Testament writings, whereas Isaiah 53:8 records, "for the transgression of my people was _he_ stricken." Thus "he" stands in contrast to Israel the woman. In the next verse, Isaiah writes, "And _he_ made _his_ grave with the wicked, and with the rich in _his_ death; because _he_ had done no violence, neither was any deceit in _his_ mouth." Even setting aside the use of the male pronoun, it cannot be said there was "no deceit" in Israel's mouth.

He is made "an offering for sin" and He will "prolong _his_ days" (Isaiah 53:10). In verse 12 Isaiah writes that God will reward this righteous servant, "Therefore I shall divide the spoils with the strong; because _he_ hath poured out _his_ soul unto death: And _he_ was numbered with the transgressors; and _he_ bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Again, this cannot be speaking of Israel.

The writing of Zechariah, noted elsewhere, also points to the suffering servant, "And I will pour on the House of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look upon me whom they pierced..." (Zechariah 12:10). Jesus, not Israel, "was pierced."

Christ expected the two men on the road to Emmaus He encountered after His Resurrection to understand from Scriptures that He was the One to come, suffer, and die. "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself " (Luke 24:26-27).

Psalm 22, written by King David nearly a millennium before Jesus' birth, provides a perspective of the Lord on the cross. It describes how the people mocked Him (Psalm 22:7-8), how they cast lots to divide His clothes (Psalm 22:18), how His bones were out of joint (Psalm 22:14), and how the wicked surrounded Him and pierced His hands and feet (Psalm 22:16) leaving scars Thomas later confirmed (John 20:27). The Psalm ends by proclaiming His righteousness would be declared to "a people that shall be born ( _Gentiles_ )" (Psalm 22:31).

Job declared in verses 19:25-26, "For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God."

Exodus 12:1-28 describes the feast of Passover, a model for Christ's sacrifice that Hebrews should have discerned. He was a "perfect" lamb to be sacrificed. It was His blood that would protect them from the angel of death and redeem them from their bondage (to sin).

Jews were instructed to commemorate Passover annually by removing all leaven from their homes, symbolic of removing sin from their lives. "Purge out therefore the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). Peter describes how the faithful are saved by "the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19), the fulfillment of the Levitical blood sacrifice (Leviticus 8-9), the spotless lamb whose blood could take away sins, which the sacrificing of bulls and goats could not. As the writer of Hebrews notes in verses 10:4-5, quoting from Psalm 40:6, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He said, Sacrifice and offering thou would not, but a body hast you prepared me..."

God's plan from the beginning of time called for His son to serve as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8).

**ISAIAH 25:8** He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off _all_ faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth, for the Lord has spoken it...

As noted, biblical scholars point out there are more than 300 verses pointing to His coming as the Messiah, at least one in each of the thirty-nine books of the Old Testament. The website jewsforjesus.org is a good source for many of these verses, references, allusions, and paraphrases.

EPIPHANY: WITNESSES TO THE WORLD

A child is born, a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah's prophecy made eight centuries earlier is fulfilled. And of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom henceforth even forever (Isaiah 9:6-7).

The Feast of the Epiphany commemorates the arrival of the first Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as king. While honored as "three kings" from the East by tradition, they are not so identified in Scripture.

Matthew refers to them as "wise men" from the East. They were possibly Persian Magi, members of the supreme priestly caste of the Persian Empire possessing profound religious knowledge. The prophet Daniel is thought to have been a Magian while part of the Persian court in Babylon.

Matthew is the only gospel writer to record their visit (Matthew 2:1). It might have been assumed by later church leaders that the visitors were kings due to the quality of their gifts (gold, myrrh, and frankincense) and Isaiah's prophecy, "Kings shall come to the glory of your rising" (Isaiah 60:1-3). The visitors were just as likely king makers, as Magi took part in the selection of Persian kings.

Matthew does not tell us how many there were. Writers in the Western church assumed there were three, as they brought three gifts to the Christ child. The "three" were even ascribed names (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) and exalted in the familiar Advent hymn, "We Three Kings of Orient Are."

The date of the visit is also unknown. It is celebrated on different days in the Eastern and Western branches of the church. They are acclaimed on January 6 by Roman Catholics and Protestants, and on January 19 by the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Finally, despite the Christmas-card vision of them poised over the child in a manger, it is more likely they appeared in Bethlehem many months after Jesus' birth. Matthew records the visitors came to "a small child," not a babe, and visited him in a "house," not a stable (Matthew 2:9-10). This would explain Herod's instruction to his forces to kill all the children in the Bethlehem area two-years old and under (Matthew 2:16), fulfilling the prophecy of such a calamity (Jeremiah 31:15).

The sudden appearance of the visitors in Jerusalem (probably with pomp and accompanied by armed escorts) likely alarmed Herod Archelaus, ethnarch of Judea. His reaction was predictable, given Roman-Parthian tensions during the period and the fact that Herod held only a tenuous hold over the rebellious Jewish state. He might have feared the Magi were involved in a behind-the-scenes political maneuver to choose his successor. Surely, their questions regarding the one "who has been born king of the Jews" troubled Herod (Matthew 2:2).

As for the Star of Bethlehem, scientists have speculated for centuries what the Magi saw. Early astronomers considered it a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, or an appearance of Halley's comet. The Magi were diligent observers of the night sky and might have seen a recorded supernova near the Andromeda Galaxy.

None of this can explain how the sighted object "stood over" a particular part of the earth. In contrast to the scientific community, the faithful accept the object as a sign from God. How else can it be explained they came from the east, followed a star "in the east" leading them to the Christ child in Bethlehem to their west? A careful reader will find clues in Matthew's gospel (2:2, 9-10).

By the providence of God, the visitors, "being warned in a dream," returned home by another route.

**MATTHEW 2:1-23** 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him. 3 When Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ was born. 5 And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: For thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah: For out of you shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel. ( _Micah 5:2_ ) 7 Then Herod, when he had called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they came into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13 And when they departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And remained there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet ( _Hosea_ ), saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son ( _double reference, Israel and Jesus, Hosea 11:1_ ). 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and slew all the children in Bethlehem, and in all the area around, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not anymore. ( _Jeremiah 31:15_ ) 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel, for they are dead who sought the young child's life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus reigned in Judaea in place of his father Herod, Joseph was afraid to go there: Being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside and traveled north into the parts of Galilee: 23 And he came and dwelled in a city called Nazareth that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

For the spiritually inclined, Moses' passage from Egypt to the land to free His people from physical bondage anticipated Jesus' return from Egypt to the land of His people to free them from the bondage of sin. In like manner, Joshua's leading of his people across the Jordan into the land of promise anticipated our Lord's leading the sinners across the boundary of death to an everlasting kingdom.

CHRIST ON EARTH: FULLY HUMAN AND FULLY DIVINE

**JOHN 1:14** And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

**HEBREWS 2:14, 16-17** 14 Forasmuch as children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; 16 For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the nature of the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like His brethren...

He came in mortal form as one of us so He might serve as the "kinsman redeemer" (Hebrew: _goel, to redeem_ ) spoken of in prophecy, most clearly in the Book of Ruth. The role of a goel in a family is to serve as redeemer and avenger of blood (Numbers 5:8, 35:12; Deuteronomy 19:6; Ruth 3:12, 4:1, 6,8; Job 19:25).

Under Mosaic Law, a goel (redeemer) is the family member responsible for restoring the rights of a relative by avenging wrongs against the family. Jesus appears in the KJV as "kinsman," "redeemer," and "avenger". In the Book of Job, the goel "shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19); in the Psalms He is the "high God" who will redeem the nation Israel; and in Isaiah, "the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 41:14, 43:14, 47:4, 48:17, 49:7, etc.).

God redeemed His people from bondage and captivity in Egypt, and in this context He demonstrated that redemption involves moving on to something greater. All humans are kinsmen of Adam, bound by sin, and in need of a redeemer.

The Hebrew Canon contains many prophetic references to God's plan of redemption. The Torah records the Law given to the people and prescribes a sacrificial system for the temporary cleansing of their sins. Christ's sacrifice on the cross permanently removed the burden and penalty of sin from all who trust in Him.

Jesus is the "kinsman redeemer" who retrieved the faithful from the bondage of sin through the "ransom" paid on the cross. He will fulfill the role of "avenger" on the Day of the Lord.

Devout Christians acknowledge that Christ the Redeemer walked the earth as fully man and fully God: A prophet, priest, and king, both human, and divine—two natures inseparably united—not God and man, but God-man, Spirit and flesh. His pronouncement as one with God led to His crucifixion.

**JOHN 4:2-3** 2 Hereby know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that does confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, is of God: 3 And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, is not of God, but the spirit of the Antichrist...

Some maintain wrongly that Jesus never stated who He really was. As early as age 12, He opened the scroll in the synagogue in Nazareth and read from Isaiah 61, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound ( _in sin_ ); To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord..." (Luke 4:18-20; Isaiah 61:1-2) This was perhaps too subtle for the men gathered there, for they did not understand that Jesus read, not as a member of the congregation, but as the Lord "anointed" and sent "to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord..." Jesus stopped reading here and closed the scroll without completing the sentence, an act to be explained later.

He drove the moneychangers from the temple area saying to those selling doves, "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise" (John 2:16).

In speaking with the Jews who sought to kill Him, Jesus reminded them, "Search the Scriptures; ...They testify of _me_ " (John 5:36-47; 4:26). He also acknowledged He was the Lord when asked by the high priest (Mark 14:61-62) and by not silencing the crowd who called Him king when He entered Jerusalem for the final time. Pharisees in the crowd shouted that He should rebuke those who proclaimed Him "king". Jesus refused (Luke 19:37-40).

A short time later, He looked over the city from the Mount of Olives, wept, and foretold the terrible times that must come upon Jerusalem, the temple, and the Jewish people for their failure to understand Scripture and realize who He was. They "knew not the time of His visitation" (Luke 19:44).

In speaking with Pilate, He did not deny His kingship when asked, "Are you a king then?" (Luke 23:3) At His appearance on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, Jesus spoke of Himself in the context of Old Testament history and "expounded to them all the things in the Scriptures that spoke of His coming" (Luke 24:27).

**JOHN 10:30** And Jesus said, my Father and I are one.

**JOHN 13:13** You call me Master and Lord and you say well; for I am.

**MARK 8:29-30** 29 And He said to them, But who say you I am? And Peter answered and said to him, You are the Christ. 30 And He charged them that they should tell no one.

Jesus, as fully human and taking part in a fully human existence, is presented in Scripture as having brothers and at least one sister. Some denominations take the position that Jesus did not have siblings. That position underlies a tradition in the Roman Catholic Church that glorifies Mary as a perpetual virgin, a point not acknowledged in the gospels or epistles.

The meaning of "brother" and "brethren" is the issue. Jude (Judas) in his epistle refers to himself as the "brother" of James (Jude 1), whereas Matthew and Mark refer to the two of them as "brethren" (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:2-3).

In the KJV, Jesus disciples use the noun "brethren" for those accompanying Mary, but they are recorded as "brothers" in NKJV, RSV, and NIV versions (Luke 8:19-21). John indicates Jesus grew in the family with brothers distinct from His brethren disciples (John 2:12). Mark records their names as James, and Joses ( _Joseph_ ), Judas ( _Jude_ ), and Simon speaks of Jesus, "And are not His sisters here with us?" (Mark 6:3)

The first century writings of the Jewish historian Josephus mentions Jesus had at least one brother, "James by name," (Josephus, _Antiquities, 20, 200_ ) and noted Jewish historian Joseph Gedaliah Klausner (1874—1958), professor of Hebrew Literature and the chief redactor of _The Hebrew Encyclopedia_ , records in his book _Jesus of Nazareth_ that He, "had a brother named James who was put to death by the High Priest Annas, the son of Annas." James, who did not believe Jesus was the "promised One" until after the Resurrection, went on to gradually assume command of the Jewish believers in Jerusalem before his death.

Did Mary have children by her husband Joseph? Did Jesus have brothers and at least one sister? Scripture is imprecise, but can be read to indicate that he did. Jesus is clearly identified as Mary's "firstborn son". (Luke 2:7).

THE EARLY YEARS

The gospels reveal little about His early years. Luke tells us Jesus amazed the elders in the temple at 12 years of age (Luke 2:42-52). Beyond that, the gospels are silent about His life until He performed the water-to-wine miracle at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11).

It is possible to conjecture some things about His youth and adolescence from evidence and reasoning, absent any clear statements about these formative years. The emerging picture is not of a totally happy childhood most would like to believe.

The prophets, speaking for God, demanded that Jews adhere to the spirit of the Mosaic covenant and Law, the substance of the ethical-religious heritage of Judaism. The fact Mary was with child before her wedding was well known by those in the community. Such a condition is adultery under Mosaic Law. Devout Jews would have considered young Jesus a bastard.

They called Him "the son of Mary," not the son of Joseph when He spoke in the temple (Mark 6:1-3). By Jewish tradition, a man is identified as the son of his _father_ , even if the father is dead. Why identify Jesus as the son of His mother? They knew His parents were only betrothed at the time of conception.

Add to this the circumstance that Jesus might not have been a particularly handsome child, adolescent, or adult. Pictured as beautiful by Renaissance artists, He was more likely plain and swarthy. Paraphrasing and applying the writing of the prophet Isaiah, He grew up as a tender plant, as a root out of a dry ground, having no special form or comeliness, having no beauty that any should desire Him, ... He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. People hid their faces from Him, despised Him, and esteemed Him not (Isaiah 53:2-3).

Look to the Psalms to learn more about Him. God chose David to be a great king and prophet (Acts 2:30). The Spirit of the Lord was with him as he composed psalms attributed to him (2 Samuel 23:2). His writings concerning a coming messiah are palpable.

Psalm 69 seems to address the pain Jesus suffered in His youth, "Because for your sake ( _oh God_ ) I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face. I am a stranger to my brethren, and an alien to my mother's children ( _note the reference to other children_ ). They that sit in the gate ( _elders_ ) speak against me; and I was the song ( _of ridicule_ ) of drunkards. You have known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: My adversaries are all before you. Reproach has broken my heart; I am full of heaviness and I looked for some to take pity, but there were none; and for comforters, but I found none" (Psalm 69:7-8, 12, 19-21).

We don't know if children taunted Jesus because of His whispered parentage or unremarkable appearance. He found love at home, but might have suffered rejection from others in the community.

Jesus played in the streets of Nazareth and sang psalms in the synagogue with other children. He learned from His mother during the early years and helped with household chores until age five when the male head of a Jewish family assumes responsibility for a boy's development.

The educational process common to a Jewish boy is found in the Mishnah: At five years "one is fit" for the Scripture, at ten for the Mishnah (oral interpretation), at thirteen they become accountable for their actions and the fulfilling of the commandments (signified by a _Bar Mitzvah_ ), at fifteen for the Talmud (Rabbinic interpretations), at eighteen for the bride-chamber, at twenty for a vocation, and at thirty authority to teach others.

Jesus' life likely paralleled this educational track. He "grew in wisdom" (Luke 2:52) and reached the "fulfilling" of the commandments at age 12 (Luke 2:41-47). He later joined in the trade of His legal father (Matthew 13:55), and began His ministry at "about" 30 when He is referred to in Scripture as "rabbi," "teacher, " or "master" (Luke 3:23). Rabbi ( _rhabbi_ ) is the title used to address and honor a teacher. The frequent use of these three titles in the gospels and epistles confirm His disciples and the people esteemed Jesus in His later years.

He undoubtedly read Hebrew Scripture at home and at school, as well as other ancient works, and spoke Aramaic and Greek daily. Nazareth sat at the crossroad of commerce where Europe and Asia met. Those in the trades needed to be fluent in several languages.

As a young man, Jesus knew the skills and sciences required by His father's profession, including basic physics and mathematics. He no doubt carried stones, lumber, mortar and plaster, and climbed ladders making His body ache at the end of the day. He was fully man and subject to the same pains, both physical and emotional, as all humans.

His knowledge of earthly things does not appear to have been "implanted," but gained by living a human existence. He became acquainted with hypocrisy, hate, jealousy, vanity, and carnality from those around Him. Though the Son of God, He learned through suffering (Hebrews 5:8-9).

His "legitimacy" probably remained an issue with others. When on the Mount of Olives later in life, the Pharisees verbally grilled Him. They brought forth a woman caught committing adultery, asking if she should be stoned according to the Law. Jesus responded, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:1-14). Then one of the Pharisees asked, "Where is your father?" The inference was clear. They knew Mary and considered Jesus to be the product of adultery.

Mary and Joseph were conscientious Jews who observed ceremonial and dietary laws, teaching Jesus these traditions. He also made regular trips to the temple in Jerusalem with His family. He was acquainted with the extremes of joy and pain, love and hate, plenty and hunger, and was tempted to sin (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13).

The people yearned and prayed for the arrival of the promised messiah. He was to be the savior of a nation, not of souls, a warrior king sent by God to take away the yoke of foreign oppression. Jesus was not what the people prayed for, and was rejected. Consider from your own experience how painful rejection by those you love can feel.

**JOHN 1:10-11** 10 He ( _Jesus_ ) was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. 11 He came to His own, and His own received Him not.

A LIGHT TO THE NATIONS

God brought light into darkness (Genesis 1:3). Adam and Eve succumb to the will of Satan, relegating humanity to death and darkness (Romans 5:12). But God's light shines in darkness, and darkness cannot overcome it (John 12:46).

God as man is the true light that lights everyone.

**JOHN 1:4** In Him ( _Jesus_ ) was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among His people, and they did not behold His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father (John 1:14). The Word came to the Jews first, but not exclusively (Acts 10:45; Romans 1:16).

Jesus told His disciples, "He that follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life..." (John 8:12). "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5). Before He left, Jesus referred to the apostles as "the light of the world," (Matthew 5:14) meaning they would be the carriers of that light. The faithful are called to continue in that apostolic tradition.

God wanted Israel to shine forth His light to all people, illuminating the truth of the one true God. They were to be a "candle" to the Gentiles, a light to open the eyes of the spiritually blind.

**ISAIAH 42:6** I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.

**ISAIAH 49:6** It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.

**ISAIAH 51:4** Harken to me, my people; and give ear to me, O my nation: For a law shall proceed from me, and my justice as a light to the peoples.

Israel did not fulfill its calling. Christ came into the world as the light and, when Israel rejected Him, He "opened the door of faith to the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27).

**ISAIAH 65:1** I ( _the Lord_ ) am sought by them that asked not for me ( _Gentiles_ ); I am found by them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, to a nation that was not called by my name.

The Church is to be a light for all who live in darkness. Jesus sent His disciples into the world to lift the Gentiles from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the grace of God, "that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith" (Acts 26:17-18).

The term "Church" with a capital "C" represents the Body of Christ in the world and the fullness of Gentiles who believe in Him as their savior. The Greek word in the Septuagint is _ekklesia_ , which, when lowercase, means "a gathering of citizens called to a public place." For the Jew, it meant a gathering such as in a synagogue. For the followers of Christ, it is capitalized and a separate entity that began with His death and resurrection, not to be confused with the "church," a gathering place.

The first mention of the Church in The New Testament is found in Matthew 16:18 where Jesus states, "upon this rock I will build my Church." He was not referring to Peter or a physical structure, but to the body of believers. Paul writes of it as the "household of God" with a foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as its cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) composed of believers baptized by one Spirit into one body, Jews and Gentiles alike (1 Corinthians 12:13). Christ is the head of the Church (Ephesians 1:19-32).

Paul addressed King Agrippa relating to the calling received from God on the Damascus road. Paul revealed that the Lord instructed him to go to all nations, "opening their eyes, and turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive the forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith" (Acts 26:18). Throughout the remainder of his life, Paul, a Jew and a Roman citizen, served as a missionary to the Gentiles.

Paul referred to God's calling of Gentiles to be the bearers of light as a mystery revealed, "The mystery of Christ is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (Ephesians 3:1-9), "a mystery hidden from the past ages and generations" (Colossians 1:24-27).

The mission of the Church is to carry the light and teach the way to the kingdom of light, to deliverance, and to salvation, freeing humans from the might of Satan (Matthew 28:19-20).

**ISAIAH 9:2** The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.

**MATTHEW 5:15-16** ( _And Jesus said_ ) 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

**LUKE 2:28-32** 28 Then Jesus took him up in His arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace, according to your Word: 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.

**JOHN 12:36, 46** 36 While you have light ( _Jesus_ ), believe in the light, that you may be the children of light. 46 I am come as a light into the world that whosoever believes on me should not abide in darkness.

**ACTS 13:47-48** 47 For so has the Lord commanded us saying, I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord: And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

**ROMANS 13:12** ... let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

**MATTHEW 28:19-20** ( _And Jesus said to them_ ) 19 Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Spirit: 20 Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you: And, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.

**MATTHEW 8 18:37-38** 37 To this end I ( _Jesus_ ) was born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears my voice. 38 Pilate said unto him, What is truth?

Certain things can be said to be _true_ (provable using scientific disciplines or conforming to reality as we know it). Other things are said to be the _truth_ (the quality of being true), constant and trustworthy, but not always demonstrable.

The sun is the earth's greatest source of light. _True_. That light was created by God. _Truth_. Light is essential for human existence. _True_. The Word of God is the "light" of human understanding. _Truth_. His Word is accepted with trust and confidence by the faithful. _True_. The ultimate expression of truth is found in the gospels and epistles. _Truth_.

Jesus Christ came as the "true Light" that "lights every man that comes into the world" (John 1:9). He came to bear witness of the light so all men might believe through Him (John 1:1-9). The Spirit was sent to aid mortals in understanding the truth of the Word (John 14:16-18, 26).

God's Word is trustworthy, genuine, uncorrupted, faithful, and reliable. It is the framework of absolute "truth" by which we are to shape our lives (John 17:17).

**JOHN 8:31-32** ... If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free ( _from the slavery of sin_ ).

HIS BAPTISM

**JOHN 1:6-7** 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe.

Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts individuals as His children, making them members of Christ's Body (the Church) and the kingdom of God. It offers the promise of the forgiveness of sin.

The Spirit seals the baptized and marks them as Christ's own forever. The cleansed are "born again," becoming new creatures as the old passes away (John 3:1-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17). They should live as ambassadors of His Word (2 Corinthians 5:20).

In accordance with some formularies, the candidates (or the parents and godparents of an infant) renounce Satan, the evil powers of this world, sinful desires that draw them from the love of God, and accept Jesus Christ as Savior, putting trust in His grace and love.

The solemn Baptismal Covenant includes a statement of faith, a commitment to resist evil and, after sinning, repentance and a return to the Lord. The candidate or the representatives must pledge to proclaim the Good News of God by word and example, to seek and serve Christ, to love their neighbor, to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being.

The baptism of Jesus by the Spirit in the presence of John the baptizer marked the beginning of His ministry on earth (Acts 10:37-41) and established the sacrament of Holy Baptism. John could only baptize with water, providing a temporary cleansing to allow worship in the temple. Jesus baptized through the power of the Spirit, offering a permanent remission of sins. Jesus loved John and seemingly identified him as the last of the prophets (John 11:11, 13).

**MATTHEW 3:1-2, 5, 11, 13-17** 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

5 Then came to him many from Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And they were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

11 I ( _John_ ) did indeed baptize you with water to repentance: But He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Spirit, and with fire. ( _also Luke 3:15-16_ )

13 Then came Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. 14 But John forbid Him, saying, I have need to be baptized by you, and you come to me? 15 And Jesus answering him saying, Suffer it to be so for now: For thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then John consented. 16 And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: And, lo, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ( _See also Mark 1:4-6, 9-11._ )

**MATTHEW 11:11, 13** 11 Verily I ( _Jesus_ ) say to you, Among those born of women there has not risen a greater one than John the Baptist: Notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 13 For all the prophets and the Law were until John.

**MARK 16:16** He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.

**JOHN 1:32, 35** 32 And John, said, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it came upon Him. 35 Again the next day John stood with two of His disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God!

John records the most recognized verses concerning being "born again" through the Spirit when he relates events surrounding Nicodemus' night visit with Jesus. (Young's Literal Translation of The New Testament quotes Jesus as saying "born from above" rather than "born again.")

**JOHN 3:1-7** 1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: For no man can do the miracles that you do except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again (i.e. _from above by the Spirit_ ), he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit ( _through baptism_ ) is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said to you, You must be born again.

**2 CORINTHIANS 5:17** Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

ACTS AND SIGNS

Jesus began His ministry when He was a bout thirty in keeping with the requirements of the Torah. Matthew, Mark, and Luke described His deeds using a Greek word meaning "acts of power." John instead speaks of His many "signs."

Jesus established throughout His ministry that He was the fulfillment of prophecy. His deeds served to prepare the people for what was to come (e.g. the large catch of fish in the Galilee symbolizing how God's Word would attract many; the miraculous withering of the fig tree signifying the coming judgment against Jerusalem, etc.). Thirty-five miracles are recorded in the gospels.

Christ performed miracles of many kinds: Changing water into wine, healing the sick and blind, raising the dead, calming the sea, walking on water, and feeding the multitudes. The gospel writers recorded these events to confirm Jesus is indeed the Son of God with the ability to work extraordinary deeds. Such miracles helped witnesses believe and readers of Scripture today to know of His power. (Galatians 5:25).

Jesus was reluctant to confirm He was the promised Messiah until near the end of His ministry, for His "hour had not yet come." Not until later in His ministry did He openly acknowledge He was the fulfillment of prophecy (Mark 8:29, 14:62; John 13:13).

Even those among the 5,000 He fed remained unconvinced. Some asked for more proof, for additional signs from the Lord. They satisfied their hunger, but failed to comprehend what transpired. They continued to ask, "What sign can you show us, that we may see, and believe you? What works?" (John 6:25-30). Many seek further confirmation even today that Christ is the true Messiah. They require more proof before they will believe.

By the power of the Spirit, those in Christ believe without seeking acts and signs. They do not require validation. To ask for validation is an open expression of doubt, indicating a lack of faith. As Jesus said to Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

His first recorded miracle was at a marriage in Cana, demonstrating His glory, confirming His mastery over nature, and strengthening the belief of His followers.

**JOHN 2:1-10** 1 And on the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus and His disciples were called to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, They have no wine. 4 And Jesus said to her, Woman, what have you to do with me? My hour is not yet come. 5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it. 6 And there were six stone jars sitting there for the Jewish rights of purification, holding twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus said to them, Fill the jars with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, Now draw some out and bear it to the steward of the feast. And they carried it to him. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had been made into wine, and knew not where it came from: (but the servants knew;) the steward of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 and said to him, Everyman at the beginning starts with the good wine; and when men have drunk well, then he serves the worst: But you have kept the good wine until last!

Only Mary knew Jesus was God on earth. Even John the baptizer, who spoke of His coming, had doubts.

**LUKE 7:19-22** 19 And John called two disciples and sent them to Jesus, saying, Are you He that should come? Or should look we for another? 20 When the men came to Him, they said, John has sent us to you, saying, Are you He that should come? Or should we look for another? 21 And in that same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and to many that were blind He gave sight. 22 Then Jesus answering said to them, Go your way, and tell John what things you have seen and heard; how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

The well-known story of the feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle (other than the Resurrection) recorded in all four gospels (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:5-15). Note it tells of 5,000 "men," meaning there were likely thousands of others, women and children in the crowd with Him that day.

**MARK 6:31-44** 31 And He said to his apostles, Come away to a lonely place, and rest a while: For there were many coming and going who had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they departed to a private place by ship. 33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew Him, they ran afoot out of all cities, and went together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw many people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: And He began to teach them many things. 35 And when the day was nearly spent, the disciples came to Him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the day is far passed: 36 Send them all away, so they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy bread: For they have nothing to eat. 37 He answered and said to them, You give them bread to eat. And they said unto Him, Should we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread and give it to them to eat? 38 He said, How many loaves have you? Go and see. And when they knew, they said, Five, and two fish. 39 And He commanded them to make all to sit down by companies on the green grass. 40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 42 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and blessed the food, and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before the people; and He divided the two fish among them all. 43 And they all ate, and were filled. And then they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of fish. 44 And those who ate of the loaves were about five thousand men.

**JOHN 6:22, 24-30** 22 The day following ( _the feeding of the 5,000_ ) the people that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no boat, save that one which His disciples had entered, and Jesus went not with His disciples in the boat, and that His disciples were gone away alone;

24 When the people saw that Jesus was not there, neither were His disciples, they also came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said, Rabbi, when did you come here? 26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say to you, You seek me, not because you saw the miracles, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Labor not for the meat that perishes, but for that meat which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man shall give to you... 28 Then they said to Him, What shall we do, that we might do the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent. 30 They said to Him ( _still in unbelief, even after the miracle of the loaves and fish_ ), What sign can you show us, that we may see, and believe you?

**JOHN 20:30-31** 30 And many other signs did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.

REMISSION FROM THE LAW

For the Jew, God's commandments under the Law are a stumbling stone to salvation, as total compliance is beyond mortal ability. God sent His Son into the world to redeem the faithful from the bondage of the Law.

**GALATIANS 4:4-5** 4 But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the Law, 5 To redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons ( _of God through the Spirit_ ).

The 613 tenets of the Law are specific to the Jews. There are three categories: Ceremonial, specific to Jewish worship (found largely in Leviticus); civil, dictating the daily life of the people of Israel (found largely in Deuteronomy); and moral (Exodus 20:1-17). The moral law reveals the nature and will of God, and teaches what He wants of all people.

Jesus did not come to set the Law aside, but to redeem the faithful from the curse of the Law. He summarized it in an absolute sense for the understanding and instruction of the faithful (Matthew 22:37-40).

Paul states the problem of compliance.

**ROMANS 7:14-19** 14... I ( _Paul_ ) am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do, I do not want to do, and what I want to do, I do not; the very thing I hate, that I do. 16 If then I do that which I do not want, I consent to the Law that it is good. 17 Now then it is not I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing: For the will to do good is present in me; but I cannot find how to perform that which is good. 19 For the good that I would want, I do not: But the evil that I would not want, that I do.

Many Jews sought to follow the Law. While righteous and sincere, they were certain to fail because they tried to attain justification by deeds under the Law instead of by faith in the One who made the Law.

The Law remains relevant. It reminds us what is sinful in the eyes of God. It is our "schoolmaster."

**ROMANS 3:19-20** 19 Now we know what things the Law says to them who are under the Law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God ( _as none are capable of keeping the Law_ ). 20 Therefore, no flesh can be justified in His sight by the deeds of the Law.

**ROMANS 9:31-33** 31... Israel, following after a Law of righteousness, did not arrive at that Law. 32 Why? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it was by the works of the Law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence:

**ROMANS 13: 8-10** 8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the Law. 9. For thus, you will not commit adultery, you will not murder, you will not steal, you will not bear false witness, you will not covet; 10 Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

**GALATIANS 3:22-25** 22 But the Scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the Law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The Law was the first stumbling stone, for salvation required total compliance, which is impossible. Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law, but is a new stumbling stone for salvation for the Jew, for He requires faith in Him, which they do not possess.

**1 PETER 2:7-8** 7 Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which are disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the cornerstone, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed ( _Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:14-15_ ).

Some are troubled by the inference of predestination implied in the phrase, "Whereunto also they were appointed," or as it appears in some versions, "As they were meant to do." Is Peter saying the Jews were appointed by God to not know who Jesus was? No. They were appointed, not to what course to follow, but to punishment for the course they chose by free election.

The glorious news of the gospels is that God laid a foundation stone offering salvation to all who turn to Him, acknowledging they are unable to act as they know they should and want.

**ISAIAH 28:16** Therefore says the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion as a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation:

**ROMANS 8:2-3** 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

**GALATIANS 2:16** Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we who believe in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law: For by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.

We would remain ignorant of our sins without the Law. Without knowledge of sin, we would not recognize our sins and the need to repent. Without acknowledging the need to repent, we would be without faith. Without faith, we would not find forgiveness.

Jesus summarized the Law into two commandments, drawing on Leviticus 19:18 and Deuteronomy 6:5 (Matthew 22:37-40).

**MATTHEW 22:37-40** 37 Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets.

Think about it. Loving God as you should and acting on that love in your relationships with others will cause you to automatically satisfy the standards of the Law each day: Praising God; rejecting idols; honoring His name, the Sabbath, and parents; doing no murder, adultery, theft, or perjury; and controlling your desires. A dilemma remains. If the Jews cannot live by the Law, how can the faithful abide fully in the summary of the Law? God sent the Spirit to be the succor.

**GALATIANS 5:16** This I say, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

**EPHESIANS 6:11, 13** 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 13... that you may be able to withstand in the evil day...

SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Tradition ascribes the site of this sermon as a mountainside near Capernaum, not far from the extinct Karne Hittim volcano. There, Jesus sat before the people and shared one of His greatest discourses. In it we find the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer (not actually His prayer, but our prayer He gave us). Matthew 5, 6, and 7 record the event in the greatest detail.

**MATTHEW 5:1-12** 1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: And when He was set, His disciples came to Him: 2 And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying:

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you, when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven...

###### Jesus also taught us how we should pray.

**MATTHEW 6:5-13** 5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites: For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on street corners, so that they may be seen. Verily I say to you, They have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father that sees in secret shall reward you openly. 7 When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathens do: For they think that they shall be heard ( _clearer_ ) for their much speaking. 8 Be not like them: For your Father knows what things you need before you ask. 9 After this manner therefore pray: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ( _"the evil" in YLT_ ): For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

All humans face temptation. We are to ask God to keep us from seductions of all sorts, but the total responsibility does not rest with Him. It is a shared function. Christians are warned to avoid situations in the world that can lead to temptation, focusing instead on the treasures of heaven.

**MATTHEW 6:19-21** 19 Do not lay up treasures for yourselves, as moth and rust can corrupt, and thieves can break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break through or steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Planning for the future and saving for retirement are worthy practices, as long as they are not compulsions. As a rabbi friend likes to caution about accumulated wealth, "A shroud has no pockets."

**1 TIMOTHY 6:7** We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

PARABLES AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING

**MARK 4:10-11** 10 When He was alone, those about Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: But to them that are without, all these things are done in parables.

Some equate spreading the Word with sharing the Word. Sending is not receiving. Jesus said to the seven churches: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches" (Revelation 2 and 3). He knew He would be "heard" only by those who were prepared. Mastery of the Old Testament message, along with a deep understanding of The New, will open the heart to the Spirit. It will prepare some to serve as "good ground," ready to understand and respond to the Word (Matthew 13:23).

The Word of the Lord is not understood by those in darkness, those unprepared to receive the truth. For this reason, Jesus began speaking in parables near the end of His ministry, reaching out only to those whose heart was opened by the Spirit. His parables were not intended to aid all in the understanding of God's message, but to limit it to those whose heart was prepared to receive it.

It comes as a shock to many Christians that Christ did not come into the world to save _all_ from sin, but to make salvation _available_ to all. He offers salvation to those who turn to Him (Acts 15:14). The Spirit is "poured on the whole world," but many hearts reject its presence.

Those with the Spirit will receive the Word with readiness and find salvation. Others will choose to remain in darkness, "blind" to His message of salvation. His disciples were "worthy" to understand the parables, for they acknowledged their sinfulness and accepted Christ as their Savior.

The chosen/elect/called and all who come to Him in faith through the Word will understand the parables by the authority of the Spirit. Jesus told His disciples "He must go" so the Spirit of truth could come to dwell in them.

**JOHN 14:16-18, 26** 16 And I will pray to the Father and He shall give you another Comforter ( _Spirit_ ) that He may abide with you forever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the ( _entire_ ) world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: But you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless:

26... the Comforter, which is the Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said unto you.

Jesus held the people accountable for understanding Scripture. They had the benefit of prophets sent by God to prepare them for His coming, but they ignored the truth the prophets spoke. The prophet Amos warned of the punishment to come.

**AMOS 8:7, 11-12** 7 The Lord has sworn by the excellence of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their ( _evil_ ) works. 11 Behold, the days come, says the Lord God, I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of the Lord: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

When the time came, Jesus rebuked and punished the Jews for not recognizing who He was (Luke 19:41-44), and fulfilled the prophecies of Amos and Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8-11) by "blinding" them to the Word.

**LUKE 19:41-42** 41 And when He had come near, He ( _Jesus_ ) beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 saying, Would that even in this your day you had known the things which make for peace! But, now they are hidden from your eyes.

**JOHN 12:37-40** 37 But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed in Him not: 38 That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39 Therefore, they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, 40 "He ( _the Lord_ ) has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart..."

The Jews failed God's calling to carry His light to the world. The "Way" was now open to the Gentiles.

**ACTS 28:23-26, 28** 23 And when they had appointed a day for him ( _Paul_ ), there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning until evening. 24 And some believed the things that were spoken, and some did not believe. 25 And when they did not agree among themselves, they departed. After that Paul spoke: Well spoke the Spirit by Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 Saying, Go to this people, and say, Hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive:

28 Be it known therefore to you, that the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

Jesus spoke plainly to all the people early in His ministry. Crowds heard the Word, but wanted additional signs—visual proof the He was the promised One. Jesus turned to parables to reach those who were prepared to hear. At the last, He withdrew the Word from the unbelieving multitudes, blinding them and hardening their hearts.

Jews are blinded to the Word. Their blindness will remain until the End Time when the "fullness of the Gentiles" (a specific number known only to God) has "come in" (Romans 11:25).

Christians should make the Word widely available and evangelize to those with receptive eyes, ears, and hearts. They are the ones ready for the Word.

THE TRANSFIGURATION

The Transfiguration is a pre-crucifixion event recorded in all the synoptic gospels (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36) and referred to by Peter in one of his letters (2 Peter 1:16-18).

Jesus and three of His apostles journeyed to a mountain where, in the presence of the spirits of Moses and Elijah, Jesus began to shine with bright rays of light and was identified by the Father as His Son.

**LUKE 9:28-31, 34-36** 28 And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings ( _Luke 9:18-22_ ), He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistening. 30 And, behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elijah: 31 ( _Jesus_ ) appeared in glory, and spoke of His ( _coming_ ) death to be accomplished in Jerusalem.

34 While He thus spoke, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: And they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: Hear Him. 36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things that they had seen.

A significant point sometimes overlooked is God's command: "Hear Him" (vs. 35). Jesus told the disciples earlier that the Word He spoke came from the Father (John 12:49), a good reason to focus closely when reading the gospels.

THE FINAL WEEK

Friday is the traditionally accepted day of His crucifixion based on inclusive reckoning—considering any part of a day to be a whole day. Others calculate it as occurring on Thursday, allowing portions of three days and three full nights before His resurrection (Matthew 12:40). Some accept Jesus' reference to Jonah's three days in the belly of the whale as literally three solar days calculated sunrise to sunrise, favor Wednesday (Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40). A scholarly argument can be made for Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

Dating anything in the first century AD is extremely difficult, as several different calendars (lunar or solar) were in use. Additionally, even the chronology of the events in the last days of Jesus' earthly life is significantly different in the synoptic gospels and John's gospel. All four connect Jesus' death with the Feast of Passover, but they do so in different ways and with differing emphases.

Confusion arises from the ambiguity of the phrase "day of preparation." Was this day a preparation for the weekly Sabbath as in the synoptic gospels, or preparation for the Feast of Passover as recorded in John's gospel?

Supporters of a Thursday 14 Nisan crucifixion reason this way: Jesus died and was buried before sunset on the day of preparation for the Passover feast. He was "three days and three nights" in the grave, considered by some to mean three nights (dusk to dawn) and three days (sunrise to dusk). His resurrection coincided with the Feast of First Fruits (Sunday 17 Nisan). The day prior to that was 16 Nisan, a regular Saturday Sabbath ( _Shabbat_ ). The day before had to be Friday (15 Nisan), the date prescribed for Passover and first day of Unleavened Bread, which is always a feast day.

Friday 15 Nisan was Passover, a Holy Day (a Sabbath on whatever day of the week it occurs). That would make Thursday 14 Nisan a day of preparation for the Friday Sabbath and the day of His crucifixion.

The year of His crucifixion remains in question. No precise timeline of His final days can be constructed using the gospels. Little matter. The certainty of the events should be the focus, not the day or year.

If His crucifixion took place on Thursday, major events can be calculated as falling thus: Six days before the Passover (8 Nisan), Jesus rested in Bethany with Mary and Martha (John 12:1). Saturday (9 Nisan) was a Sabbath until sunset.

Jesus left Bethany after sunrise on Sunday (10 Nisan) and entered Jerusalem, allowing the crowd to acknowledge Him as king (John 12:13). If they crucified Him on Thursday 14 Nisan, the day of preparation for the annual Passover (15 Nisan a Friday), the sequence might have been as follows, based on my reading of the gospels:

### Friday 8 Nisan

Jesus came to Bethany to visit Lazarus, Mary and Martha. A dinner was served in His honor and His feet were anointed by Mary (John 12:1-7)

### Saturday 9 Nisan, Sabbath/Shabbat

Jesus is approached by Jews in Bethany wishing to see Lazarus. Chief priests plot against Jesus (John 12:9-12)

### Sunday 10 Nisan

Jesus proceeds to Jerusalem in the morning (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19). He enters in triumph, hailed as "king."

Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and curses the Temple, as the priests plot to kill Him (Matthew 21:7-9; Mark 11:8-10; Luke 19:35-48; John 12:12-16)

A Passover Lamb is selected for sacrifice (Exodus 12:3-5) Jesus cleanses the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13; Luke 19:45-48)

Jesus returns to Bethany with the twelve to rest (Mark 11:11)

### Monday 11 Nisan

Jesus cleanses the Temple a second time, as the chief priests plot against Him (Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-48)

Jesus teaches at the Temple (Luke 21:37)

He retires to the Mount of Olives to rest (Luke 21:37-38)

### Tuesday 12 Nisan

Jesus teaches at the Temple as the chief priests and scribes challenge His authority (Matthew 26:2-5; Mark 11:27-28, 24:1-2; Luke 21:47-48, 22:1-2).

Leaders, scribes, and Pharisees, question Jesus. He states many parables foretelling the destruction of the city (Matthew 21:23; Luke 20:1-14)

Jesus visits the house of Simon (Mark 14:3-9)

He retires to the Mount of Olives to rest (Luke 21:37)

### Wednesday 13 Nisan

Jesus teaches in the Temple area (Luke 21:37)

The Sanhedrin plots and Judas agrees to betray Him (Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:1-6)

He tells His Disciples He will be crucified "after two days" (Matthew 26:2).

Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-37)

He retires to the Mount of Olives to rest (Luke 21:37)

### Thursday 14 Nisan (including Wednesday evening and night)

Preparations are made for the evening meal and Jesus holds a discourse with His apostles in the upper room (Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:1-2; John 14:1-30)

Jesus initiates the sacramental Lord's Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:17-25; Luke 22:15-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29) (Not a Passover meal as traditionally ascribed. It was then Wednesday, not Thursday, evening.)

Jesus and His apostles return to the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39)

He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:26-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1)

Jesus is betrayed, arrested, questioned, and sentenced during the night and early morning (Matthew 26:47-56, 27:11-31; Mark 14:43-52, 15:1-23; Luke 22:47-53, 23:1-26; John 18:2-40) (There were six trials that night, three Jewish (before Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin); three Roman (before Pilate, Herod, and Pilate again)

Judas repents and hangs himself (Matthew 27:3-10)

Jesus is scourged and crucified midmorning (Matthew 27:35-50; Mark 15:24-37; Luke 23:33-46; John 19:11-30)

Darkness falls on the land at the sixth hour (noon) (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44)

At the ninth hour (mid-afternoon) the curtain of the Temple is torn as Jesus dies (Matthew 27:46-53; Mark 15:34-38; Luke 23:45-46)

Christ is removed from the cross and buried before sunset (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-55; John 19:31-42)

The Passover Lamb is slain by the chief priest (Luke 22:7-13) before sunset

Solders ensure the tomb secured (Matthew 27:62-66)

Friday 15 Nisan (Passover Sabbath - A Holy Day _)_

First Day of Passover, a feast lasting seven days, began at sunset on Thursday.

The sanctified Passover meal with lamb was eaten by the faithful (Exodus 12:8-11)

### Saturday 16 Nisan (Shabbat)

The women prepare the spices and observe the Sabbath (Luke 23:56)

### Sunday 17 Nisan

Christ is raised in the early morning and the women find the tomb empty (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-9; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1)

Jews celebrate the Feast of First Fruits (Leviticus 23:11,15)

TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

Turning from the full sequence of events, we rejoin the narrative of the gospels at a point where Jesus spoke to His disciples on the Sunday morning journey from Bethany to Jerusalem.

**LUKE 18:31-34** 31 Then He brought to Himself the twelve, and He said to them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished. 32 For He shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spit on, 33 and they shall scourge Him and put Him to death: And the third day He shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: And the meaning was hidden from them.

God proclaimed through His prophet Daniel the precise day the Jewish messiah would enter Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24-27). He later punished the people severely for failing to understand the prophecy and recognize who He was (Luke 19:36-44).

Jesus entered the Holy City riding on an ass, allowing the crowd to hail Him as "king of Israel" in accordance with prophecy (Zechariah 9:9-12). They spread their clothes and palms on the way in excitement, but lost faith quickly when the one they hailed as the much anticipated kingly messiah died at the hands of Israel's enemy.

**MATTHEW 21:1-5** 1 And when they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage ( _not far from Bethany_ ), to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 Saying to them, Go into the village and straightway you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: Loose them, and bring them to me. 3 And if any man says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them; and straightway He will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet ( _Zechariah 9:9_ ), saying, 5 Daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes to you, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

**ZECHARIAH 9:9** Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

**JOHN 12:13** They took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord.

**LUKE 19:36-44** 36 And as He went, they spread their clothes on the way. 37 And when He was come near, even now at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying: Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord: Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said to Him, Master, rebuke your disciples. 40 And He answered and said to them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 41 And when He had come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it 42 saying, Would that even in this your day you had known the things which make for peace! But, now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies shall make a trench around encompassing you, and keeping you in on every side, 44 And they shall lay you level with the ground, and your children with you; and they shall not leave one stone upon another; because you did know not the time of your visitation ( _by the Messiah_ ).

Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph on 10 Nisan as prophesied. The Passover lambs for sacrifice at the Temple were presented for inspection on that day in preparation for the traditional slaying "between the evenings" of 14 Nisan (Exodus 12:1-3, 46; Leviticus 23:4-5; Numbers 9:12).

Jesus addressed a gathering of scribes, Pharisees, and ordinary citizens in the Temple area two days before Passover. He chastised them for their unrighteousness and hypocrisy, for ignoring the prophets, and for failing to see the truth in Scripture concerning Him. He told them He would go and not return to the faithless until they called upon His name.

**MATTHEW 23:29-33, 37, 39** 29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, 30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore you are witnesses to yourselves, that you are the children of them that killed the prophets. 32 Fill up then the measure of your fathers. 33 You Serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them that are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you were not willing!

39 For I say to you, You shall not see me henceforth, until you shall say, Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.

**LUKE 21:6, 20-24** 6 As for these things which you behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

20 And when you shall see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that the desolation thereof is near. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things that are written may be fulfilled. 23 For there shall be great distress in the land and wrath on this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations, and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles ( _as it was thirty-eight years later by Roman Legions_ ), until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

OLIVET DISCOURSE

Jesus gathered with His disciples one evening on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the city. Matthew records what He told them about the coming tribulation and the punishment to follow, assuring them the faithful would be rescued.

This discourse parallels His revelation to John recorded in the last book of Scripture. It is one of the clearest statements of end-time events found in the Bible.

**MATTHEW 24:1-44** 1 And Jesus went out and departed from the temple: And His disciples came to Him to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Verily I say to you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. 3 And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceives you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: Be not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you: And you shall be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come. 15 When you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, 16 Then let them in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return to take his clothes. 19 And woe to them that are with child, and to them that are nursing in those days! 20 But pray that your flight is not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: 21 For then there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, no flesh should be saved: But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ, or there He is; believe not. 24 For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, who shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 If they shall say to you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: Behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even to the west; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near: 33 So likewise, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door. 34 Verily I say to you, this generation (Greek: _age_ ) shall not pass until all these things are fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 And they knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken ( _translated_ ), and the other left. 42 Watch; therefore, for you know not what hour your Lord does come. 43 But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore, be also ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man comes. ( _Also see Mark 13:24-29._ )

Keep Jesus' words in mind, "When you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place... then there shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Jesus here confirms Daniel was a prophet and that end-time events would unfold as Daniel recorded.

If a self-proclaimed prophet asserts the end is close or gives a date when it will begin, or if another claims the Mayan calendar or Nostradamus predicted the time is near, ignore them. The end cannot come until the abomination of desolation occurs in the Holy Place. That cannot happen until a new temple stands .

" **LAST SUPPER" AND THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE**

When it comes time to prepare His final meal, Jesus sends His disciples to find a certain man carrying a jar of water who would provide accommodations in an upper room (Mark 14:12-16).

During the meal Jesus will announce that one of His own will betray Him.

**MARK 12:14-16** 14 And the first day of unleavened bread... His disciples said to him, Where will we go and prepare that you may eat the Passover? 13 And He sent forth two of His disciples, and said to them, Go you into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: Follow him. 14 And wherever he goes in, say to the good man of the house, The Master said, Where is the guest chamber where I shall eat the Passover meal with my disciples? 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: There make ready for us. 16 And His disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as He had said to them: And they made ready the Passover.

**JOHN 13:25-27** 25 He ( _one of the disciples_ ) then lying on Jesus' breast said unto Him, Lord, who is it? 26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when He had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 And after taking the bread, Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That you do, do quickly.

Judas said, "Master, is it I?" Jesus answered, "You have said so" (Matthew 26:20-25). Judas left as Jesus continued to prepare the others for what He knew would come.

He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, "Take and eat; this is my body" (Matthew 26:26). Then he took the cup of wine and said, "Drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you; I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom" (Matthew 26:27-29). He also spoke to them of the Spirit He would send to comfort them after He departed (John 14:23-28).

After supper, Jesus took off His outer garment, tied a towel around His waist, and began washing the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel. Peter objected, but consented when Jesus said, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me" (John 13:8). Jesus humbled Himself as a sign of how they should humble themselves before others (John 13:14-15).

The breaking of bread with His disciples evolved into the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist celebrated by Christians around the world. It is a continuing remembrance of His life, death, and resurrection until He comes again. It is called variously the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, the Divine Liturgy, the Mass, and the Great Offering.

Through the spiritual food of His body and blood, the faithful receive forgiveness from their sins, and strengthen their union with Christ and each other.

**MATTHEW 26:26-29** 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink you all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

**1 CORINTHIANS 11:23** For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

**JOHN 13:5-11, 15** 5 After that He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter and Peter said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said to him, What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter. 8 Peter said to Him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no part with me. 9 Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus said to him, He that has already washed need not be washed again, except his feet, for he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not all ( _of those present are clean_ ). 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, You are not all clean.

15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

" **I MUST GO AWAY"**

**JOHN 14:22-23, 25-26, 28** 22 Judas ( _not Iscariot_ ) said to Him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

25 These things have I spoken to you, being still present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you. 28 You have heard how I said to you, I go away, and come again to you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go to the Father: For my Father is greater than I.

**JOHN 16:7-15** 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they did not believe on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth: He shall not speak of Himself; but whatever He shall hear ( _from the Father_ ), that is what He shall speak, and He will show you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me, for He shall take what is mine, and deliver it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are mine: Therefore I say, that He shall take what is mine and deliver it to you.

Jesus and the disciples returned to the Mount of Olives after supper on the night he was betrayed. They proceeded to the Garden of Gethsemane where He rested and prayed. It is there Jesus was taken into captivity.

**MATTHEW 26:30, 36-50** 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, Sit here while I go and pray yonder. 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death: Wait here and watch with me. 39 And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: Nevertheless, not my will, but your will be done. 40 And He came to the disciples, and found them asleep, and said to Peter, What, could you not watch with me even one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that you do not enter into temptation. The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it that your will be done. 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples, and said to them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go: Behold, he is at hand that betrays me. 47 And while He spoke, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, Whomever I shall kiss, that same is He: Hold Him fast. 49 And shortly he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took Him.

**MATTHEW 26:56** But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled.

There were six trials that night: Three Jewish (before Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin) and three Roman (before Pilate, Herod, and Pilate again), which are detailed in the gospels.

THE CRUCIFIXION

**LEVITICUS 17:11** For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.

**ISAIAH 53:3-11** 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. 4 Surely He has borne our grief, and carried our sorrows: Yet we did not esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: ( _Recall God's promise in Genesis 3:15_ ) The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes ( _wounds_ ) we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He opened not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was He stricken. 9 And He made His grave with the wicked ( _the crucified were normally buried in potters' field_ ) and with the rich in His death ( _taken instead to a rich man's sepulture, that of Joseph of Arimathaea_ ); because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. 10 Yet it is the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief: When He makes His soul an offering for ( _our_ ) sin ( _God's divine plan since before creation_ ) He shall see His offspring, He shall prolong His days ( _through His coming again_ ) and the will of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the fruits of the travail of His soul, and be satisfied: By His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify ( _make righteous_ ) many; for He shall bear their iniquities ( _sins_ ).

**JOHN 3:14-16** 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

**MATTHEW 27:1-2, 15-26, 33-47, 50-51, 54** 1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death: 2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

15 Now at that feast the governor wanted to release to the people one prisoner, whom they were to choose. 16 And they had there a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, Whom do you will that I release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that it was for envy that they had delivered Him. 19 When Pilate sat down on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, Have nothing to do with that just man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said to them, Which of the two will you have me release to you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate said to them, what should I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? They all say to him, Let Him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil has He done? But, they cried out the more, saying, Let Him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail, but that a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: See you to it. 25 Then all the people said, His blood is on us, and on our children. 26 Then Pilate released Barabbas to them, and when he had Jesus scourged and delivered Him to be crucified.

33 And when they were come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 They gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall, and when He had tasted it, He would not drink it. 35 And they crucified Him and parted His garments, casting lots that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, "They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots" ( _Psalm 22:18_ ). 36 And sitting down they watched Him there; 37 and set up over His head His accusation written, JESUS THE NAZARENE KING OF THE JEWS ( _INRI found on some crucifixes is an acronym of the Latin inscription_ ). 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with Him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, 40 and saying, You that destroys the temple, and built it in three days, save yourself. If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise, the chief priests, who were mocking Him with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him ( _still requiring proof of who He said He was_ ). 43 He trusted in God; let God deliver Him now, if He will have Him: For He said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, likewise reviled Him. 45 Now from the sixth hour ( _noon_ ) there was darkness over all the land to the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, _Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?_ That is to say, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calls for Elijah.

50 Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the Spirit. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth quaked and the rocks were torn;

54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

**JOHN 19:25-30** 25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son! 27 Then said He to the disciple, Behold your mother! And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. 28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: And He bowed His head, and gave up the spirit. ( _Also see Mark 15:33-37 and Luke 23:44-46._ )

**DEUTERONOMY 21:22-23** 22 And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and is put to death, and you hang him on a tree: 23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall bury him that day ( _before sunset_ ); that your land is not defiled, which the Lord your God has given you for an inheritance.

It is interesting to compare Christ's last words on the cross as reported by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In Matthew (27:46) and Mark (15:33), Jesus ended His earthly life saying, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" This is the opening verse of Psalm 22, written more than 700 years before the event. All gathered at the cross that day knew the psalm. The reciting of the first few words immediately reminded them of its dual message of suffering and praise to God. (See also Psalm 69.)

**PSALM 22:1, 7-8, 15-19, 27-31** 1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

7 All they that see me and laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the Lord that He would deliver him, let Him deliver Him, seeing He delighted in Him.

15 My strength is dried up like a potshard; and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 Yea, dogs (metaphor) surround me: The assembly of the wicked encircles me: They pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones: They stare and gloat over me. 18 They divide my garments among them, and cast lots for my garment. 19 Be not far from me, O Lord: O my strength, come quickly to me.

27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before Him. 28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: And He is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that are proud shall bow down to Him, all they that go down to the dust shall bow before Him and none can keep his own soul alive. 30 Prosperity shall serve Him; men shall tell of the Lord to the coming generation, 31 and they shall proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn, that He has done this. (KJV/RSV)

**PSALM 69:7-8, 20-21** 7 Because for your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face. 8 I have become a stranger to my brethren, and an alien to my mother's children.

20 Reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. 21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

By crying out to "my God" instead of "my Father," Jesus spoke from His humanity. He addressed the God of all, instead of His Father exclusively.

Luke's gospel quotes Jesus' last words as, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (23:46). John reports Jesus simply said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). What was finished? Christ's worldly mission planned by God before creation—His victory over death and the redemption of the faithful.

Scripture does not tell us if Matthew, Mark, or Luke witnessed the crucifixion. Likely only John was near the base of the cross and is the disciple to whom Jesus entrusted His mother. He is considered by most scholars to be "... The disciple standing by, whom He loved..." (John 19:26-27).

Is one gospel account more accurate than another? It is unimportant. Each has a specific message and is significant in its own right. Taken together, they show that in His final hour Christ: 1) reminded His brethren who He was, 2) united the people in a statement of praise for the Father, 3) subjected His Spirit to God, and 4) announced His earthly work (not He) was finished.

Pontius Pilate had this title put on the cross: JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. "This title was then read by many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city, and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin" (John 19:19-20).

The chief priests of the Jews pleaded with Pilate, "Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He said, I am King of the Jews." They were doubly offended, as the first letter of the Hebrew words from right to left read "YHWH" the Hebrew name of God, inferring Jesus was the Father. Pilate, likely knowing what he commanded, answered, "What I have written I have written" (John 19:22).

The focus of the Passover festival is the _Korban Pesach_ , the sacrificial or Paschal Lamb. Every family large enough to consume a young lamb or a wild goat offered it for sacrifice at the temple on the afternoon of 14 Nisan, and ate it after sunset at the beginning of 15 Nisan as the Passover holiday began.

The Law mandated that the lamb be sacrificed between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm and eaten before midnight. Christ, as a Paschal Lamb, died near 3:00 pm in the afternoon of 14 Nisan. (Those wishing to know more about the circumstances of His crucifixion should read a Mayo Foundation Study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association in March 1986 Volume 256, available online.)

The issue of who killed Jesus gave rise to anti-Semitism in the early church. It held the Jews wholly responsible. Members of the Sanhedrin were undoubtedly instrumental in His capture and trials, but Roman Gentiles nailed Him on the cross. Luke, himself a Gentile, reminds us Jesus told His apostles Gentiles would take, mock, scourge, and kill Him (Luke 18:31-34). In truth, responsibility for His death on the cross falls on all mankind. God "put Him to grief" for our sake (Isaiah 53:10).

Matthew, Mark, and Luke's accounts also note the veil of the temple tore in two from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). The dividing of the veil is symbolic. The earthly throne room of God is now open to all who accept Christ as the Savior.

God is infinite in all things, and boundless in love. He created the "children of God" and, after their fall, made provision for their redemption through the Son.

Why did God allow man to fall, requiring the death of His only son? "He who is rich in mercy and love, even when we were dead in sins, elected to quicken us and raise us up together in the age to come to show the exceeding riches of His grace..." (Ephesians 2:4-8).

**ROMANS 9:23** ... that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had before prepared unto glory...

DOUBTERS, THEN AND NOW

Some deny Jesus ever lived, or if He did He was a fraud. They prefer to believe the writers of the gospels and epistles conspired to create a mythological leader of their "sect."

Proof Christ walked on the earth is also found outside Scripture. A detailed account comes from the Roman historian Tacitus, recorded in 117 AD. He wrote that Emperor Nero blamed the great fire in Rome in 64 AD on a group called "Christians" and describe them as those "who got their name from Christ who was executed by sentence of the Procurator Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius. This checked the pernicious superstition for a short time, but it broke out afresh—not only in Judea, where the plague first arose, but in Rome itself, where all the horrible and shameful things in the world find a home" (Annals, XV, 44). Tacitus was a Roman historian of note with access to official Roman court records, diplomatic correspondence, and archives.

Ancient Jewish traditions preserved in the Talmud also mention Jesus ( _Yeshua_ ). Records of His death by crucifixion were maintained among the Jews and added to the Babylonian Talmud ca. 500 AD: "On the eve of Passover they hanged Yeshua and the herald went before him for forty days saying, He is going forth to be stoned in that he hath practiced sorcery and beguiled and led Israel astray. Let everyone knowing his defense come and plead for him. But, they found nothing in his defense and hanged him on the eve of Passover" (Sanhedrin, 43A). Note the specificity "on the eve of Passover," which can only mean before sunset on 14 Nisan.

Another account of Jesus is found in the histories of Josephus, "Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him many Jews and many Gentiles. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among them, condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first ceased not so to do; and the race of Christians named from him are not extinct even now."

Josephus mentions Jesus again, "He [Annas] convened a judicial session of the Sanhedrin and brought before it the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ—James by name—and some others, whom he charged with breaking the law and handed him over to be stoned to death" (Josephus, _Antiquities, 20, 200_ ). (Note the historian Josephus mentions James as a brother of Jesus.)

Other documents have come down through history corroborating early accounts of Jesus' life and death. Gedaliah Klausner writes in his book _Jesus of Nazareth_ , "If we possessed them alone, we should know... that in Judaea there existed a Jew named Jesus called the Christ, the 'Anointed'; and that he performed miracles and taught the people; that he was killed by Pontius Pilate at the instigation of the Jews; that he had a brother named James who was put to death by the High Priest Annas, the son of Annas; that owing to Jesus there arose a special sect known as Christians; that a community belonging to this sect existed in Rome fifty years after the birth of Jesus, and that from the time of Nero, the sect greatly increased; regarding Jesus as virtually divine (one) who underwent severe persecution."

No reasonable person can deny a man named Jesus walked the hills of Judea as a respected teacher and prophet, had a band of devoted followers, and was crucified by Romans in Jerusalem at the urging of the Sanhedrin.

The question is, of course. "Is Jesus who He said He is: the Son of God?" That is a matter of faith, not history. It is by faith that we are saved.

The final hours of Jesus' earthly existence are depicted on the opposing page.

Guide to the adjacent illustration

Jesus left the Upper Room and walked with His disciples to Mount of Olives and then to (1) the Garden of Gethsemane, where He was arrested and taken first (2) to Annas and then to Caiaphas. After first trial before political Sanhedrin at Caiaphas' residence, Jesus was tried again (3) before religious Sanhedrin, probably at Temple. Next, He was taken (4) to Pontius Pilate who sent Him (5) to Herod Antipas. Herod returned Jesus (6) to Pilate and Pilate who, at the will of the crowd, handed Him over for scourging at Fortress of Antonia and then crucifixion at Golgotha (7).

(Illustration courtesy of Mayo Clinic Study: The Death of Jesus. Full report at: <http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/255/11/1455.short>)

FATE AND FREEWILL

If a prophet of God foretells something, is it predestined? Consider Esau and Jacob, the twin sons of Isaac and Rebecca. Esau came first, yet it was foretold that the older would serve the younger (Genesis 25:23). History later showed this as correct. Was Esau predestined to surrender his birthright or personally responsible for relinquishing it to his younger brother for a mere "mess of pottage?" (Genesis 25:29-34)

Similarly, it was prophesied that children in the region of Bethlehem aged two and under would be killed (Jeremiah 31:15). King Herod fulfilled this prophecy (Matthew 2:16-17), hoping to eliminate "the newborn king." Did Herod have a choice? Was he responsible for actions foretold by a prophet of God?

One of Christ's own was prophesied to betray the Lord (Psalm 41:9; John 13:21). Judas fulfilled that prophecy (Matthew 26:45-49). Was Judas responsible for his actions? Did he do it by his own volition without being compelled by some external force? The answer to both is, "Yes."

Individuals are responsible for their actions. People are accountable for the choices they make, both literally and in the eyes of God. The fact that God knows in advance what people will do and shares it through His prophets does not cause them to act as the prophets say. Humans are not God's marionettes.

The Christian life is one of choices: Choose to love God with your whole heart, or not; Choose to accept Scripture as His Word, or not; Choose to walk in His way, or not; Choose to give into temptation and sin, or not. Salvation is a choice. Jesus stands at the door and knocks (Matthew 7:7-14; Revelation 3:20). Individuals open the door to Him, or not.

God yearns for a loving relationship with His created. He wants them to come to Him through their will and the call of the Spirit. He will not force anyone to love or call on Him.

If you believe that God is just, you must accept that He allows us to choose our own path. This does not mean God has not and will not use individuals and nations as His instruments (Exodus 7:3). Consider Noah, Lot, Moses, Jonah, and Paul, among many who heard and followed His call. They accepted the "assignment," although some required nudging.

Prophecy is not a restraint on freewill. It does not predestine anyone to act in a particular way. God knows everything from the beginning of history to the end—all in advance. He is outside the dimension of time and speaks of future events through the prophets. He shares the future with mankind through prophets. (Amos 3:7) The prophets simply speak or write about what God knows beforehand.

The most compelling proof came from the mouth of the Lord. God's plan for reconciliation with wayward mankind rested on the fulcrum of the Crucifixion. It was His plan from the beginning of time, foretold in prophecy. Yet, Jesus could have elected not to die on the cross. He was fully human and had freedom of choice.

**JOHN 10:17-18** 17 Therefore does my Father love me, because _I_ lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man takes it from me, but _I_ lay it down myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.

Is this chapter we reviewed Scripture dealing with the promise of Christ's coming, His birth, baptism, ministry, crucifixion, and earthly death. Now ask, What messages has God sent found in this chapter?

For me He underscored:

The Messiah's coming was foretold by the prophets.

He was not the messiah the people anticipated, and they rejected Him.

Jesus was fully divine and fully human.

God sent Him into the world to offer salvation to all who have faith in Him.

God became man so individuals could be sons of God.

Jesus was the Word incarnate, the Way, the truth, and the light.

God turned to the Gentiles after the Jews failed to carry His light to the world.

Parables are not teaching tools, but intended to limit the Word to those prepared to receive His truth.

Jesus was crucified and died for the sins of the world.

He promised to send the Spirit to comfort and guide the faithful.

Studying Scripture opens the heart to the waiting Spirit.

God does not predestine anyone to damnation.

The destiny of the soul rests with each individual.

# Chapter 4: The Resurrection and Ascension

**JOHN 19:31-33, 38** 31 The Jews; therefore, because it was the ( _day of_ ) preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day ( _beginning at sundown_ ), for that Sabbath day was a high day, ( _not Saturday Shabbat_ ) implored Pilate that their legs might be broken ( _to speed death_ ), and that they might be taken away. 32 Then came the soldiers, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs:

38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

**MATTHEW 27:59-61** 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher.

**LUKE 23:55-56** And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

**MATTHEW 27:62-66** 62... the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that the deceiver said while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Therefore command that the sepulcher be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night, and steal Him away and say to the people, He is risen from the dead: So the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said to them, You have a guard of soldiers: Go your way; make it as secure as you can. 66 So they went and made the sepulcher secure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

**ACTS 13:35-37** 35... You shall not suffer your Holy One to see corruption. ( _Psalm 16:10_ ) 36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell to sleep, and was laid to his fathers, and saw corruption ( _bodily decay_ ): 37 But He, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

THE RESURRECTION

His death, resurrection, and ascension are at the heart of Christian faith. Faith in the resurrection, ascension, and His coming again are essential to salvation (Romans 10:5-10; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20). The following four gospel accounts vary in some details, a point to be addressed later.

**MATTHEW 28:1-7, 16-20** 1 At the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week ( _Sunday_ ), came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow, 4 and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said to the women, Fear not, for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come; see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there shall you see Him: I have told you.

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: But some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All power is given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go; therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Spirit: 20 Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: And, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.

**MARK 16:1-8** 1 And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who will roll away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away, and it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were afraid. 6 And he said to them, Be not afraid: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him. 7 But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goes before you into Galilee: There shall you see Him, as He said to you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed: Neither said they anything to any man; for they were afraid.

**LUKE 24:1-12** 1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed, behold two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why seek you the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: Remember how He spoke to you when He was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying; The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. ( _Mark 8:31_ ) 8 And they remembered His words.

9 And they returned from the sepulcher, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them ( _the disciples_ ) as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and he ran to the sepulcher; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes lay by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

**JOHN 20:1-14, 19, 21-22** 1 The first day of the week came Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, to the sepulcher, and seeing the stone taken away from the sepulcher. 2 Then she ran, and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken the Lord out of the sepulcher and we know not where they have laid Him. 3 Peter went forth, and the other disciple, and came to the sepulcher. 4 They ran both together and the other disciple did outrun Peter and came first to the sepulcher. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet he did not go in. 6 Then came Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and saw the linen clothes lying there, 7 And the napkin that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple, who came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture that He must be raised again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away to their own homes. 11 But Mary stood without the sepulcher weeping: And as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. ( _Angels are spiritual, but can assume mortal form._ )13 And they said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him. 14 And when she had said this, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace be to you.

21 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be to you: As my Father has sent me, even so I send you. 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Spirit:

God gave the Spirit of life to Adam in a single breath (Genesis 2:7). Adam lost the Spirit and became subject to death when he acted against the will of God. Future generations were born without the Spirit, and destined to die. Jesus came into the world to return the Spirit and offer everlasting life to all who turn to Him.

Followers of Christianity, initially a branch of first century Judaism, did not claim Christ was the messiah based on His resurrection, as it was not an anticipated quality. Some nonbelievers still insist early Christian leaders concocted the resurrection story to help "prove" that Christ is the One. What would have been the point, as no one expected the messiah to rise from the dead?

Two mortals in Hebrew Scripture ascended _before_ death (Elijah and Enoch "whom God took"). Neither descended again to walk in the world. Only Christ can be referred to as having ascended and descended to be among the people again. As an aside, Enoch, seventh in line from Adam (Genesis 5:21-25), confirmed the convergent nature of the Old and New Testaments when he spoke of God's unchanging plan: The Lord will come "with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment upon all who walk in the way of Cain" (Jude 14-15). This was an extraordinary prophecy, given there were not "ten thousands souls" or any "saints of the Lord" in Enoch's time.

Some Jewish sects believe in an existence of some type following death and, after that, perhaps "resurrection" in the End Time. There is no concept in their theology for a resurrected body walking in the world. Imagine how difficult it must have been for Jews in Ephesus, Athens, or Rome to understand what Paul was talking about when he announced that the Messiah had risen.

Paul faced skepticism from Jews in Athens, "And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked and others said, We will hear you again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Nonetheless, certain men stayed with him, and believed..." (Acts 17:32-34).

While the idea was initially beyond their comprehension, willingness by some to hear more and accept the fact of His resurrection speaks to the intervention of the Spirit. Jesus told them He had to leave so the Spirit could come, "Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you... He will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 16:7; 14:26).

Gospel accounts of Christ's resurrection and ascension recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John differ slightly in their details. The essential elements are the same. They are inconsistent on the matter of how many women went to the tomb: one (John 20:1-8), two (Matthew 28:1), three (Mark 16:1), or more (Luke 24:10).

Three gospels announce that the tomb was open (John 20:1; Luke 24:2; Mark 16:1-4), while Matthew 28:1-6 reports the women witnessed the tomb being opened by an angel. John reports it was dark, while the other three tell us it was after dawn. They all confirm He rose on the third day (17 Nisan).

The gospels do not agree on whether the women (or woman) saw a man (Mark 16:5), the angel of the Lord (Matthew 28:2), two men (Luke 24:4-5), or two angels (John 20:12). Matthew 28:2-6 reveals that the angel appeared outside the tomb, but Mark, Luke and John say he first appeared inside the tomb (Mark 16:5-6; Luke 24:3-5; John 20:11-12).

The gospels of Matthew, Mark and John record Christ appeared to Mary Magdalene (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:9-11; John 20:1-17). Mark implies she was alone when Christ saw her. John also has her companionless (John 20:10-13), while Matthew details that Christ appeared to Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" who were together (Matthew 28:9).

In two accounts, Christ orders the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they receive power from on high (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4). In both Matthew and Mark, Christ directs them to go to Galilee (Matthew 28:10; Mark 16:7). Matthew 28:16 specifies they were to go to a mountain in Galilee.

John records an appearance of Christ on the shore of "Lake Tiberius" (John 21:1-8) where several disciples returned to their normal work after the resurrection.

Paul lists an appearance by Christ to "the twelve" (I Corinthians 15:5). Luke (24:33-43) and Mark (16:14) describe His appearance to "the eleven" (without Judas) following the resurrection. In John's account of that evening a different disciple, Thomas, was absent (John 20:19-25) Matthew's account does not mention the appearance (Matthew 28:9-12; 16-17).

There is another basic difference between Matthew and other accounts. He reports that some of the disciples doubted when they saw Christ (Matthew 28:17). Luke's gospel and Acts stress the conviction of the disciples about the resurrection (Luke 24:33-45; Acts 1:3-4, 14). John's story of a doubting Thomas shows he at least had to be convinced by seeing (John 20:26-29). There are additional minor differences in the accounts.

Are these variations important, even critical to our faith? No. They should cause no doubt about the immutable fact that Christ rose from the dead. They simply confirm that human recollection of an astonishing occurrence is likely to be clouded by its overwhelming impact. After all, each gospel report (except John's, the one "whom Jesus loved") came from those who were likely not there.

The inconsistencies point to the independence of each. It is evidence the gospel writers did not collude or conspire to bring others to the faith. Rather, through their different accounts, they lend credibility to that extraordinary event.

There was no conspiracy. The Jews pleaded with Pilate to seal the tomb and place a watch until the third day "lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead" (Matthew 27:63-65). This Pilate did, inadvertently confirming His rising, for He was gone from a tomb that was sealed and guarded.

From the point of His first appearance after His resurrection onward, the faith of the disciples was so strong they were willing to be martyred for the Lord. Without their unwavering faith in who He was and the future growth of the Church might well have been in doubt.

The Jews feared Jesus even after His death. They tried to cover the murmurings of His resurrection from the tomb with a lie and bribery.

**MATTHEW 28:11-15** 11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told to the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money to the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say you, His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we all slept. 14 And if this word comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade Him and secure you. 15 So the soldiers took the money, and did as they were taught, and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

" **HE DESCENDED INTO HELL"**

Jesus' descent to the dead is termed the Harrowing of Hell. Several verses from the Old and New Testament imply this was a prophesied event (Job 38:17; Psalm 68:17-18; Isaiah 24:21-22; Zechariah 9:11; Matthew 12:40; Luke 2:10; Romans 10:7; 1 Peter 3:9-20, 4:6; Acts 2:27, 31; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 4:8-10).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "By the expression 'He descended into Hell', the Apostles' Creed confesses that Jesus really died and through His death for us conquered death and the devil who has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14). The dead Christ went into the realm of the dead. He opened Heaven's gates for the just who had gone before Him" (CC 636-7). Martin Luther ascribed to this position.

The lack of explicit references in Scripture to Christ's descent to the underworld has given rise to controversy and differing interpretations. In time, the Apostles' Creed affirmed for the faithful that Christ descended into Hell.

Some revisionists have removed the clause "He descended into Hell" from their personal liturgy. They fail to recognize the significance of this statement of faith—Christ descended to carry the announcement of His victory to the souls of the dead and to demonstrate His dominion over Hell.

In Revelation Chapter 1, Christ acknowledges that He holds the key to Hell and death (Revelation 1:17-19). We are reminded in Psalm 139 that He transcends all boundaries, including between heaven and Hell (Psalm 139:8).

Jesus did not descend to the torment of Hell, but to offer a path of redemption to the dead. He is the only path to the Father. No man comes to the Father "but by" Him (John 14:6).

He told His disciples that even the dead shall hear His voice (John 5:27-29). As God is just in all things, those who died before the first Easter must have an opportunity to be saved by the Word. This can only be if they receive the Word following death, have an occasion to choose Him, and thereby gain passage to eternal peace "by Him."

**PSALM 139:8** If I climb up into heaven, you are there; if I go down to hell, you are there also.

**MATTHEW 12:40** For as Jonas ( _Jonah_ ) was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

**EPHESIANS 4:9-10** 9 Now to say that He ascended, what is it but that He must also have descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.

**REVELATION 1:17-18** 17 And when I ( _John_ ) saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying to me; Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am He that lived, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

" **FIRST FRUITS"**

Three Jewish feasts are associated with the giving of first fruits: Passover, also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread; the Feast of Weeks; and the Feast of Tabernacles (Luke 2:1). Passover is the first of the three in the Jewish calendar year when the people offer the "first fruits" of their labors and Passover lambs are sacrificed. It is one of three times each year when every able Jewish male was expected to travel to the temple in Jerusalem.

"First fruits" refers to the first portion of the annual harvest belonging to God and dedicated to Him (Deuteronomy 26:1-11). In addition to the fruit of the harvest, the first born, whether human or beast, is considered God's (Exodus 22:29, 34:19). Israel is described as the "first fruits of God's harvest" in the world (Jeremiah 2:3).

By returning the first of the harvest to God the people acknowledged all good things come from Him and everything belongs to Him. In return, they anticipated He would provide a fruitful harvest.

**PROVERBS 38:9-10** 9 Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your increase: 10 So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.

The women discovered the empty tomb on the first day after the weekly Sabbath following Passover (the Feast of First Fruits—Leviticus 23:11,15). Christ's resurrection is the ultimate "first fruits" returned to God the Father.

Christ, through His resurrection, became "the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow or turning. Of His own will He begat us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures" (James 1:17-18).

THE RISEN CHRIST APPEARS TO MANY

**PHILIPPIANS 2:10** Christ came from heaven to dwell on earth, to live among us, die for our sins, descend to an unseen world beneath, returned to be witnessed by many, and finally ascend to the Father to await the day of His return in power.

**ACTS 1:2-3** 2... He, through the Spirit, had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen: 3 To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen by them for forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God...

**ACTS 10:40-41** 40 ( _He_ ) showed Himself openly; 41 Not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

**1 CORINTHIANS 15:4-8** ... 4 He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: 5 And that He was seen of Cephas, then by the twelve: 6 After that He was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain to this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all He was seen by me ( _Paul_ ) also, as of one born out of due time.

As proof of His resurrection and to ease the pain of His apostles, some of whom had begun to doubt, Christ showed Himself alive. He appeared to Mary Magdalene; to Peter; to two disciples on the road to Emmaus; to ten disciples in a closed room; to the eleven in the mountains; to Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, at Galilee; to 500 brethren at once; to James and to all the apostles, and to Paul on the road to Damascus.

His appearances fortified the belief of those who saw the resurrected Christ. Their testimony after witnessing the risen Lord was bold and an essential element in the rapid growth of Christianity. Their willingness to die horrible deaths confirmed the depth of their faith, and stands as verification they had indeed seen the risen Christ.

**MARK 16:9, 11-14** 9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils. 11 And they, when they had heard that He was alive, and had been seen by her, believed not. 12 After that He appeared in another form to two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the residue: None believed them. 14 Afterward He appeared to the eleven as they sat and upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them that had seen Him after He was risen.

**LUKE 24:13-16, 21, 25-31, 33-43** 13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained that they should not know Him.

21 But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel:

25 Then He said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? 27 Nearing the village where they went, He made as though He would have gone further. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as He sat to eat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight.

33 And they rose up at the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done on the way, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. 36 And as they spoke, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, Peace be to you. 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, Why are you troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, it is I myself: Handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have. 40 And when He had spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 And while they yet believed not, and wondered, He said to them, Have you any meat? 42 And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and of a honeycomb. 43 And He took it, and ate before them. ( _See also Luke 24:17-21_ )

**JOHN 20:19-20, 24-29** 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said to them; Peace be to you. 20 And when He had so said, He showed them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples said to Him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them; Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be to you. 27 Then said He to Thomas, reach your finger here, and behold my hands; and reach your hand here, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believe.

**JOHN 21:1-14** 1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and in this way showed Himself. 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples ( _likely including John_ ). 3 Simon Peter said to them, I will go fishing. They said to him, We will go with you. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, Children, have you any meat? They answered Him, No. 6 And He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship and you shall find many. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it in for the multitude of fish. 7 The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord! Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his fisher's coat (for he was naked) and cast himself into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land) dragging the net with fish. 9 As soon as they came to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, Bring of the fish that you have caught. 11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fish, a hundred and fifty-three: and for all there were so many, yet the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples dared ask Him, Who are you? Knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came, and took bread, and give it to them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

There was something different about His appearance. Mary Magdalene at the tomb did not recognize Jesus until she heard His voice (John 20:14). That same evening, those in the upper room did not recognize Him. Thomas was so incredulous he asked to see the wounds before accepting Jesus was in their midst (John 20:19-27). The disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Him (Luke 24:13-21). The resurrected Jesus stood among the eleven later that day and they did not know Him (Luke 24:33-35), and the apostles fishing in the Lake of Galilee could not tell who He was initially (John 21:4-14). They soon realized it was Jesus by His actions, but they did not "dare" to ask His name (John 21:12).

Why did they not recognize their risen Lord, the one with whom they traveled and shared meals? Why, when they thought they knew, did they resist asking if He was the risen Lord?

The gospel writers make it clear He had not assumed a spiritual body. He was flesh and bone, just as they were. He was tangible, asked the eleven for something to eat, and sat and ate with them after His resurrection (Luke 24:41-43). Yet, they did not recognize Him initially.

Consider that His countenance was likely greatly changed by the ordeal of the scourging and crucifixion. We know He suffered abuse from the Romans before being nailed to the cross, although none of the gospel writers witnessed or recorded the details of the wretched trauma.

Isaiah 53 gives a generalized description of what His appearance must have been as He approached Calvary. He was afflicted, bruised, scourged, and put to grief. The ordeal caused horrific lacerations, lesions, abrasions, and contusions. The crown of thorns pressed down firmly onto His forehead punctured and disfigured His brow. "His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men" (Isaiah 52:14).

Isaiah provided an additional detail most readers overlook.

**ISAIAH 50:6** I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair:

Scripture does not tell us if the Romans ripped off portions of His beard and facial flesh before the crucifixion. If they did (and Isaiah 50:6 seems to prophesy just that) the tears must have been horrific and His face dreadfully scarred. This would explain why the disciples did not recognize Him, and were actually "frightened" at His appearance (Luke 24:37). If correct, it is an example of why familiarity with the writings of the prophets helps unveil the essence of the gospels.

The Jews were tired of the yoke of foreign oppression and occupation, and looked for a warrior king to lead them again. His disciples walking on the road to Emmaus voiced disappointment that Jesus had not fulfilled their expectations. Even His apostles failed to fully understand the purpose of His coming, which many believed would bring the redemption of Israel.

**ACTS 1:6** When they therefore came together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, will you at that time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

"Will you at that time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" Oyvet! Talk about missing the message!

Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian and Roman scholar (37 - 100 AD), recorded Jesus' death and resurrection as fact in his work _The Antiquities of The Jews_. He verifies the existence of Jesus, a historical figure called "Christ," who was crucified by Pontius Pilate, rose again on the third day, and who many claimed to have seen. Josephus declares, "He was the Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned Him to the cross, those that loved Him at the first, did not forsake Him, for He again appeared to them alive the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning Him..."

This passage is obviously very controversial. Skeptics among the Jews claim Christians inserted it into Josephus' writings. However, there is strong evidence from several other ancient manuscripts that this passage appears in the original text.

THE ASCENSION

**ACTS 1:4-6, 9-11** 4 And, being assembled together with them, He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, you have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Spirit not many days hence.

9 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, so shall He come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven.

PENTECOST—THE COMING OF THE SPIRIT

**ACTS 1:5** ... you shall be baptized with the Spirit not many days hence.

The Jewish Feast of Pentecost falls fifty days after Passover. It commemorates the receipt of the Ten Commandments fifty days after the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 19; Leviticus 23:15-22).

To the Jew, the Passover experience in Egypt freed the people from physical bondage. The Ten Commandments and Torah spiritually redeemed them from the bondage of immorality.

On the first Day of Pentecost, ten days after Christ's ascension (Acts 1:9), the Spirit descended on the assembled multitude. "About three thousand" received the Word and were baptized that day.

**ACTS 2:1-6, 12-18, 33, 37-42, 46-47** 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared cloven tongues like fire, and sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this sound was all around, the multitude came together and was confounded, because every man heard them speak in his own language.

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What does this mean? 13 Others mockingly said, These men are full of new wine. 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them, You men of Judaea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and harken to my words: 15 For they are not drunken, as you suppose, because it is but the third hour of the day ( _mid-morning_ ). 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel ( _Joel 2:28-32_ ): 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, said God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon _all_ flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out my Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy:

33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received from the Father the promise of the Spirit, He has sent forth this, which you now see and hear.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this corrupt generation. 41 Then they that gladly received His Word were baptized, and the same day they added to them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, ate their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.

Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Church in the sense that many received the Spirit that day and were sent out into the world with His message. It fulfilled the promise Jesus made to His disciples concerning the coming of the Spirit to guide them in all truth (John 16:7, 14:26).

Paul's letters tell of "the mystery" made known to him by the Spirit. He writes the knowledge came "... according to the revelation of the mystery, kept a secret since the world began, but now is made manifest" (Romans 16:25-26).

**EPHESIANS 3:5-6** 5 What in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel...

The refusal of the Jewish people to accept the invitation to receive and share the Word resulted in God's reaching out to the Gentiles, and the provisional blinding of Jews to the Word.

Solomon counseled the people centuries earlier in a manner foreshadowing Israel's coming failure to comprehend who Jesus was and the punishment that would result.

**PROVERBS 1:7, 23-28** 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

23 Turn at my reproof and I ( _the Lord_ ) will pour out my Spirit on you, I will make known my words to you. 24 ( _But_ ) Because I have called, and you refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 You have ignored my counsel, and would have none of my reproof: 26 I will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes; 27 when your fear comes as desolation and your destruction comes as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then shall you call upon me, but I will not answer; you shall seek me earnestly, but you shall not find me:

Christ spoke of the advent of His Church when He addressed Peter concerning the new community, "That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." Notice Jesus spoke in future tense, "I will build my Church," confirming it was to be something entirely new, not simply an extension of Judaism. Also note He spoke to Peter, not of Peter as the rock. More information is offered elsewhere on the meaning Jesus intended when speaking of the "rock" on which He would build His Church.

The noun "Church" comes from the Greek _kyriakon_ , "a thing belonging to the Lord, a called-out assembly." Membership is a calling (Acts 2:39; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

Most members of the nascent Church were Jews who worshiped in the temple (Acts 2:46, 5:42), attended meetings in the synagogue (Acts 9:20, 13:14, 14:1, 17:1-2, 10, 18:4), and revered the Law (Acts 21:20). Disputes arose among the leaders over the requirements placed on non-Jews wanting to be part of the group and the form the worship services should follow.

Many issues were resolved at the Council at Jerusalem ca. 50 AD (Acts 15). Peter and Simeon argued before the assembly of apostles and elders that it was God's purpose to also "take out" from the Gentiles a people for His name (Acts 15:13-18). This is something the Hebrew prophets surely did not anticipate. The Messiah was clearly referenced in the Old Testament as coming for Jews alone.

The council decided that Gentile converts to Christianity were not obligated to adhere to the Mosaic Law, including the requirement for circumcision. The Council did, however, retain the prohibitions on meat containing blood, fornication, and idolatry.

In Matthew Chapter 18 Jesus speaks to His apostles about the forming and care of the Church, its founding, and organization. He explained that it is not necessary for all the apostles to agree on any particular point. When two or more are of the same mind concerning some aspect of the Church or its welfare (recall the Mosaic requirement for two agreeing witnesses—Deuteronomy 17:6), they can turn to God and it will be done (Acts 1:14-26; 15:1-29).

Early believers were not known as Christians. They were "the people of the Way" (Acts 9:2, 19:9, 22:4, 24:14), as they sought to walk in the way Jesus had shown them, the way of obedience. Luke tells us that the members of the new sect were first called "Christians" in the city of Antioch, a Roman city in what is today southern Turkey (Acts 11:26).

**ISAIAH 35:8** And a highway ( _High Way_ ) shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The Holy Way; the unclean shall not pass over; but it ( _shall be_ ) for those: The wayfaring men, and fools shall not enter.

Christ is the Way, the highway spoken of by Isaiah. He is our way, for we receive salvation through Him.

Understanding that Christ is the path to salvation gives new meaning to the statement Jesus made to the crowd on the mountain, "Narrow is the way, which leads to life ( _eternal_ ), and few there are that find it" (Matthew 7:14) and to the question Thomas asked, "Lord, we do not know where you go; and how can we know the way?" Jesus responded, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man comes unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:5-6).

What about those who never had a chance to know Him or His way, including God's servants the prophets and the saints recorded in Hebrew Scripture? They, too, will be offered a way (Matthew 8:11; Revelation 11:18). In addition to those who accept Him in life, there will be others who will come to know and accept Him after death in the End Time, before the gate to salvation is closed. This issue will be addressed in more detail later, but keep the following in mind.

**LUKE 2:10** And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to _all_ people.

The Church today consists of all that were, are, or will be gathered as His. It is the communion of the living and the dead united in the mystical Body of Christ.

REDEMPTION, ATONEMENT, JUSTIFICA-TION, SALVATION

It is easy to get confused by theological terminology. A few definitions are important to grasp as you read Scripture.

**Redemption** means, broadly, deliverance from sin. It springs from the English word meaning to "repurchase" or "buy back," and in the Old Testament it is applied to the ransoming of slaves (Exodus 21:8). In The New Testament it refers both to deliverance from sin and freedom from the captivity of evil. In a metaphorical sense, Jesus through His death on the cross paid the ransom to redeem the faithful from the bondage of sin.

**Atonement** , on the other hand, means reconciliation or a return to harmony with God and is necessary for a proper relationship with God (Exodus 25:17-22). To the Jew, it is a temporary state that can be lost again through actions contrary to the will of God.

Jews sought atonement by trying to live under the Law and sacrifices at the temple. The mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies served as both a place of atonement and the throne of God.

For Christians, the suffering and death of Jesus "paid the full price" for individual sins—permanent redemption, not conditional atonement. In Romans 3:25, Paul declares that Jesus is our "mercy seat."

**Justification** is an act of God's grace, whereby an unrighteous individual is declared righteous and separated from the penalty of sin.

**Salvation** can be seen in three distinct tenses. **Past** , in the sense that Christ through His sacrifice has completed the work needed to save all who call upon Him. We can do nothing to add to what He has accomplished in separating the faithful from the penalty of committed sins (Romans 4:25, 5:16-18; Ephesians 2:8-9). **Present** , for it separates the faithful from the power of sin in an ongoing process termed sanctification (Romans 6 and Romans 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-24). **Future** , as it removes the faithful from the very presence of sin (1 John 3:2; Romans 8:2-3).

**Propitiation:** Jesus came and died in our place. He is the propitiation (atonement) for sins, freeing the faithful from sin's penalty, power, and presence.

**ROMANS 5:10-11** 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

PAUL THE APOSTLE – "FATHER OF CHRISTIANITY"?

Paul's discipleship contributed greatly to the early growth of the Church. His homilies and letters influenced the development of its doctrines and traditions. He was among the first to speak of the Trinity (Romans 8:1-11; Galatians 4:4-7) only implied by Jesus during His ministry (Matthew 28:19). Some have called him the "father of Christianity." That title rightly belongs to the Counselor who illuminated Paul.

Born of privilege in the Roman city of Tarsus in what is today south-central Turkey, Paul (the name given Saul of Tarsus by Jesus) was a Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin and a citizen of the Roman Empire. Hebrew and Greek scholars tutored him. This prepared Paul to speak in terms both Jews and Greeks understood. His Roman citizenship afforded many advantages not shared by his fellow apostles, one being free movement around the northeastern Mediterranean area where he preached the Word to mainly Gentile audiences (Romans 1:5).

Paul was a self-proclaimed "servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God, the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding His Son, who in His earthly life was a descendant of David" (Romans 1:1-5).

His supernatural conversion on the road to Damascus led to Paul proclaiming himself an apostle of Jesus and missionary of the faith. He proclaimed in his writings that he saw Christ in the flesh following the Ascension, after other apostles ceased to see Him (1 Corinthians 15). The experience transformed Paul's zeal to persecute the followers of Christ into a passion to lead others to Him.

Paul was steadfast in his conviction that God had not abandoned the Jews in favor of a new people (Romans 11:1-2). He saw Jesus as a representative of Israel—the divine Son-king of YHWH. Paul emphasized that the followers of Christ must strive to abide by the Torah in their worldly life.

He believed that the promise made to Abraham came true in Jesus. Abraham offered God the obedience and faithfulness that the Jewish people had not. God's choice of Abraham and his people was the leading edge of the doctrine of election. All who believe the gospel and call on Jesus Christ are marked as members of the spiritual family of Abraham.

In Paul's view, the Resurrection was the most important eschatological event. In it, he saw the unveiling of God's plan for the cosmos, the defeat of evil, and the salvation of mankind (1 Corinthians 5:25-26). He believed the anticipated Jewish "Age to Come" had arrived, meaning Israel was redeemed in the person of her anointed representative and Gentiles were now summoned to join Israel in its day of deliverance from a bondage to false gods, sin, and death.

His epistles offered an unsettled world a reassuring message that the one true God had a plan and the cosmos was moving forward under His direction toward a new creation. Whatever happened, the future was secure. This idea is antithetical to the no-end-in-sight pagan beliefs of Greco-Roman polytheism, where sensual, material, mythological, self-indulgent content prevailed.

Paul's dramatic transformation from an adversary of early Christians to a protagonist of the faith changed the course of history. He altered religious beliefs and philosophy around the Mediterranean Basin through his missionary activity. He spoke ardently of the day (coming soon in his mind) when creation would have its own great "exodus," liberating it from its servitude to sin and inexorable decay.

His evangelistic devotion led to the formation of many Gentile groups that openly worshiped the God of Israel as the one and only God (setting aside idols and eschewing emperor-worship). Most adhered to the Judaic ethical code without the ritual and dietary obligations of the Mosaic Law, or its penalties for an inability to comply.

**GALATIANS 4:3-6** ... 3 When we were children, we were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, under the Law, 5 To redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

The use of the phrase "under the elements of the world" causes some to reason Paul was speaking of foreign oppression. It is more likely he was referring to the doctrines of man and impositions of temple priests. Christ did not die to deliver the people from foreign control as they imagined the messiah would. He died to set them free from the force and penalty of sin.

Paul summarized the news of the gospels in a pastoral letter to the faithful in Corinth. Paraphrasing now, Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins; was buried; rose again; ascended to the Father; and will come again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Continuing with Paul's synopsis, by man came death and by man also came the resurrection of the dead. As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. When the end comes, He will put down all earthly rule and authority and power. He shall subdue all things. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. Therefore, "awake to righteousness, sin not, repent, and turn to Him" (1 Corinthians 15:20-34).

Most Christians know of Paul principally for his emphasis on justification by faith (Romans 3:28; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8), a belief that strongly influenced Martin Luther and other reformationists. It was a major thrust of Paul's evangelistic message.

One must, like Lord Nelson in folklore, put a blind eye to the spyglass to miss the point that God knew the Jews would reject Jesus, fail to fulfill the mission He gave them, and "fall into unbelief" so that He might show mercy and amplify the gospel message through the Gentiles.

**ROMANS 11:32** For God has concluded them all ( _the Jews_ ) in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.

Through the failure of the Jews, "salvation is come unto the Gentiles..." (Romans 11:11).

**ROMANS 3:21-22** 21... Now, the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe, for there is no difference, that He might be just, and the justifier of all which believeth in Jesus.

Paul may not rightfully be called the "father of Christianity," but he was a catalyst for the molding of early Christian theology.

REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY

Some mistakenly believe the Church has replaced His chosen people. This cannot be correct, as God's promises are immutable (Malachi 3:6). His pledge is unequivocal and unconditional "for my Holy name's sake" (Ezekiel 36:21-27). The angel promised Mary that Jesus would save "His people" from sin (Matthew 1:21). A remnant of the people will find salvation (Isaiah 46:11-13; Isaiah 65:8-10, 16).

God's harsh dealings with the people were never due to a changeableness on His part, but sin on their part (Isaiah 65:2-7). Jews will not be cast away (Deuteronomy 7:5-9; Isaiah 41:8; Romans 11:1). His blessing will be on Israel in the end (Isaiah 65:17-25). The capital, Jerusalem, will remain God's own (1 Kings 11:36) and He will glorify Himself in the historic land with a remnant of His people (Isaiah 44:21-24; Hosea 2:18-20).

God declares in Isaiah 65:1-12 that others (the Gentiles) will be taken into the covenant made with the Jews. The Jews were slow to accept this, so Paul reminded them that Isaiah was "very bold" in advancing so unpopular a sentiment (Romans 10:20, 9:6). Jesus initially instructed the apostles to preach to His people that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, but not to approach the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5-7).

The Jewish people are at enmity with the gospel today, but remain "beloved for the Father's sake" (Romans 11:28).

God will not abandon His "special treasure" (Deuteronomy 7:6; Amos 9:14; Acts 15:16-17). He will put a new covenant in the hearts of a remnant, "and their sins, and their iniquities will I remember no more" (Jeremiah 31:31-35; Hebrews 8:8-13).

Every soul with "a new heart and a new Spirit" _in the Lord_ will be spared (Ezekiel 18:1-26). He will again say, "You are my people," and they will say, "You are my God" (Hosea 2:23).

His people stumbled so salvation could come to the Gentiles (Romans 11), but God will take to Himself Jews who accept the "one whom they pierced" as their Savior (Psalm 22:16; Jeremiah 31:31-33; Zechariah 12:10).

**ISAIAH 41:8-9** 8 But you, Israel, are my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham my friend. 9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called you from the farthest corners and said to you, You are my servant; I have chosen you and will not cast you away. ( _See also Isaiah 44:21._ )

**ISAIAH 43:1-4, 15, 21, 25** 1 But now thus said the LORD that created you, O Jacob, and He that formed you, O Israel, Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called thee by your name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior: I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, I love you... (RSV)

15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.

21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.

25 I, even I, am He that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins.

**ISAIAH 46:11-13** 11 What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do. 12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are now far from my righteousness. 13 I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.

**ISAIAH 61:9** And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: All that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed that the Lord has blessed.

**EZEKIEL 36:24-27** ( _end-time event_ ) 24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you: And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them.

**JEREMIAH 31:33-34** 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, said the Lord, 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. 34... for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

**ZECHARIAH 12:10** I will pour out on the House of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.

**HOSEA 2:19-20** 19 And I will betroth you to me forever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. 20 I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord. ( _This covenant will be "forever" and written on their hearts. The use of the word "betroth" indicates some will enter the Church as the Bride to the Bridegroom._ )

**MATTHEW 10:5-7** 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, or into any city of the Samaritans: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Paul writes of Israel's future restoration in Romans 11. He asks, "Has God cast away His people?" He answers his own question unconditionally, "God forbid" (Romans 11:1). God has not cast away those He foreknew (Romans 11:2) and has pledged they will again be His (Hosea 1:9-10).

"A remnant according to the election of grace" was preserved throughout history (Romans 11:5), and, by grace, He will reach out and those who no longer "persist in their non-belief" will be "grafted" back, as related in an olive tree metaphor employed by Paul.

Paul refers to Israel as the good olive tree whose natural branches were broken off in unbelief (Romans 11:16-20). Gentiles found God through Christ and were grafted into the natural stem. When the body of Christ is complete, God will call His Bride (Ephesians 5:22-23; Romans 7:4; 2 Corinthians 11:2; James 4:4) and deal again with the nation of Israel. Accepting Jesus as their Savior will graft many Jews back into the good olive tree (Romans 11:24).

**ROMANS 11:1-2, 11, 16-17, 19-24, 30-32** 1 I say then, Has God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people that He foreknew.

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: But rather through their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, so to make them jealous.

16 For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy: And if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches are broken off ( _Jews_ ), and you ( _Gentiles_ ), being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

19 You will say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. 20 Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also not spare you. 22 Behold therefore, the goodness and severity of God: On them which fell, severity; but to you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness: Otherwise, you also shall be cut off. 23 And they ( _Jews_ ) also, if they no longer abide in unbelief, shall be grafted back in: For God can graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature, and were grafted into a good olive tree, how much more shall these, which are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

30 For as you in times past did not believe, yet you have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these who now do not believe that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has consigned them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy on all.

Christians have a solemn responsibility to reject replacement theology, and to support the State of Israel and its people, but not necessarily the policies of its government. God said He would bless those that bless them and curse those that curse them (Genesis 12:3). When Jesus spoke of the proper treatment of His "brethren" He spoke of the Jews.

**MATTHEW 25:40** Verily I ( _Jesus_ ) say to you, In as much as you have done it ( _shown compassion and kindness_ ) to one of the least of these my brethren ( _the Jews_ ), you have done it to me.

Chapter 5 to come next will address other events following His death, and briefly trace the history of the Jews and the Church through the end of the twentieth century.

The world is presently in a historic interval that began with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The period, often referred to as the Church Age, will end without warning at a time known only to God.

Pause once more and ask: What messages has God sent through Scripture in this chapter?

I see confirmation that:

Jesus descended to the dead, rose on the third day, walked among His people, and ascended into heaven.

He sits at the right hand of the Father, and will come again in glory to judge and rule the living and the dead.

Humans are sinful and cannot be saved except through faith in Him.

No one comes to the Father except by the Son.

The Church has not replaced the Jews as the people of God.

A remnant of His people will accept Christ as the Savior at the end of days.

# Chapter 5: The Present Interval

**DANIEL 9:24** Seventy weeks are determined upon your people and upon your 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.

The first sixty-nine weeks ended when Christ rode into Jerusalem in triumph, allowed the crowd to hail Him as "king", and was "cut off," "not for Himself," but for the sins of the world. The Lord's earthly death ushered in an interval period of unknown length where the world is today. The seventieth and final week of the prophecy will come after the current interval.

**DANIEL 9:27** He ( _Satan_ ) will confirm a covenant with many ( _Israel_ ) for seven ( _seven years_ ). In the middle of the seven ( _three and one-half years_ ) he will put an end to sacrifice and offering ( _in the temple_ ). And on a wing he will set up an abomination ( _himself as a god_ ) that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him ( _the wrath of God_ ). (NIV)

The final week of seven years will be marked by great trials for the living, spoken of by Jesus as a time of tribulation (Matthew 24:21). The Antichrist will inflict hardship and suffering on the nations, focusing on Jews and Christians.

The seventieth week will end with the Wrath of God (the Day of the Lord), Christ's return, the Millennium, Israel's restoration, the judgments, and, finally, a new heaven and a new earth.

Satan will continue to function as the prince of the world during the interval.

SATAN — "PRINCE OF THE WORLD"

**1 JOHN 5:19** We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the Evil One.

The Bible is clear. Satan (i.e. The Evil One, Devil, Lucifer, Day Star, Son of Dawn, bright morning star, shining one, deceiver, father of lies, fallen angel, tempter, destroyer, dragon, accuser, adversary, prince of the power of the air, prince of darkness, etc.) is not a mythological figure. He is real, created by God (Ezekiel 28:13-15; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16) and subject to Him.

God allows Satan to function as the "prince of the world" (John 12:30-33, 16:8-11). He was even permitted to tempt Jesus after His days in the wilderness and the Son of God did not challenge Satan's claim that he held "the power of the world" (Luke 4:1-8; Matthew 4:1-11).

**LUKE 4:5-6** 5 And the devil, taking Him up into a high mountain, showed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Jesus, All this power will I give you, and the glory of them: For that is delivered to me ( _by God_ ); and to whomsoever will I give it.

Don't be deluded into thinking Satan is not real or lacks great power. He has existed since before the beginning of the world. His goal was and remains to thwart God's plan for the salvation of mankind so the souls of sinners will remain his.

He set about trying to prevent the birth of the "offspring" of God, "the seed of the woman," Jesus Christ, by cutting the royal line from Jacob to David, and from David to Mary (Jeremiah 22:24-30). Failing that, Satan shifted his focus to preventing individual souls from turning to Christ for salvation.

He is deceptive in his work and can even transform himself to look like an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). A good con artist never looks like a "con." Nowhere in Scripture is he identified as having a red cape, cap with ears, pitchfork, a pointed tail, or the scent of sulfur.

Satan already holds sway over the souls of all who doubt he exists. One of his most cunning ruses is to make humans think he is not lurking, ready to strike at a moment of weakness. If he can delude individuals into thinking he does not exist—that he is simply a contrivance of church leadership to keep the flock "in line"—then he can easily become a dominant force in their hearts.

Any rejection or recasting of Scripture is Satanic in origin. In his book, _The Invisible War_ , Donald Grey Barnhouse writes of a behind-the-scenes conflict, where Satan is working to win souls for his "kingdom". One strategy is to discredit Scripture. Satan is responsible for closing minds to the truth of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Recall his question to Eve: "Has God _really_ said...?" (Genesis 3:1). Satan knows if he can get humans to disavow the Word he can get them to deny the deity of Jesus Christ, damning their souls for eternity.

Jesus taught us to ask Our Father in heaven to "deliver us from evil." Reputable scholars are divided over whether the petition refers to the temptation of malevolent behavior or the might of "the Evil One." Young's Literal Translation reads, "May you not bring us into temptation; but do deliver us from _the_ evil" (i.e. the Evil One). Asking the Father to "deliver us from evil" or "the Evil One" confirms God has the authority and power to do so.

Everyone is a subject of Satan's temptations. Satan's power is so great that even the archangel Michael is careful not to deal with him directly, but defers to God, knowing His might is greater (Jude 9). Christians must acknowledge Satan's worldly might, hold firmly to their faith, and be thankful that "greater is He than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

Satan was a star among the sons of God in heaven before he and his army of rebellious angels was cast out (Ezekiel 28:13-18; Revelation 12:4-9). He was an "anointed cherub" serving in the presence of God (Isaiah 14:12-13; Ezekiel 28:14; Job 1:6-12) able to move freely to and fro on earth.

**JOB 1:6-12** 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God ( _angels_ ) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came among them. 7 And the Lord said to Satan, Whence came you? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and avoids evil? 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have you not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance has increased in the land. 11 But put forth your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. 12 And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon him do not put forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. ( _Note God's ability to limit Satan's power_ )

Satan's pride became too great. He came to think of himself as a god and fell from grace (Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:17).

**ISAIAH 14:13-14** 13 For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

**EZEKIEL 28:13-15, 17** 13 You have been in Eden the garden of God... 14 You are the anointed cherub that covers ( _the earth_ ); and I have set you so; you were upon the holy mountain of God; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity was found in you. 17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty, you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness: I will cast you to the ground, I will lay you before kings, that they may behold you.

Satan disguises himself perfectly as he moves from heart to heart without form. It is not always possible to spot him, but we can sense when he is near. By studying Scripture and understanding the will of God we know when temptation is pulling us toward sin.

Satan was in the Garden of Eden waiting to tempt Eve. He was the Shining One (Hebrew: _Nachash_ ). He enticed her to exercise her will and disobey God. How could evil exist in a yet incorrupt world? The unavoidable answer is that it came from God (Genesis 3:1) who created all things, including the potential for evil (John 1:3). Satan was made "good" and fell from grace at some point between Genesis 1:31 (when all was "good") and 3:1 when he waited for Eve in the Garden.

As awkward as it is to recognize God is the source of wickedness, He confided in Isaiah, "I am the Lord, and there is none else... I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord did all these things" (Isaiah 45:7; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Amos 3:6).

God did not create sin (the consequence of evil), because He is incapable of acting against His own will. He created evil and the Evil One, and gave mankind freedom to sin. And what is sin? It is any thought or act contrary to God's will.

Sin originated in Satan who was created "perfect." It is in Satan's heart that "iniquity is found" (Ezekiel 28:15).

God created conditions which allow humans to sin. In His mercy He also gave them the Law so they would know His will and struggle against the temptation to sin. Jesus entered Satan's realm on earth, what C. S. Lewis termed "enemy-occupied territory," in order to reclaim creation for the faithful.

Satan continues to move freely throughout the world. He is part of God's divine plan for mankind, for "all things were created by Him, and _for_ Him" (Colossians 1:16).

Why did God create Satan and give him power to draw souls to himself? Why when he is in chains for a thousand years near the end of the world will God loose Satan a final time to "deceive the nations?" (Revelation 20:7-8).

To ask, questions the ways of God. The Almighty chastened Job for his questioning, "Who is this that darkens to counsel with words without knowledge? Shall the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?" (Job 38:1-2, 40:1-2) "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). We are not to question God's ways, "for the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God" (1 Corinthians 3:19).

Certainly Satan's "success" substantiates our sinful nature. It is clear evidence humans are prone to sin when unaided by the Spirit. Satan's release from bondage in the final days will reaffirm the inherent faithlessness of human nature without the Spirit (Revelation 20:7-8).

The sin that flows from Satan's temptation creates a condition where God can confirm His love and mercy by offering a path to salvation humans are incapable of achieving on their own. The operative word is "offers." The individual retains the ability to seek the path, or not.

God sent His Spirit into the world to provide mankind with the power to resist Satan's entreaties. The Spirit is the protective "armor of God" (Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15; Ephesians 6:11-12).

**EPHESIANS 6:11** Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

**JAMES 4:7** Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

**1 PETER 5:8-9** 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour: 9 Resist him steadfastly in the faith:

God will destroy Satan in the End Time (Revelation 20:10). For Christians, he and his emissaries are already defeated!

For those interested, Appendix IV contains information on what Scripture tells us about astrology, the occult, demons, and false prophets.

JEWS ARE BLINDED TO THE WORD

**AMOS 8:11** Behold, the days come, said the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:

The idea that Jews are blinded to the Word for failing to recognize their messiah was outlined briefly earlier. It occurred at the beginning of the present interval (ca. 33 AD) and will remain until the end-time tribulation. This is not to mean that no Jew will turn to Christ before the last days. Consider today's messianic Jews.

**LUKE 19:41** And when Jesus came near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If you had known, even today, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

**2 CORINTHIANS 4:3-4** 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world has 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.

It is inconceivable to some that God would intentionally blind anyone to His Word—that He would hide the truth of the gospels "lest they understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed" (Isaiah 6:9-10; John 12:40). That is exactly what God chose to do. The failure of the Jews to recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah led to the "hardening" and "blinding" of the people who had shown themselves "unworthy."

**ISAIAH 6:9-10** ( _double reference_ ) 9 And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear, but you will not understand; and see, but you will not perceive. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

As foreshadowed in Isaiah, God hindered His people from understanding, repenting, and healing. Verse 9 can be paraphrased as, "You continually hear, but don't understand; you continually see, but don't perceive—you are simply inclined that way. So, if you want to be stubborn, suffer the consequences." It is a message that resonates for all unbelievers today.

The problem is not with God, but with people's hearts. They honored Jesus with their words but not their hearts, continuing to seek proof in signs and acts (John 4:48, 12:37). They forfeited understanding and were blinded to the verity of the gospels (Isaiah 29:10; Amos 8:11; 2 Corinthians 3:14-16).

**ISAIAH 29:10-14** 10 For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes: with the prophets and your rulers, the seers has He covered. 11... as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he says, I cannot; for it is sealed: 12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he says, I am not learned. 13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: but the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.

**ISAIAH 44:18** They have not known nor understood: for He has shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

The unprepared were blinded to the Word of God, the truth essential for salvation the disciples would carry to the Gentiles. The parable of the sower and the seeds is a good example of Jesus' teaching concerning the propagation of the Word.

Consider the meaning as recorded by Matthew and Luke. The sower represents Christ/God, the seed as the Word, the "wicked one" or the "fowl of the air" as Satan, and the prepared and unprepared soil as conditions of the heart.

**MATTHEW 13:10-14, 18-23, 34-35** 10 And the disciples came, and said to Him, Why speak you to them in parables? 11 He answered and said, Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever has, ( _the truth of the Word_ ) to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not ( _the truth of the Word_ ), from him shall be taken away even that he has. 13 Therefore, I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing hear not, neither do they understand 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which said, By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive:

18 Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the Word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he that received seed by the wayside. 20 But he that received the seed in stony places, the same is he that hears the Word, and full of joy receives it; 21 Yet has he not root in himself, but does for a while: when tribulation or persecution arise because of the Word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the Word ; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches; he chokes the Word and becomes unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the Word, and understands it; and also bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

34 All these things spoke Jesus to the multitude in parables; and He spoke not without a parable to them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world ( _Psalm 78:2_ ).

**LUKE 8:5-15** 5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bore fruit a hundredfold. And when He had said these things, He called out, he that has ears to hear let him hear. 9 And His disciples asked Him, saying, What might this parable be? 10 And He said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parable so that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand. 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are they that hear; then comes the devil ( _fowls of the air_ ), and take away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the Word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe and in time of temptation they fall away.

14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 15 But those on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. ( _See also Mark 4:24-25_ )

More of the Truth will be given to those whose hearts are prepared, marking them as "good ground." The truth will be taken from those who, like poor soil, are unprepared to broadcast the Word in their lives. Those that are His will hear. Those who are not, will not.

**JOHN 8:47** He that is of God hears God's words:

The veil will be raised in the End Time (Romans 11:25) as an act of God's mercy so the souls of His people will have a final opportunity to choose Christ and eternal rest with Him

**ISAIAH 29:18** ( _double reference_ ) And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

**ROMANS 11:7-8, 30-32** 7 Israel has not obtained that which it seeks; but the election had obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 According as it is written, God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear; unto this day.

30 For as you ( _Gentiles_ ) in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their ( _Jews_ ) unbelief: 31 Even so have these ( _Jews_ ) now do not believe, that through your mercy they may obtain mercy. 32 For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.

JERUSALEM IS DESTROYED AND THE PEOPLE SCATTERED

The Jewish people failed to understand prophecies intended to prepare them for the coming of the messiah. Their punishment, spoken of by Jesus before His crucifixion, was swift and long lasting.

**LUKE 19:43-44** 43 For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies shall cast a trench about you, and encompass you around, and keep you in on every side, 44 And shall lay you level with the ground, and your children with you; and they shall not leave one stone upon another; because you did not know the time of my visitation.

The people were unfaithful. They rejected God's provision for salvation—His Son in their midst. God's punishment is blindness to the Word, destruction, and dispersion.

Roman Legions led by Emperor Titus served as God's instrument of retribution (Daniel 9:26; Luke 19:41-44). The city and the temple were leveled less than forty years after the Crucifixion. Jerusalem became a Roman city ( _Aelia Capitolina_ ).

**LEVITICUS 26:32-33** ( _double reference_ ) 32 And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies that dwell there shall be astonished at it. 33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

**DEUTERONOMY 4:27** ( _double reference_ ) And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and you shall be left few in number among the heathen, where the Lord shall send you.

**DEUTERONOMY 28:63-64** ( _double reference_ ) 63 And it shall come to pass that as the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land I will give you. 64 And the Lord shall scatter you among all people, from the one end of the earth even to the other...

**ZECHARIAH 7:13-14** ( _double reference_ ) 13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as He cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, said the Lord of hosts: 14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.

**LUKE 21:24** And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Blindness, death, destruction, forfeiture of their land, and loss of national identity befell the Jews. God has not abandoned His people. He promised through the prophets He will gather them again, once to the land and once to His bosom. The Diaspora that began in 70 AD lasted until 1948 when the people were allowed to return to a portion of the land. A remnant will return to His bosom in the End Time.

THE POLLUTION OF SCRIPTURE

This is a good point to review the development of the Church in the years following Jesus' death. The history is not always pretty, but essential to understanding the conditions that led to the Reformation.

Early Christians anticipated Christ's imminent return. They waited eagerly for the promised coming of the "Blessed Hope" to rid the desperate world of evil. Little thought was given to establishing enduring doctrine. The important thing was to prepare for His near-term return.

Decades passed and the witnessing apostles died. Those without an intimate personal relationship with Jesus relied on recorded evidence (gospels and epistles) and oral conventions.

Christianity grew in separate communities of faith without formalized creeds, doctrines, or canons. There was no central hierarchy and no common doctrine.

Emperor Constantine played a major role in solidifying Christianity as a religion of many. He gained control of the Roman Empire at the battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD and attributed the victory to the intervention of Jesus Christ. In response, he made Christianity the religion of the empire: One God, one Lord, one faith, one Church, one empire, one emperor.

The church grappled with challenges relating to the language of the gospel as interpreted in the Greco-Roman world during the third century. It was fractured by theological disputes, especially concerning the nature of Christ.

Origen of Alexandria (185-254 AD) formulated early Christian doctrine in terms of Greek thinking. He lived through a turbulent period of widespread persecution with little or no doctrinal consensus among the various regional churches. Unfortunately, his numerous sermons and commentaries established a pattern whereby Scripture was viewed as largely allegorical. Allegory is always subject to interpretation. His approach to the understanding of Scripture had a lasting effect on the developing church in Rome.

To counter a widening rift that threatened the universality of the young church, Constantine convened a council in Nicaea in 325 AD. The participants agreed that God the Father and God the Son were consubstantial and coeternal. A creed reflecting that position was written and signed by a majority of the bishops. The formulation of The Nicene Creed in the mid to late fourth century provided a foundation for a universal Church.

Easter became a "moveable" feast on the Western calendar. The intent was to separate it from the Jewish Passover festival to which it was closely tied in the year of Jesus death.

Emperor Constantine held anti-Semite views in concert with the position of the church at the time. His thoughts were recorded in Theodoret's _Ecclesiastical History_ : "It was, in the first place, declared improper to follow the custom of the Jews in the celebration of this holy festival, because their hands having been stained with crime, the minds of these wretched men are necessarily blinded... Let us, then, have nothing in common with the Jews who are our adversaries... a people so utterly depraved. Therefore, this irregularity ( _date of celebration_ ) must be corrected, in order that we may no more have anything in common with those parricides and the murderers of our Lord."

Generations of anti-Semitic sentiment reflected in church policies remain a stain on Christianity. Such thinking contributed the silent pulpits in Europe, facilitating the extermination of countless Jews.

A successor of Constantine, Emperor Theodosius (347-395 AD), made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. Legislation in 380 affirmed the dogmas of the Council of Nicaea and made church membership compulsory. Most Christians today might view this as a good thing. It was not, because many became Christians in name only. They were moved, not by the Spirit, but political expediency.

Emperor Theodosius soon undertook the forcible suppression of other religions and prohibited paganism in 392. This was the beginning of the pursuit of temporal power by clerical authorities contributing to a rise of ecclesiastical tyranny. The church was a center of power in areas where it held sway, claiming to control even the destiny of individual souls.

A common creed bound diverse congregations but gave the leadership a dogmatic theology they could impose on all followers. Thousands who would not accept this one-size-fits-all theology were put to death. Christians killed Christians. There would have been far fewer Christian martyrs dying for their beliefs had there not been so many Christians ready to kill for theirs.

St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo (354-430), was unquestionably one of the most influential leaders of the Western church. His extensive doctrinal writings deeply affected the medieval Roman Catholic Church. He wrote _The City of God_ as the Empire lay crumbling under the siege of less-civilized Christian tribes.

The Vandals, a Germanic tribe with Christian beliefs, crossed the Pyrenees and entered the Iberian Peninsula in 409. They later sailed across the Strait of Gibraltar. After a siege of Carthage, during which Augustine died of a fever, they conquered the great city in 439 and gained control of most of North Africa, breadbasket of the empire.

In 455, Vandal king Genseric sailed his fleet from Carthage across the Mediterranean and up the Tiber River. Pope Leo I asked the approaching Vandal leader to spare the city and its inhabitants. The king agreed and the gates of Rome were thrown open. The Vandals occupied Rome for an extended period before departing with countless valuables, including the spoils of the Temple in Jerusalem brought to Rome by Emperor Titus.

Augustine and the citizens of Rome believed God was inexorably linked to Rome and would always protect His people, who they believed themselves to be. Following the Vandal conquest the citizens suddenly needed a new view of God's ties with Rome. Augustine supplied it, drawing from the old association of evil and the present world and his habit of seeing Scripture as largely allegorical.

Augustine told his demoralized flock in a series of sermons that they were not actually citizens of Rome or the world, but of the heavenly City of Jerusalem. Since the Fall of Adam, said Augustine, the loyalty of the human race was divided between two great symbolic cities: the heavenly City of Jerusalem serving God, and Babylon (represented by Rome) serving rebel angels, the devil, and demons. He explained that Jerusalem and Babylon would be separated at the Last Judgment. The righteous would return to the heavenly City of Jerusalem. While this served to explain the disasters suffered by Rome it reinforced a pattern of allegorical interpretation allowing the church leaders in Rome to interpret (use) Scripture to justify secular actions.

As the church increasingly became an instrument of state, it was no longer politically expedient to preach a return of Christ to rid the world of "evil" kings, or to speak of Christ as King of the Jews. The denial of God's promise to His people made it practical to blame the Jews for grievances in the church and world, and supported the emerging doctrine that Christians had replaced Jews as God's people. Both Origen and St. Augustine supported the view that Jews, while the people of God, were inferior, lending support to the rise of anti-Semitism in the West and within the church.

The medieval Church in Rome dealt sternly with those in the Christian community it considered heretical. By the twelfth century organized groups with doctrines at odds with the papal establishment, such as the Waldensians and Cathars, appeared in urbanized areas of southern France. These Christian sects held dualistic (i.e. two Gods, one good and one evil) and Gnostic elements (also dualistic), and did not accept Jesus as the messiah or as fully human.

The 1176 Church Council declared Cathar doctrine heretical. On becoming pope in 1198, Innocent III resolved Catharism was a threat to the supreme authority of the church. He appointed papal legates and called for a crusade to rid Christianity of these heretics.

In mid-1209, some 10,000 crusaders gathered in Lyon and then headed south for Béziers, a Cathar stronghold. They surrounded the city, called the Catholics to come out to safety, and demanded that the Cathars surrender. They refused. The city fell the following day. The population was slaughtered, and the city burned. Contemporary sources estimate the dead numbered sixty thousand.

Many thousands more were mutilated and killed elsewhere in southern France. The report sent to Pope Innocent III confirmed twenty thousand "heretics" were put to the sword despite rank, age, or sex.

In 1211, more than eighty Waldensians were burned as heretics at Strasbourg. They preached according to their own understanding of the Scriptures, rejecting such Roman Catholic tenets as transubstantiation and purgatory.

Pope Innocent IV issued a papal bull in 1252 authorizing the use of torture to root out such heresy. Between 25,000 and 30,000 Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants) were murdered.

The Roman Catholic Church of today is the Western world's oldest and largest Christian institution. Its hierarchy has played a particularly prominent role in the politics and history of Western civilization since the fourth century. The problem arose when Scripture was misrepresented, and doctrine became dogma.

Bibles in the West in the Middle Ages were written by hand and exclusively in Latin, with no attempt to transcribe copies into the vernacular of the people. Nonetheless, much gratitude is owed to the monks of the period. Monasteries on the continent and off the shores of Ireland were floating arks in a deluge. They were intellectual barriers against barbarians invading from the north and east.

Church leaders believed only those with the proper religious preparation could comprehend Scripture. Limiting knowledge of what the Bible actually said had the advantage of giving the ecclesiastics considerable control over the people. This was particularly true when peasants and kings were led to believe the priests had the power to determine the destiny of souls.

The Vulgate, the authorized Roman Catholic translation of the Bible, became so corrupted by modifications intended to serve the ecclesiastics that it no longer preserved the message of the gospels. The Church of Rome ƒnonetheless maintained the position that anyone who read the scripture in a language other than Latin or interpreted its message should be put to death.

The power of allegorical interpretation promoted by Augustine and his followers is that it allows the interpreter to decide what the text means based only on what he or she thinks it _must_ mean. The thought at the time was Scripture could only be understood with a high level of prior knowledge. This supported the belief that biblical text should be kept from the laity, giving the church enormous influence over kings and their subjects. It led to unquestioned acceptance of church practices and doctrines, many of which were not supportable by Scripture.

The trials of Galileo Galilei serve as a good example. Galileo was tried during the Roman Inquisition in 1632-33. Many are unaware that his trial was not about whether the earth moved around the Sun, but about the Church of Rome's assertion that it held sole authority to interpret Scripture.

Copernicus published _On The Revolutions Of The Heavenly Spheres_ in the sixteenth century. It made the case that the earth and stars revolved around a stationary sun. Galileo held this position until 1608, when he acquired an elementary telescope, refined it, and looked for himself. He made several significant discoveries published in his 1610 book, _Starry Messenger_.

The Roman Catholic Church at the time held no official position on the orbiting habits of celestial bodies. It received Galileo's research without a hubbub. Princess Christina, the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, commented publicly that the Bible said the earth stood still and the Sun moved, instead of the other way around. Galileo, wishing to be helpful, wrote to her explaining he believed the Bible, if interpreted correctly, would match up with science and he offered an understanding of Scripture in light of his scientific discoveries.

The leaders of the Roman Catholic Church decided at the Council of Trent (1545-1563) that individuals were not permitted to interpret Scripture. That was the job of the church hierarchy. Galileo's enemies demanded he be investigated for interpreting Scripture. The Pope asked the theologians to decide exactly what Scripture said about the functions of the universe. In 1616, they declared the sun and stars circled the earth.

Galileo was instructed not to teach otherwise and they banned the publication of all of his works, past and future. In 1632, Galileo published his _Dialog Concerning the Two Chief World Systems_ summarizing much of his work over the previous three decades. He was brought before the Inquisition, tried, and sentenced to life in prison, not for his beliefs, but for defying church authority.

RENAISSANCE, REFORMATION, THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

The most significant events to follow in the growth of the church and its doctrine are grouped by historians into three major periods: the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Enlightenment. It is important to understand the influence of each on the evolution of Christianity.

Theologians in the Middle Ages largely set aside the writings of Aristotle and other Greek thinkers. Pope Urban IV placed pre-Christian writings off-limits in the thirteenth century. Scripture, not the classic works of the Greco-Roman philosophers, were the basis for moral instruction and authority. That authority rested in the hands of church leaders.

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1279), an Italian Dominican priest, accepted that the Fall of man corrupted the will, but human intellect remained uncorrupted. He believed truth is known through reason (natural revelation) and faith (supernatural revelation). This gave rise to the idea that individuals could rely on their own intellect when considering matters not related to Scripture.

The Renaissance in Southern Europe from the fourteenth through seventeenth centuries involved a rebirth of thought that placed man at the center of all things. There was a resurgence of learning based on classical sources and a greater emphasis on the secular world. The resurfacing of the idea that some truths are available to all people through nature and human reasoning placed increased emphasis on the value of the individual: faith in man instead of God. This opened the door to a wider range of thinking and created a predicament for the Church in Rome.

Greater autonomy of thought led to a decline in emphasis on universal truths. This jeopardized the influence of church teachings based on the Vulgate and its interpretation by ecclesiastics alone. This emphasis on the humanist element arose just as intellectuals noted significant distortions in the Vulgate, the only translation sanctioned by Rome.

Owning an unofficial version of the Bible was punishable by death. Nonetheless, translations from Greek to Latin and even to conversational languages began to appear in the latter half of the fourteenth century. (See Appendix XI for more on how the Bible became available to all peoples.)

Intentional misrepresentations in the Vulgate and doctrine based in part on that translation (e.g. Mariology, elevation of Peter, justification by indulgences, simony, the Inquisition, etc.) became more widely evident. Catholic theology in the Middle Ages made use of "indulgences" for the full or partial remission of sins, already forgiven by God. Such abuses led to a desire by some within the church to bring Christianity back in line with Scripture and the teachings of the apostles.

Objections to the Vulgate, doctrines, rituals, and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church fostered unrest among the clerics and contributed to The Reformation (aka Protestant Revolt, Protestant Reformation). The influence of Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others in Northern Europe during the sixteenth and seventeenth century brought a return to the authority of the Scriptures. It introduced a major schism within the Church of Rome and a shift in emphasis to salvation by grace founded on individual faith, not works.

The five "solas" of the Reformers' neatly summarized their basic beliefs: sola gratia (Latin: by grace alone—believers can find salvation without regard for the merit of their works, as no one "deserves" salvation), _sola scriptura_ (by Scripture alone—the only source of truth), _sola fide_ (by faith alone is one saved), _solo Christo_ (through Christ alone), and _soli Deo gloria_ (glory to God alone).

The humanistic elements of the earlier Renaissance formed a foundation for the later Reformation by opening the mind to new thinking. There would have been no Reformation if the truth of Scripture had not been altered in the Vulgate which was unfaithful to the original Greek text, and it might not have been challenged without the opening of thought brought about by the Renaissance.

The Reformers sought to return mankind to a proper relationship with God. A good example of their thinking is found in Book I of John Calvin's _Institutes of the Christian Religion_ :

"Such is our innate pride we always seem to ourselves just, and upright, and wise, and holy, until we are convinced, by clear evidence of our injustice, vileness, folly, and impurity. Convinced we are not if we look to ourselves only, and not to the Lord also—He being the only standard by the application of which this conviction can be produced.

"... So long as we do not look beyond the earth, we are quite pleased with our own righteousness, wisdom, and virtue; we address ourselves in the most flattering terms, and seem only less than demigods. But should we once begin to raise our thoughts to God, and reflect what kind of Being He is, and how absolute the perfection of that righteousness, and wisdom, and virtue to which, as a standard, we are bound to be conformed, what formerly delighted us by its false show of righteousness will become polluted with the greatest iniquity; what strangely imposed upon us under the name of wisdom will disgust by its extreme folly; and what presented the appearance of virtuous energy will be condemned as the most miserable impotence.

"... Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God... We must be persuaded not only that as He once formed the world, so He sustains it by His boundless might, governs it by His wisdom, preserves it by His goodness, in particular, rules the human race with justice and judgment, bears with them in mercy, shields them by His protection; but also that not a particle of light, or wisdom, or justice, or power, or rectitude, or genuine truth will anywhere be found, which does not flow from Him, and of which He is not the cause;

"In this way we must learn to expect and ask all things from Him, and thankfully ascribe to Him whatever we receive."

An unfortunate consequence of Renaissance reasoning centuries earlier was a reduction in reliance on all-embracing truths and ethical absolutes found in Scripture. Christian values were no longer seen as clearly "right" or clearly "wrong," in part because the church imposed ethical restraints on individuals and nations not substantiated in Scripture.

So depraved were some of those "defending" the faith in France, Charles Dickens was caused to write in _A Tale of Two Cities_ they "entertained" themselves "with such humane achievements as sentencing a youth to have his hands cut off, his tongue torn out with pincers, and his body burned alive because he had not kneeled down in the rain to do honor to a dirty procession of monks which passed within his view, at a distance of some fifty or sixty yards."

The Reformation, with its wider access to Scripture in a variety of languages, pushed the pendulum back and brought about a return to gospel values for individuals and the laws that governed them. It also represented a move away from church authority over Scripture and a return to the early posture whereby Scripture held authority over the church.

Disagreement among the reformers on matters of Scripture soon divided them according to doctrinal beliefs—between Luther and Zwingli, Luther and Calvin—resulting in the establishment of numerous Protestant denominations.

Seeking the "truth", seventeenth-century author John Milton undertook researching and writing his final work, _Christian Doctrine (A Treatise on Christian Doctrine Compiled From the Holy Scripture Alone)_. He began by listing chapter and verse references under a wide variety of subjects relating to doctrine. Next, he filled in text lifted from the Bible and organized it under suitable subheadings. His finished treatise alludes to or quotes more than 9,000 verses as a guide in moral and spiritual matters, and critique of church doctrine at the time.

"I was concerned to discover in many instances adverse reasoning's either evaded by wretched shifts, or attempted to be refuted, rather speciously than with solidity, by an affected display of formal sophisms, or by a constant recourse to the quibbles of the grammarians; while what was most pertinaciously espoused as the correct doctrine, seemed often defended, with more vehemence than strength of argument, by misconstructions of Scripture, or by the hasty deduction of erroneous inferences.

"Owing to these causes, the truth was sometimes as strenuously opposed as if it had been an error or a heresy while errors and heresies were substituted for the truth, and valued rather from deference to custom and the spirit of party, than from the authority of Scripture.

"According to my judgment, therefore, neither my creed nor my hope of salvation could be safely trusted to such guides." (Preface to Milton's, _A Treatise On Christian Doctrine_.)

Milton saw Salvation as an individual responsibility, as is the understanding of the recorded Word in Scripture. Neither can be entrusted to another individual or institution.

The treatise, not published until a century and a half after his death for political reasons, confirmed for all that even some Protestant teachings and practices remained out of harmony with Scripture. Milton obliged his readers to measure their own beliefs and those of a chosen denomination against the unerring yardstick of Scripture.

The Reformation had a downside. The divisions it brought about meant Christians were soon fighting Christians in a Counter-Reformation (Catholic Revival, Catholic Reformation) lasting into the seventeenth century. The movement, intended to strengthen the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, inadvertently set the stage for a scientific revolution that presented a more fundamental challenge to church authority in the coming period referred to by historians as the Enlightenment.

The eighteenth century Enlightenment (Age of Enlightenment, Age of Reason) in Europe further freed human consciousness from autocracy in the parishes and palaces. It started as a cultural movement initiated by intellectuals in France. It is badly named because it suggests that before this time mankind was unenlightened—stuck in the "darkness of Christianity," which was equated with superstition and ignorance. The founders of this "Age" hoped to utilize the newly discovered (actually, rediscovered) power of reason to reform society based on human intellect instead of faith. Replacing God's standards with mankind's pulled the linchpin from society's moral compass.

Such "thinkers" were strongly influenced by the gains of science and the prolonged period of religious conflict that followed the Reformation. The dramatic success of new scientific discoveries stimulated a sense of self-confidence and pride in one's intellectual abilities. The assumption was science would unravel all mysteries and solve all problems. Such asymmetric thinking led many to depend exclusively on human intellect for guidance, foregoing the Word of God.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau in his _Social Contract_ (1762) supported the exercise of general will free from the constraints of God. This made Rousseau the darling of the bohemian movement and the 1950-1960 hippie craze.

Rousseau's humanistic utopianism contributed to the excesses of the French Revolution. It also allowed him to send his five children, born of a mistress, off to orphanages without remorse. Anyone who resonates positively with uncontrolled humanism should study the results it perpetrated in the France Revolution.

To recap, the Renaissance and its associated rise in humanism freed individuals from the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, but led to a questioning of general truths based on Scripture.

The Reformation brought about a renewal of the unfiltered understanding of Scripture, and the importance of living in accordance with the Word. It also led to a splintering of the faithful and non-spiritual warring among the branches. The Enlightenment, coupled with advances in science, emboldened the humanists, sparking renewed reliance on natural man unbridled by moral laws. The Industrial Revolution that followed bolstered a belief in man as the ruler of his destiny. Scripture no longer appeared relevant.

The Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment, and Industrial Revolution occasioned civil disorder across Europe. The changes were bathed in blood that might not have been shed if Christian values were not cast aside.

The rise in emphasis on human desires rather than divine teachings lessened the influence of religion, giving rise to the search for "truth" through science and philosophy. By the mid-twentieth century, pundits claimed, "God is Dead." The impact of such thinking is evident in society today.

A diminished reliance on God and an emphasis on human self-sufficiency parented two twentieth-century global wars and a general decline in spiritualism in the West, validating the nature of mankind when unguided by the Spirit.

The seemingly apathetic response of church leaders to the rise of the anti-Semitic fascist governments of Germany and Italy in the early-to-mid twentieth century is rightly criticized. Records uncovered after World War II make it clear the pope and others in power in the Vatican knew of the Holocaust during the war and could have done more to save Jews. Even though the horrors of their treatment became public, the Roman Catholic Church never excommunicated Adolph Hitler or Benito Mussolini for their acts against humanity. Martin Luther was excommunicated for his beliefs by Pope Leo X.

RETURN TO THE LAND (1948) AND JERUSALEM (1967)

A Jewish Zionist movement found fertile ground among increasingly repressed Jews in the late nineteenth century. It sought to reestablish a Jewish homeland and provide the people with autonomy lost some 2,500 years earlier at the time of the Babylonian exile.

The Holocaust of World War II renewed the world's interest in resettling the Jews in a state of their own. For the Allies, the motivation was more political than scriptural. For the Jew, it was the fulfillment of prophecy.

The Diaspora that began with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD approached its end in 1948 when Jews were allowed to assemble in the land. God (through the instrument of the United Nations) restored them to a small portion of the Promised Land, not because they earned His mercy, but for His "holy name's sake." He gathered those He scattered (Jeremiah 31:8-10) and will no more let the people be "pulled up" (Amos 9:14-15).

One challenge when reading prophecy is knowing what event(s) are foretold. Readers should be aware of double or even triple references. Isaiah proves the point.

**ISAIAH 11:11-12** 11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord will set His hand again the second time ( _the first being the return from Babylon_ ) to recover the remnant of His people ( _still not all_ )... 12 And He shall set up a sign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

**EZEKIEL 34:11, 13, 16** ( _double reference_ ) 11 For thus says the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will search for my sheep, and seek them out. 13 And I will bring them out from the people and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 16 I will seek that which was lost, and bring together again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick:

**EZEKIEL 36:22, 24** ( _double reference_ ) 22... Thus says the Lord God; I do not do this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for my holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the heathen, wherever you went. 24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

**JEREMIAH 31:10** ( _triple reference_ ) Hear the Word of the Lord, O you nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.

**EZEKIEL 37:21** ... I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.

**AMOS 9:14-15** 14 I will bring back my exiled people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God.

Some argue these references speak of the return from exile in Babylon exclusively. That cannot be because the prophecy states they will come from all _nations, nevermore be uprooted_. Isaiah 11 and Ezekiel 34, 36, 37, 39 are often applied to the events of 1948 and 1967.

Isaiah 11, like Ezekiel 34, can be understood as a triple reference concerning a return: from Babylonia/Persia, from the Diaspora, and finally in the End Time.

The last of the British forces left Haifa on May 14, 1948. The Jewish Agency simultaneously declared a new State of Israel in agreement with the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan. The plan did not include Jerusalem as part of the territory granted the Jews.

Israel and its Arab neighbors have been in a constant state of conflict since 1948. In the late spring of 1967, the united Arab military command massed troops along the Israeli borders. Egyptian forces mobilized and threatened to escalate the situation to full war. An Egyptian radio broadcast reported a military buildup and promoted genocide. Israel mobilized its civilian reserves, bringing much of the Israeli economy to a halt.

On the morning of June 4, 1967, the Israeli Air Force launched pre-emptive strikes destroying the Egyptian Air Force and later that day the air forces of Jordan and Syria. Israel soon defeated Egypt, Jordan, and Syria on the ground, gaining control of the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, the Jordanian-controlled West Bank, and Jerusalem, including the area surrounding the Temple Mount. A t-shirt slogan popular today among Jewish youth reads: "It's O.K. to Attack—We Need More Land."

The most important result of the 1967 victory was Jews could visit Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, and pray at the Western Wall for the first time since 70 AD.

Muslims built the Al-Aqsa Shrine on the Temple Mount in 646. It is widely considered the third holiest spot in Islam where Muslims believe the prophet Muhammad rose to heaven during the "Night Journey." By agreement with the State of Israel, the shrine is currently administered by an Islamic trust. Israel, however, continues to control Jerusalem and the land surrounding the Temple Mount.

The Temple Mount remained open to the general public until September 2000, when Palestinians threw stones at Jewish worshipers after the candidate for Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Ariel Sharon, visited the site.

Following the violence, the new Sharon government closed the Mount to non-Muslims. It opened again in August 2003. Jews may go onto the Temple Mount today but they are forbidden from praying there by the Muslim Authority. Most Jews choose not to go, however, for fear of stepping on the spot where the Holy of Holies once stood.

The use of double or even triple references is not always appropriate. Much of the prophecy concerning the people applies to a single future event. Ezekiel 39:27-29 cannot refer to return from captivity in Babylonia, for not all came to Judea. Only those associated with the Babylonian Exile returned. Scripture does not imply any from the ten northern tribes returned from the Assyrian captivity, an event tied to the end of days.

Nor can Ezekiel 39 be applied fully to the return from the Diaspora. The 1948 forming of the State of Israel and the return to "their enemies' lands" did not include all Jews. It seems to apply to an end-time gathering.

In the same way, the prophecy of the "dry bones" in Ezekiel 37 cannot apply to the Babylonian return or twentieth century events, for they have not yet "come up out of the graves" with "one king" to rule over them. It must speak of the time when the souls of the dead will be raised, the messiah king will rule over the nations from David's throne in Jerusalem (Isaiah 31:1-3; Ezekiel 34:23-33, 37:24; John 10:16, 39:7; Revelation 21:3) and iniquity is removed from the land (Zechariah 3:8-9).

Ezekiel 37 and 39 apply exclusively to the End Time, making one wonder how some denominations can embrace a replacement theology and the idea God has no further plans for His people.

**EZEKIEL 37:4-14, 21-22, 24-26** 4 Again He said to me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say to them, O you dry bones, hear the Word of the Lord. 5 Thus said the Lord God to these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them: but there was no breath in them. 9 Then said He to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus said the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 11 Then He said to me, son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off from our parts. 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, Thus said the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall put my Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall you know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, said the Lord.

21 And say to them, Thus said the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all ( _there has been no king since the return from exile in Babylon. The king to come is Christ the Lord_ ):

24 And ( _the seed of_ ) David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd ( _Christ the Lord_ ): they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children forever: and my servant David shall be their prince forever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them ( _a remnant_ ); it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.

**EZEKIEL 39:27-29** 27 When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; 28 Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which cause them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and _have left none of them any more there_. 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord God.

Jews will be in the land at the end of days when God fulfills His promise for His "holy name's sake" (Ezekiel 36:21-23), and a remnant will turn to the Lord and find salvation. God will "circumcise" the hearts of the remnant souls and set up the good shepherds so they need fear no more (Deuteronomy 30:3-4).

**JEREMIAH 23:4, 7-8** 4 And I will set up shepherds over them that shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, said the Lord. 7 Therefore, behold, the days come, says the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord lives that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; 8 But, He lives that brought the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries where He had driven them; and they will dwell in their own land.

The people brought dishonor to His name during their long banishment from the land. God remained faithful, had pity, restored the land, and blessed them with bountifulness. They have transformed the arid land into an agriculturally rich oasis, a major supplier of fruits, vegetables, and wines to the world.

**EZEKIEL 36:34-36** 34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. 35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate has become like the Garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fenced, and are inhabited. 36 Then the heathens that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it.

The rebirth of Israel in 1948 was a prophetic event predicted and brought forth by the will of God. The State of Israel exists today as part of God's plan for the people. They are in the land to stay (Amos 9:14-15), Palestinian threats aside.

The nations surrounding Israel are all aligning against it. Iran is poised to be the dominant power in the region, perhaps with nuclear arms. Is the Book of Zechariah predicting what is to come? Will Israel strike first with "a torch of fire in a sheaf" (nuclear tipped rocket) that "devours" all the people around?

**ZECHARIAH 12:2, 6** 2 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 against Jerusalem. 6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left.

Those interested in watching the unfolding of God's plan should familiarize themselves with the prophecies of Psalm 83, Isaiah 17, 19, 38, 39, and Jeremiah 49.

God's plan for humanity is unfolding day by day. History will continue to run its course until the end of time.

Scripture reveals a great deal about what is to come, but does not disclose when the end will come.

**MATTHEW 24:36** But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

The end of the interval (the present period between the sixty-ninth and the seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy) will mark the beginning of the final phase. Biblical scholars disagree on the start time and the exact sequence of events. As we shall see, there are hints in prophecy. Jesus gave us the clearest picture in His Olivet Discourse.

What follows is new territory for most Christians. It is not a subject addressed very often from the pulpit. Views expressed in the next few paragraphs will be elaborated on in the remaining chapters. Accepting, modifying, or rejecting the views expressed is a matter of individual study and prayer.

I believe Christ will come again in two stages, first _for_ His Church and later _with_ His Church. The Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17, 5:9; Revelation 3:10, 4:1-2) will precede the start of the seventieth week marking the end of the interval. A treaty of peace between Israel and the Antichrist will initiate that seven-year "week" (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15-21). The Antichrist will break his treaty "covenant of death" with Israel midway through the period by desecrating the temple (Revelation 17:1-15). This will initiate three-and-a-half years of great tribulation afflicting the citizens of the world (Revelation 12:7-14). It will cause many to call on Christ to be their Savior.

Christ will then come to begin a thousand-year period of peace (Millennium), reigning from David's throne in Jerusalem (Luke 1:32; Revelation 20:1-6). Satan will be bound during the Millennium (Revelation 20:1-4) and all souls will dwell in harmony (Isaiah 2:4, 11:6-9).

Satan will be released again to instigate a final (but futile) rebellion against God (Revelation 20:7-9). After a fated battle, Satan and the souls of the wicked will be cast into the lake of fire to endure an everlasting "second death" (Revelation 20:10). The souls of the righteous will instead enter an eternal state with God in a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21).

God will keep His promises to His people (Genesis 15:7-21), and all who accept Jesus Christ as their savior (the remnant) will inherit His kingdom.

Concepts such as the rapture and millennium are not universally accepted. Nonetheless, they are worthy of study by anyone wishing to widen their depth of understanding (Amos 3:7; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16).

Chapters 1 through 5 of this book, as you have read, dealt with creation, Adam's failure to obey God, the Fall, God's promises to His people, their failure to follow His will, Jesus in the world, His death and Resurrection, the Church Age, and the interval leading to the end of all things we know. The next several chapters will deal with the Word concerning what must yet come.

What messages did you hear in this chapter? For me:

The world is in an interval between the sixty-ninth and seventieth week of Daniel's prophecy.

Satan was granted power by God to be the "prince of the world."

The Jews are temporarily blinded to the Word.

Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the people scattered for their failure to recognize and accept Jesus as the promised messiah.

The Renaissance, Reformation, and Age of Enlightenment lessened the power of the church and contributed to the rise of humanism.

In a partial fulfillment of God's promise, the Jewish people returned to the land (1948) and the Holy City (1967).

The present interval will end without warning, ushering in the End Time.

# THE END TIME

#  Chapter 6: The Faithful Will Be With God

The foregoing five chapters considered Scripture related to: the creation; the Fall of Adam and Eve; Satan and sin; the lives of the patriarchs; God's election of a people to shine His "light" to the nations; His covenants with the people; the bondage and Exodus from Egypt; the emergence of monotheism; the periods of Judges and Kings; the Babylonian Exile; the role of the prophets; the birth, life, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ; the blindness of the Jews to the Word; the selection of the Gentiles to spread His light; the birth of the Church; the Diaspora; the return of the people to the land; and a brief introduction to the events to take place in the last days.

God was in the world with His created, then as a shadowy figure or representation addressing those chosen to lead His people, next speaking only through angels and prophets elected to proclaim His Word, then silent for more than four hundred years before walking in the world as one of His own.

God returned to His "place" until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and His people "acknowledge their offense and seek" Him. He did not abandon the world. His Spirit remains.

Scripture offers signs to watch for but does not disclose where we are in the final countdown to the end of days. Be assured events are progressing on a schedule set by God. The call to bring God's light to the world, issued to the Jews and conveyed to the Gentiles, remains in force. The faithful are charged with sharing the Word until the end comes.

Chapter 6 marks a departure from the largely narrative story of Scripture. It addresses more subjective issues relating to salvation, including the significance of the relationship of the bridegroom and the bride, the concept of the rapture, the association of faith and works, the doctrine of election, and the certainty of resurrection.

BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM

The Church and Christ are written of metaphorically in The New Testament as a bridegroom and a bride. It is necessary to think like a first century Jew to fully understand the similitude.

There is an important parallel between the relationship of a traditional Jewish bridegroom and bride, and Christ and the Church. Christ used a bride and bridegroom metaphor when He spoke of going to His father's house to prepare a place for the faithful. He invoked it again when He told His disciples the parables of the king's wedding feast and the ten virgins. Knowing the traditions associated with a first-century Jewish wedding is key to understanding these parabolic teachings.

The process begins when the father singles out a prospective bride. The groom follows the will of his father and travels to the home of her family. There he pays a prearranged amount and enters a marriage covenant, often without meeting the bride. The payment and his pledge of fidelity create a binding contract. Unfaithfulness after this by either party is considered an act of adultery. Knowing this helps us to fully appreciate Joseph's predicament when Mary was with child before the marriage ceremony.

The groom returns to his father's house to prepare a place. He will not return for his bride until all is ready. She waits eagerly, anticipating his return at a time that is unknown. When the bridegroom returns, he escorts his bride to his father's house for the marriage ceremony, the consummation, and a wedding feast lasting seven days. The bride becomes his and remains with him forever. Note how this plays out in Scripture with Jesus as the bridegroom and the Church as His bride.

THE FATHER CHOOSES THE BRIDE

**JOHN 17:11** Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me ( _the faithful, chosen ones_ ), that they may be one, as we are.

THE GROOM COMES AT THE WILL OF THE FATHER

**JOHN 6:38** For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.

THE BRIDE HAS YET TO MEET HIM

**1 PETER 1:8** Whom you have not seen, you love; though you do not see Him, you believe, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

THE GROOM FORMS AN EVERLASTING COVENANT

**JOHN 3:16** ... that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

THE PRICE IS PAID

**LEVITICUS 17:11** For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls.

**JOHN 3:14** ... as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: ( _Numbers 21:5-9_ ).

**JOHN 3:16** God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...

THE BRIDEGROOM GOES TO PREPARE A PLACE

**JOHN 14:2-3** 2... I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

THE BRIDE WAITS

**1 CORINTHIANS 11:26** For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup; you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

THE BRIDE MUST BE PREPARED

**MATTHEW 25:1-10** Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise ( _the prepared and worthy_ ) took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom lingered, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose to prepare their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there is not enough for you and for us: but go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

THE GROOM COMES WITHOUT WARNING

**MATTHEW 25:13** Watch; therefore, for you know not the day or the hour when the Son of Man comes.

HE TAKES HIS BRIDE

**1 THESSALONIANS 4:16-17** 16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

THE WEDDING FEAST

**REVELATION 19:7-8** 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife ( _no longer His bride_ ) has made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

THE GUESTS MUST WAIT AND WATCH

**LUKE 12:37** Blessed are those servants, whom the lord shall find watching: He will gird Himself and make them sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

THE BRIDE BECOMES HIS FOREVER

**REVELATION 21:9** And there came to me one of the seven angels that had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.

**REVELATION 22:17** ... let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of ( _everlasting_ ) life freely.

**ISAIAH 52:5** ... as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

The imagery of the bride and bridegroom symbolizes the oneness the faithful enjoy with God and is at the core of the gospel message. Christianity is not simply a religious methodology. It is a deep, intimate, living relationship between individuals and their creator, who is also their Savior.

Numerous analogies liken the marriage union to the fusion of Christ and His Church. God intended marriage to be more than a "hookup" of compatible individuals. It is a mystical unity, as the two spirits become one.

Every faithful person enters into a mystical union ( _Unio Mystica_ ) with God when the Spirit enters the heart. The God of the universe(s?) no longer dwells _with_ His created, but in them (John 14:16-17, 17:20-21).

**JOHN 14:19-20** 19 Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me: because I live, you shall live also. 20 At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

Hebrew Scripture uses marital imagery in an inverse relationship with that used in The New Testament. The people of Israel are written of as "whoring" after false gods and "prostituting" themselves before idols.

THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION

The reality of being elected or chosen by God for His purpose is difficult for many to accept. Election is not a subject spoken of from pulpits today, for if some are elected then others are not. However vexing, the reality of election cannot be overlooked. It is based on Scripture.

Paul believed God chooses some as His own and that he (Paul) was among them, "According as he has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will" (Ephesians 1:4-5).

**WISDOM OF SOLOMON 3:9** They that put their trust in Him shall understand the truth: and such as are faithful in love shall abide with Him: for grace and mercy is to His saints, and He cares for His elect.

**ROMANS 8:28-30** 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestine to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover, whom He did predestine He also called: and whom He called He also justified: and whom He justified He also glorified.

**ROMANS 9:9-11** 9 For this is the Word of promise: At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son ( _Genesis 8:10_ ) 10 And not only this; but Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; ( _Genesis 25:21_ ) 11 For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calls.

**EPHESIANS 2:10** For we ( _those whom He calls/elects_ ) are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk.

**2 TIMOTHY 1:9** God who has saved us and called us with a 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.

The idea that God elects or selects some as His servants in the world is confirmed in the Torah. There is no question He chose the children of Isaac as His, and withheld His blessing from the children of his brother Ishmael (Genesis 20:9-12; Romans 9:7-11). Scripture also records that there have been and are the "elect," the "chosen," the "ordained," and the "sheep" called to His purpose. There are some whom God knew before creation to "conform to the image of the Son" (Romans 8:29) and whom He ordained before birth (Jeremiah 1:5; John 15:16; Acts 17:31).

He chose Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca (Rebekah), Jacob, Elijah, Moses, Levi, Joshua, Rahab, Jonah, Cyrus, Esther, Naomi, Saul, David, Solomon, Zerubbabel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the rest of His prophets, John the Baptizer, Mary, the twelve apostles, Paul, et al. They were His agents on earth. Some were hesitant or reluctant to follow God's path (e.g. Exodus 4:1, 10, 13; Jonah 1:1-3), but He provided the necessary nudge, bestowing strength and guiding them on their way (Exodus 4:14-16; Jonah 3:1-3).

**EXODUS 3:10-12** 10 And God said to Moses, Come now; therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. 11 And Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12 And He said, Certainly I will be with you; and this shall be a token to you, that I have sent you...

Think also of Jonah. God directed him to "arise and go north to Nineveh." Jonah "rose to flee to Tarshish" rather than Nineveh (Jonah 1:2-3). God intervened through the instrument of a great fish that swallowed Jonah and then vomited him onto the eastern bank of the Tigris River near Nineveh. God had to tell Jonah again to "arise and go to Nineveh" which he did, reluctantly (Jonah 3:1-2).

Anyone doubting that God selects some for His purposes before birth need only look to Jacob. Jacob was the second born twin of Rebecca and Isaac. The firstborn in Jewish society receives added benefits and blessings from the parents. They had unique birthrights, and, as "first fruits," are God's by dedication.

Esau, born only moments before his twin brother Jacob, lost his birthright to Jacob because God elected Jacob as the patriarch of the Jewish people. God changed Jacob's name to Israel (Hebrew: _Ya'akov,_ persevere with God) to signify that role (Genesis 32:28).

Other examples of God choosing the second born ahead of the first for His purposes include Seth instead of Cain; Shem instead of Japheth; Isaac instead of Ishmael; Joseph instead of Reuben; Moses instead of Aaron; and David instead of his seven older brothers. Election is at the pleasure of God (Ephesians 1:5, 11-12; John 15:16, 19) and He has proclaimed His right to choose (Romans 9:15, 18).

The Jews understood that some are born for a specific purpose. Queen Esther risked death when she entered the King's chamber without being called. This act saved the Jewish people. Her father Mordecai said to her, "... Who knows whether you are come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). Scripture is full of examples where the servants of God are in the right situation at the proper time to serve Him.

Paul writes that those chosen by God before creation were spiritually alive (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4, 2:12). They were foreordained to walk in good works as His instruments.

God prophesied the coming of John the Baptizer as the "voice" that would "cry" of Jesus' coming (Isaiah 40:3-5), and the angel Gabriel announced to Zacharias that his unborn son would "go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah... to make ready for the Lord a people prepared" (Luke 1:13-17). John's role in life was assigned by God before he was born.

The salvation of any soul comes by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:5-10). Even the salvation of His elect is the result of sovereign grace (Romans 11:4-6). They are "holy and without blame before Him in love" (2 Thessalonians 2:13; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:4).

The elect spoken of by Jesus as "the sheep" given by the Father cannot "be plucked" from His hand (John 10:25-29). They are the sheep that will not be lost. They may stray, but God will draw them back.

God watches over those He chooses. Even so, they are mortal and subject to sinning. Consider King David. God chose him and gave him great might, yet David allowed himself to be tempted by Bathsheba's beauty and he sinned greatly.

Paul, chosen by God who announced the special purpose of Paul's life to him on the road to Damascus, writes about his unending fight against the temptations of the flesh, and of the need to put on the "full armor of God" to resist the pull of sin.

The chosen are also subject to God's punishment. Moses in his frustration with the people succumbed to anger and struck a rock for water instead of speaking to it as God commanded. As punishment, he was not allowed to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land (Numbers 20:8-12).

King David did not turn his eyes away as Bathsheba bathed on an adjacent rooftop. He gave in to temptation and had her fetched. He "lay with her," knowing she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. David arranged to have Uriah killed to keep Bathsheba for himself (2 Samuel 11:1-2, 12:1-14). God's punishment was the death of David's firstborn son by Bathsheba and the forfeiture of the right to build the temple in Jerusalem.

God is omniscient and omnipotent. He is not limited as to how many, who, or when He will touch individuals for His purpose. Recall the words of Jesus to His apostles:

**JOHN 15:16** You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:

Those not among the elect or chosen can also receive the full benefits of God's gift of grace and eternal salvation. There is scriptural verification that many have and will choose Him in life or during the End Time.

Those who "hear" (receive and accept) Him "shall live" eternally (John 5:25-29). They that seek the truth, "hear" the Word, believe, repent, and are penitent, will receive the Spirit and become His. Their faith saves them (Matthew 7:7-14, 24; 25:10-13, etc.).

**HEBREWS 7:25** Wherefore He is also able to save them who draw near to God through Him ( _Jesus_ ), since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Christ prayed to the Father for the protection of those "given Him" by the Father ( _chosen_ ), and "other sheep" who would come to Him later through the Word:

**JOHN 10:14-16** 14 I ( _Christ_ ) am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known by them. 15 As the Father knows me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep ( _He was given_ ). 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one-fold and one shepherd.

**JOHN 17:6-14, 20-21** 6 I ( _Christ_ ) have manifested your name ( _Father_ ) to the men that you gave me out of the world: yours they were, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your Word 7 Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are of you. 8 For I have given to them the words that you gave me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from you, and they believe that you sent me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them that you have given me for they are yours. 10 And all mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one ( _body_ ), as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name: those that you gave me I have kept, and none of them are lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now I come to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in them. 14 I have given them your Word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through the Word; 21 That they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John reveals that those not initially of the Father who come to "see the Son, and believe on Him" will be raised up at the last day to enjoy everlasting life with Him.

**JOHN 6:35-40** 35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of the life; he who is coming to me may not hunger, and he who is believing in me may not thirst—at any time; 36 but I said to you, that you also have seen me and you believe not; 37 All that the Father does give to me will come to me; and him who _is coming_ to me, I may not cast out, 38 because I have come down out of the heaven, not that I may do my will, but the will of Him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of the Father who sent me, that all that He has given to me I may not lose, but may raise it up in the last day; 40 and this is the will of Him who sent me, that every one who is beholding the Son, and is believing in Him, may have life, and I will raise him up in the last day. ( _Young's Literal Translation_ )

This does not mean life events and actions are predestined. As pointed out before, God does not predestine anyone to act in a particular way, but knows how they will act. Destiny rests in individual hands through the exercise of self-will.

He predestines some as His, but not their every movement. He is not a puppeteer for wooden-headed models. That is not to say He is absent from the scene. Scripture reveals that there have been many reluctant servants in need of a push in the direction He wanted them to go.

His grace will choose some and lead others to Him through the Word. That does not relieve any of them of the responsibility to live as He desires, being doers of the Word.

God knows the beginning and end of all things, and everything between. He knows what choices individuals will make, but He does not make them. He knows how people will live their lives, but does not predestine how they will use their lives. What you do with your life it up to you, but He knows beforehand what choices you will make and the outcome.

Who are among today's elect or chosen? Only God knows. What is the basis of this selection? Only God knows. Have you been elected for some special purpose not yet disclosed, or have you already fulfilled an unknown special role in His service? Only God knows.

The Articles of Religion of one major denomination state in part, "Predestination to Life ( _not actions in life_ ) is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby before the foundations of the world were laid He has constantly decreed by His counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom He has chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honor."

If one believes by the Spirit that he or she might be among the chosen, the promise of eternal security does not make life a free ride. Every Christian will receive a divine report card and applicable "rewards" when standing before Christ's "Bema Seat" judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15). At issue is how individuals apply the talents (physical, cerebral, or spiritual) and use opportunities they are given. We can't select what gifts we get, but are responsible for what we do with them.

Anyone who wishes to deny the doctrine of election is put in a position of having to admit that the Word of God is undependable. There is no turning back once headed down that road. You either accept the Bible message as divinely inspired, or you don't. Scripture is not a smorgasbord for the finicky.

**JEREMIAH 1:4-5** 4 Then the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you ( _to be_ ) a prophet to the nations.

**ACTS 22:14** And he ( _Ananias_ ) said, The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you ( _Paul_ ) should know His will and see the Just One and hear the voice of His mouth.

**EPHESIANS 1:4-6** 4 As He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: 5 Having predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved.

**2 THESSALONIANS 2:13** But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

**1 PETER 3:8-9** 8 Finally, be of one mind, having compassion one for another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling: but on the contrary, blessing, knowing that you are called, that you should inherit a blessing.

FAITH AND BELIEF

Seventeenth century philosopher and mathematician Blaise Paschal reasoned that, if there is a God, He is infinitely incomprehensible and therefore unknowable. Since we can't know if He is or is not, the practical thing to do (according to Paschal) is to wager He is because that can lead to internal happiness and eternal bliss. If you wager _against_ His being, you may experience great earthly joy (unrestrained living), but, if wrong, your sinful acts will merit eternal damnation. If unsure, he reasons, it is better to believe God exists. This argument is, of course, folly. A belief based on reason alone is not sufficient.

Belief is an effortless, ephemeral function of the brain, requiring no commitment to action. Faith is an immutable condition of the heart confirmed by action. Reading about airplanes and never flying makes it easy to believe airplanes are perfectly safe. Climbing into one and taking off demonstrates faith in their airworthiness.

Believing there is a Triune Godhead may only mean you reason there is. Repenting and beginning a new life walking in His ways means you have faith there is.

Regrettably, even some Christians think belief is sufficient. They point to one of the most quoted verses in Scripture, John 3:16: "For 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 is using "believeth" here in its original sense of the word (i.e. "to entrust, commit to") (Strong G4100), not the current meaning (i.e. simply accepting as true).

Faith is a gift from God inspired by the Spirit and cannot be earned (1 John 3:24; Romans 8:14; Ephesians 2:8).

FAITH AND WORKS

**GALATIANS 2:16** Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

Elected or not, called or not, Paul tells us it is through faith (total reliance on Him) that we are saved.

**HEBREWS 11:1-32** (abridged) 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things that are seen were made of things that do not appear. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and he is dead, yet he speaks ( _through his example_ ). 5 By faith Enoch was translated ( _taken by God without dying_ ) that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He rewards those that diligently seek Him. 4 By faith Noah, being warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark to save his household; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 5 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place where he was sent to receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 11 Through faith also Sarah received strength to conceive and delivered a child when she was past age, because she judged He was faithful to what He had promised. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave a command concerning his bones. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, seeing Him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest He that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as if by dry land: but the Egyptians who attempted to do so were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were circled about for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those that did not believe, when she had received the spies in peace. 32 And what shall I more say?

Faith brings people to God, and salvation comes by faith.

**ROMANS 3:28** ... we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Yet, James in his epistle writes, "You see that a man is justified by works, and not faith alone, show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works" (James 2:18). It would appear on the surface that Paul and James disagree. They do not. Faith saves (Paul) and good works follow (James) as a expression of faith. What is the essential "good work"? It is to love and serve the Lord God in the knowledge that Christ is your Savior.

Good works please God. The faithful Christian strives daily to perform righteous deeds, not for gain, but in thankfulness. Such works are the evidence of living faith, an outward expression of love and thanksgiving.

**MATTHEW 7:17-18, 20** 17 Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 20 Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.

Not all denominations believe faith alone is the path to salvation. The Church of Rome at the Council of Trent affirmed by Vatican II (1962-1965), decreed, "If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation... and that without them... men can obtain from God through faith alone the grace of justification... let him be an anathema." Placing a requirement on salvation beyond faith (e.g. participation in the sacraments, tithing, indulgences) is a dividing point between the Protestant denominations and the Roman Catholic Church. It implies the sacrifice on the cross and faith in the risen Lord is insufficient for salvation.

Martin Luther criticized the practices of the church and drew attention to Paul's writings on salvation by faith. He summarized his position thusly: "All have sinned and are justified freely, without their own works and merits, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-25). This is necessary to believe. This cannot be otherwise acquired or grasped by any work, law, or merit. Therefore, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us..." _Martin Luther 1537._

Pope Leo X excommunicated the German priest for his thinking in contravention to the teaching of the Church of Rome. By excommunicating Luther, the pope tried to insert himself between Luther and God, denying Luther access to the sacraments believed necessary for salvation. It was a hedonistic and futile act, forgetting "whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21). There is no chain of command or ecclesiastical hierarchy involved.

Jews seek salvation by works under the Law. It is a stumbling stone because complete compliance is humanly impossible. Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law, but is a stumbling block for those without faith.

A sinner can be justified before God in faith (Romans 3:21-22, 25; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:8-11; John 3:18, 36; Acts 10:43, 16:31), rolling the burden of sin onto Him.

**LUKE 7:50** And He said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace.

**ROMANS 3:20, 28** 20 By the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in His sight: 28 Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the Law.

**ROMANS 10:9** If you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

**1 PETER 1:5, 8-9** 5 ( _You who are_ ) kept by the power of God are guarded through faith for salvation to be revealed in the last ( _end_ ) time. 8 Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you don't see Him, yet you believe and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 receiving at the end the salvation of your souls by your faith.

A criminal crucified with Jesus on that dark day called out, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom," to which Jesus responded, "Verily I say to you, Today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:42-43). That man had not lived a righteous life and was not baptized; yet his faith saved him.

God wants us to demonstrate our faith through works that glorify His name.

**MATTHEW 7:21** Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.

**MATTHEW 5:16** Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

**TITUS 3:8** This is a faithful saying, and these things you should apply constantly, that they who believe in God might be careful to apply themselves to good deeds.

**JAMES 5:15** And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

FAITH—A GIFT OF GRACE

Trust in the Lord your God! This is a major theme of the Old Testament and a command given Christians.

The Jewish people are instructed by the Tanakh to commit themselves to the Lord, trusting in His mercy and grace. The Law is the stimulus for individual action (works) pointing toward salvation.

Most Christians understand that salvation comes by faith, not by works under the Law. It is faith in Jesus Christ as Savior that sets Christians free from sin and the penalty of the Law.

Individual faith is a gift from God, a blessing of His grace. Remember the distinction between mercy and grace? Mercy is _not_ getting what you deserve; grace is receiving what you don't deserve.

**EPHESIANS 2:8** For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Those with faith sense His presence without evidence and "see" Him in their lives. They have moved beyond believing only what they can see, and see instead because they believe.

God's presence is not normally something spectacular accompanied by trumpets and fireworks. He often speaks softly. A snippet from my own experience may help illuminate the point.

The family moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970s where I would begin a new Air Force assignment. There was no on-base housing available. That meant we had to rent or buy a home. The economic conditions at the time favored owning instead of renting.

My wife, three young sons, the family cat, and I settled into a barely adequate but inexpensive motel on a busy street in the San Fernando Valley and began a home search. The tiny room, queen bed, and small table with two chairs left little space for anything but sleep.

We drove around with a real estate agent for two weeks looking for an affordable home with good schools in a safe neighborhood. Finally, we came upon an empty "fixer" we could afford, and immediately applied for a VA loan.

The house was empty for nearly eight months without any offers to buy. It needed new carpets, new paint inside and outside, new landscaping, and major roof repair, but it had potential. It cried out for an energetic young couple with sufficient vigor and a willingness to make the necessary repairs.

The real estate agent set about contacting the out-of-state owner to present our offer (full price as I recall) while we drove to Busch Gardens, an outdoor entertainment complex several miles away. Everyone in the family was suffering from "closet fever" and needed a change of scenery. The motel room had no area for play and our sons definitely needed to run off some pent-up energy at nearby Busch Gardens.

I recall our youngest, still in a stroller, spotted and wanted a light orange balloon. We bought it and carefully tied the string to his park wristband. The weather was hot and muggy, but the day turned out to be fun for all. The orange balloon seemed an especially big hit.

While still at Busch Gardens, we learned from our agent by telephone that the owner rejected our purchase offer. He would not sell to anyone using a VA loan because he would be responsible for paying the closing costs. Our agent suggested we pay those costs. We could not. We did not have the required $500. Besides, VA rules prohibited the buyer from paying the seller's closing costs. The deal appeared dead.

My wife and I were crushed. The one home we liked and could afford was no longer an option. Our agent suggested we start looking again the next morning.

A tired family packed itself into the car for the return trip to the motel. As we did, the plastic band on my son's wrist broke and the balloon floated away accompanied by wails and tears. I thought, "Perfect." Our hope of getting that home was shattered and now my son's heart was broken by his loss.

It was an unhappy ride back to the motel. No one spoke. My wife and I realized we likely lacked the energy to restart a house search. We had seen a hundred or more homes, perhaps the entire inventory in our price range, and the only suitable one slipped away.

I looked down as I lifted the stroller out of the trunk in the motel parking lot and there, rolling to me, I saw an orange balloon with my son's wristband still attached. We all saw it fly out of sight an hour earlier, driven across town, and parked at the motel. Now, somehow, there was that orange balloon. My son was happy again. We were glad for him.

Several hours later I considered there must have been a divine message in the balloon experience. Could it have been a signal that everything would somehow be all right? Had I been wrong not to trust in Him? I came to realize the message was to concentrate on what really matters (Him) and the rest will fall in place.

And what about the home? The next day the seller's and buyer's agents agreed to split the $500 closing costs by cutting into their commissions. It saved the deal. The house would be ours.

We moved in before the closing process ended. The local Sears store was the first stop after we finished signing the necessary paperwork. We applied for a credit card so we could buy paint and begin the restoration process.

Several years and hundreds of hours of self-help labor later the house had increased in value. We sold it and used the equity to buy a much larger home in a better neighborhood with excellent schools. Many years after that we had enough equity accumulated in the new house to sell again and build a custom retirement home.

Now, mortgage free and living well, it is impossible not to look back and think how the hand that guided the little orange balloon altered our lives. I learned I am not alone in steering my way through life and should focus on "the good that will not be taken away" (Luke 10:38-42).

There might have been little orange balloons in your life, events that might be considered "Epiphany experiences." If so, did you recognize them for what they represented— _Emmanuel_ — God with us?

God is with those of faith, and they "see" His works in their lives. Consider a loving, faithful, supporting spouse; the child who disappears in a crowd and shows up hours later waiting in the car; successful parenting in an increasingly perilous world; an unexpected job opportunity; a horrific car accident you walk away from; a terrible fall resulting in only minor bruises; a surprise recovery from a serious illness; the spilled coffee that keeps you from starting your morning commute on time and not being involved in a freeway accident a few miles ahead; or even something as simple as a colorful bird landing in your view unexpectedly at a time of despair. These are all situations where the faithful see the hand of God at work.

FORFEITING GRACE: BLASPHEMING THE SPIRIT

Is it possible for the faithful to fall from grace once they have accepted the Spirit? This is a serious question pondered by most Christians somewhere along their walk. The answer is similar to that given by lawyers to defendants who ask if they will be acquitted, "It depends."

In the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church it is possible to forfeit salvation by committing a "mortal" sin and remaining unrepentant. Mortal sin, unless confessed and absolved, permanently condemns a soul. Counted among such sins are heresy, schism, blasphemy, apostasy, witchery, despair, fornication, adultery, unnatural carnal sins, incest, drunkenness, sacrilege, murder, theft, robbery, and every cruel and brutal injury. Only suicide cannot be healed by repentance. As the catechism explains, "There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept His mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit." (Article 8, Sin: 1864)

Views differ among Protestant denominations. Calvinists are at one end of the continuum. They believe God is in total control. Nothing can happen that He does not direct, including salvation. He appoints some to salvation by His grace ("unconditional election"), leaving the remainder to suffer eternal damnation for their sins. A major problem with this doctrine is that nowhere in the Bible is it stated that God predestines souls to damnation.

Arminianists, on the other hand, believe salvation is available to all. It comes through the expression of free will as individuals choose to seek and have faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ. It cannot be merited through works and is available only by God's grace. The chosen of God cannot fall, but individuals who turn to Him in faith can "fall away."

This latter view is widely held throughout the Protestant community. Other denominations fall somewhere along a spectrum from predestined salvation to salvation by choice (grace), or a combination whereby some are elected to salvation by God before birth and others come to Him by the Word.

The writer of Hebrews is clear: Those who choose to be "partakers of the Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of God" can fall from grace, making it "impossible ( _for them_ ) to renew again to repentance, seeing they have crucified themselves the Son of God anew" (Hebrews 6:4-8). Some will "believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away" (Luke 8:13). The pull of the Serpent is ever present.

The "once saved, always saved" belief held by Calvinists must be very comforting, but Scripture shows it to be an empty hope. There are numerous warnings in Scripture against being overconfident about salvation and exhortations about avoiding temptations that might lead to a falling away. Such admonitions would be unnecessary if humans were incapable of becoming apostate by rejecting the Spirit of God.

Those who turn their back on truth and put their desires ahead of His distort their relationship with Him. Those who speak irreverently of the Godhead (blaspheming) are villainous and aligned with the Antichrist (John 2:22).

Jesus stated clearly: Blaspheming the Spirit is not forgiven.

**MATTHEW 12:31-32** 31 Wherefore I ( _Jesus_ ) say to you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men: but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of Man ( _Jesus Christ_ ), it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Spirit, it shall not be forgiven, neither in this world nor in the world to come.

**MARK 3:28-29** 28 Verily I say to you, All sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith so they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Spirit has no forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.

**LUKE 12:10** And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but to him that blasphemes against the Spirit, it shall not be forgiven.

"Blasphemy" is an anglicized form of the Greek term meaning injurious speech. To understand this sin fully (and avoid committing it) one must look at the context of the warning. A demon-possessed man is brought to Jesus for healing. Jesus casts out the unclean spirit, healing the man of his blindness and inability to speak. The Pharisees, wanting to discredit the source from which Jesus received His power, declared He must be casting out demons by "Beelzebub ( _Satan_ ), the ruler of demons." By attributing Jesus acts to Satan they blasphemed the Spirit, an "eternal sin" (Mark 3:29).

To deliberately reject the witness of the Spirit or credit the works of the Spirit to Satan is an act of blasphemy. Such open, willful repudiation of the Spirit is unpardonable (Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-30; Luke 12:8-10; Hebrews 3:12).

God withdrew the promise of the land from those who demonstrated a lack of faith in the Lord in the desert. The writer of Hebrews uses this as an example of how some will forfeit entrance into God's eternal kingdom by losing faith in the living God (Hebrews 3:12-19). All others, even the greatest sinners, can turn (return) to Him at any time and be saved through faith (Luke 23:43).

All who unceasingly deny the ability of God to work in the heart are beyond hope (Hebrews 6:4-8). It is better to have never known the way of righteousness than to turn away after experiencing it (2 Peter 2:20).

Those the Father "gave to" the Son (the chosen, elect) will not fall away and cannot be lost to Hm. They will be raised up again at the last day (John 6:37-39).

Those who receive the Word and come to Him in faith (therefore not among the _chosen_ ), however, " _may_ have everlasting life" (not _will_ have), allowing for the possibility of "falling away" (John 6:40).

**JOHN 6:40** And this is the will of Him that sent me ( _Jesus_ ) that everyone that sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

None of the chosen ( _"them"_ ) can fall from grace, but the self-initiating believer can be led from faith (John 10:25-29). This includes those who come to Christ for the wrong reasons (e.g. peer pressure, political correctness, sophistry, etc.). They will perish like the seeds on "stony ground."

**MARK 4:16-17** 16 And these are they which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the Word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

Many lionized Jesus as the Messiah when He rode into Jerusalem, but rejected Him later the same week when He did not fulfill their expectations. They were shallow in their faith, failed to understand Scripture, and called for His death after only four days (Luke 19:41-44).

Christians must hold firmly to their faith in the presence of the Adversary, resisting the forces of Satan by living a life of service to others to the glory of His name.

**EPHESIANS 4:11-13** 11 And His gifts were that some should be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith.

"Apologists" are not Christians making excuses for their beliefs, but individuals ready to defend their faith through the Word, historic evidence, philosophical arguments, and scientific investigations. All Christians should be prepared to do the same. (Isaiah 1:18; 1 Peter 3:15)

Many of the faithful lead virtuous, creative, inspirational lives while contributing their talents to benefit others and society. They are, in a sense, saints of God.

CONFESSING OUR SINS

**1 JOHN 1:9** If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God wants us to understand our sinful nature, ask forgiveness, repent, and avoid sinning again. Unfortunately, many denominations teach that 1 John 1:9 means that we _must_ confess our sins to another to be forgiven. If true, the work of the cross is not finished and we have a role to play in our own salvation other than faith. That is not what the Gospels teach.

Read out of context, the verse implies our salvation is contingent on something we do (salvation by works) rather than faith in what He has already done. To believe you are not forgiven until you confess your transgressions already known to God is incompatible with Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:14). Confession cannot make one "clean," only faith can (Acts 26:18).

John is calling for the personal acknowledgment of sins already known and forgiven by God. A lack of willingness to do so implies that we fail to recognize our sins already forgiven.

What if you presume you believe, but wonder if you have sufficient faith in His power? There is a simple test. If you have faith you will wholeheartedly repent of your sins. Failure to admit your sin internally and suffer remorse is an indication of incomplete faith.

Read more of what John wrote on the matter.

**1 JOHN 1:7-10** 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son _cleanses_ us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins ( _acknowledge to ourselves_ ), He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.

If we fail to acknowledge our sinfulness, we are liars. If we say we are without sin, we make Him a liar. If we admit we are sinners, we confirm the truthfulness of the Word and speak the truth.

John in his letter was writing in response to a pastor's question on how to deal with the doctrinal heresy of Gnosticism. He was reminding the pastor that if sinners turn to Christ and believe in His saving power, God will purify them of their unrighteousness _for all time_.

The words "forgive" and "cleanse" in the original Greek encompass both the past and the future, and "all" means _all_. If believers are cleansed from all unrighteousness then they are cleansed forever! Christians do not confess their sins to be saved, but because they have faith they are saved.

We are saved from sin when the Spirit enters our heart. Our confessions confirm we are _aware_ of our sinful nature, have His Spirit, and are thankful for His grace.

Many Protestants pray: "Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves." The prayer does not tell God anything He does not already know, but forces us to face the reality of their sinfulness and inability to recover without His grace.

Avoid those who preach positional sanctification at conversion and the ongoing need to "work" for progressive sanctification. Those who have received the Spirit are saved! Game over.

Confession is part of our relationship with God. It is right to acknowledge our sinfulness, be remorseful, and go into the world doing our utmost to refrain from further sin. By so doing we thankfully accept that we are already forgiven, remembering there is nothing we can do to add to what Jesus did for mankind on the cross.

**ROMANS 6:22** But now that _you have been set free from sin_ and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

REPENTANCE

If you have faith and apply it through good works, God is well pleased. He rejoices at our repentance (Luke 15:7).

**LUKE 15:18-24** 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 and am no more worthy to be called thy son: Make me as one of your hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring here the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead ( _in his sin_ ), and is alive ( _born_ ) again; he was lost ( _to sin_ ), and is found ( _returned to me_ ).

**LUKE 15:7** I say unto you that likewise, joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance.

**2 PETER 3:9** The Lord is... longsuffering, not wishing that any should perish ( _in sin_ ), but that all should come to repentance.

**MATTHEW 4:17** Repent: For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The parable of the prodigal son can be interpreted as mankind (sons of Adam) turning from the will of the Father, sinning, repenting, and returning to a proper relationship with the Father. Repentance is an expression of true faith.

**MATTHEW 9:13** ...I came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance.

**ACTS 3:19** Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

**ISAIAH 55:7** Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; for He will abundantly pardon.

BLESSINGS TO THOSE WHO OVERCOME

**ROMANS 12:21** Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Genesis and Revelation stand as bookends to the story of mankind. Genesis opens with an account of God's creation, seen and unseen. It also holds the embryo of God's final solution for sin, as war is declared between the seed of the Serpent ( _antichrist_ ) and the seed ( _Christ_ ) of the woman ( _Israel_ ) (Genesis 3:15). Centuries of enmity between Satan and Christ come to a climax in the Book of Revelation, where Satan is destroyed, and a new heaven and earth are created (Revelation 20:13-14, 21:1).

**ISAIAH 35:6-8** 6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongues of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land shall have springs of water in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those ( _God's own_ ) ...

Adam and Eve became subject to sin and death, and expelled from the Garden of Eden. God stationed "cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way" at the gate to "keep the way" of the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:22-25). Ezekiel refers to the Sword of the Lord going "up and down" among the living creatures (Ezekiel 1:13). It is a mighty weapon in God's armory (Isaiah 34:1-8; Ezekiel 10:2, 6, 7).

Some interpret Genesis 3:22-25 to mean that the cherubim and Sword of the Lord were placed there to prevent reentry by mankind. That is not necessarily the only meaning. It might have been placed there to keep the way open for the return of mankind.

Victory belongs to those who overcome the world. At the end of days, those "that overcome" will "eat" of the Tree of Life "in the midst of the paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7, 11, 22:14).

**1 JOHN 2:15-17** 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world (the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) are not of the Father, but of the world. 17 And the world will pass away, and the lust in it: But he that does the will of God ( _overcomes_ ) will abide forever.

People desire to possess the things of the world. A contemporary advertisement urges Americans to acquire things because, "You deserve it!" Getting what they _really_ deserve is the last thing most people should want.

Scripture is clear: Covetousness defiles the heart (Mark 7:21-23). The Christian path should be a High Way apart from the temptations of the world.

**1 JOHN 5:5** Who overcomes the world? It is he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

**REVELATION 2:7** ( _And Jesus said_ ) ... To him that overcomes I will give of the Tree of Life to eat, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

**REVELATION 3:5, 21** 5 He that overcomes shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels. 21 To him that overcomes will I allow to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame ( _the world_ ), and have sat down with my Father in His throne.

**REVELATION 21:7** He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

THE CERTAINTY OF RESURRECTION

**ACTS 24:15** But this I, Paul, confess to you that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust...

All souls will be resurrected. The souls of the faithful will be raised to be with Christ for eternity. Other souls will be raised to a different fate, one they alone chose.

**ISAIAH 26:19, 21** 19 Your dead shall live; together with my body shall they arise. Awake and sing you that dwell in dust: For your dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. 21 For, behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: The earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

**DANIEL 12:2** And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

**MATTHEW 25:32-34, 46** 32... and He ( _Jesus_ ) shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats: 33 And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall He say unto them on His right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

46 And ( _many_ ) shall go away into everlasting punishment: But the righteous into life eternal.

**JOHN 6:40** And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one that sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: And I will raise him up at the last day.

**JOHN 11:25-26** 25 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he is dead, shall he live: 26 And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

**ROMANS 8:11** ... if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken ( _bring to new life_ ) your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you.

**1 CORINTHIANS 6:14** ... God has raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by His own power.

**COLOSSIANS 3:4** When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory.

**REVELATION 22:1-3, 14** 1 And He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 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.

14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

RAPTURE OF THE FAITHFUL

No review of Scripture concerning the End Time would be complete without addressing the concept of the rapture. Note it is referred to as a concept. It is not a doctrine proclaimed by any major denomination. Whether one accepts it or not, it is important to understand what Scripture suggests.

**LUKE 21:27-28** 27 And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near ( _"near" antithetical to "far," not implying imminent_ ).

**1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-52** 51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

**1 THESSALONIANS 4:16-17** 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: And so shall we ever be with the Lord.

We know God will do nothing without revealing His secrets in advance through the prophets (Amos 3:7; Isaiah 42:9). Scripture provides a fairly complete picture of the march of events after God sets the End Time in motion. The prophets' message is for all people.

One event implied in several places is generally called "the rapture." It is a belief held by some that the faithful will be "lifted up" to be with Christ in heaven before the world and its unbelievers suffer God's wrath. The position of the rapture (if there is one) in the end-time progression is debatable. Some believe it will precede the seventieth-week tribulation and usher in the end.

The noun "rapture" is not found in English translations of the Bible, but the phrase "caught up" does appear. It comes from the Greek _harpázôin_ found in the Septuagint meaning "to seize upon with force" or "to snatch up." It appears in the Latin Vulgate as the verb _rapiemur_ , from which the English "rapture" is derived.

The early church had an undeveloped view of theology concerning death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul. Five occasions ruled their expectation—the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the judgment, the catastrophic end of the world, and a coming new heaven and earth. They were accepted in an unreflective fashion, thinking the end was near.

By the fifth century, St. Augustine largely allegorized the End Time based on his study of Scripture. He supported keeping the Book of Revelation in the canon, assuming it was actually written by the apostle John and carried authority. Augustine believed it largely allegorical, including the thousand-year period of peace. He did not address the issue of those caught up as described by Paul.

Martin Luther and John Calvin believed living Christians would experience the End Time on earth. Both initially rejected the inclusion of the Book of Revelation in the canon, but Luther incorporated it in his German translation. Neither addressed the question of some form of rapture.

More literal interpretations of Scripture in the 1820s developed the concept of a pre-tribulation rapture. It might have emerged from a widespread belief in the hopeless apostasy of the church at the time, fear of the great tribulation to come, the supposed nearness of the return of the Lord (imminence), and the inevitable conversion of a remnant of Jews.

This new environment developed among a few Christians in London. A Presbyterian minister, Edward Irving, believed there would be a restoration of the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12-14 before Christ's Second Advent.

One evening, the might of the Spirit is said to have rested on one of his parishioners, Miss Margaret Macdonald, as she was dangerously ill and in fear of dying. She began to experience visions. The message she reported receiving convinced her that Christ would appear twice in the End Time, first _for_ the faithful and then _with_ the faithful to rule on earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Colossians 3:4).

Some opponents of the pre-tribulation rapture view assert it was not taught before 1820, and should be attributed to Ms. Macdonald and John N. Darby alone. However, a sermon ascribed to Ephraem of Nisibis (Ephraem the Syrian, 306-373) speaks clearly that believers will ascend to heaven before the Tribulation. Ephraem was perhaps the most important of the Syrian church fathers and a witness to early Christianity in the late fourth century. His sermon _On the Last Times, the Antichrist, and the End of the World_ includes the following, "For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins." This is not proof the pre-tribulation view is correct, but does show the belief was held by some in the early church.

The Word of God can be understood to provide the foundation for a belief in the rapture. Miss Macdonald's experience focused attention on the idea anew in the nineteenth century.

The argument goes that Christ's Second Coming should not be confused with the point when He descends _near_ to the earth for the souls of the faithful departed (Thessalonians 4:13-15). This appearance of the Lord to "lift up" His people is distinct from His coming in glory to begin a thousand-year reign (if there is one) (Matthew 25:31-32).

Those who believe in the rapture are persuaded it will happen before the Wrath of God and Christ's return to rule, but are uncertain when: Before Daniel's seventieth week of years (pre-tribulation), at the midpoint (mid-tribulation), or at the end (post-tribulation).

The faithful (whether believing in the rapture or not) can take comfort in knowing they will not endure the Wrath of God when it comes upon the world (John 3:36; Romans 5:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).

**ROMANS 5:8** ... we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

These are several major lessons for me in this chapter.

Christ has departed to His Father's "house" to prepare a place for the souls of the faithful.

God chooses (elects/selects) some for His special purposes.

Salvation is by faith, not by works.

The only human activity required for salvation is faith in Jesus Christ as the risen Savior.

Individuals can forfeit grace by blaspheming the Spirit.

We confess our sins to acknowledge our thankfulness for His forgiveness.

We are to repent and not return to actions that separate us from Him.

Those who overcome the world and turn to Christ as their Savior will be resurrected to spend eternity with Him.

All souls will be raised for eternity. Where each will spend it is a matter of individual choice.

No one can save the soul of another.

Those who believe in the rapture accept that they will be raised to be with Christ before the Wrath.

You are accountable for your choices in life.

The faithful will be saved from the Wrath of God.

# Chapter 7: Things That Must Yet Come

Chapter 6 addressed the issues of the bride and bridegroom, the doctrine of election, the relationship between faith and works, the need to overcome the world, and the certainty of resurrection to eternal life. We transition here from what is understood by most Christians to the thing they seldom study: What Scripture has to say about the End Time.

Events still to be played out in God's plan for mankind receive special emphasis in this book. This is in response to the realization that few Christians know what Scripture says on the matter and they will likely not hear it from the pulpit.

God's message is clear. His plan is certain. All things we know will end. Sin and death will be overcome. Christ will rule the faithful from David's throne in Zion.

OVERVIEW

We begin this chapter with an overview of what lies ahead.

**ISAIAH 24:1-3, 5-6, 19-21, 23** 1 Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty, and makes it a waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants. 2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury. 3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: For the Lord has spoken this word.

5 ( _For_ ) the earth is defiled by the inhabitants; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the ordinance, and broken the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore has the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate:

19 The earth is utterly broken, the earth is rent asunder, and the earth is shaken violently. 20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be swayed like a hut; and the transgression will lie heavily upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. 21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign on mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His elders He shall manifest His glory.

God is unambiguous! The One that made the earth fruitful for the service and comfort of mankind will make it an empty wasteland. The Creator will judge and punish. He will pass sentence on all things. Thumb up for some. Thumb down for others. Jesus fleshes out Isaiah's skeleton prophecy above in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36) already reviewed in Chapter 3.

The start time and precise sequence of the final days are unknown. While there is no agreement among scholars on the order of end-time events, a close reading of Scripture can lead to a few calculated conclusions. We can see what, but not when. Those looking to Scripture for an end-time timeline offering the certitude of a German train schedule won't find it.

It is a mistake to spend much time trying to develop a precise chronology of end-time events. Effort should be placed instead on understanding what is to come and why. For those insisting on an outline, one possible sequence is offered below. Keep in mind there is no agreement even among reputable commentators.

Surge in apostasy (A prerequisite)

Resurgence of "Babylon" (A prerequisite)

Building of the Third Temple (A prerequisite)

Appearance of the Antichrist (A prerequisite)

Antichrist's global rule

The Antichrist Treaty of Peace

Sealing of the 144,000

Desolation of Abomination in the Temple

Great Tribulation ("Time of Jacob's Troubles")

Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (The Wrath)

Second Coming of Christ in Glory

"Bema Seat" Judgment

The Binding of Satan

Peace for 1,000 years (The Millennium)

Release of Satan and the Final Revolt

Defeat of Satan's Forces

Destruction of Satan

Great White Throne Judgment

Second Death for "The Children of Disobedience"

Passing of the Present Earth and Heaven

Creation of a New Earth and Heaven

Water of Life Offered Freely to His own.

(Note: The rapture, if there is one, will come at some point before or during the global rule of the Antichrist preceding the Day of the Lord.)

BEGINNING OF THE END

Just as Jesus expected the Jews in the first century to know from Scripture who He was and the time of His coming, He expects the faithful to study Scripture to recognize events leading to His return.

The starting gun for the end of all things is seen by many to be the signing of a treaty between Satan's agent (the Antichrist) and the nation of Israel, as revealed to Daniel by the angel Gabriel (Daniel 9:22-23). Many will accept the Antichrist as the promised messiah when he pledges to bring peace to Israel, an attribute they ascribed to the awaited messiah. The initiation of the treaty will mark the end of the interval preceding the seventieth and final week of years. It will also mark the end of the Church Age.

Isaiah, like Daniel, confirms that Israel will make a "covenant of death" with the Antichrist in the hope of securing peace. It will be another demonstration of Israel's lack of faith in God, trusting instead to a covenant of its making. For this, they will be punished.

**ISAIAH 28:15, 17-18** 15 Because you have said: We have made a covenant with death, and with hell we are in agreement, And, When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.

17 I ( _the Lord_ ) will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet; The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. 18 Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with hell will not stand; When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it.

The Jews will not be alone in their guilt. An apostate church will flourish as the Antichrist reaches the height of his might over a revived Rome-like empire (Daniel 2) and then over most of mankind. The elect will not be swayed by his words, however, but many others will fall away (Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-2).

The Antichrist will set up the abomination of desolation "in the midst" of the seventieth week, unleashing a final forty-two-month period described as the Great Tribulation (Daniel 9:27, 11:31; Matthew 14:15).

Christ refers to this intensified time of trouble as one of "great distress" (Matthew 24:15-28). It is also identified in the Bible as the "time of trial" and the "Time of Jacob's Trouble." It is the last half of the seventieth week of years.

Two Godly witnesses (perhaps Moses and Elijah, or Enoch) will be killed before the midpoint of the seven years. They will answer to God's call "come up hither" and ascend into heaven on a cloud (Revelation 11:3-13).

Look no further than Christ's own words to understand God's purpose in allowing the Antichrist to persecute the Jews. He predicted the people would call for His return in a time of distress. In point of fact, His return is conditional on a calling by Jews, (Matthew 23:39; Luke 13:35; Jeremiah 30:7).

Extreme suffering by Jews during the time will cause some to turn to Him and be saved.

**DEUTERONOMY 4:30-31** 30 When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the Lord your God, and shall be obedient to His voice; 31 He will not forsake you; neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers that He swore to them.

**DANIEL 12:1** And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:

**JEREMIAH 30:7** Alas! For that day is great, so that none are like it: It is even the time of Jacob's Trouble; but he ( _the remnant of Israel_ ) shall be saved out of it.

The Antichrist surfaces throughout The New Testament, but his title is found only in 1 John and 2 John. There, the Antichrist is identified as rejecting Jesus as the Christ, denying God the Father, and Jesus as the Son of God.

Paul in 2 Thessalonians is specific as he focuses on the End Time. He identifies the Antichrist and addresses him as "the wicked one" (KJV) or the "the lawless one" (RSV). He will usurp God's place in the temple (Daniel 9:27, 12:11; Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14) and deceive the people with signs and wonders until destroyed by the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).

**2 THESSALONIANS 2:3-5** 3 Let no one deceive you by any means, for that day ( _of the Lord_ ) shall not come, except there comes a falling away first ( _an apostasy_ ), and that man of sin ( _as the Antichrist_ ) is revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposes and exalts himself above every so called god, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

**1 TIMOTHY 4:1-2** 1 Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some ( _apostates_ ) shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

**2 TIMOTHY 4:3-4** 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (NIV)

Scripture reveals there are at least six markers to precede the Day of the Lord: 1) the return of Babylon (or another political/commercial center likened to Babylon) to a position of dominance on the world economic scene, 2) the revealing of the man of sin (the Antichrist), 3) a falling away (an apostasy) within the church, 4) the Antichrist's declaration that he is God, 5) the building of a third temple in Jerusalem where the abomination of desecration can take place, 6) and the Great Tribulation. Bring to mind again that the Day of the Lord is not the Second Advent.

Paul writes of three of these requirements in 2 Thessalonians: "The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering with him... shall not come, except there come a falling away first ( _apostasy_ ), and that man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:1-6).

Prophecy also points to the rise of Babylon to become a one of the greatest and richest cities the world has ever seen (Isaiah 13, 14, 47; Jeremiah 50-51) before being destroyed by a mighty angel (Revelation 14:6-8, 18:1-2, 9-12, 16-19). Saddam Hussein began the process before being deposed. Anyone who doubts Babylon's resurgence should take a compass and draw a 800-mile circle around the city, where the majority of the world's known oil reserves await exploitation.

As noted, the Antichrist will form a contract of peace with Israel, break the terms of the contract, and bring tribulation upon the people causing many Jews to call out to Christ for their salvation. The Great Tribulation, spoken of by the Prophet Daniel and Christ, will follow in the last half of the seventieth week.

**MATTHEW 24:21-23** 21 For then shall be a Great Tribulation; such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: But for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ, or there He is; believe it not. 24 For there shall ( _first_ ) arise false christs, and false prophets, and they shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

One purpose of the affliction of the dreadful tribulation is to gather the promised remnant of God's people who, through suffering, will turn and accept Jesus Christ as their savior (Deuteronomy 4:30-31; Matthew 23:38-39). God, through His prophets, addressed the need for the people to "acknowledge their offense" and "seek Him" before He returns (Hosea 5:15).

**HOSEA 5:15** I ( _the Lord_ ) will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.

**MATTHEW 23:38-39** 38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I say to you, You shall not see me from this time on, until you shall say, Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.

The Lord spoke of " _their_ offense," a single wrongdoing among many committed by the Jews—the failure to recognize and receive Jesus Christ as the prophesied messiah when He walked among them.

Think of the many today who deny that the Son of God walked the earth in human form as the prophesied messiah. If God punished His people for their failure to know the Old Testament prophecies and understand who Jesus was, is He likely to absolve those who have the prophets _and_ the gospels/ epistles to guide them? Ignorance of the Word is no defense.

SORROWS TO PRECEDE CHRIST'S RETURN

The intensity and proximity of the events will increase until the onset of the Great Tribulation. It will usher in an intense evangelistic period when all peoples and souls will hear the gospel message. In their misery, a remnant will call out for Christ's return (Hosea 5:15).

**MATTHEW 24:3-8, 15-18** 3 And as Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

15 When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand( _ing_ ) in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which ate in Judaea ( _Jews_ ) flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

Jesus cautioned His disciples that they should pay no attention to fallacious reports and erroneous signs that the end is drawing near. There will be false christs, wars and rumors of wars, but the end is not yet. There will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places. They are not the end, but the "beginning of sorrows."

The living will suffer greatly during the coming tribulation. Those who overcome temptation during the seven years and come out of the tribulation believing in Christ as their savior will dwell with God in heaven (Matthew 24:22; Mark 13:20; John 16:33; Revelation 2:9-11).

APPEARANCE OF THE ANTICHRIST

The angel Gabriel spoke of the Antichrist in a vision Daniel received when he was in a deep sleep:

**DANIEL 8:23-27** 23 And in the latter time ( _End Time_ ) ..., when the transgressors ( _sinners_ ) are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sentences shall stand up ( _the Antichrist_ ). 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power ( _but that of Satan_ ): And he shall destroy wonderfully ( _awesomely_ ), and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people ( _Jews_ ). 25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft ( _evil doings_ ) to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart ( _pridefully_ ), and by peace ( _seven-year treaty with Israel_ ) shall destroy many: And he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes ( _the Lord_ ); but he shall be broken without hand ( _but supernaturally through Divine judgment_ ). 26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: Wherefore shut up the vision; for it shall be for many days. 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it ( _at that time_ ).

What do we know about the Antichrist (aka foolish shepherd, worthless shepherd, idol shepherd) who will be a servant of Satan and unworthy shepherd of many?

The prophecy in Zechariah describes and condemns this shepherd, "Woe ( _utter judgment_ ) to the idol ( _foolish_ ) shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword shall be upon his arm ( _symbolic of God's justice_ ) and upon his right eye: His arm shall be ( _shall be, not is_ ) clean dried up ( _withered and paralyzed_ ) and his right eye shall be utterly darkened ( _blinded_ )" (Zechariah 11:17).

**ZECHARIAH 11:15-16** 15 And the Lord said unto me, 16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that are cut off, neither shall seek the young one nor heal that is broken, nor feed that stand still: But he shall eat the flesh of the fat and tear their claws in pieces.

This false shepherd raised up by the Lord will not be a demon or a fallen angel, but the human "seed" of Satan whose coming was promised by God (Genesis 3:15), the antithesis of the divine Good Shepherd.

John was the first apostle to sound the warning, "Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that Antichrist is coming..." (1 John 2:18). Paul adds, "Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction... And then, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 8).

He is the "prince that is to come" (Daniel 9:26) and the "beast" of Revelation 11:1-3 and 13:1-10, granted power (Daniel 8:23) by God (Zechariah 11:16) and supported by a second "beast" (the False Prophet) (Revelation 13:11-18).

There has always been speculation about the identity of the Antichrist to come. Jews believe the messiah will rise from the tribe of Dan, while Muslims believe he will ascend from the tribe of Dan. Keep in mind he is identified in Scripture in human terms, not as a global movement. He will be the shepherd of a flock, not the flock.

Church leaders in the Middle Ages mistakenly considered Islam to be the Antichrist as they watched it spread rapidly, capturing Jerusalem and defeating the Crusaders. Islam continued to expand its influence throughout the Middle East and North Africa in the seventh and eighth centuries through conversion and conquest. By 730 AD, only 100 years after Muhammad's death, the Islamic Empire stretched from the Indus Valley in the east to Spain in the west.

King Charles Martel ("Charles the Hammer") from the Frankish confederation successfully stopped Muslim expansion into Western Europe at the battle of Tours in 732. Christian kingdoms continued to gradually roll back Muslim rule, extinguishing the last organized remnant on the continent at Granada in 1492.

With the Reformation came a new candidate for the title of Antichrist in the minds of the reformers—The Roman Catholic Church. Some still believe the Antichrist, perhaps as a pope, will lead a future world ecumenical movement. He will reject the truth of the Trinity and translate his ecclesiastic force into political dominance as the head of a new world government.

While no one knows who it will be, Scripture reveals much about what he will be like. He will be a solitary, beguiling, charismatic, independent, political and religious leader (Daniel 7:8, 20, 23; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:1-10). He will be a master politician, crafter of evil, and military man without equal (Daniel 7:23) who denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22). He will expand his influence during the seventieth week, first over a revived Roman Empire (Daniel 2) and then over most of the earth as he calls on the world to worship him (Daniel 9:24-27).

One interpretation is that he will be the one who rides the beast that sits "on" or "across" seven "mountains" or "hills," depending on the translation (Revelation 17:9). That allegorical beast could represent a kingdom, nation, empire, or even a city. I believe the beast with the rider to be the same "beast" later thrown into the eternal fire— the Antichrist. The controlling rider in this case will be Satan.

Many scholars see the "seven hills" as representing Rome, hence the belief by some of a papal connection. Others believe the beast will come from an Islamic movement in that area. They are quick to point out seven mountains surround Mecca, making it a strong candidate. Mecca is the only place, coupled with "Mystery Babylon," that fits the description in Revelation of a harlot city, "the habitation of devils, and holding every foul spirit, as a cage of every unclean and hateful bird" (Revelation 18:2-3), and "the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth" (Revelation 17:5). It is both a city and an amalgamation of all that is wicked, a worthy candidate for Satan to straddle.

The renewed spread of Islam at the end of the twentieth and the beginning of the twenty-first century supports the argument it will again emerge as a dominant world power with its nucleus in a revitalized Babylon. The Muslim world could serve as the source of the controlling Antichrist.

Many wonder why God will allow the Antichrist to bring destruction upon the people. As addressed elsewhere, in their suffering a remnant of the Jews will seek Christ earnestly (Proverbs 1:28; Hosea 15:15) and turn to Him as their Savior.

**JOHN 5:43** I am come in my Father's name, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive.

Christians should be beware, but not fear the coming of the Antichrist, remembering that greater is He that is in them than he that is in this world.

**REVELATION 19:19-20** 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him ( _the Lord_ ) that sat on the horse, and against His army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

THE THIRD TEMPLE

Nearly thirty percent of the Bible is prophetic in nature. Prophecies whose times have past can be shown to be 100 percent accurate. Others have yet to be fulfilled. These deal primarily with the End Time and include the rise of the Antichrist, the tribulation, God's Wrath, Christ's return, the final judgments, the coming of a new heaven and earth, etc. Based on the accuracy of prophecies already realized, the faithful have confidence in the reliability of those remaining.

One prophesied condition of the End Time is the building of a third temple in Jerusalem. Both Isaiah and Daniel wrote of it.

**ISAIAH 2:2-3** 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house ( _temple_ ) shall be established in the top of the mountains ( _Mount Moriah is not one, but a range of mountains_ ), and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob ( _not currently standing_ );

The Lord's sanctuary in His temple will "come to pass in the last days" as the location of the prophesied seventieth-week "overspreading of abominations" (Daniel 9:27).

**DANIEL 11:31** And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice ( _permitted only in the temple_ ) and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate.

**REVELATION 11:1-2** 1 And there was given me ( _John_ ) a reed like to a rod: And the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court outside the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given to the Gentiles: And the holy city shall they tread underfoot forty and two months ( _last forty-two months of the Tribulation_ ).

An earthly temple must stand in Jerusalem as the site of the abomination of desolation. Daniel describes the "abomination" in an earthly temple four times (Daniel 8:11-17, 9:26-27, 11:31-32, and 12:11). Jesus speaks of it in Matthew 24:15 and again in Mark 13:14. Clearly there must be a temple again in Jerusalem (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

2 Thessalonians offers additional prophetic thoughts concerning the "son of perdition" sitting in a physical temple in Jerusalem (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Paul cannot be referring to the temple of God in heaven built into the throne of God. Neither Satan nor the Antichrist can enter there.

The absence of a temple in Jerusalem today is a serious matter for Jews who traditionally atoned for sins and cleansed (purified) themselves in the temple area. Blood sacrifice is the only atonement for sin prescribed in the Torah (Leviticus 17:11) and the temple in Jerusalem is where it must be offered (Leviticus 1:3, 4:26).

The "sacrilege" spoken of by Daniel and referred to by Jesus in the gospel of Matthew will involve the Antichrist standing in "the holy place" (The Holy of Holies), the most sacred portion of the temple area.

Traditional Jews believe a temple must stand before their messiah ( _Moshiach_ ) comes. The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has already crafted the required priestly vestments and necessary temple utensils. The Institute is also involved in reestablishing the Sanhedrin in preparation for a new temple. Go to www.templeinstitute.org for more information on the planned temple.

How can a third temple be built on the Temple Mount where the Dome of the Rock sanctuary now stands? The Dome is believed by many to sit on the precise spot where the first and second temples stood. It is the most famous Islamic site in Jerusalem and oldest Islamic monument in the world, where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to ascended into heaven during his "Night Journey."

There is room for a new temple north of the Dome of the Rock, centered in the area now occupied by the Dome of the Spirits cupola. Recent scholarly research indicates this, not the site of the Dome of the Rock, might actually be the location of the original Holy of Holies.

The Dome and the temple might coexist on the Temple Mount someday. Consider Revelation 11:2, where John is told: "Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles ( _non-Jews_ )."

Josephus wrote that Jewish worshipers came onto the Temple Mount from the Kidron Valley, entering through the East Gate. That gate is in line with the Dome of the Spirits, not the Dome of the Rock. There is space to build a new temple there without disrupting the Dome of the Rock. It will take a major conflict or remarkable cooperation between Muslims and Jews to allow any construction. We can trust God to work out the details.

**AMOS 9:11** ( _double reference?_ ) In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

Scripture points to a temple in Jerusalem before the End Time and perhaps a later Millennium temple more in keeping with Ezekiel 40-47. The end of all things will not begin until there is another temple in Jerusalem

ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

Satan, the Antichrist, and their agents persecute both Jews and Christians during the tribulation period. The Antichrist will break the treaty of peace with Israel after three and a half years, declare himself divine, and defile the temple. (Daniel 9:27)

The events predicted in Daniel 9, 11, and 12 are double references. In the first instance, the "vile person" or "king" in Chapter 11 is Antiochus Epiphanies and later the Antichrist.

**DANIEL 11:21-22, 36** 21 And in estate shall stand up a vile person ( _historically Antiochus Epiphanies, double reference to the Antichrist_ ), to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: But he shall come in peaceably ( _by treaty_ ) and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. 22 And with armies like a flood shall they fall before him, and shall be broken; yes, also the prince of the covenant ( _with Israel_ ).

36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper until the indignation is accomplished: For what is determined shall be done.

144,000 CHOSEN TO SERVE THE LORD

**REVELATION 7:1-4** 1... I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard them that were sealed: And there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

One-hundred-and-forty-four thousand (twelve thousand from each of twelve tribes of Israel) will be spared the Wrath and sealed as messengers of the Lord tasked to spread the gospel during the final days (Revelation 7:1-8, 14:1-5). They are Jews redeemed out of the tribulation and sealed as end-time evangelistic commandos. What the Jews once failed to do (carry God's light to the nations), they will again be sent to do. All who heed the message and turn to the Lord will be saved.

**DEUTERONOMY 4:30-31** 30 When you are in tribulation, and all these things are come upon you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the Lord your God, and shall be obedient to His voice, 31 For the Lord thy God is a merciful God; He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He swore unto them.

Two tribes are not among the messengers: Ephraim and Dan. Ephraim can be considered part of the tribe of Joseph, but Dan is missing. Jacob prophesied the people of Dan would be "a serpent by the way, an adder" in the path to salvation (Genesis 49:17). The absence of the tribe of Dan from the list confirms the consistency and reliability of biblical prophecy. This prophecy, found in the first book of Scripture, is satisfied in the last.

**EZEKIEL 33:1-5** 1 Again the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 son of man ( _Ezekiel in this instance_ ), speak to the children of your people, and say to them, When I bring the sword ( _Wrath_ ) upon a land, if the people of the land select a man from among them, and set him as their watchman, 3 and if when he sees the sword coming upon the land, he blows the trumpet, and warns the people; 4 Then whosoever hears the sound of the trumpet ( _the Word_ ), but does not take the warning; if the sword comes, and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5... But, he that takes warning ( _accepts the Word_ ), his soul shall be delivered.

**REVELATION 14:1, 4-5** 1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. 4 These are they that were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they that follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: For they are without fault before the throne of God.

The 144,000 are sealed during the End Time and present with the Lord after His return. Why, if not to continue the mission of evangelism for those souls still unsaved?

THE TRANSLATION OF THE LIVING

The faithful living in the last days will be translated. The verb "translate" is found four times in Scripture: 2 Samuel, in the sense of "to transfer" authority; Colossians 1:13, where it also means to transfer; and twice in Hebrews 11:5, in the sense of moving from a worldly to the heavenly state before death.

Jesus said, "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left" (Matthew 24:40-41).

Scripture records that Enoch was translated, but offers no information concerning the circumstances or the nature of the change involved (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5). Elijah was also caught up in a whirlwind and taken to heaven without experiencing death (2 Kings 2:1-12). What God did for Enoch and Elijah He will do for the living faithful to spare them from the Great Tribulation.

TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE

The Great Tribulation will follow the defiling of the temple midway through the seventieth week and continue for the remaining forty-two months. A remnant of living Jews (those who turn to the Lord because of the tribulation) will be spared its torment.

**ISAIAH 65:2-3, 5-8** 2 I ( _the Lord_ ) have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walked in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3 A people that provoke me to anger continually to my face; that sacrifice in gardens ( _not at the temple as prescribed_ ), and burn incense ( _to idols_ ) upon altars of brick ( _not of unhewn stone as prescribed_ );

5 They say, Stand by thyself, come not near me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose (irritant), a fire that burns all the day. 6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but I will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, 7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, said the Lord, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: Therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom. 8 Thus said the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster ( _the remnant that turns to Christ_ ), Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: So will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

**JEREMIAH 30:7** ( _double reference_ ) Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: It is even the time of Jacob's Trouble; but he ( _the remnant_ ) shall be saved out of it.

**DANIEL 7:25** And he ( _the Antichrist_ ) shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws, and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time ( _three and one half years_ ).

**REVELATION 11:2** ... and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty-two months.

**REVELATION 13:5, 7-8** 5 And there was given ( _note_ ) to him ( _the Antichrist_ ) a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue forty-two months. 7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: And power was given him over all kinds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him ( _all_ ) whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Saints of God will be martyred by the Antichrist (Daniel 7:21-22, 25). Elijah will come to turn the hearts of the people (Malachi 4:1, 5-6) and the gospel message will be available to all who choose to hear. Note again the requirement for individuals to choose to hear the Word. Many, to include a remnant of the Jews, will hear and accept Christ as their savior.

How can we be certain the Word will be be spread to all the living and the dead? Isaiah prophesied that _all_ flesh would see the glory of the Lord, Gabriel promised Mary the message of great joy would be to all people (Isaiah 40:5; Luke 2:10), and Jesus told His disciples the gospel of the kingdom would be preached in _all_ the world before the end comes (Matthew 24:13-15; Acts 2:17), even to the dead, so all might have an opportunity to gain the Spirit (1 Peter 4:6).

**MATTHEW 24:14, 21, 29** 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.

21 For then shall be Great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: ( _The Day of the Lord, Wrath of God_ )

Recapping this chapter concerning the initiation of end-time events: the Church Age (internal period where mankind is today) will end with the rise of the Antichrist. He will form a faithless treaty of peace with Israel. Satan and his emissaries will persecute Jews and Christians as the Antichrist rules much of the world for seven years. The Antichrist will break his treaty midway through the seventieth week of years, defile the temple in Jerusalem, and declare himself God. The Great Tribulation spoken of by Jesus will follow for the remaining three and a half years, after which Christ will return with His angel army to defeat wickedness in what Scripture refers to as "The Day of the Lord."

What special messages did you receive in reading this chapter? For me:

God's plan for mankind, made before time, will unfold inexorably to its appointed end.

A third temple will be built in Jerusalem.

The appearance of the Antichrist will mark the beginning of the end.

Great human suffering will precede Christ's return.

It will be the "Time of Jacob's Trouble", but not for the Jews alone.

The gospel message will be available to all, both living and dead.

Many in distress will hear the Word, call on the Lord, and be saved.

# Chapter 8: Vengeance of the Lord

**ZEPHANIAH 1:7, 15, 18** 7 The Day of the Lord is at hand: For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated His guests.

15 The day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver the wicked in the day of the Lord's wrath...

**MATTHEW 24:29-30** 29 Jesus continued saying, Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven ( _but not yet to the earth_ ) with power and great glory.

End Time prophecy continues to play out before John's eyes. The Day of the Lord begins as God works His purpose on the wicked.

The Lord has remained indescribably patient with mankind since Adam. He is a just God and can no longer tolerate the sins of the wicked. The time has come for Him to "punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity," the proud for their arrogance, and the terrible for their haughtiness (Isaiah 13:11).

The Wrath of God will circle the globe and end at Armageddon when the seventh "bowl" of wrath is poured out upon "the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world" and a "great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne," declares, "It is done" (Revelation 16:14-17).

Likely the earliest reference to the Day of the Lord is found in the Book of Enoch, Noah's grandfather and seventh in the line from Adam. The book existed centuries before the birth of Christ and yet seems more Christian in its theology than Jewish. It was treated as Scripture by early Christians, but removed from the canon by the Council of Laodicea in 364 in the belief it was not truly inspired and of unclear origin. It is now found in the Apocrypha. Jude and James both quote from the Book of Enoch.

**ENOCH 1:2-9** 2 ... Enoch a righteous man, whose eyes were opened by God, saw the vision of the Holy One in the heavens, which the angels showed, and from them I heard everything, and from them I understood as I saw, but not for this generation, but for a remote one which is to come. 3 Concerning the elect, I took up my parable concerning them: The Holy Great One will come forth from His dwelling, 4 And the eternal God will tread upon the earth on Mount Sinai and appear in the strength of His might from the heaven of heavens. 6 And the high mountains shall be shaken, and the high hills shall be made low, and shall melt like wax before the flame. 7 And the earth shall be wholly rent in sunder, and all that is upon the earth shall perish ( _the faithful have already been translated_ ), And there shall be a judgment upon all... 8 But with the righteous He will make peace, and will protect the elect, and mercy shall be upon them. 9 And behold! He comes with ten thousands of His holy ones to execute judgment, and to convict all flesh of all the works of their ungodliness which they have committed, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him. ( _See Jude 14-15_ )

The blindness of the Jews to the Word, addressed earlier, will be removed and the souls of all who call on the Lord will be saved. Christ will then come again (Mark 13:24; Revelation 19), to rule from the throne of David in Jerusalem for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4-6).

Be clear in your understanding of the difference between the Day of the Lord (darkness and wrath) and the day of Christ's return (rejoicing and peace). Christians will not endure the Day of the Lord or suffer God's wrath when Christ comes in the clouds with the heavenly host, but will join in the day of His return to earth to rule for ever and ever. (Mark 13:26).

**ISAIAH 13:6-11, 13** 6 Howl you; for the Day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: 8 And they shall be afraid: Pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman travails: They shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. 9 Behold, the Day of the Lord comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: And He shall destroy the sinners. 10 The stars of heaven and the constellations shall not give their light: The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not shine. 11 And I ( _the Lord_ ) will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

13 Therefore, I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall move out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of His fierce anger.

**AMOS 5:18** Woe to 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.

**NAHUM 1:2-3, 6** 2 God is jealous, and the Lord revenges; and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies. 3 The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not acquit the wicked: 6 Who can stand before His indignation? And who can abide in the fierceness of His anger?

**2 PETER 3:10** ... 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 therein shall be burned up.

Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). The Day of the Lord is a time of His justifiable retribution (Isaiah 34:8), destruction (Joel 1:15), and darkness (Amos 5:18) when mighty men will cry deeply (Zephaniah 1:14-18; Revelation 14:15).

The people are warned in Scripture, but most will not prepare (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10). As in the days of Noah, they will not make ready (Matthew 24:36-39; 2 Peter 3:1-7). Not until the rains began did they seek safety in the ark, and no man could open the door God shut.

All who believe and turn to the Lord in faith are spared (Joel 2:12-14, 2:30-32; Jeremiah 30:7). There is time for individuals and nations to avoid God's punishment (Zephaniah 2:2-3). Many Jews upon whom He called will heed the Word, call on Him, and be delivered.

**ZECHARIAH 13:8-9** 8... two parts ( _of the Jews_ ) therein shall be cut off and die; but the third ( _a remnant_ ) shall be left therein ( _secured_ ). 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: And they shall say, The Lord is my God. ( _Revelation 9:15, 18_ )

Read what the prophet Joel wrote about the Spirit being poured out on _all_ flesh and the presence of a remnant the Lord will call.

**JOEL 2:11-12, 28, 32** 11 And the Lord shall utter His voice before His army ( _of angels_ ): For His camp is very great: He is strong that executes His word: The Day of the Lord is great and very terrible, and who can abide it? 12 Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Those who say God loves all mortals and will not bring His vengeance against even the wicked do not know Scripture. God is just. He must punish evil.

ASSURANCE TO THE FAITHFUL

A great many Christians are reluctant to undertake an in-depth study of the End Time, particularly the prophecy of Daniel and the Book of Revelation. They reason, "The subject is too mystical." "It is too complicated and depressing." "It's really only allegory, right?" "It can't be important because they don't discuss it in church." They hear of the coming Day of the Lord and of His judgment, and tremble. The faithful need not be frightened by what prophecy reveals about the End Time.

The Book of Revelation is actually a testimony of great promise and hope for those who believe in Christ. If they read it carefully they will understand their souls will not face God's wrath (Romans 5:8-9).

It is the only book in the Bible promising a blessing to every reader (Revelation 1:3; 22:7). The twenty-two chapters lift a veil on "what soon must take place" (Revelation 1:1). It is a revelation "to John" not by him. The Father is the source, Christ the revealer, an angel of Christ the conveyer, and John the scribe.

The gospels record the events surrounding the First Advent. The Book of Revelation records the events associated with the Second Advent. Jesus Christ tells John to record the things he sees; those that _have been_ , _are_ , and _will be_. The things that _have been_ involve John's vision of the risen Lord (Chapter 1). The things that _are_ can be found in the letters to the seven churches (Chapters 2 and 3). Finally, the mantle is lifted on what will be after these things ( _meta tauta_ ) (Chapters 4-22).

The emphasis is on Good News: The promise of victory over wickedness and a final gathering of the faithful with Christ.

**REVELATION 7:9-10** 9 After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, from all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb.

**REVELATION 7:13-17** 13 And one of the elders ( _said_ ) What are these that are arrayed in white robes? And from were did they come? 14 And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they that came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: And He that sits on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sunlight on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Among them are those transformed by the tribulation, many secured by God's 144,000 Jewish evangelists (Revelation 7:14) who joined the faithful in heaven. They are the "fruits" of the gospel, and the Lamb will lead them to "living fountains of waters" (Revelation 7:17).

The faithful will be with Christ in heaven prior to the Wrath of God (John 3:36; Romans 5:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).

**JOHN 3:36** He that believes in the Son has everlasting life: And he that does not believe in the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God will rest on him.

**ROMANS 5:8-9** 8 God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

**1 THESSALONIANS 5:9-10** 9 For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

PROPHECY OF WRATH - THE DAY OF THE LORD

Revelation Chapters 6 through 18 are judged by many scholars to be an elaboration of the events during the "Seventieth Week" of Daniel 9. The five seals of Revelation 6 are the first judgments of the Antichrist, the one who rides the white horse. The opening of the first seal summons forth the fabled "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" riding powerful steeds, one white, one red, one black, and one pale.

The four riders are often characterized as symbolizing Conquest, War, Famine, and Death, respectively. They are harbingers of what will soon befall the earth. Do not confuse this rider of this white horse with the rider in Revelation 19, the one called "Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges". The intensified period to follow begins with the opening of the sixth seal and is often referred to as the Great Tribulation after Christ's description of the time as one of "great distress" (Matthew 24:15-28).

**REVELATION 5:1-3, 5-10** 1 And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne ( _God_ ) a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals to it? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

5 And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David ( _Christ the Lord_ ), has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals of it. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain. 7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals of it: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by our blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

**REVELATION 6:1-9, 12-17** 1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. 5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. 7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

12 And I beheld when He ( _the Lamb_ ) had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casted her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

**MATTHEW 24:16, 21, 24, 26, 29-30** _(abridged_ ) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 21 For _then_ shall be great tribulation ( _in the second half of the seventieth year_ ) such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 24 For there shall arise _false_ christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He ( _Christ_ ) is in the desert; go not forth: Behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 29 Immediately _after_ the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory ( _bringing the Wrath of God after the Great Tribulation_ ).

God's Wrath is revealed and described in Revelation Chapters 7-19. It falls upon a sinful world during the Day of the Lord.

The event is written of thirty-one times in ten books of the Old Testament, in the gospels, and in the epistles. A sampling is offered to remove any doubt that wickedness will be punished in the End Time.

**ISAIAH 2:17-19** 17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. 18 And the idols He shall utterly abolish. 19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake terribly the earth.

**ISAIAH 42:14** I have long time held my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: Now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

**ISAIAH 66:15-16** 15 For behold, the Lord will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by His sword The Lord will judge all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many.

**JEREMIAH 30:23-24** 23 Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: It shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. 24 The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return until He has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart: In the latter days you shall consider it.

**MALACHI 4:1** For, behold, the day comes that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: And the day that comes shall burn them up, said the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

**ROMANS 1:1** For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

God is just. He must punish the wicked, but it will give Him no pleasure. He desires instead that the wicked turn from their ways and live (Ezekiel 33:10-11).

CHRIST AND HIS WARRIOR ANGELS

As He rose to speak in the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath following His return from the desert, Jesus was handed a scroll containing the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened to Chapter 61 and began reading, but stopped mid-sentence and said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:16-21).

Jesus did not complete the verse that goes on to prophesy God's day of vengeance. He proclaimed He was the Anointed One but withheld what was to come, for it was not yet time.

**ISAIAH 61:1-2** 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord... ( _He stopped midsentence and closed the book, not finishing the prophecy_ ) and the day of vengeance of our God.

**LUKE 4:20-21** 20 And He closed the book, and He gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him. 21 And He said to them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

He declared He is "the One, the Lord anointed to preach the good tidings, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty and the acceptable year of the Lord." He could not declare it was the day of vengeance to come. He later briefed His disciples.

**MATTHEW 13:40-43** 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, 42 and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.

**2 THESSALONIANS 1:7-8** 7... Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

**REVELATION 14:14-16** 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: For the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And He that sat on the cloud thrust His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

**REVELATION 16:16** And He gathered them ( _the spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world_ ) together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

ARMAGEDDON

The noun and place name Armageddon (Hebrew: _har meggido, mountain of Meggido_ ) appears only once in Scripture (Revelation 16:16). It is a strategic location at the head of the pass running through the Carmel Ridge overlooking the Valley of Jezreel, the site of many decisive battles in biblical times.

The Valley of Jezreel is the largest and most fertile valley in Israel, and where we are told the seventh vial will be poured into the air as a great voice from the throne of God declares, "It is done!" After this, Christ will return to earth. (Scholars debate if the valley below Maggido might only the enemies staging point, with the actual conflict fought in the Valley of Jehoshaphat closer adjacent to Jerusalem. Recall, Jerusalem is the focus of this war.)

Megiddo today is an archaeological tel composed of twenty-six layers of ruins from ancient cities. It is likely the site where the fury of the Lord will conquer the kings of the earth, capture the beast and the false prophet (Revelation 19:11-21), and Satan and the nations of Gog and Magog will gather for a final rebellion against the Lord (Revelation 20:7-9).

**REVELATION 16:16-18, 21** 16 And He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 18 And there were voices, and thunder, and lightning; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about one hundred pounds: And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceedingly great.

On a point only scholars debate, the Valley of Jezreel may merely be the enemy's staging point. The actual conflict might be fought in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, which lies in and around Jerusalem and descends to the Dead Sea Valley. Recall, capturing Jerusalem is the focus of this war.

The battle ends and the day is won. Satan's armies are defeated. He is captured and restrained in the bottomless pit by a great chain for a thousand years.

ALL WHO CALL ON THE LORD TO BE SAVED

**DEUTERONOMY 4:29-31** 29 But if you shall seek the Lord your God, you shall find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in tribulation, and all these things are come upon you, even in the latter days, if you turn to the Lord your God, and shall be obedient to His voice. 31 For the Lord thy God is a merciful God; He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He swore unto them.

**MATTHEW 7:7-8** 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. ( _See also Luke 11:9-10_ )

**REVELATION 3:20** ... If any man hears my voice ( _the gospels_ ), and opens the door, I ( _Jesus Christ_ ) will come in to him... (Revelation 3:20).

God's mercy and grace are incomprehensible and everlasting. He is just and will make His Word available to the living and the dead. Those who knew Him only in nature and lived by moral laws (as they understood them) will receive the Word through His unfathomable grace (John 5:25, 28-29). All who turn to Him, including those who first rejected Him, will be saved through His grace.

**REVELATION 14:6-7** 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: Worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

The "everlasting gospel" will be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people (Isaiah 11:9; Habakkuk 2:14; Zechariah 14:8-9; Revelation 14:6). It will cover the earth as "the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:09). All who listen and hear and call on the Lord shall live.

**JOHN 5:25** Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: And they that hear shall live.

**1 PETER 4:6** For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit.

The gospel will reach the souls of the dead. To think otherwise questions God's righteousness and equity. A loving God would not unilaterally disenfranchise the souls of those conceived before Christ entered the world offering salvation to mankind.

There are theologians and denominations that disagree. Yet, Scripture seems to point to that conclusion. Belief in this final act of grace should offer consolation to those whose loved ones died before finding Christ.

The love of God for all people and His restoration of many, bears witness to His unfathomable patience. His promise remains, "seek me and live." All who turn to Him at any point shall inherit eternal life (Revelation 3:5; Acts 2:21), but those who reject Him will suffer a "second death," for even souls can die again (Ezekiel 18:20).

Let me reemphasize the message of hope for the souls of the departed. God called on 144,000 evangelists to reach out to the living during the tribulation period, providing those alive at the time with an opportunity to turn to Christ. Wouldn't a just Creator do the same for the multitudes who never had an occasion to know Christ, either because they lived before the first Easter or lacked access to the Word? That is the loving God I worship.

If faith in Christ as the Savior is the key to eternal life with Him, then every soul must have an opportunity to choose Him.

This might be the mission of the 144,000 after the Wrath and before the Great White Throne Judgment. Although assigned to evangelize to the living during the tribulation period preceding the Wrath (Revelation Chapter 7), the 144,000 remain with the Lamb after His return as He stands on Mount Zion (Revelation 14:1). Their evangelistic mission might not be limited to the living during the tribulation, but include the souls of the dead not yet saved.

Recall also that Christ descended to hell to carry the gospel message to the deceased, and in Revelation Chapter 1 Christ states He "has the keys ( _past, present, and future_ ) to death and Hades" (Revelation 1:17-19). Additionally, Psalm 139 states Christ transcends all boundaries, including between Heaven and Hell (Psalm 139:8). "Christ will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him" (Hebrews 9:28).

No man comes to the Father "but by" Christ (John 14:6). Christ told His disciples that even the dead will hear His voice (John 5:27-29). Consider, will the souls of the dead who never had an opportunity to know of Him in life (Jew and Gentile alike) receive the Word, have an opportunity to choose Him, and gain passage to eternal peace (Also see Matthew 12:40; Ephesians 4:9-10)? God is righteous. Anything is possible.

THE REMNANT

God is unequivocal. His promises are clear.

**2 CHRONICLES 7:14** If my people, which are called by my name ( _Exodus 20:7_ ) shall humble themselves ( _Deuteronomy 8:2; 1 Peter 5:5_ ) and pray ( _Matthew 6:5-15_ ) and seek my face ( _Matthew 6:33_ ) and turn from their wicked ways ( _Matthew 5_ ) then shall I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

**ISAIAH 49:14-15** 14 But Zion said, The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me. 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget you ( _Israel_ ).

**JEREMIAH 33:8, 10-11** 8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me. 10 Thus says the Lord; Again there shall be heard in this place... 11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts:

**JEREMIAH 50:20** ( _Speaking of those returning from Babylon and likely the final remnant_ ) In those days, and in that time, says the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: For I will pardon them whom I reserve.

**AMOS 9:8** Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob ( _a remnant will be saved_ ), says the Lord.

**ZECHARIAH 13:8-9** 8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, says the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

**JOEL 2:32** ... whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. ( _Also Acts 2:16-17, 21_ )

The Jews did not serve God as He instructed. In response, God blinded them to the Word until the fullness of the Gentiles "has come in" (Romans 11:25). Their eyes will be opened in the End Time. Those who accept the Lord as their Savior will be added in before God closes the door to the Lamb's marriage supper. Beyond that point, none can enter (Matthew 25:1-12).

By rejecting the Messiah and the gospel message, the Jews became alienated from God, yet they remain a blessed people for His name's sake. Paul writes God "concluded" them to unbelief in blindness so He could have mercy on those who call for the Lord (Romans 11:32).

**ISAIAH 35:4-5** 4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: Behold, your God will come with vengeance, even with recompense; He will come to save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

**ISAIAH 54:5, 7, 10** 5 For your Maker is your husband; the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called. 7 For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you. 10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills removed; but my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, says the Lord that has mercy on you.

**JEREMIAH 31:7, 31** 7 For thus says the Lord; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: Publish, praise, and say, O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel. 31 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, said the Lord, 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.

"They shall be my people" is a promise founded in grace. The Jewish people willingly called Him "our God" when His strength was exercised in their favor. Despite this, they turned from Him often, praying instead to images of their own making. Their conversion under the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-13) will lead to the restoration of God's favor and blessing (Hosea 2:19-20, 23), and God will redeem a remnant of the living and the dead (Ezekiel 37:11-14, 21; Romans 11:5, 11:26; Revelation 12:17).

**HOSEA 2:16-19** 16 And it shall be at that day, said the Lord, that you shall call me My Husband and shall no more call me My Master. 17 For I will take away the names of Baalim ( _false gods_ ) out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. 18 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. ( _See also Isaiah 11:6-9_ ) 19 And I will betroth you to me ( _enter into a marriage contract_ ) forever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. ( _Also see Jeremiah 31:31-3_ )

God will shower mercy on the residue. He will make them prosperous (Zechariah 8:11-12) in accord with His new covenant (Isaiah 59:20-21). Those who turn to Him shall "not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: For they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid" (Zephaniah 3:13).

Jews regard Babylonia during the exile and lands where they were scattered during the Diaspora as "graves." The prophecy of the Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37) is a triple reference to a symbolic "coming up out of your graves:" 1) the return from political death in Babylon, 2) the return from foreign "graves" in 1948, and 3) the final gathering of the remnant in the End Time (Zechariah 8:3-12). (Compare Ezekiel 6:8 with Hosea 13:14.)

Zion shall remain forever the place where their seed will dwell (Psalm 69:24-36).

**GENESIS 12:1-3, 13:14-16, 15:18, 17:7-8** (Reviewed previously)

**ISAIAH 10:20-22** 20 And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more lean on them that smote them; but shall lean on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth ( _the Word_ ). 21 Only a remnant of them will return, even a remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. 22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return:

**ROMANS 11:2, 5, 23-26** 2 God has not cast away His people that He foreknew. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 23 And they also, if they no longer abide in unbelief, shall be grafted back in: For God can graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted into a good olive tree: How much more shall these, which are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 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 gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved:

Paul's statement, "And so all Israel shall be saved" is difficult for many to understand in light of Jesus admonishment that only those who believe (trust) in Him will find salvation. Paul is not suggesting that those who continue to deny Christ as the Messiah will be gathered, but only "they that abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in" (Romans 11:23). (Also see Daniel12:1-3)

Not every lost soul of Jewish descent will be saved. Embracing Jesus Christ as Messiah will save those in the remnant individually. The Bible is clear: faith in Him is a requirement (Matthew 23:39, Zechariah 12:10-11). Jesus will return when God turns the focus of His saving mercies on Israel and a remnant responds to God through Jesus Christ.

Even in the End Time, Satan will work his guile to keep souls from turning to the Lord, particularly the Jews. He will even make war on the remnant of the seed who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

**REVELATION 12:1-5, 15-17** 1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman ( _Israel_ ) clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars ( _tribes_ ): 2 And she being with child ( _the Messiah_ ) cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon ( _Satan_ ), having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail swept down the third part of the stars of heaven ( _rebellious angels_ ), and cast them to the earth: And the dragon stood before the woman that was ready to be delivered, ready to devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she brought forth a man-child ( _Jesus the Christ_ ), who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and her child was caught up ( _ascended_ ) to God, and to His throne.

15 And the Serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman ( _Israel_ ) that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood that the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was wrathful with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed that keeps the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

This chapter confirms:

Satan will relentlessly pursue his plan to gather souls for his kingdom, even during the End Time.

Christ and His angels will war against wickedness and the armies of Satan.

The faithful will not suffer.

The souls of the departed will receive the gospel message.

Many will accept Christ as their Savior

A remnant of His people will accept Jesus as the Messiah and become His forever.

# Chapter 9: The Second Coming and the Millennium

RETURN OF THE MESSIAH

**HEBREWS 9:27-28** 27 And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. (RSV)

**ISAIAH 40:3-5, 10-11** 3 The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 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: 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

10 Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: Behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. 11 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Christ will return "apart from sin" to bring judgment and salvation. He shall shepherd His flock "for ever and ever" from a throne in Jerusalem, fulfilling the promises in the Old and New Testaments. He comes "in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end" (Nicene Creed).

**REVELATION 19:1-2, 6-8, 11-16** 1 And after these things I heard a great voice of many people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord. 2 For true and righteous are His judgments: For He has judged the great whore ( _woman on the beast—Revelation 17:3-6_ ), which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and He has avenged the blood of His servants at her hand.

6 And I heard as if it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunder, saying, Alleluia: For the Lord God omnipotent reigns. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: For the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife ( _the Church_ ) has made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: The fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon it was called Faithful and True ( _Christ_ ), and in righteousness He does judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He himself. 13 And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies that were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of His mouth came a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: And He shall rule them with a rod of iron: And He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Christ will come with His Church to rule the nations as King from His throne in Jerusalem, fulfilling God's promise to David (2 Samuel 7:16) and Mary (Luke 1:32). Satan will be captured and imprisoned (Revelation 20:1-3) as Christ prepares to rule on earth for a thousand years. All souls will be judged, and the armies of Satan defeated. Heaven and earth shall "pass away" to prepare the way for a new heaven and earth. The holy city, a New Jerusalem, will come out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:1-4).

The concept of a messiah ruling on an earthly throne in the Holy City has its roots in Hebrew eschatology.

**ISAIAH 2:2, 4** 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the Lord's house shall be established on the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. 4 And He shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people: 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.

**ISAIAH 9:6-7** 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

This concept carried over into early Christianity with the promise of a thousand-year period of peace to precede a new heaven and earth (Revelation 20:5-6, 21:1-2). Accepting the absolute truthfulness of the Hebrew Canon underlies the certainty that Christ will rule from David's throne. Accepting the truthfulness of The New Testament underlies the certainty that His provisional rule will last for a literal one thousand years before the end comes. Recall He taught His disciples (and us) to pray for the coming of His kingdom "on earth" (Luke 11:2).

God's explicit and unconditional commitment to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a major political issue challenging the world today. God's covenant concerning the land (Genesis 17:18-21) is seemingly irresolvable by human will. It must, therefore, wait to be resolved by God.

A MILLENNIUM OF PEACE

Not all denominations believe there will be a distinct one-thousand year period of peace on earth before the end of days. Consider what Scripture reveals.

**REVELATION 20:3-6** 3 And he ( _Satan_ ) was cast into the bottomless pit, and shut up, and a seal was set upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years should be fulfilled: And after that he must be loosed for a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them: And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; ( _to include the Raptured_ ) and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that is part in the first resurrection: On such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

The resurrection of the souls of the martyred and faithful is referred to as the "first resurrection." It is a category, not a single event. Note all others are raised after the thousand-years. The utopian Theophany must, therefore, be an actual event.

Those who died without accepting Christ as their Savior are not part of the Millennium and remain under the curse of the "second death" until the Great White Throne Judgment of all without the Spirit. Keep in mind, God destines no one the second death. Individuals assign themselves to a second death by choosing not to walk in the path God prepared.

There are additional references to the Lord's pre-Kingdom earthly reign noted in Hebrew Scripture.

**ISAIAH 24:23** Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously.

**ISAIAH 51:11** ( _Double Reference_ ) Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

**ISAIAH 65:20, 24-25** 20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that has not filled his days: For the child shall die a hundred years old ( _death still a factor_ ); but the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed.

24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: And dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy on all my holy mountain, said the Lord.

The verses in Isaiah cannot be addressing the eternal kingdom still to come, for in these passages the Lord rebukes the wicked nations, the sun and moon still circle the globe, and death still exists. There will be no wickedness, no sun or moon, and no death in the eternal kingdom to come at the end of all things.

The verses in Isaiah cannot be addressing the eternal kingdom still to come, for in these passages the Lord rebukes the wicked nations, the sun and moon still circle the globe, and death exists. There will be no wickedness, no sun or moon, and no death in the eternal kingdom to come at the end of all things.

DEFEAT AND DESTRUCTION OF SATAN

**REVELATION 20:7-8** 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Satan will be released into the world again after his bondage. That is a mystery on par with why God created Satan and granted him earthly powers to do evil. Both points are worth addressing.

He was created "good," as were all things. Angels, like mortals, were endowed with freewill. Satan's prideful nature caused him to fall from grace.

God in His omniscience knew Satan's pride would make him think of himself as godlike. When he did, God cast him out of heaven and into the world with power to tempt humans to sin. Satan's conquests in the world substantiate the sinful nature of mortals without the Spirit. Even the faithful are forced to acknowledge their inability to avoid sin through natural strength alone.

Satan's conquests confirm for mortals the reality of their innate sinfulness. Without Satan, and the often irresistible temptation he brings, humans would fail to understand and acknowledge their need to rely on God's mercy and grace: His mercy for not imposing the punishment they deserve, and His grace in bestowing blessings they do not deserve.

Satan will be released from bondage in the pit after the Millennium to demonstrate anew the persistent sinfulness of the human soul. The human genome is so polluted that, even after witnessing the power and glory of Christ, some will choose to follow Satan confirming for a final time the depravity of human nature without the Spirit.

Satan will gather many from around the world to confront the Lord of Hosts in a conclusive battle. He will be defeated, joining his ambassadors and false prophets in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10).

**REVELATION 20:9-10** 9 And they ( _armies of Satan_ ) went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed about the camp of the saints, and the beloved city: And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.

HEAVEN AND HELL—ARE THEY REAL?

This is a good place to address the issue of whether Heaven and Hell are real or merely indefinable abstractions.

Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father which art in heaven..." (Luke 11:2). There is a literal heaven, but not the one most Christians visualize!

The noun "heaven" appears 997 times in the KJV from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 21:10. Christ ascended to heaven following His earthly death (Mark 16:19). He sits on the right hand of the Father in heaven until He comes again to rule on earth (Revelation 4:1-6, 5:13, 21:1-27).

Christians and Jews acknowledge that God reigns from His throne in a place of wondrous beauty. Many picture it as an ethereal setting where the saved will be with God. That is not totally accurate. The Holy City has discernible physical properties and His eternal kingdom will not be on a cloud somewhere, but on a new earth (Revelation 1:1-2, 21:1-27). Will it be an orbiting globe? Scripture is not clear. The words "heaven" and "earth" in English come from Hebrew/Greek words meaning, _the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it_ (Strong's G3772) and _arable land, ground, standing place_ (Strong's G1093).

Christ has gone to prepare a place (John 14:3), a beauteous city (Revelation 21:10-21) shining with the light of God's glory (Revelation 21:23) where there will be no death, sorrow, or pain (Revelation 21:4). The River of Life will run through it (Revelation 22:1) with the Tree of Life on either side (Revelation 22:2). The Throne of God and the Lamb will be at its center (Revelation 22:27).

It is a place of holiness (Revelation 21:27), unity (Ephesians 1:10), perfection (1 Corinthians 13:10), and joyfulness (Psalm 16:11) for all eternity (John 3:15; Psalm 23:6), devoid of the wicked (John 11:25-26; Mark 12:24-27).

**ISAIAH 64:4** For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what He has prepared for those that wait for Him.

**1 CORINTHIANS 2:9** ... Eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, neither have entered the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.

Even the faithful are incapable of fathoming the glory of what God has prepared. We cannot imagine what the mind cannot comprehend

Hell is also an actual place and not like what most think. Jesus holds the keys to Hell, which implies it is a location or venue, perhaps with physical qualities (Revelation 1:18). The noun "Hell" appears more than fifty times in the KJV, first in Deuteronomy (32:22) and finally in the Book of Revelation (20:14).

Jesus spoke of Hell as a tangible place (Matthew 13:40-42, 18:8-9, 25:41, 46). The Apostles' Creed states that Christ descended into Hell (implying direction and dimension), and rose again and ascended into heaven (again, direction to an actual place).

The nouns Hell, Hades, Sheol, Gehenna, etc. have been muddled over the centuries through translation and interpretation. By whatever name, Hell is an intermediate abode for the souls of some of the dead. Following Christ's return and the final judgment, its inhabitants are cast into the lake of fire (Gehenna) to experience the second death.

Believers are born twice (once to life and once in the Spirit) and die once to the grave before being raised as God's own. Non-believers are born only once and die twice, once to the grave and once to eternal damnation.

Hell (always a temporary abode) appears in the gospels as having two components, one a resting place for souls waiting to be called to the Lord and another a setting of torment, with a fixed gulf between. Jesus describes the conditions in the story of the beggar Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31). King David in Psalm 16 acknowledged the transient nature of Hell, a place where his soul would rest until called to the Lord (Psalm 16:9-11).

The reality of "Hell, fire, and brimstone," once a common message in churches, is seldom spoken of from the pulpit today. Politically correct messengers normally steer around such controversial shoals. They forego addressing the issue of God's judgment and punishment, focusing instead on His love and grace. It is appropriate to preach the "Good News", but not at the exclusion of the very real issues of judgment and the second death.

Souls will experience eternity under different circumstances based on a choice made in life. Some will experience a literal "lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14).

There are many warnings in Scripture about resignation to that unwavering destiny. Dante Alighieri's epic work _The Divine Comedy_ is an allegorical vision of an afterlife reflecting the mythological view of the Roman Catholic Church in the Middle Ages. It is a political satire wherein Dante travels with Virgil through descending circles into an imaginary Hell. Dante postures those in Hell are there for loving the wrong things—the stuff of the world instead of God. It is great literature, but the images are not biblically sound.

The mind pictures painted by Dante are generally contrary to what can be learned from Scripture. He did get one thing right, "Abandon every hope, all you who enter...".

THE JUDGMENTS

**ECCLESIASTES 12:14** God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

**PSALM 98:12-13** 12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 13 before the Lord: For He comes to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.

A television reality show housewife invited her pastor and his wife over for dinner. During the conversation she admitted to several dalliances and that she is not concerned because, "God loves me and will not judge me for what I did." The pastor sat quietly and said nothing in response. He failed to seize the opportunity to correct her by noting that all the living and the dead will be judged (Isaiah 66:16; 2 Timothy 4:1; Matthew 12:36; 2 Corinthians 5:10). There are no exceptions!

God's Word should not be ignored, held in low esteem, belittled, or scorned. This housewife made light of God's promise of universal judgment, just as others fail to heed the Lord's message that all will be held accountable for the life they led.

God will be a righteous judge. He will deal harshly with the scorners. It is His "strange work," the "alien task" spoken of by Isaiah, a deed foreign to the loving nature of God who delights in showing mercy (Isaiah 28:17-23).

God in history has proven longsuffering, not wanting any soul to suffer, desiring all to repent (2 Peter 3:8-10). Nonetheless, all creation will be judged. At least seven judgments are worth special note.

Judgment of the Cross

Judgment of the House of Israel

Sheep and Goat Judgment

Bema Seat Judgment

Judgment of Satan and his Emissaries

Great White Throne Judgment

Judgment of Heaven and Earth

The first, **the Judgment of the Cross** , is complete (John 12:31-33). It sealed Satan's fate. It is the supreme judgment in the eschatological sequence. It separated humanity into two categories: Those who will endure everlasting life without Him and those who will spend it with Him.

**JOHN 3:14-15, 18** 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness ( _Numbers 21:8-9_ ), even so must the Son of Man be lifted up ( _on a cross of wood_ ): 15 That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. ( _The brass serpent on a wooden pole in the desert was God's solution for the sin of His people in the wilderness. Jesus on a wooden cross at Calvary was the means by which He saved the faithful from sin._ )

18 He that believes on Him is not condemned: But he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The **Judgment of the House of Israel** will take place when the souls of deceased Jews are gathered in the End Time.

**EZEKIEL 18:30** Therefore, I will judge you, O house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, said the Lord GOD...

Those with a clean spirit will be with Christ in the Millennium (Ezekiel 20:34-38; Zechariah 13:2; Malachi 3:1-5). Those of unclean spirit will be cast into "the outer darkness" to await the Great White Throne Judgment (Matthew 25:30).

**MALACHI 3:2, 5** 2 But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 5 And I will come near to you in judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false sayers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and those who do not fear me, said the Lord of hosts.

**HEBREWS 10:30-31** 30 The Lord shall judge His people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Gentiles will face the **"sheep and goat" judgment** (Matthew 25:31-46). Those who accepted the gospel message will be His sheep and inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). The remainder, the goats, will be sent into "fire, prepared for the devil, and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

**MATTHEW 25:31-34, 41** 31 When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: 32 And before Him shall be gathered all nations: And He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides His sheep from the goats: 33 And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

41 Then shall He say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

**JAMES 2:13** He shall have judgment without mercy, ( _on those_ ) that have shown no mercy;

The next judgment comes as a shock to many of the faithful, for they, too, will be judged. The **"Bema Seat" judgment** (a.k.a. Judgment Seat of Christ, the Rapture Judgment) is for all who accepted Christ as their Savior, from Pentecost until the last day (Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 4:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:8-10). It will likely occur before the thousand-year period (Matthew 16:27). It will not determine who will be saved. It is more like an awards ceremony where the "rewards" written of by Paul will be allotted.

Faith, not works leads to salvation. Individuals will, however, be gauged by the fruits of their life.

**MATTHEW 12:35** I ( _Jesus_ ) say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

**ROMANS 14:10-12** 10... for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God.

This judgment of the faithful is an unpopular idea with feel-good, sing-and-praise, arms-in-the-air, God is love (only), contemporary worship leaders. Even informed members of adult Bible study groups are usually surprised to learn that they must kneel before the Lord to account for the life they led (Luke 14:12-14). (Note to the faithful: Examine your priorities!)

**2 CORINTHIANS 5:10** For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad.

**1 PETER 4:5** We ( _the believers_ ) shall give an account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

"Quick" in early English is the equivalent of "alive" today. When a baby first moves in its mother's womb, it is considered to have come to life and the moment is called the "quickening." The dead among the faithful will stand before Christ at this judgment. They will be required to account for how they used (or not) the talents and opportunities given by God, and if they were a force for good or evil. It is an opportunity to respond to the question, "Is the world a better place for the years I granted you?" No soul will escape the shame of being confronted with wasted talents and squandered opportunities.

The parable of the five talents is a reminder that those who apply the Word in life will receive more and "from him that has not, shall be taken away even that which he has" (Matthew 25:29). It is also a lesson on how "talents" given by God should be used.

**MATTHEW 25:15-30** 15 So the master gave unto one five talents ( _a Roman unit of currency, here also representing the shared Word of God_ ), to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his ability; and straightway left on his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained another two. 18 But he that had received one went and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants returned and reckoned with them. 20 He that had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered to me five talents: Behold, I have gained five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: I will make you ruler over many things: Enter into the joy of thy Lord. 22 He that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents: Behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; I will make you ruler over many things: Enter into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he that received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you were a hard man. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, now you have again what was yours. 26 His lord answered and said to him, You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed: 27 You should therefore have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with interest. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that has ten talents. 29 For unto everyone that has shall more be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has. 30 And he cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Some among the faithful will receive "rewards" for how they used what He gave (Luke 14:12-14; Timothy 4:7). Some with little do much good. Some with much do little good.

**MATTHEW 16:27** For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

**REVELATION 14:13** Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yes said the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; as their works do follow them. (See also 22:14)

Four "crowns" of reward are identified in Scripture: The Crown of Life "which the Lord has promised to those who love Him" and "are faithful to death" (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10), the Crown of Righteousness reserved for those who "loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8), the Crown Incorruptible (1 Corinthians 9:25), and that of Rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

Those who forsake everything for Christ "shall receive a hundredfold" (Matthew 19:29) and some will be made "rulers over many things" (Matthew 25:21). "Rulers over many things?" There are Christians who believe fervently that works performed in the world serve as preparation for service in the afterlife. Skills developed in the flesh determine what role individuals will play in the coming kingdom.

Responsibility will be given in the world to come in direct relationship to the degree to which talents were developed, refined, and applied in life. For those who believe this way, life is a prep school for future service to the Lord (Daniel 12:2-3), even as kings and priests.

**REVELATION 5:10** And ( _Christ_ ) has made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the ( _new_ ) earth.

And there is this spoken of Jesus Christ, "... who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. He that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to God His Father;" (Revelation 1:5-6).

The idea of works in the service of the Lord after death is compelling to those who are dismayed by the sudden loss of talent and knowledge when someone exceptional dies, particularly at a young age. Mozart comes to mind. He composed more than 600 works in only 35 years. Many remain as pinnacles of symphonic, operatic, and choral music. Mozart might compose wondrous new music to God's glory, if developed talents are carried beyond the grave.

I am not supposing the Creator needs the likes of Mozart to bring forth great music. He can do so on His own. He does not rely on human help to accomplish anything, but welcomes and accepts good service as a sign of loving thankfulness.

There will be a **Judgment of Satan and his emissaries**. Satan's power will be taken away in a climactic battle against the Heavenly Host. He and other fallen angels will also be thrown into the Lake of Fire.

**REVELATION 20:9-10** 9 And they ( _Satan and his allies_ ) went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

God will then deal with the sins of all **the unsaved** at the **Great White Throne Judgment**. The Son will be the judge (John 5:22, 26-29). There will be one judge and no jury, one prosecutor and no defense lawyer, and one sentence without the right of appeal.

**DANIEL 7:9-10** 9... the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: Thousands ( _of the faithful_ ) ministered to Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand more stood before Him: The judgment was set, and the books were opened.

**REVELATION 20:12** And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: Another book was opened, which is the book of life: And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

**JEREMIAH 17:10** I, the Lord, search the heart; I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Souls will be judged for committing sin and condoning sin. Only Lot and his family were saved out of the population of Sodom, although likely many living there were not involved in sinful acts of the flesh. Their sin was not speaking out against the evil around them. Condoning sin or encouraging sin are wicked deeds in the eyes of God. Conversely, those who work against sin or turn others from sin are "as stars" forever and ever (Daniel 12:3).

The concluding judgment will be a judgment of heaven and earth (Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 20:11). It is unavoidable, as mankind's defiance of God's will in the Garden placed a curse on all creation, making everything subject to entropy and death.

**MATTHEW 24:35** Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

SECOND DEATH

Scripture refers to the souls of the damned being thrown into "the lake of fire" to experience a "second death." The lake of fire is literally that, or something so appreciably horrible in its power to torment that the limitations of language cannot describe the severity of its reality.

What happens to the soul after death is of concern to thinking people. It is a theological debate too large to handle here and, in the end, not provable on any level.

The initial step is to gain an understanding of the wobbly terminology. The English word Hell (Greek: _hades_ ) is the equivalent of "Sheol" in Hebrew texts. "Sheol" became "Hades" in the Greek Septuagint. Hades became "Hell" in later English translations.

Some denominations and translations intermix the terminology to the bewilderment of readers. For instance, the NIV uses "Sheol" as an alternative for "grave," while the KJV correctly uses "Sheol" to represent "Hell."

"Gehenna" in Hebrew texts is the "abode of the dead," the "underworld," a temporary destination for righteous and unrighteous souls as recounted in Ecclesiastes and Job. In the gospels, Gehenna is not temporary but a final, eternal destination for damned souls, the equivalent of the "lake of fire" and "second death." The inconsistent use of the nouns can be perplexing.

It is important to distinguish between Hell (Hades, Sheol) and the Hebrew Gehenna when reading the Book of Revelation. Hell (Hades, Sheol) is a temporary dwelling place for the wicked. Gehenna is the final location for the souls of the damned.

Hell in The New Testament is an interim abode, not a permanent destination for the unsaved. That is Gehenna. Hell will be cast into the permanent Gehenna at the end of days. The Christian representation, made clear in Revelation, is very different from the belief held by Jews.

The Gospel of Luke records that a soul can be tormented by fire in transitory Hell (Luke 16:24). In the story of Lazarus (Luke 16:23-31) a rich man is suffering "in anguish in flame" in Hell while Lazarus is resting in the bosom of Abraham (presumed to be heaven). The rich man calls out to Abraham and asks him to send Lazarus ahead to warn the rich man's brothers of the fate they might face. Abraham replies, if the rich man's brethren did not heed God's message sent through Moses and the prophets, then they will not be persuaded even by one sent from the dead.

Souls of the wicked remain in Hell until the last judgment, when Hell delivers up the dead to be judged according to their works. Note they are judged according to their works, not saved by them. Salvation comes only by faith.

Recall, those who are "born again" in Christ are born twice (once in the flesh and once in the Spirit) and die once (in the flesh). Those who are not Christ's are born once (in the flesh) but die twice (in the flesh and again to a second death). Individuals have no voice in their first birth, and everything to do with their second.

Both the Old and New Testaments record the existence of the "bottomless pit," "the deep," or "Abyss" ( _Abousso_ ). The dead can go no deeper. It is where Satan will be imprisoned temporarily in the End Time (Revelation 20:10). The _Abousso_ is a dreaded type of Hell prepared for sinning angels (2 Peter 2:4) and demons awaiting the final judgment (Luke 8:31).

A second death involves everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46); banishment from the presence of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:9); fire and worms (Mark 9:42-48); total darkness (Jude 13); a lake of fire (Revelation 20:15); and the torment of tactile flesh (Luke 16:23). It is a place of unrelenting agony (Revelation 20:10) without hope.

**REVELATION 21:8** The fearful and unbelieving, the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH

**ISAIAH 65:17** For, behold, I will create new heaven and a new earth: And the former shall not be remembered, nor come to mind.

**2 PETER 3:13** ... we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

**REVELATION 21:1** And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away;

The prophets wrote of the earth to come.

**ISAIAH 35:9-10** 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

**ISAIAH 60:19-21** 19 The sun shall no more light your day; neither shall the moon give light to thee: But the Lord shall be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. 20 The sun will no more go down; neither shall the moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. 21 The people also shall all be righteous: They shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

**ISAIAH 65:19, 25** 19 And I ( _Lord God_ ) will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people: And the voice of weeping shall be no more heard, nor the voice of crying. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the snake's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy any in all my holy mountain, said the Lord.

**ISAIAH 66:22** For as the new heaven and the new earth, which I will make, ... so shall your ( _Israel's_ ) seed and name remain.

Hebrew Scripture anticipated the coming of God's eternal kingdom. Revelation reveals what it will be like. Christians need to put aside their Sunday school illusion of gossamer clouds and strumming harps.

**REVELATION 21:5** And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new ( _Note: not all new things_ ). And He said unto me ( _John_ ), Write: for these words are true and faithful.

**REVELATION 21:22-27** 22 And I saw no temple there: For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: For the glory of God did light it, and the Lamb is that light. 24 And the nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor to it. 25 And the gates shall not be shut at all by day: For there shall be no night. 26 And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. 27 And there shall be nothing entering it that defiles, or works abomination, or makes a lie, but they, which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

The creation of a new heaven and a new earth mark the final chapter in God's plan for the redemption of creation. The kingdom of the Lord will come. The saved from all the ages will be with Him for eternity (Isaiah 65:17-19; 2 Peter 3:13-14; Revelation 21:1, 22:5).

**JAMES 5:8** ... establish your hearts: For the coming of the Lord draws near.

**REVELATION 22:12, 20** ... behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me.

Clear messages I received from this reading include:

Christ will return in glory.

The gospel message will be revealed to every soul.

Individuals must choose to appropriate eternal salvation offered by God.

Satan will be captured and bound.

Christ will rule for 1,000 years of peace and plenty.

Satan will be loosed for a little while.

All souls will be judged.

Satan will be defeated and cast into the "lake of fire" with the Antichrist, the false prophet, and the damned.

The faithful will enjoy eternal life in a new heaven and earth.

#  Chapter 10: What Follows Death?

God's plan for the redemption of mankind will run its course ending with a new heaven and a new earth for those souls finding salvation through faith in Christ the Lord. For clarity, it is best to be clear on the distinction between what is meant by body, soul, and spirit in this work.

BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT

An eternal soul assumes a bodily form for a brief adventure in a wonder-filled world God provided. The body is an earthbound rover for the eternal soul and spirit. The soul and the spirit are distinct (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 4:12). Mary understood this.

**LUKE 1:46-47** 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

The nouns "soul" (Hebrew: _nephesh, nefesh—_ a living, breathing creature) and "spirit" (Hebrew: _ruwach, ruach—_ emotions, moral character from God) appear in Hebrew Scripture. Unfortunately, they are not clearly differentiated. Even today, most people interchange the nouns.

Individual bodies and their immanent souls are spiritually dead (setting aside for now the issue of the chosen/elect dealt with elsewhere) and remain so until the Spirit (Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost) enters through belief in Christ as the Savior. Jesus referred to the acceptance of the Spirit as being "born again," or in some translations, "born from above" (John 3:1-11). So, while the dictionary definition of spirit is synonymous with soul: "The nonphysical part of a person that is the seat of emotions/ character—soul: a person's true self capable of surviving physical death or separation." Christians regard the Spirit as distinct from the soul and the essence of God in man.

God gave humans a **body** to interact physically with the world and others around them; a **soul** to remain conscious of themselves, their thoughts, emotions, and desires; and the **Spirit** in fellowship with Him and conscious of His will. Adam relinquished the gift of the Spirit. Christ made the Spirit available again to all who call on Him (1 Corinthians 15:22).

**ROMANS 5:19** For as by one man's disobedience ( _Adam's_ ) many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one ( _Christ_ ) shall many be made righteous.

**1 CORINTHIANS 15:22** For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive ( _through the Spirit_ ).

Paul writes, "And ( _may_ ) the very God of peace sanctify you wholly ( _set you aside from the power of sin_ ); and I pray God your whole Spirit ( _Christ in you_ ) and soul ( _the conscious self_ ) and body ( _flesh and bone_ ) be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

The Spirit-filled soul transcends the limitations and sorrows of the worldly experience. It is transformed "to be like Him," entering His presence as spiritual "sons of God" to die no more.

The soul and the Spirit are the two nonmaterial aspects of humanity. All humans have a soul (software) functioning in a physical body (hardware). The faithful are also Spiritually alive (1 Corinthians 2:11; James 2:26). Unbelievers are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13).

The Spirit given to Adam was his link to God. It was the nonphysical aspect "connecting" Adam to God, who is Spirit (John 4:24) and created all things through the power of His Spirit (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13).

Adam and Eve acted in accordance with their will, not God's. They forfeited the Spirit, and became subject to sin and death. God said, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for _in the day you eat of it_ you shall surely die" (Genesis 2:7). God was not referring to a physical death on that day, but a spiritual death. They lost His Spirit at once and later endured a physical death. Their descendants were made of body (temporal) and soul (eternal) without benefit of the Spirit. The souls of the "sons of Adam" are "short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), entering the world spiritually separated from Him (Genesis 3:14-19; Romans 5:12, 18-19).

The faithful become endowed again with the Spirit: Pilgrims experiencing a mortal life before entering eternity with Him. (Hebrews 11:13)

GOD AND CLASSICAL PHYSICS

We live in a four-dimensional world governed by the laws of physics. We are trapped by the boundaries of length, width, height, and time as we move along a single linear wave from birth to death. God is not.

God is infinite in power, presence, and knowledge. He is at once inside and outside all things, unconstrained by spatial dimensions or time—at the beginning, in the present, and at the end of all things simultaneously (Isaiah 46:10). He focuses on everything and everyone in creation concurrently (Psalm 33:13-14).

We are shackled by time. We can move forward, not back. We can look back, not forward. We can't relive yesterday or remember tomorrow. God can do all because He is outside time as we experience it.

Time entered creation at the beginning of the universe. The sun marks the day, an astronomical event varying with the rotation of every planet. Pluto's rotation takes roughly 154 hours and Venus 5,832 hours.

The observance of time is a human convenience. Nomadic people and the first planters needed lunar or solar calendars to plan for the passage of the seasons. Calculating the period between sunrise and sunset was useful to account for a day's labor.

Sundials appeared in Egypt ca. 3500 BC. The Greeks introduced water clocks by 500 BC for use inside and on overcast days. Oriental candle and incense clocks had their place, but wind and wax buildup limited their accuracy. Crude mechanical clocks were crafted by the fourth century AD, with hour hands only.

The arrival of the Industrial Revolution made it desirable to divide the hour into smaller increments. A minute hand was introduced and then a second hand. Mechanical clocks were sufficient until the twentieth century when digital and atomic clocks were needed to divide a minute into milliseconds and nanoseconds. Modern society lives by the time on their wrist or iPhone.

No matter how measured, time is a function of three factors: Mass, gravity, and acceleration. Most consider time to be an inelastic resource, unchangeable, able to be plotted backward and forward from any moment. History is portrayed as a horizontal line on a chalkboard. The unique human ability to sense time and understand its limit is, in a way, a gift from God to help us value every moment in the countdown to life's inevitable end. However, it is a paradigm that cripples our ability to think in terms of the timelessness of God or the soul.

Einstein postulated that time is elastic, similar to a membrane bendable by an object with mass. Cosmologists now know time bends. If it bends, perhaps it can fold or scroll around itself making the future parallel to the present. The Lord in Isaiah and John in the Book of Revelation wrote of the heavens "rolling together as a scroll" (Isaiah 34:4; Revelation 6:14). With such warping of time, the angels singing to the Christ child could have chosen from all the music ever composed or to be composed.

Time is therefore relative and conditional. The number of seconds elapsing on a clock flown eastward around the world will vary slightly from one circumnavigating westward from the same point. An astronaut traveling to Mars and back will be younger than his twin who remained on earth.

God is boundless. Space and time have no dominion over Him.

DEATH IS A TRANSITION

Most people resist thinking about death and what follows. They suppress the thought until someone they love suffers a potentially fatal injury or illness. A vacation trip to a foreign country is usually preceded by a great deal of planning and research, but the eternal journey everyone will make is rarely examined.

Individuals appear more willing to wonder about death than learn about it. They cling to myths and misconceptions about what follows the final heartbeat instead of searching for the truth as found in Scripture.

The body is personal hardware. The soul is resident software. The body is temporary packaging for the timeless soul. Flesh and bone are "but for a little while," but the soul is imperishable.

One of the great mysteries is why each soul enters the world at specific time and place as a unique individual? Why did my soul emerge as a Christian baby in the United States in 1936, rather than a Jewish newborn in Germany that year, with attendant consequences? God determines who we are at birth and where we enter the world. We, through our freewill, determine what we become in life and death.

Christians face death with hope. They have faith that death will open the door to something better in another state of existence, but know little about what is to come. For the curious, Scripture has the answer.

The glorious news is that death is not fatal. It is a link between the temporary life of the body and the eternal life of the soul, the end of one reality and the beginning of another, a boundary rather than a chasm.

THE SOUL AND TIME

Recall, time is a function of three factors: Mass, gravity, and acceleration. The soul is without mass. It can't be weighed or measured. It is like software on a floppy disc that weighs no more when loaded than when empty.

The soul is unaffected by time and without beginning or end. It is eternal and experiences only a brief human existence. And after that? Consider what Scripture says and form your own opinion on what an after-death journey might be like.

Many Christians believe the soul of a faithful departed wafts off to enter the presence of God when the body dies. This is a reassuring thought, but not what Scripture implies. There is no promise in Scripture of an instantaneous post-death spiritual journey. In terms of time, Scripture points to one or more stages between death and entry into His presence.

To the Jew, the soul stops in Gehenna to be cleansed by spiritual fire and purified before it receives its eternal reward. Roman Catholic doctrine postures that some souls enter purgatory for punishment and cleansing before moving on.

For non-Catholics, immediacy seems to be confirmed in Acts 7:55-56. Stephen was full of the Spirit when stoned. He looked up as he was dying and saw the glory of God with Jesus standing on His right hand, "I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Christians take comfort from Stephen's experience and hope the heavens will open to them at the time of death.

This seems consistent with what are called "near-death experiences." Some report seeing a bright light at the end of a tunnel. Others add that they saw deceased loved ones waiting. Predictably, a few report intense heat and fire instead of an inviting white light.

There are theorists who believe such experiences are a phenomenon of a dying brain. Yet, the fact that many follow a path toward a light going through somewhat similar steps along the way makes a convincing case for the whole thing being a profound spiritual journey. But that "sameness" is the basis for the argument they are neither real experiences nor spiritual voyages, but simply the function of neurotransmitters shutting down sequentially, creating homogeneous illusions.

Reflect on what Jesus said as recorded in John's gospel.

**JOHN 6:37, 39** 37 All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no way cast out. 39 And this is the Father's will that has sent me that of all that He has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise them up again _at the last day_.

The last day of what? The Lord speaks of the "last day" as the time He will "judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations far off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Micah 4:1-14). That does not sound like the last day of one's life. It is more likely the coming of His earthly kingdom.

David wrote that his soul would first "rest in hope" in Hell (a temporary abode) and God would later show him the path to everlasting life (Psalm 16:9-10). Peter wrote of King David, "He is both dead and buried, and in his tomb... David did not ascend into the heavens" (Acts 2:14, 29, 34). Paul writes that at the time of the end, the souls of the dead in Christ _shall rise_ first, meaning they had not yet risen (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) and the faithful dead _will be_ raised at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:52). Jesus is quoted in John 14:3 as stating departed souls swill not be with Him until He returns, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

If the souls of the faithful departed wait in a state of grace outside the known time domain, unaware of their status until Christ comes for them, is that really any less glorious than being with Him instantly?

The question remains: Will the soul be raised to be with Christ immediately or go into a temporary state of some kind to await the last day? The two positions seem irreconcilable, but they are not. The physical laws shackling the universe are not immutable as once thought. Time is not a constant.

There is a pause of some duration before a soul enters His presence, or there is not. Perhaps neither thought is correct. Consider the souls of the faithful, free of mass and the constraint of time, can be waiting _and_ in His presence concurrently. That would explain how Jesus could promise the thief on the cross, " _today_ you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43), although He told the Apostles He would "rise from the dead" on "the third day."

Without the impediment of time, Christ could be in Paradise and in Hell concurrently. In like manner, the soul could be waiting to ascend and already with Christ. Whatever the "timing," there is no reason to think that the dead will be aware of any interim pre-resurrection interval if there is one, for the dead "know nothing" (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10).

The souls of deceased believers could be with Christ as they wait to be raised in the sequence outlined in Scripture (Ephesians 2; 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:52; Hebrews 12:18-29). All who died, along with the living and all yet unborn, might exist sequentially _and_ simultaneously.

No one knows but the Father, and it really matters little. Souls of those who accept Jesus Christ as their savior "pass from death to life" (John 3:16, 5:24, 26; Revelation 20:12-15, 21:8, 22:10-15). The span and gait of the journey is irrelevant.

Some soften the death of a loved one by saying he or she has "lost" a friend, child, or spouse. They are not lost! All souls depart on a journey to a place of its own choosing at a pace known to God.

SPIRITUAL BODIES

A comforting sentiment sometimes heard when an innocent child dies is, "God needed another angel in heaven." As sweet as that sounds, humans do not become angels. They are "changed," have a "spiritual body," and appear "like Him."

**1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-38, 42-44, 51-53** 35 But some will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? 36 You fool. That which you sow is not quickened ( _born_ ) except it dies first: 37 And that which you sow is not the body that shall be, it is like a grain seed that may change to be wheat, or some other grain: 38 But God gives it a body as it pleases Him, and to every seed its own body.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable: 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory; it sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a physical body; it is is raised a spiritual body.

51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet: For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible ( _perishable body_ ) must put on the imperishable, and this mortal ( _nature_ ) must put on immortality.

**1 JOHN 3:2** Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does 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.

Our bodies are corrupted by sin. These mobile devices for the soul are composed largely of seventeen common elements, all found in soil. We are "dust" and dust we will be again. That does not mean we will be powdery soil amendments: "As homely seeds bring forth glorious life, so the faithful will emerge with bodies like their glorious Lord" (Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2).

The resurrected will be renewed and changed (1 Corinthians 15:51). Those with Him for eternity "shall be like Him" (1 John 3:2). King David understood this when he wrote: "I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness" (Psalm 17:15).

Not a great deal more is known about the spiritual bodies we will receive. Scripture does reveal they will not be subject to illness (Revelation 22:2), pain (Revelation 21:4), hunger or thirst (Revelation 7:16), death (Revelation 21:4), or sin (Revelation 21:7), and will shed no tears (Revelation 7:17, 21:4).

**2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-4** 1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle ( _body_ ) were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our house that is from heaven ( _spiritual body_ ), 3 so that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened: Not that we would be unclothed, but be clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up ( _by a new_ ) life.

**PHILIPPIANS 3:20-21** 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from where also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

We cannot imagine how we will appear and it is of little consequence. One day the veil that separates us from all possible dimensions will be parted and we will be with Him. Nothing else matters.

PURGATORY AND LIMBO

No discussion of death would be complete without addressing, however briefly, the Roman Catholic Church concepts of purgatory and limbo. Neither is founded on Scripture.

According to Roman Catholic doctrine, purgatory is a place or state of suffering where the souls of sinners expiate their sins before going on to heaven. There is no mention of purgatory in the Bible, and the Protestant view of forgiveness assures redeemed sinners that their sins have been already been wiped away in Christ. No further cleansing is needed.

A doctrine formed at the Councils of Florence and Trent in the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries led to an emphasis on prayers for the dead (Catechism 1032), "It is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins" (Catechism 958). This need supported the practice of selling "prayer cards" to grieving families to hasten a soul's transition to heaven, essentially making members of the clergy intercessors between man and God. Protestants have long rejected the doctrine of purgatory that became a source of revenue through the sale of indulgences. Nothing anyone can do will add to what Christ has already done through His sacrifice on the cross.

The idea that such acts are necessary seems blasphemous. It makes Christ's death somehow inadequate for removing sins. It also supports the view of justification by works, against which Martin Luther and other Protestants railed. John and Paul assured the faithful that Christ is the only intercessor for the forgiveness of sins.

**1 JOHN 2:1-2** 1 My little children, these things I write you that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

**ROMANS 8:33-34** 33... It is God that justifies. 34... It is Christ that died, yes rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Limbo, too, is a non-Biblical construction of Roman Catholic theology. It is portrayed as a place or state near or on the edge of Hell where unborn and unbaptized infants go when they die. Protestants never accepted the concept and there is no justification for it in Scripture.

The unborn and infants have no ability to choose or understand right from wrong. They are welcomed into the kingdom of God in their state of innocence. Jesus directed His disciples, "Suffer little children to come to me, and forbid them not: For of such is the kingdom of God" (Luke 18:16).

Pope John Paul II acknowledged limbo does not have a firm footing in Scripture, leading some to wonder if purgatory is the next Roman Catholic doctrine to be set aside.

WHAT ABOUT FLUFFY?

Will the souls of animal lovers be reunited with their pets after the final buzzer? This is no small issue for many.

God formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils (Genesis 2:7). Some might find it reassuring to know that several Bible translations support the idea that animals also have "the breath of life." (See NIV Genesis 1:30) This should not, however, be taken to mean they have souls.

The presence of horses, sheep and other animals in the End Time is acknowledged in the Book of Revelation (5:13, 6:2-8, 9:16-17, 18:13, 19:11-14). They even "say" blessings to the Lamb of God.

**REVELATION 5:13** And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, saying, Blessing, honor, glory, and power, be to Him that sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever.

"Creature" as used here comes from the same Greek noun found in Genesis representing animals on earth (Genesis 1:20-24). This can be extrapolated to mean "Fluffy" could be in heaven.

Finally, consider the vision Peter experienced while praying in Joppa.

**ACTS 11:** 5-6 5. I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: 6. Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

There will seemingly be animals in Heaven. They might not be the as experienced on earth, for there is no evidence in Scripture that animals possess souls. Yet, if a member of the clergy states you will definitely not be reunited with a beloved pet for eternity, remind him or her that with God, everything is possible.

You should conclude from reading this chapter:

All humans are body and soul.

God determines when and where our soul enters the world.

Individuals determine, through freewill, what they become in life and death.

Death is a transition, not an end.

The soul is eternal, unaffected by time.

The Spirit of God resides in the faithful.

It is evidenced through their work in the world.

God is not constrained by time or the physical limits we understand.

Souls that are God's will receive spiritual bodies after death.

With God, everything is possible.

# Chapter 11: The Kingdom to Come

A few closing words about the eternal kingdom to come, and how it might differ from the Kingdom of God that has come.

Jesus Christ opened His Revelation to John by showing things that "must shortly come to pass" (Revelation 1:1-2). John, a prisoner of the Roman Empire on the island of Patmos, carefully recorded the testimony.

In the first 21 chapters, John witnesses the return of the Messiah, raising of the dead, vanquishing of evil, righteous judgments, souls receiving just recompense, and the coming of a new heaven, new earth, and a new Jerusalem. Chapter 22 begins with a statement of hope for all to be with God in the kingdom to come.

**REVELATION 22:1-5** 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the Water of Life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the Tree of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. 4 They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever. (NIV)

THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME

Christians anticipate this everlasting "Kingdom." More often than not, they scramble the many references to the eternal kingdom, the heavenly kingdom, the kingdom of God, the kingdom to come, etc. They should be differentiated.

**DANIEL 2:44** And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to other people, but shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever...

Many consider the kingdom spoken of by Daniel to be the eternal kingdom spoken of by Jesus. I do not believe it is. The kingdom to come "in the age of the kings" to last for ever and ever is a realm described in Revelation.

The Kingdom of God, on the other hand, might be purely spiritual: A climatic point in God's plan when the future joined the present. Recall Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God in the present tense as already "fulfilled" and knowable to some before death.

**MARK 1:14-15** 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand ( _not someday will be_ ): Repent, and believe the gospel.

**MARK 9:1** And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

Preparation to be part of the Kingdom of God is a principal focus of the gospels. It is a central theme of Christ's preaching and the subject of many parables.

There will most certainly be an everlasting kingdom some day where the faithful will dwell with Him. But, being part of the Kingdom of God appears to be a condition of being God's own, not a future destination. It is a quality, not a place.

In the story of the rich young ruler who asked the "Good Master" about eternal life (Matthew 19:16-24), Jesus answers, "Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:23-24).

For the wealthy among the readers, Jesus is not saying wealth will keep you from salvation. His point is that anyone whose earthly priority is the accumulation of wealth lacks faith in God as the source of his wellbeing.

Are the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven the same thing? Perhaps not. There will be an "eternal", "everlasting", kingdom "to come", a place where the Lord will sit on His throne. This kingdom, spoken of by the prophets and described in the Book of Revelation, is a future domain, whereas the Kingdom of God can be seen as present and already available. It is a quality of the soul being God's after the Spirit has returned.

The gospels of Matthew and Luke quote Jesus as describing the Kingdom of God as coming "upon you" and being "within you" (Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20, 17:21). Jesus told Nicodemus he must be "born again" to be part of the Kingdom of God, "born of water and of the Spirit" (John 3:3-8).

**LUKE 17:20-21** 20 And when He was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, The Kingdom of God comes not with signs to be observed: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the Kingdom of God is _within_ you.

Some scholars interpret statements concerning the presence of the kingdom of God as simply referring to "seeing" Moses and Elijah at the time of the Transfiguration. That single mountaintop event hardly seems to qualify as the Kingdom of God. Besides, that interpretation does not correlate with the statement Jesus made when speaking with the chief priests and Pharisees, "The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits of it" (Matthew 21:43; Romans 10:17).

There is no mention of "the Kingdom of God" in the Old Testament, whereas the "everlasting kingdom" appears in Daniel, the Psalms, and the prophets. I believe that is because the Kingdom of God was not yet. It is the kingdom of those who obtain the Spirit and become part of the Body of Christ.

Mark quotes Jesus as likening the Kingdom of God to "a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds," but becomes greater than all herbs and shoots out great branches (Mark 4:31-32). Those with the Spirit who are part of the Kingdom of God will spread the Word like shoots, drawing others to His spiritual kingdom. Consider the point as you read Scripture.

**MATTHEW 6:33** But seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

**MATTHEW 12:28** But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come to you.

**LUKE 6:20** And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said, Blessed be the poor: For the Kingdom of God is ( _not will be_ ) theirs.

**LUKE 9:10** Go heal the sick and say to them, The Kingdom of God is come near to you.

LUKE 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the Kingdom of God is ( _not will_ ) come upon you.

**ROMANS 14:17** For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Spirit.

The Kingdom of God "has come." It is not a far off place, but a condition. It is accessible to everyone, right now. The faithful are already part of the Kingdom of God and will be part of His eternal kingdom to come.

WATER OF LIVE, LIVING WATERS, AND RIVER OF LIFE

**JEREMIAH 2:13** For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water ( _false christs and false prophets_ ).

**REVELATION 7:17** For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters:

The Spirit of the Lord is the fountain of the living water of everlasting life.

**REVELATION 21:6** And He said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty from the fountain of the Water of Life, freely.

Hebrew Scripture speaks of the Lord "pouring" His Spirit upon His servants and handmaids in Israel, and the fountain of life as having the power to evade the snares of death (Psalm 36:9; Proverbs 13:14, 14:27). The prophets wrote of the "living water..." without price, and of the Lord as the fountain issuing the living water of the Spirit that gives eternal life (Jeremiah 17:13).

**PSALM 36:9** ... with you ( _Lord_ ) is the fountain of life:

**ISAIAH 44:3** For I ( _the Lord_ ) will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon your seed, and my blessing upon your offspring...

**JEREMIAH 17:13** O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake you shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.

**ZECHARIAH 14:8** And there shall be in that day living waters that go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea ( _eastward_ ), and half of them toward the hinder sea ( _westward_ ): In summer and in winter shall it be.

Jesus returns to the thread of the metaphor when speaking with the Samarian woman at Jacob's well, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that said to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked of and He would have given you living water" (John 4:10).

Not understanding His meaning, the woman asks where such water comes from. Instead of answering directly, Jesus responds, "Whoever drinks of this (well) water shall thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water I shall give shall never thirst; the water I shall give shall become in him a spring of water into everlasting life." In faith, the woman asks, "Sir, give me this water, that I do not thirst" (John 4:9-17). Symbolically, she was a Gentile, the people who welcomed the gift of eternal life with God the Jews initially rejected.

God made the gift of living water (the Spirit) freely available to all. Jesus instructs that we, like the woman at the well, must ask it of Him as an act of contrition (John 4:22-24). The faithful have received the living water and possess the Spirit (John 6:35).

**JOHN 7:37-39** 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying: If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. 38 He that believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (By this He spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him would receive).

**REVELATION 22:1** And He showed me a pure river of Water of Life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. ( _Compare with Ezekiel 47:5-12_ )

God closed the gate to the Garden of Eden after the Fall withdrawing mankind's access to the Tree of Life nourished by the living water (Genesis 3:22-24). The Spirit of God, lost by mankind, returns to those who accept Christ as their Savior.

The outer boundary of history is shown to us in the Book of Revelation. There we see the souls of the righteous entering through the opened gate to rest "in the midst of the paradise (Hebrew: _pardes_ , garden) of God" (Revelation 2:7, 22:14).

God's plan for mankind, established before time began, is accomplished. (Revelation 21:2-27).

" **BE WARNED—HE IS COMING SOON"**

**JAMES 5:8** ... establish your hearts: For the coming of the Lord draws near.

**REVELATION 22:12, 20** ... behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me.

20 ... Amen... Come, Lord Jesus.

#  Chapter 12: Epilogue

Everyone wonders at some point why they were born and what, if anything, is the purpose of life. Scripture holds the answers.

We are not the result of an unguided evolution from primal muck to thinking mortal. God made man and women as they are "...in His own image" (Genesis 1:26-27). He made them for a purpose: His "pleasure" and "glory" (Revelation 4:11; Isaiah 43:7).

He blessed them with freewill, even though He knew beforehand they would choose to enter into sin. He allowed them to fall into sin so they would come to understand their helplessness without Him.

He sent His only begotten son into the world, not to condemn mankind for its sins, but to offer a path to forgiveness and salvation through faith in Him (John 3:17-21; Gelatins 3:14).

WHAT IS LIFE ALL ABOUT?

It is about living in faithful service to the Lord (1 Samuel 12:24; John 17:4) as a doer of the Word (James 1:22).

Life is a test of faith for those who professed to love and trust God. How many lives do they touch with kindness, compassion, encouragement, or material support? How do they react to racist slurs or jokes, bullying, malicious rumors, or hateful words? When in the voting booth, do they consider the needs of the less fortunate and vote accordingly? Keep in mind what Jesus said, "Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done to me" (Matthew 25:42-46).

Our mortal existence may be an examination given by God to see how each uses the talents and opportunities given. Some believe it is a schooling of sorts to mature the skills needed for service in the world to come (Revelation 1:4-6).

Philosophers, theologians, and pundits offer opinions. Even Hollywood attempts to assign meaning.

_Alfie_ is the title of a British film that first appeared in 1966. It starred Michael Caine as a young man leading a promiscuous life. He impregnates the wife of a friend during a "one-night stand." Her anguish, the abortion, and other personal reversals force Alfie to consider, "What is the purpose of life?"

A song associated with the movie includes the lyrics, "What's it all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment we live? Are we meant to take more than we give, or are we meant to be kind? As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, I know there's something much more, something even nonbelievers can believe in." The lyricist settles on that something being "love."

Certainly love is an important ingredient, but love of what? Many pridefully love themselves to excess, reserving their deepest affection for personal wealth, fame, or success. This can't be the answer. Scripture tells us we should love the Lord our God above all (Matthew 22:37-39) and everything good will follow.

HOW SHOULD A CHRISTIAN LIVE?

**DEUTERONOMY 6:5** Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

**DEUTERONOMY 10:12** ... walk in His ways, love and serve Him.

**ISAIAH 1:16** Cease to do evil; learn to do good; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.

**MICAH 6:8** Walk humbly with Him.

**MATTHEW 19:21** Give to the poor.

**LUKE 1:53** Fill the hungry with good things.

**LUKE 21:36** Pray always.

**JOHN 6:29** Believe in Him whom He has sent.

**1 THESSALONIANS 5:18** In everything give thanks: For this is the will of God...

Life is not a meaningless rush of random events catapulted by a "big bang" toward an unknown destiny. God has a master plan for the universe, and it includes you. He formed your soul before time began, breathed life into it at the appointed moment, and placed it in the world with purpose.

Your lifetime is a brief adventure for an eternal soul on its journey from before time to beyond. God's plan is for your soul to experience joy and righteousness in the world, and spend eternity with Him in the world to come.

Scripture is clear. To fulfill God's plan for your soul, you must accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. "God is going to invade this earth in force one day. It will be too late then to choose your side. That will not be the time for choosing or rejecting Him: It will be the time when you discover which side you have already chosen.

"Now, today, this moment is your chance to choose Him and the Salvation of your soul. God is holding back to give you that chance. The door will not remain open forever..." (Paraphrase C. S. Lewis, _Mere Christianity_ )

If you found this work useful in your journey of faith, or believe others would benefit from its message, please leave a review at your favorite retailer to aid in spreading the Gospel news.

#  Appendices

I. Creation, Evolution, Golden Ratio, Anthropic Principle, Singularity

II. Books of Hebrew Scripture

and The New Testament

III. Genealogy—Jesus and The House of David

IV. Astrology, Occult, Demons, and False Prophets

V. Why Do the Good Suffer? Coping with Fear and Worry

VI. A Bible for the People

VII. Issues Facing Christianity: A Point of View

Serial Marriage

Abortion

The Human Heart Without the Spirit

"God Hates Sin, But Loves the Sinner"

The Misuse of Scripture

Plucking Verses from Scripture

Churches That Seek to Amuse

Spreading the Word

The Spirit and Wealth

The Fall of Empires and Nations

"Separation of Church and State"

The Instruction of Children

Nicene Creed

Apostles' Creed

Venite

#  Appendix I

# Creation, Evolution, Golden Ratio, Anthropic Principle, Singularity

### CREATION IN PERSPECTIVE

**JOHN 1:3** All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.

**GENESIS 1:1-3** In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.

Light overcame darkness before the sun and the moon were created on day four (Genesis 1:15-16). The Word of God is the light that shines in darkness (John 1:1-9). Mankind fell into the darkness of sin and God sent His light into the world in the person of Jesus Christ to conquer the darkness (John 8:12).

**HEBREWS 11:3** Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things that are seen were made of things that do not appear.

Science teachers encourage students to search for an explanation for everything in the physical world. One aim is to understand how everything in it came about through a series of explainable events. Astronomers and cosmologists continue to search for the building blocks of the cosmos in the hope of tracing them back to their origin.

Quantum physics probes beyond the observable and measurable. It deals with indivisible units of energy, looking for clues to the fundamental nature of the universe at the subatomic level in an attempt to understand and quantify things in secular terms—to comprehend the yet unperceived.

"Big bang" supporters report that between 13.3 and 13.9 billion years ago an explosive event initiated the universe. Newly created matter scattered outward trillions of miles in fewer than two minutes as part of an Almighty explosion (double entendre intended).

Billions of years passed before the created gases collected and solidified into stars and galaxies bringing order out of chaos. The expansion of the universe continued unabated forming hundreds of billions of galaxies composed of innumerable stars and planets.

Our Milky Way is about four billion years old. It is so large that a beam of light traveling at 186,000 miles a second would require 100,000 years to cross from one side to the other. Light observed from far galaxies originated more than eight billion years ago. If such a galaxy were to suddenly go dark, it would be billions of years before astronomers on earth would be aware of the change.

Astronomers estimated the size of our universe as "incomprehensible." The sheer scale became unfathomable when it was determined the number of galaxies had eclipsed 10 trillion and they are still counting.

They marvel at the number of star-suns in the universe, many with circling planets. In 2003, the Hubble telescope provided a tentative estimate: Seventy sextillion (70 x 10 21) suns. That is more than the grains of sand on all the beaches in the world.

210,000,000,000,000,000,000,000—and still counting.

Hold a penny at arm's length against the night sky and it will mask billions of stars. To count stars in our galaxy at a rate of one a second would take 2,500 years. A study in 2010 concluded there are tens of billions of earth-size planets in the Milky Way; something on the order of 50 followed by 21 zeros.

Even "big bang" supporters are puzzled by how nothing could suddenly become everything that is, "made of things that do not appear" (Hebrews 11:3). One theory is there are parallel universes drawing on one another, and two collided in a gigantic burst of energy and matter. That might explain how our universe came to be, but it does not resolve the issue of how the two "colliders" formed in the first place.

If two, why not more? Stephen Hawking postulates in his 2010 book _The Grand Design_ that the universe might be one of many universes, maybe as many as 10 to the 500th power (10 with 500 zeroes) each perhaps having its own laws of physics.

The earth is a speck in the known universe, like a grain of sand in a shoreline of universes. We will never know the total number, for as God spoke to Jeremiah, "... The host of heaven cannot be numbered" (Jeremiah 33:22).

**PSALM 8:3-5, 9** 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, 4 what is man, that you are mindful of him? And the son of man, that you visit him? 5 For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor. 9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth!

Despite all the matter in the cosmos, there is more dark space than "stuff." Only a minute percent is familiar to us as stars and planets. To put this in perspective, if there were only three bees flying above the continental United States, the air would be more crowded than our universe is with stars and planets.

A great number of spiral galaxies are swirling too fast to be held together by the gravitational pull of the visible stars. Since the speedily moving stars within the galaxies are not flung out through space, some scientists consider there must be an unseen force serving as "glue" holding the universe together. We cannot detect or measure this uniting force directly because it emits neither light nor radiation; hence, it is termed "dark matter."

In 1964, Peter Higgs, a physicist at the University of Edinburgh, proposed that empty space is not really empty at all, but filled with a background energy field like a lattice through which particles move. Physicists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) announced in 2012 that they spotted the "shadow" of this particle they believe might unify all the forces of the universe. (Higgs boson)

The presence of dark matter can still only be inferred. It is sometimes dubbed the "God particle," for it can't be seen, measured, or fully understood. For Christians, the key to the mystery is simple. It is God.

What matter there is in the universe should tug at the fabric slowing down the expansion. Yet, it is expanding at an increasing rate. Be thankful, for if not so the expansion would slow, stop, and start contracting into the "big crunch."

Secular scientists and mathematicians sense there must be some incalculable "pure energy" at the source of all things. Modern cosmologists may be approaching God's truth. The recently confirmed relentless stretching of the universe is exactly as Scripture declares—God "stretches out the heavens like a curtain, as a tent in which to dwell" (Job 9:8; Isaiah 20:22, 42:5, 44:24).

The existence of dark matter, dark particles, dark energy, and pure energy (plus the probability of additional universes) means ours might be merely a bubble in a sea of universes. To think such a thing impossible is to question the limitless power of God.

Imagine how small each human is in relation to the unimaginable vastness of an ocean of universes. It makes one marvel at the power of the human ego that allows so many to think of themselves as "a really big deal." Such individuals just do not understand their place in the universe(s).

The truly astonishing thing is that God loves humankind so much He withdrew from a boundless existence to walk on the earth and offer Himself as Savior. Even more implausible and glorious is every individual remains the focus of God's attention, to the point He knows even the number of hairs on each head (Luke 12:7).

**PSALM 19:1-2** 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handy work. 2 Day after day they continue to speak ( _of Him_ ) and night after night they make Him known.

**ROMANS 1:19-20** ... 19 That which may be known of God is manifest in His creation; for God has showed it. 20 Since the creation of the world His invisible nature, His eternal power, and deity, have been clearly seen in the things that are made...

There was a time not long ago when it was possible for everyone to witness and wonder at the night sky. Man-made particle and light pollution makes that impossible in all but remote parts of the world. We can no longer peer at the star-filled sky, marvel at its vastness, regard our place in it, and be thankful.

EVOLUTION

God reveals Himself through His Word (special revelation) and His creation (general revelation). Those who accept the Word of God as truth believe He created every living plant and creature (Genesis 1:20-21, 24-25). Each developed according to His plan. Plants and animals progressed, advanced, spread, adapted, and evolved to survive (speciate), but did not transform into something entirely new (transmute).

The _Theory_ (noun: a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something) of Evolution remains an unverified viewpoint. It hinges on the belief that life on earth sprang from a single-celled organism and changed over time through a process of natural selection.

A major problem for evolutionists is how the first single-cell organism came to be. What did it "evolve" from? Scientists no longer hold to the old idea of spontaneous generation; life from non-life. That leads some evolutionists to conclude life must have originated outside our atmosphere and evolved on earth. That idea doubles back on itself to the point where they are faced with the old problem. If life did not spring from non-living things on earth, how could it have done so elsewhere?

Darwin's concept of evolutionary change is based on a gradual series of steps where creatures slowly morph into another set of creatures. The position is supportable to a point. The first wolves "evolved" into more than 400 species of dogs. There is a problem for supporters of this concept, however, when they expand the idea to say that one species jumped to another.

If Darwin was correct, paleontologists should uncover fossils showing a series of gradually changing forms moving from one species to another. No such evidence exists. Instead of demonstrating a series of such evolutionary jumps, fossil records consistently show species that display a wide variety of characteristics within their grouping.

Species unquestionably change over time through adaptation, resulting in new breeds and strains of enormous variety. They do not become new species. Dogs remain dogs, gophers remain gophers, and sloths remain sloths.

God reveals in Scripture that the heaven(s) and the earth were created in six "days," but billions of years in earth history are a "twinkling in the eye" of the Creator. It might have pleased God to generate perfect seeds and cells, letting them split, divide, multiply, and adapt as He knew they would, filling the world with abundance and diversity.

The fact that a particular species can adjust to survive is demonstrated in nature. A 2009 study of woolly mammoth fossils confirmed the animals originated in the tropics. They adapted to the cold of the northern latitudes by developing smaller ears, a thicker coat, and skin glands to keep the fur well oiled. These were genetic changes within the species allowing them to survive. They adapted. They did not change into a new species (transmute).

Fossil records do not evidence that any species changed into something else. With interbreeding, such as crossing a female horse with a male donkey to produce a mule, a genetic problem surfaces because of the different number of chromosomes in the two initiating species: Donkeys have 62, horses have 64. The offspring have chromosomes that do not divide evenly. They cannot breed. It is this fact that usually prevents cross breeding from resulting in a self-sustaining creature.

According to the theory of evolution, all life resulted from the speciation and transmutation of earlier organisms. It is theorized as the source of Homo-sapiens (us).

No "missing link" has been found for humans. Such near-links as do exist are unique species in their own right. There is no fossil evidence to support a jump from one species with human qualities to another. No matter how much Homo-sapiens might look and (at times) act like chimpanzees, humans are genetically unique and incapable of successfully mating with other bipeds.

Evolutionists consider Hominids our two-legged ancestor, but they did not possess the unique DNA composition of Homo-sapiens. There is no DNA link.

Humans remain unique among the species, "God created man in His own image, in the image of God created him; male and female He created them" (Genesis 1:27). We are His, created by Him, and of His essence.

The accepted theory was Homo-sapiens originated in Africa around 200,000 years ago and gradually migrated around the world. A set of teeth found in a cave in the Middle East by Israeli archaeologists in 2010 appears to be twice that old. Analyses of the teeth indicate the size and shape are similar to those of today's humans. If confirmed, humans and their civilization might have come, not from Africa, but from a region near the convergence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers north of the modern city of Basra. Scholars have long considered this region as the likely location of the biblical Garden of Eden.

Applying the theory of human evolution has consequences. The view of the early Roman Catholic Church was that Jews were "inferior" and responsible for the death of Christ. This belief, coupled with the idea that some races became superior through evolution, served as justification for the killing of millions of Jews. Enslaving black-skinned Africans was acceptable in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries because they had not evolved to the superior level of "white people."

There are also potential psychological consequences resulting from what one believes when considering their place in the world. Recall God said to the woman in Genesis 3:16, "Your desire (Hebrew: _craving_ ) shall be for your husband."

Sexual desire is part of the human experience. Women who believe evolution is solely responsible for humankind must accept, therefore, that the sexual pleasure they experience is merely nature's way of making them putty in a man's hands so he can fulfill his reproductive role, for nature is merciless and unloving.

Instead, those who believe a loving God created man and woman accept that sexual pleasure is a gift from the Creator, and life has dignity, value, and purpose beyond sustaining the species. Women are more than vessels designed to mate, breed, nurture, and die.

There is no scientific evidence that the human body resulted from spontaneous generation or random evolution in nature, any more than did the digital watch. Both were crafted by a guiding hand. And, the human body is far more complex than the watch on your wrist.

The website extremetech.com. reports that in 2012 Harvard scientists "successfully stored 5.5 petabits of data in a single gram of DNA." That is 14,000 blu-ray discs worth of data in one droplet. Now consider the human body contains 10 to 20 billion miles of DNA distributed among trillions of cells. A series of random events could not possibly account for such complexity.

Christians know life did not result from randomness and evolution. For those who lack such faith, there is proof of sorts in the mathematical golden ratio and the anthropic principle.

THE GOLDEN RATIO

A thirteenth century mathematician wondered: If a pair of rabbits were surrounded by a wall, how many pairs of rabbits would be produced from the initial pair in one year, if every month each pair produces a new pair that becomes productive after one month? He stumbled across a very important mathematical principle: The Fibonacci Sequence or Golden Ratio.

The first two Fibonacci numbers are 0 and 1. Each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two (0 + 1 + 1 + 2+ 3 + 5 + 8 + 13 + 21 + 34 + 55 etc.). The sequence is pervasive in nature. It is found in the branching of trees, the arrangement of leaves on a stem, and the uncurling of a fern.

The ratio of any Fibonacci number to the one before it and after can be rounded to 1.618. The universe, from the most minute (DNA) to the most vast (spiral nebula), is arranged according to a pattern of Fibonacci numbers.

Ancient Greek artists and architects understood the pleasant effect use of the ratio has on the human eye. They based much of their art and architecture on its use. The length of the Parthenon is 1.618 times its width, and the width is 0.618 times its length. The base proportion is a "golden rectangle," where the short side of the rectangle is 1, the long side 1.618.

That proportion continued to be considered artistically pleasing. The face of the Mona Lisa is 1.618 times as long as it is wide. Students of music find that pleasing chords and harmonies employ the golden ratio. Some theologians speculate humans find the ratio pleasing to the eye and to the ear because it mimics creation and the work of a master artist.

A human forearm is approximately 1.618 times the length of the hand. Each segment in a finger is roughly 1.618 times as long as the next. The faces people prize as most beautiful display the ratio. Their mouth is 1.618 times as wide as their nose, and the distance between the pupils is 1.618 times the width of the mouth.

The spiral shape found in nature is based on Fibonacci numbers. Every quarter turn is 1.618 times as far from the center as the one before. The shell of every spiral nautilus and snail form a golden spiral. You find it in the DNA molecule, hurricanes, rams' horns, seahorse tails, the cochlea of the human ear, ocean whirlpools, sunflower seed patterns, and the tail of comets as they whirl around the sun.

When the time period of each planet's revolution around the sun is compared in round numbers to the planet adjacent, their fractions are Fibonacci numbers! Beginning with Neptune and moving inward to the sun, the ratios are 1/2, 1/3, 2/5, 3/8, 5/13, 8/21, 13/34, the same as the spiral arrangement of leaves on plants. It appears the Creator applied the ratio's sequence as a measuring stick for the universe and much of what is in it.

Paul reminds us in the first chapter of Romans that the more you look at creation; the more you will "see" God. The confirmation, for those that still need it, is in the golden ratio!

So what? Given the detail, complexity, order, and harmony observable in the universe it is unreasonable to conclude that it is all a matter of random luck. There must have been a grand design, and, if so, a grand designer. Why would anyone prefer to think everything came by chance and Homo-sapiens rose from primordial slime: From goo, to zoo, to you? If they do, they must accept that life is purposeless except for breeding and nurturing young—no other purpose, no special dignity. Humans are simply animals like all others.

Thinking humans who accept that there is a reason for living, beyond merely maintaining the species, must conclude that there was a Creator and accept His supremacy. That produces a problem for the self-centered. It is more comforting for some to consider that their ancestors crawled out of the muck and existence is pointless, because it absolves them from responsibility to a higher power. Not feeling responsibility to anyone or anything, they do as they wish without guilt or the prospect of end-time judgment.

The faithful do not see randomness in nature, but rather the handwork of a great, wise, powerful, sovereign God of whom Scripture states, "Great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend" (Job 37:5).

ANTHROPIC PRINCIPLE

Anyone still unconvinced that the universe has a Creator and a guiding hand should consider this principle. It holds that the basic constants governing the universe are precisely set to support life (Isaiah 45:18). Life, as we know it, would not exist if any were altered by a small fraction.

Our existence depends on many perfectly aligned cosmological constants and parameters whose values fall within a very narrow range. The improbability of so many variables aligning randomly leads many to believe a supreme being engineered the universe to specifically suit life.

Think about something as common as water. Every known life form depends on it. It covers nearly three quarters of the planet, yet it is seldom found elsewhere in the cosmos in liquid form. Cosmologists do not agree on how it came to be in such abundance on this single planet. God told them, "I gathered it together in one place" (Genesis 1:2, 9).

Unlike other known liquids, water in a solid form (ice) is less dense than when liquid, causing it to float. If not, it would freeze on the surface, sink to the bottom, push up water to freeze and sink, repeating the cycle until all water on the planet froze.

The earth's atmospheric blanket and distance from the sun offer temperatures ideally suited to human and plant life. The planet would suffer a runaway greenhouse effect if there were too much of any of the gases in the atmosphere.

The earth's magnetic field is also perfectly suited to support life. If it were weaker, cosmic radiation would destroy life. If stronger, electromagnetic storms would eliminate all plants and animals.

These are samples of the many factors that must be precisely balanced for life as we know it to exist. So many constants, each within an extremely narrow range in a universe of many possible variables, point to a force beyond randomness.

The counter position is that the reverse is the case. Instead of an earth created for life, life evolved suited to the conditions on the earth. If someone uses the argument, ask them why, after decades of searching, no sign of life in any form, even under other conditions, is evident elsewhere in the universe.

The laws of nature operate in a narrow range of particular constants suited to support life cradled in an environment, filled with plants and animals, perfectly suited to their needs. None of the influences are unique to the earth, but only here are they all faultlessly balanced. To consider that life and its single planet home resulted from randomness denies the evidence.

**PSALM 53:1** The fool says in his heart, There is no God.

TECHNOLOGICAL SINGULARITY

Humans have debated for centuries if there will ever be sufficient evidence to conclude 1) a "designer" kick-started the cosmos, or 2) the cosmos is the result of uncontrolled random factors and life the product of chance and evolution. We may be on the verge of having an answer.

Eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth century scientists and theoreticians moved away from Scripture-based creation beliefs as they began to discover why the physical world acts as it does. This led to a rise in secularism accompanied by a decrease in reliance on a belief in divine influence. Science and religion became separate ways of viewing the same "reality."

Most scientists today agree that our universe began with a "big bang," but they can't explain how everything came from nothing, or non-life produced life. Perhaps artificial intelligence (free from human biases and diabolical influences) will soon confirm that the only explanation is the presence of an external influence. The infinite progression of computer power (consider Moore's Law) will soon allow mankind to create machines with artificial generalized intelligence (AGI) well beyond the power of the human mind.

The speed of technological change is increasing more and more rapidly, and circuit data density is doubling approximately every 18 months. Google's director of engineering, Ray Kurzweil, believes this infinite progression will lead to a condition he terms "technological singularity" (or simply "singularity") by 2045. At that point, computer-based intelligence will exceed human brainpower.

The coalescence of pertinent data from across scientific disciplines (e.g. astrophysics, cosmology, quantum mechanics, microbiology, etc.) will be integrated into a massive database. A supercomputer crunching the data may then demonstrate clearly that the odds of the universe and life being the result of random chance is so astronomically improbable that no reasonable person will consider it plausible. The unavoidable conclusion: An intelligent external force created the incredibly intricate balance and harmonious nature of the physical universe.

One can only wonder what the effect of this realization will be on mankind.

#  Appendix II

# The Books of Hebrew Scripture and

# New Testament

The following highly abbreviated overview of the books of the Tanakh and The New Testament is an introductory primer and guide to further study.

HEBREW SCRIPTURE

The Pentateuch—Torah—Books of the Law

**Genesis** —The first eleven chapters of the first book deal with creation, the failure of Adam and Eve to adhere to the will of God, and Hebrew history from Adam to Abraham. The remaining chapters address God's dealings with the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob's son Joseph, all "fathers" of the people chosen by God to carry out part of His plan for the redemption of mankind. The book closes with these "chosen people" in Egypt.

**Exodus** —The events of this book deal with the oppression of the people in Egypt, the call to Moses, the flight of the people from bondage, God's covenant with the nation at Sinai, and the giving of the moral law (Ten Commandments) to the people. The latter part of the book contains an elaborate description of the sacred Ark of the Covenant and the design of the tabernacle, God's dwelling place among His people before the first temple. The moveable tabernacle and temples to follow served as God's "home" in the midst of the people. The instant Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom, opening the path to His presence for all mankind (Matthew 15:38).

**Leviticus** —Leviticus holds God's instructions to Israel's priests and to the nation on how they should live spiritually and physically. Many precepts of The New Testament are foreshadowed here, such as the seriousness of sin in God's sight and the necessity for atonement.

**Numbers** —The Book of Numbers reveals God's pledge that the land will be theirs if they have faith in Him. The Israelites failed to trust Him and were forced to wander in the wilderness for forty years before entering the Promised Land. God's guiding hand is evident as He sustains and delivers the people by keeping His promises in the covenant with Abraham.

**Deuteronomy** —Deuteronomy is a restatement of the Law. It reminds the Israelites what God has done for them and encourages them to devote their lives to Him. It ends with Moses seeing the land of Canaan across the Jordan, and Joshua's selection to lead the people.

Historical Books

**Joshua** —Joshua records Israel's entrance into Canaan. It is the link between the Pentateuch and the remainder of the historical books. In the final chapters (23-24), Joshua, after the fashion of Moses, exhorts the people in a series of farewell addresses, "to keep and to do all that is written in the books of the Law." He solemnly challenges them to renew their covenant commitment to God.

**Judges** —Judges shows that God always punishes sin, but offers forgiveness for all who seek it. The book covers a period from the death of Joshua to the birth of the prophet Samuel. It is a story of the people's disobedience and the resulting disasters, and of God's faithful direction and deliverance of the nation.

**Ruth** —The story of Ruth the Moabite and her loyalty and devotion to her Hebrew mother-in-law, Naomi, presents the nobler side of Hebrew life in the dark days of the Judges. Ruth demonstrates how an individual can remain faithful to God when the rest of the world is corrupt. It also introduces a "kinsman redeemer," Boaz, a similitude for the coming Messiah. Ruth and Boaz are in the bloodline of Judah, King David, and Mary.

**1 Samuel** —Originally part of a single book divided when translated into Greek, 1 Samuel records the last days of the judges and the first days of the period of kings when the people substituted human leadership for God's. It unveils the potential stubbornness and evilness of even a faithful heart.

**2 Samuel** —2 Samuel documents the life and reign of David as Israel's king, presenting a vivid picture of the Jewish monarchy where the king represented God's rule over the people. David, chosen by God, gave in to temptation and was forgiven by God, confirming that even those selected by God for His purposes are subject to sin, can repent, find forgiveness, and lead a Godly life.

**1 Kings** —The two Books of Kings serve as a sequel to 1 and 2 Samuel, and follow the history of the Hebrew nation. Originally one book, 1 and 2 Kings relate the period in Israel from David to the destruction of the northern kingdom in 721 BC, through to the fall of the southern kingdom in 586 BC. Most of the kings were or became corrupt as they led the people into sin. The narrative demonstrates what God expects of those who hold leadership positions.

**2 Kings** —This book focuses on the prophets God sent to warn the people of the impending judgment they faced if they refused to repent and return to God. It confirms the importance of making God the ultimate leader in any life, and ends with the nations of Israel and Judah being destroyed.

**1 Chronicles** —In the Hebrew Canon, 1 and 2 Chronicles formed a single volume. The translators of the Greek Septuagint gave them a title meaning, "Things Left Over." They supplement the four books of Samuel and Kings. 1 Chronicles documents David's family tree and summarizes the history of the kingdom of Israel. It teaches that God must be the center of every life, as He is the only path to eternal peace.

**2 Chronicles** —2 Chronicles demonstrates that rejection of God leads to destruction, while obedience leads to salvation. It records the history of the "good" kings of Israel and Judah, It confirms that deference to God brings prosperity and disobedience brings punishment.

**Ezra** —In Ezra, we see that God kept His promise to restore the Jews to their homeland after the Babylonian exile. It records how the prophet Ezra led the first wave of Jews back to Jerusalem, and initiated the rebuilding of the city, the temple, and the nation.

**Nehemiah** —Nehemiah records the events of the third wave of Jews to return from Babylon and confirms that God uses individuals to accomplish His purpose. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah hold nearly all that is known of the post-Exile period. In the same manner, Exodus is the only record of the Egyptian captivity and flight to Canaan.

**Esther** —This short story offers a vivid picture of Jewish life during the Babylonian exile, the hostility of their non-Jewish enemies, and how the bravery of one woman saved the people. God's providential care is magnified throughout, but the book never mentions Him. It nonetheless shows His Spirit is ever present with His people.

Poetic Books

**Job** —Job, among the oldest books, makes it clear that God is sovereign, the causes of suffering are not always known, that even those who follow God are not immune from pain, and humans are incapable of understanding (and should not question) the mind of God. The book refutes the traditional Jewish view that all suffering is the result of sin in the life of the one who suffers.

**Psalms** —This is a book of praise and worship. Its verses are poetic and meant to be sung in the temple in the belief that the supreme purpose of existence is to exalt and give thanks to God. It is a collection of 150 psalms authored by David, Solomon, Moses, Asaph, and others who remain anonymous. Nearly every aspect of mankind's relationship with God is represented.

**Proverbs** —Proverbs teach wisdom for everyday life, that the source of all wisdom is God, and it is folly to look to anyone or anything else for truth. Truth is with God. Attributed largely to Solomon, Proverbs covers a wide variety of subjects including chastity, control of the tongue, laziness, knowledge, inter-relationships, and justice. The central assertion is that the beginning of true wisdom is "the fear of the Lord."

**Ecclesiastes** —Ecclesiastes reveals that every life contains much sadness, but those who believe and trust in God will find fulfillment. Traditionally ascribed to Solomon, it is really about him. The author sets out to show the vanity (the temporary, futile nature) of everything "under the sun," and fullness of life is found in the recognition of things "above the sun," things that are spiritual.

**Song of Songs** —Love is the sole theme. The book is a cycle of marriage songs about Solomon, but likely not by him. It has traditionally been interpreted by Christians as demonstrating God's love for His people, and Christ's love for His Bride, the Church. The songs stress physical love is proper and God-ordained, when confined to a faithful marriage.

Books of Prophecy—Major Prophets

**Isaiah** —Isaiah is the first book of the prophets. The theme is twofold: Judgment upon the kingdom of Judah for her sins (1-39), and comfort and hope for an exiled people (40-66). Although primarily a prophet to the kings of the southern kingdom (Judah), Isaiah warns the people of the northern kingdom (Israel) to turn from their sins or face the judgment of God. His prophecy foretells the coming of a Messiah to serve as the ultimate sacrifice for all mankind. His detailed prediction of Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection validate the truthfulness and consistency of Scripture.

**Jeremiah** —Jeremiah also warns people to repent of their sins and ask for God's forgiveness. Jeremiah was God's spokesman during the decline and fall of the southern kingdom (Judah). No prophet had a more difficult task standing for God in the midst of the apostasy of the people. He bares his soul as he announces the coming destruction of Judah, but he sees beyond to a day when religion will again be individual and spiritual. This new kind of religion will result from God's "new covenant" with the people. It makes it clear that, even when no one will listen to the truth, the faithful should still proclaim it loyally.

**Lamentations** —Lamentations, as the name suggests, expresses sorrow over the nation's sins. It is composed of five poems mourning the siege and destruction of Jerusalem (586 BC). The author (likely Jeremiah) makes a sincere confession of sin on behalf of all the people and their leaders, acknowledges the need to submit to the will of God, and prays that He will again smile on His own and restore them to their homeland. It also confirms that God anguishes when we sin.

**Ezekiel** —Ezekiel entered into exile in Babylon with the people. There, he received his call and prophesied in the dual role of prophet-priest and "watchman". The book is broken into forty-eight chapters divided at the halfway point by the fall of Jerusalem. The prophecies before this major event chiefly condemn the kingdom of Judah for its sins. Following Jerusalem's fall, Ezekiel speaks of the hope and certainty of the restoration of the homeland and temple worship.

**Daniel** —Daniel demonstrates that we can serve God even when we are at the mercy of an immoral world. In a series of events and visions, Daniel presents a view of history where God prevails over men and nations to achieve ultimate victory for the "saints of God." Daniel also confirms we should never abandon faith in God, even when our personal safety is endangered. He presents some of the clearest prophecies of the sequence of end-time events, particularly the sixty-nine "weeks of years" preceding Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, and the seventieth "week" prior to the coming Wrath of God.

Minor Prophets

**Hosea** —Hosea is both an allegorical and literal book of love and commitment. A native of Israel, Hosea was called as a spokesman during the kingdom's darkest hour. The apostasy of his people broke Hosea's heart. He came to fathom God's love and pleaded with the people to repent and avail themselves of God's divine compassion. He shows that God can forgive those who commit adultery against Him by putting anything before Him in their lives; God suffers when His people are unfaithful; cannot/will not condone sin; will never cease to love His own; gets no pleasure in the death of the unrepentant; and welcomes back those who initially forsake Him. Hosea's writing also makes it clear that material prosperity is no guarantee of safety in the world, or after. It is a message for all generations.

**Joel** —Joel pronounces God's impending judgment for all who refuse to depart from a sinful life, but he is clear that there is mercy for those who repent and turn to God. His message was occasioned by a devastating locust plague which Joel interpreted as foreshadowing the inevitable Day of the Lord. Joel calls upon the people to repent, promising that repentance will bring God's blessings, both material and spiritual.

**Amos** —Amos emphasizes that the faithful should be bold when declaring God's truth, even when it means risking personal freedom or reputation. God called Amos to prophesy to the northern kingdom (Israel) during the reign of Jeroboam II (786-746 BC). Amos confirms God can use ordinary people for His purposes, and no one is too insignificant or lowly to do His work. Amos fearlessly announced the impending judgment of God. The dominant note of the book is judgment, but the final words promise the restoration of a righteous remnant.

**Obadiah** —Obadiah pronounces judgment against those who harm God's people and confirms that God will care for those who follow Him. The book is a scathing denunciation of the descendants of Esau (Edomites) who, from the beginning, were hostile to the Israelites. The latter part of the prophecy concerns the Day of the Lord when God's judgment will be upon Edom and the wicked of all nations.

**Jonah** —Jonah demonstrates that we cannot escape God if He calls us to do His work; He will not let evil go unpunished; and He is always eager to forgive those who repent. The book declares the universality of God's love. Christ alludes to Jonah when speaking of His coming death and resurrection (Matthew 12:39, 16:4; Luke 11:29-32).

**Micah** —Micah, a young contemporary of Isaiah, spoke when conditions in Judah paralleled those in the northern kingdom of Israel. His messages are strikingly similar to those of Amos. While announcing God's certain judgment on sin, he also spoke of a sure deliverance to come through a Messiah whose place of birth would be Bethlehem. Again in Micah, God offers to forgive people who ask His forgiveness, denounce their evil desires, and follow Him.

**Nahum** —This book offers a vivid prediction of the approaching downfall of Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, one of the most warlike of the ancient heathen nations. Nahum's purpose was to comfort the Jewish people with the promise that the oppressing Assyrians would soon meet destruction at God's hand. Nahum shows that the mightiest of people and nations are not immune from God's judgment and might. His prophecy confirms that God will defend His people and destroy those who oppose Him.

**Habakkuk** —Constructed as dialogue, this book addresses some of mankind's complaints (questions) and God's reply. In the answers, Habakkuk discovers the path leading from questioning to affirmation, enabling him to speak out boldly, "I will rejoice in the Lord... God, the Lord, is my strength." His message: Although evil often appears to rule the world, God is in control.

**Zephaniah** —Through some great catastrophe of his day, perhaps the Scythian invasion (ca. 626 BC), Zephaniah foresees God's terrible judgment upon the nations. He exhorts the people to repent and assures them that God will dwell in the midst of a remnant of the people that repent. Individuals are not responsible for the good in their life and must be thankful to God. He warns of judgment when we fail to acknowledge God in times of peace and affluence.

**Haggai** —Work on the Second Temple began shortly after the return from Babylon, but was delayed for almost two decades. Haggai comes forward with a series of timely and vigorous messages challenging the people to respond wholeheartedly to the noble task of rebuilding the House of God. The people were living in luxury at the time and did not acknowledge that God was the source of their good fortune. Haggai admonished the people to put God first and to always express their thanksgiving wholeheartedly.

**Zechariah** —This "Apocalypse of the Old Testament" is at first concerned with the rebuilding of the temple following the return from the Exile. Chapters 9 to 14 then deal with the End Time. Zechariah foresees Israel's destruction in the Day of the Lord when the nations will be judged and God's kingdom will be formed on earth. The book encourages the people by telling them they will be saved and resurrected from the dead.

**Malachi** —This is the final book of the Old Testament. Two themes predominate: The sin and apostasy of Israel (Chapters 1-2) and the coming judgment upon the faithless, with blessings for those who repent (Chapters 3-4). A growing messianic expectation at the close of the Old Testament is apparent in Malachi who announces the coming of God's "messenger of the covenant" to judge Israel. Malachi warns the people to let go of their evil desires and follow God. He also speaks of the return of Elijah to proclaim the dawning of the Day of the Lord.

THE NEW TESTAMENT

The Gospels

**Matthew** —This is the first of the three synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke. The Gospel of Matthew is ascribed to Matthew the publican, tax collector, and disciple. It is the most complete account of Jesus' teachings and was written to convince the Jewish audience that Jesus was the Messiah descended from David, promised by the Old Testament Prophets.

**Mark** —The Gospel of Mark is the shortest and might have been the first written. Mark was a companion of Peter, Paul, and Barnabas in their missionary work. Mark recounts the ministry of Jesus from His Baptism to His Ascension. Mark's central purpose is to present Jesus as the Christ, rather than a great teacher. He makes fewer references to the parables and discourses, but meticulously records Jesus' mighty works as evidence of His divine power. Scholars quite generally agree that Mark wrote his gospel in Rome for the Gentiles.

**Luke** —Luke, the "beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14), accompanied Paul on his missionary travels and authored the third Gospel. He presents Jesus as the Savior, as well as a compassionate healer and teacher. Trained as a physician, Luke emphasizes the "humanness" of Jesus. Unlike Mark, Luke includes an account of the virgin birth, and, unlike Matthew, he describes the last three months of Jesus' ministry leading up to His final entrance into Jerusalem (Chapters 9-18).

**John** —John writes to explain the mystery of Christ by applying the Greek term "logos" (Word) and strives to confirm that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. It is evangelical in tone. John not only records events, as do the other gospels, but also emphasizes their spiritual meaning. Traditionally, this John is considered the disciple "whom Jesus loved" and to whom He entrusted Mary. He is likely the only Apostle to have witnessed the Crucifixion and the recorder of the Book of Revelation.

Historical Book

**Acts** —The Book of Acts is commonly attributed to Luke. It records the early history of the apostolic church. Acts begins with the Ascension and traces the growth of Christianity. The leading figure in the first chapters is Peter on the day of Pentecost. A large part of the book is devoted to the experiences of Paul and his companions during their missionary efforts. It provides a solid background for the study of Paul's letters.

Epistles of Paul

**Romans** —This letter, the first in canonical order but not the first written by Paul, is the longest and the most influential. Paul was writing to Christians in Rome whom he hoped to visit. It outlines his convictions concerning the Christian faith, the universality of sin, the impotence of the Law as a means of salvation, the nature of God's saving act in Christ, and its appropriation by faith. It closes with spiritual advice and some personal remarks.

**1 Corinthians** —This letter focuses on doctrinal and ethical problems in the early church at Corinth. It is a good source for understanding issues faced by one congregation in the first century. Writing from Ephesus, Paul addresses the significance of a new life in Christ which should be demonstrated through fellowship within the Church. He advises the readers regarding spiritual gifts, Christian love, and the meaning of the Resurrection.

**2 Corinthians** —This is an intensely personal letter. It recounts the difficulties and hardships Paul endured in the service of Christ. Paul regards the Corinthians as his children in Christ and writes them as would an experienced parent.

**Galatians** —This letter was addressed to the churches in Galatia. It speaks powerfully on the subjects of Christian freedom and those who wished to hold to the Law. The emphasis is somewhat similar to Paul's letter to the Romans. A practical segment in chapters five and six follows the doctrinal section.

**Ephesians** —This is one of Paul's four "Imprisonment Letters." Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are the others. It is generally believed to have been a circulating letter discussing the believers' position through Christ, the Church as the body of Christ, its relationship to God, and the practical implications of the gospels.

**Philippians** —This letter is an expression of joy whereby Paul conveys his gratitude for the Philippians' love and material assistance. The epistle is unique for its description of the humility of Jesus.

**Colossians** —This is a short letter focusing on doctrine. Paul insists upon the Lordship of Christ. The members of the church in Colossae were likely under scrutiny because of Paul's references to Gnosticism, a growing heresy in the church.

**1 and 2 Thessalonians** —These letters might have been the earliest written by Paul, perhaps soon after the founding of the church in Thessalonica. They review events preceding and accompanying the return of Christ. Paul's concern for his followers is apparent throughout.

**1 and 2 Timothy** —These, and the letter to Titus, are seen as pastoral epistles approaching the material from the perspective of the minister, not of the church. These two letters discuss such matters as the duties and qualifications of church officers, the inspiration of Scripture, the treatment of widows, and the expectation of final "rewards."

**Titus** —This is a personal letter written by Paul to a young minister whom he left on Crete. It is quite practical in its discussion of everyday problems confronted by a young minister.

**Philemon** —This is the shortest of all Paul's letters. In it, Paul entreats Philemon, master of the runaway slave Onesimus, to accept him back as a brother in Christ. This personal letter reveals Paul's concern for a converted slave and demonstrates the meaning of brotherhood in Christ, "where there is neither bond (slave) nor free" (Galatians 3:28).

Additional Epistles to Church Leaders

**Hebrews** —This letter is generally ascribed to Paul. It portrays Jesus as the great High Priest of the line of Melchizedek (Genesis 14) and contains the Bible's strongest statement on the importance of faith to salvation (Chapter 11).

**James** —The author is "James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ," usually identified as the leader of the church in Jerusalem. The letter is addressed to "the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad" and is the most Jewish in style and form. It deals with Christian ethics. James insists that works, not words, are the mark of a disciple. James and Jude are considered by many to have been brothers of Jesus.

**1 Peter** —The author describes himself as "Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ." It contains the Spirit demonstrated by Peter in life. It reflects a time of suffering and trial during a period of widespread persecution of the Christians by Roman authorities.

Peter admonishes his readers to live a life of purity, godly living, steadfastness, and faithfulness.

**2 Peter** —Here, Peter reminds the readers of the truth of the gospels. He urges his hearers to remain steadfast in the midst of persecution and reminds them that the Lord will keep His promises. He writes of the coming Day of the Lord and of the necessity of keeping themselves "without spot and blameless" (3:14).

**The Epistles of John** —These three epistles from the apostle John should probably be dated near the end of the first century. 1 John indicates it was written so its readers might know the certainty of eternal life; 2 John is addressed to an elect lady, either a church, or perhaps an influential woman; 3 John is addressed to Gaius, a man commended for his hospitality. Each is rich in doctrine and worthy of detailed study.

**Jude** —This short letter warns its readers against the dangers of apostasy. It reminds them of the faithlessness of the Israelites and God's resulting judgment. Apostasy and ethical corruption were problems in the early church. Jude the "brother of James," urges them to "contend for the faith" and trust in the one "who is able to keep you from falling."

Apocalyptic Book

**The Book of Revelation** —The last book of the Bible identifies itself as "the revelation of Jesus Christ." Its scribe is designated "his servant John," exiled to the Greek island of Patmos because of his faith. Traditionally, John is identified as the same who authored the fourth gospel. Revelation is the only book in Scripture that promises blessings on its reader. The revelation to John warns the reader to be prepared for what "must come" in the End Time. Its central message is one of hope, and the ultimate victory of Christ over Satan and the forces of evil. Its interpretation poses problems for anyone not familiar with all books of the Bible, particularly those of Hebrew Scripture. The prophecies pronounced in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Hosea, Amos, Joel, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Malachi become clearer when reading what John was shown, but the images are still translucent. Why isn't the picture clearer? God wants the faithful to study (not simply glance at) His Word (all of it), searching diligently to uncover the hidden messages.

# Appendix III

# Genealogy - Jesus and The House of David

The genealogy of Jesus is detailed in Matthew Chapter 1, and Luke Chapter 3. The lineage of the Jewish people before the death of King Saul is recorded in 1 Chronicles 1:1 to 9:34.

Jesus was the legal son of Joseph, husband of Mary, and the son-in-law of Heli, Mary's father. Joseph is at times noted in Scripture as the son of Heli, for biological sons and sons-in-law were not always differentiated in that day.

Luke Chapter 3 traces the line from Heli back through King David's son Nathan and on to Adam (Luke 3:23-38). This confirms Mary was in Adam's line and David's royal line, while avoiding the blood curse God placed on Jeconiah in the line of David's son Solomon. More on this curse in a moment.

Boldface was added to some names in the following genealogy provided by Luke to help the reader recognize some of the principle members of the family.

Mary, Dau. of Heli

the son of Matthat,

the son of Levi,

the son of Melki,

the son of Jannai,

the son of Joseph,

the son of Mattathias,

the son of Amos,

the son of Nahum,

the son of Esli,

the son of Naggai,

the son of Maath,

the son of Mattathias,

the son of Semein,

the son of Josech,

the son of Joda,

the son of Joanan,

the son of Rhesa,

the son of Zerubbabel,

the son of Shealtiel,

the son of Neri,

the son of Melki,

the son of Addi,

the son of Cosam,

the son of Elmadam,

the son of Er,

the son of Joshua,

the son of Eliezer,

the son of Jorim,

the son of Matthat,

the son of Levi,

the son of Simeon,

the son of Judah,

the son of Joseph,

the son of Jonam,

the son of Eliakim,

the son of Melea,

the son of Menna,

the son of Mattatha,

the son of Nathan,

the son of David/Bathsheba

the son of Jesse,

the son of Obed,

the son of Boaz/Ruth,

the son of Salmon/Rahab,

the son of Nahshon,

the son of Amminadab,

the son of Ram,

the son of Hezron,

the son of Perez/Zeraj,

the son of Judah/Tamar,

the son of Jacob/Leah,

the son of Isaac/Rebecca,

the son of Abraham/Sarah,

the son of Terah,

the son of Nahor,

the son of Serug,

the son of Reu,

the son of Peleg,

the son of Eber,

the son of Shelah,

the son of Cainan,

the son of Arphaxad,

the son of Shem,

the son of Noah,

the son of Lamech,

the son of Methuselah,

the son of Enoch,

the son of Jared,

the son of Mahalalel,

the son of Kenan,

the son of Enosh,

the son of Seth,

the son of Adam, made by God.

God promised King David his seed would build a kingdom in the name of the Lord and the throne of David would be established forever.

**2 SAMUEL 7:10-11, 16** 10 Moreover, I ( _the Lord)_ will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness ( _instruments of Satan)_ afflict them anymore, as before, 11... Also, the Lord reveals to you ( _David_ ) that he will make you a house ( _dynasty_ ).

16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you: Your throne shall be established forever.

God also foretold that the messiah would come from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) in the House of David (Isaiah 7:13-14).

**GENESIS 49:10** The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between His feet ( _his descendants_ ) until He ( _the Anointed One_ ) to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be His.

**ISAIAH 7:13-14 13** Then He said, Hear now, O House of David!... The Lord Himself will give you a sign: 14 Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Hebrew: _God with us_ )

Some translations substitute "woman" for "virgin." The KJV and Young's Literal Translation draw from the Hebrew word for virgin, and the Greek word in the Septuagint can also be translated "virgin."

**ISAIAH 11:1** And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse ( _David's father_ ), and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

The gospels of Matthew and Luke address Jesus' genealogy and provide a wonderful example of why it is important to study the Bible carefully, being concerned with even the smallest details.

Matthew, a Jew, focuses on Jesus' "Jewishness" and "messiahship." He traces the line from Abraham forward though Judah and King David, ending with Joseph, husband-by-law of Mary (Matthew 1:1-16). Luke is more concerned with Jesus' "humanness." He therefore begins with Mary and traces the line back to Adam.

Note the following details found in Matthew's gospel. **Joseph** was the son of **Jacob** , a descendant of Abraham, and King David through his favored son **Solomon** (Matthew 1:1-16). This establishes that Jesus was in the Royal line of inheritance, but does not fulfill the prophecy that Jesus would be in the bloodline of King David, for Joseph was not His biological father.

Luke, a Gentile, follows the line from Mary's father, **Heli** , back to King David through his third son **Nathan** (Luke 3:23-28). Luke also records Jesus as the son ("as was supposed") of **Joseph** and son of **Heli (** Luke 3:23). The word "son" used by Luke comes from the Greek " _nomizo_ ," which can mean "son" or "son by law." Mary was the daughter of Heli. Joseph was, therefore, the biological son of **Jacob as stated by Matthew, and** the son-in-law of **Heli as recorded by Luke**. Note especially that Mary was a descendant of David's son Nathan.

Why does this matter? Luke makes an important distinction when tracing the line from Mary to David's son Nathan, and not like Matthew from Joseph to David's son Solomon. This is important because God placed a blood curse on King Jeconiah, twelfth in line from Solomon (Jeremiah 22:30). Jeconiah would remain childless and no king (to include the Messiah) could follow in that line.

**JEREMIAH 22:24-27, 30** 24 As I live, says the Lord, though Coniah ( _Jeconiah_ ) the son of Jehoiakim ( _and descendant of David and his son Solomon_ ), king of Judah, was the signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off; 25 and I will give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of those whose face you fear—the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 So I will cast you out, and your mother who bore you, into another country where you were not born; and there you shall die. 27 But to the land to which they desire to return, there they shall not return.

30 Thus says the Lord: Write this man down as childless, A man who shall not prosper in his days; For none of his descendants shall prosper, sitting on the throne of David, or ruling anymore in Judah.

That pronouncement must have excited Satan who thought it an "I gotcha" moment, as the Lord's promise in 2 Samuel 7:16 could not be fulfilled through Solomon the first-in-line living heir of the relationship between David and Bathsheba. One would expect the Messiah to come from Solomon who inherited the kinsman rights from His father. Recall, the firstborn son of the king and Bathsheba died for David's sins. It was Mary's bloodline through the third born and second in line, Nathan, that held the scepter.

Both Matthew and Luke's genealogies confirm the fulfillment of another of God's promises: The one to triumph over Satan would be an offspring of Eve and come from the "seed of a woman" (i.e. a virgin without the sperm of a man).

**GENESIS 3:14-15** 14 And the Lord God said to the Serpent, Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life: 15 And I will put enmity between you ( _Satan and yours_ ) and the woman ( _Israel and her son_ ), and between your seed (the Antichrist) and her seed ( _Jesus Christ_ );

Anyone reading closely might notice a potential problem. Jesus could not normally inherit kinship rights from a woman, as it would be contrary to Jewish Law. He could, however, because of a legal exception permitting the passing of kinship from a father through a daughter if the father had no sons and the daughter married within the tribe (Numbers 27:10-12). Heli, a judahite, had no sons and Mary married Joseph of the tribe of Judah.

Jesus inherited kinship rights in the royal line under the Law flowing from Nathan, not Solomon the legal heir, as Satan expected. Prophesy was fulfilled.

John's genealogy of Jesus is distinct and spiritual, for John was concerned with Jesus' divinity, not His humanity.

**JOHN 1:1-4** 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. 4 In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.

# Appendix IV

# Astrology, Occult, Demons, and False Prophets

ASTROLOGY AND THE OCCULT

Scripture warns against Satan-inspired worship and predictions based on astrology (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). It may surprise many to know that even reading and trusting horoscopes is as vile to God as idolatry (Deuteronomy 4:19).

The faithful know of God's hatred for idolatry and are smugly confident they will never worship an idol. While they likely will not pray to golden calves, they often exhibit covetousness which is a form of idolatry. This includes the adoration, veneration, glorification, or lionization of anything in place of God (money, careers, possessions, sexual adventures, etc.): worshiping the created instead of the Creator (Colossians 3:2-6, 24-25).

Lives are not controlled by the alignment of stars and planets. Relying on horoscopes, tarot cards, or placing faith in lucky numbers is offensive to God who repeatedly warns against believing in supernatural powers. Queen Jezebel practiced witchcraft (2 Kings 9:22) and disaster befell all Israel. King Saul's death can be traced to his seeking counsel from a medium, instead of trusting fully in the Lord (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).

Scripture prohibits necromancy (i.e. attempting to communicate with the dead) and other demonic activities (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27; Deuteronomy 18:11-22; Isaiah 8:19-20). Even such ostensibly harmless diversions as playing with an Ouija board can open the door to a demonic world. Carrying a rabbit's foot is no sin, until you trust in it. Such practices as turning to a dashboard statue of St. Christopher to guarantee a safe trip or burying a statue of St. Anthony in the front yard to help sell a house are forms of idolatry.

Trusting in the occult for guidance can lead ultimately to a rejection of the Spirit and exclusion from the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21).

**DEUTERONOMY 4:15, 19** 15 Take you; therefore, good heed... 19... lest you lift up your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, you should be driven to worship them, and serve them...

**DEUTERONOMY 18:10-12** 10 There shall not be found among you any... that use divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination to the Lord:

**ISAIAH 47:11-15** 11 ( _When_ )... evil shall come upon you; you shall not know from where it rose: Mischief shall fall on you; you shall not be able to put it off: And desolation shall come on you suddenly, which you shall not know. 12 Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, with whom you have labored ( _trusted_ ) from your youth; perhaps you will be able to succeed or prevail. 13... Let the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save you from these things that shall come upon you ( _sarcasm_ ). 14 Behold, they shall all be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver ( _even_ ) themselves from the power of the flame... 15 they shall wander everyone to his own direction; none shall save you.

**GALATIANS 5:19-21** 19 Now the works of the flesh are plain: ... 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21... they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

A basic appeal of Paganism is the principle, "If it harms none, do what you will." It offers spirituality without rules; without submitting to the will of God. Here, the individual is a self-divining god running free in nature, free to choose his or her own path, his or her own standards for morality. Participants substitute their will for God's.

That condition should have a familiar ring to Scripture readers. "When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful... And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image ( _idol_ ) made like a corruptible man, birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things... worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator" (Romans 1:21-25).

An idol need not be a clay, stone, wood, or gold creature substituted for God. A career, a passion, or obsession can cause individuals to substitute their rules for God's.

There are instances in Scripture where God intervened in divinations to make His will known. The ceremonial use of the urim and thummim (Numbers 27:21), and the casting of lots when performed by Jews with solemnity was influenced by God (Joshua 7:13). The land of Canaan was divided by the casting of lots (Numbers 26:55-56); Saul was elected the king by lots (1 Samuel 10:20-21); Matthias was selected for apostleship by lots (Acts 1:26), and it was through the casting of lots that the temple priests identified the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:8-10).

The use of the Pur in the presence of Haman played a critical role in the salvation of the Jews exiled in Babylonia (Esther 3:7; 9:24) and is commemorated in the annual festival of Purim (Esther 9:26). In this and similar cases, God had a "hand" in the result. However, human reliance on any such devices, unless specifically appointed by God, is perilous to the soul.

DEMONS

There is compelling evidence that demons (evil spirits) exist and can enter into some people.

**MATTHEW 8:16** When the evening had come, they brought unto Jesus many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick.

**MARK 5:13** And the unclean spirits went out ( _of Legion_ ), and entered into the swine.

**LUKE 8:2** And certain women had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, one, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.

**ACTS 8:7** For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

**ACTS 19:11-12** 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick his handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Demon spirits have "possessed" some in history, with satanic results. How else can one explain the rise to power of Adolf Hitler and his obsessive hatred of God's people? Demons will also lead some to depart from their faith before the end comes (1 Timothy 4:1). The Rite of Exorcism may be more than simply a movie plot.

FALSE PROPHETS

Scripture abounds with warnings about false prophets, even among Christians, who will attempt to turn the faithful from God. Jesus warned, "Beware of false prophets, which will come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15). Peter also exhorted the faithful that "there shall be false teachers among you who shall secretly bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord..." (2 Peter 2:1). The first verse of the first Psalm warns against walking in the counsel of the ungodly, standing with sinners, or sitting with the scornful (Psalm 1:1).

Falsehoods by those within the flock to watch for and scrupulously avoid include: False gospels, false doctrines, false miracles, false gods, false christs, false spirits, false apostles, and false teachers. Always confirm what you hear or read by turning to Scripture.

Appendix V

# Why Do the Good Suffer?  
Coping with Fear and Worry

WHY DO THE GOOD SUFFER?

**JOHN 16:33** And Jesus said to His disciples, In the world you shall have tribulation: But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Faithful Christians know a loving God is involved in their lives. This conviction makes it difficult to understand why He permits pain and tribulation to fall on the righteous. The first chapter of the Book of Job makes it clear it is Satan, not God, that brings suffering to the faithful (Job 1:6-12).

**JOB 1:6-12** 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God ( _angels_ ) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came among them. 7 And the Lord said to Satan, Whence came you? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it. 8 And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and avoids evil? 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have you not made a ( _protective_ ) hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. 12 And the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power ( _temporarily_ ); only do not put forth your hand upon him. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord ( _and brought suffering upon Job_ ).

The Book of Job goes on to wrestle with the question of why God allowed Job to suffer. For most, it never provides a satisfying answer. The lesson for Job and the reader is humans can never know why God allows the righteous to suffer, and He does not have to explain His actions to those He created.

The world is under a curse (Genesis 3:17) in response to mankind's rebellion against His Word. The bondage of corruption is universal, with the world and all mankind groaning and travailing together in pain (Romans 8:20-22). God will set all things right again in the End Time (Revelation 21:4).

Satan is allowed to act as the "prince of the world" for a time (1 John 15:19). It is he who brought the suffering that befell Job and those he loved.

Job cursed his birth and called on God to explain how He could permit such things to happen to a faithful servant. God rebuked Job for his audacious questions (Job 28:1-41:24). It is not man's place to question God's purposes (Job 42:1-6). Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Should the created blame the creator for suffering? Worse yet, should they proclaim there is no God because He allows those He loves to face adversity?

People make a fatal error in logic when they say they do not believe there is a God because He permits "bad" things to affect "good" people. By acknowledging the reality of "badness," they are forced to concede the reality of a countervailing "goodness" from which to differentiate. This means there must be a standard by which to judge some things as bad/unjust/wrong and others as good/just/right. A universal standard presupposes a standard setter.

Recent psychological testing of babies shows they seem to possess an innate sense of moral right and wrong. Such a transcendent standard implies a source. Humans were created "in the image... of the likeness" of God. It is intuitive to consider Him as the wellspring of a sense of moral rightness.

Most people agree life is often unfair and suffering, sadness, and pain are part of the human experience. It is fruitless, therefore, to cry out in desperation, "Why me?" Well, why not you?

Bad things happen without a justifiable reason. At best they can be explained but not understood. God, in His mercy, intercedes at times to relieve misery or to give a wayward life a rudder correction. Why not in every case?

A good place to start is to keep in mind that creation was cursed by an act of man, not God (Genesis 3:17-19). Evil became inherent (Genesis 5:3). Mankind became sinful (Genesis 3:13-16) and the human heart wicked (Genesis 6:5, 8:21; Jeremiah 17:9). Humans can be compared to white sepulchers, outwardly attractive but full of unseemliness (Matthew 23:27).

Life is difficult. No one escapes misfortune. To those "who have eyes" life's inevitable dark periods are reminders they cannot rely solely on themselves (Proverbs 28:26), but can (must) have faith in the Comforter and the Word. (Matthew 6:33; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3)

Hebrew Scripture is replete with examples of how God uses pain and death as judgment for sin. King David suffered affliction for his sins, but knew a loving God was calling him to return to His statutes. God will chastise His own to help them follow His ways.

**PSALM 119:21, 37, 50, 67-68, 71** 21 You have rebuked the proud who are accursed, which stray from your commandments. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and preserve my life in your way. 50 This is my comfort in my suffering: Your promise preserves my life 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. 68 You are good, and do good; teach me your statutes. 71 It was good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn your statutes.

In times of well-being and plenty, even the faithful tend to accept providence without acknowledging the source. People who experience good fortune seldom pause to ask the reason. Those born into a democratic society, free from crippling disabilities, loved by parents, with access to public education and medical attention, who enjoy a productive career, and are happy in their marriage seldom challenge God for an explanation. When things are bad, they are reminded they are not sufficient in themselves. Pain is a reminder of how wonderful it is to be pain free, and those who are should stop to thank God for how good they feel.

When God finds self-centeredness has overtaken the heart or success has nurtured feelings of self-esteem instead of gratitude, He chastises the faithful by pulling them to a lowly place where they will call out for His help.

It is hard to tame a well-fed lion. Food must be withheld to get the recalcitrant beast to submit to the tamer's hand. As with King David, the proper Christian response is to accept suffering, repent, and thank God for withholding far greater misery.

Jews under the Mosaic Law assumed that those who suffered in life were being justly punished for their sins. Surely, they thought, God has every right to cut down a tree that bears bad fruit. The suffering that befell the man next door was his fault. He brought it upon himself. He sinned!

The mess most encounter in life is usually the direct result of their own poor choices. Drug addicts would not be in that situation had they not accepted the first drag or shot up for the first time. The same is true of adulterers, thieves, idolaters, etc. Why is any of this God's fault?

Accidents do happen, but are not the work of God's guiding hand. If a man steps off a curb and is killed by a drunk driver speeding through a red light, his death cannot be called the "will of God." It is the tragic consequence of choices made by two individuals leading them to that exact location at the same instant. The death resulted from the final choice of one of them to run the light and of the other to trust in that light instead of watching for cars.

God does not cause drive-by shootings, start wars, or bring about market collapses. Humans do, often because of immoral or unethical choices made for reasons of hubris, greed, or gain. The tragedy of the Titanic was less about the unseen iceberg than about the lack of lifeboats needed to save all the passengers. In their pride, builders thought advancements in human engineering made carrying many lifeboats unnecessary.

Pride fortifies self-centeredness, leads to indifference to the needs of others, and rationalizes gain at any cost. Romans knew that self-absorbing pride is a threat to society. Triumphal generals returning to Rome were paraded before the people in glory, but always with a slave at their side whispering, "Remember. Thou art a man, not a god."

God does not inflict sickness and disease. They stem from harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc. in a world that remains cursed. On the contrary, the bounty of nature created by God contains remedies. More cures likely remain hidden in the plants growing the rainforests that mankind is slowly destroying for profit.

Neither is God responsible for natural disasters, frequently wrongly referred to by insurance companies as "acts of God." Instead, blame tornados, earthquakes, and eruptions on the curse brought about by the Fall of man. (Genesis 3:17) Mankind itself has contributed to some "natural" disasters by altering the earth's climate through thoughtless greed and the exploitation of what God provided.

God finds no joy in human pain and suffering. Unfortunately, the inability to reconcile a loving God with trials that enter every life causes some to question His message of hope.

Good can come from suffering. Think of those who raise funds to find a cure for a disease after recovering from it themselves, or who dedicate their lives to fighting injustice after being dealt with unjustly. Adversity promotes perspective and develops an otherwise unattainable level of empathy for others who are deeply tormented.

Apostle Peter writes that when things are at their darkest we should rejoice with unspeakable joy in the knowledge that God is doing wonderful things behind the scene. Paul considered physical trials "more precious than gold," because they present opportunities for spiritual growth (1 Peter 1:7-8).

Wisdom in the Psalms reminds us that light follows darkness. Heaviness might endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Paul underwent much personal suffering and accepted such instances as opportunities, noting that God will limit our burdens (2 Corinthians 4:7-11, 16-18; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28; Hebrews 11:32-40).

The question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" is relative. It depends on what gauge you apply. Some believe a "good" life means a comfortable living, excellent health, the lack of serious injuries or accidents, and a peaceful death late in life. A "bad" life is one of poor health, an uncommon number of illnesses, financial setbacks, tribulation, and a painful death at an early age.

The picture changes, however, when considering that life is transient and death eternal. If the one who lives a tumultuous life becomes a faithful believer as a result, it is a far better life than one lived in self-centered comfort without Salvation.

Nothing reveals the depth of someone's faith in God like hard times. True faith means trusting God to do what is right and accepting an occasional "night season" for reasons that are unknown. Piety demands we accept God as just, enduring inevitable trials with hope that we might be made "perfect" through suffering (Hebrews 2:10).

Scripture speaks to the reasons for misery and misfortune endured in life. Hopefully, one or more of the following convictions will resonate with those who wonder why they suffer.

TO BRING THE FAITHFUL CLOSER TO HIM

**2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-9** 7 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (NIV)

TO TEACH US TO TRUST IN HIM

Shepherds in the Middle East will break the leg of an errant lamb to keep it from straying from the flock, exposing itself to danger or death. The shepherd will carry the lame animal around his neck until its leg heals. The lamb learns to trust the shepherd and rely on him for its wellbeing. The Lord is our shepherd (Psalm 23:1) and may allow temporary suffering to coax an errant soul back to the fold.

**MATTHEW 11:28** Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.

**JAMES 1:2-3** 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you meet various trials, 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith leads to steadfastness.

TO DEMONSTRATE HIS POWER AND GLORIFY HIS NAME

**JOB 5:17-18** 17... Happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty: 18 For He makes sore, and binds up: He wounds, and makes whole.

**DANIEL 3:26, 28** 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the most high God, come forth and come out of the fire. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth from the midst of the fire. 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who has sent His angel and delivered His servants that trusted in Him.

**JOHN 9:1-3, 7** 1 And as Jesus passed by, He saw a man that was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents: But he is ( _blind_ ) so that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 7 The man went his way; therefore, and washed, and came away seeing.

TO DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF FAITH

**MATTHEW 9:22, 29** 22 But Jesus turned about, and when He saw her ( _the woman who suffered_ ), Daughter, be of good comfort; your faith has made you whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 29 Then He touched the eyes ( _of the two blind men_ ), saying, According to your faith you shall see again.

**MATTHEW 8:5-8, 13** 5 And when Jesus entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lies at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus said unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof: But speak the Word only, and my servant shall be healed. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go your way; and as you have faith so be it done to you. And his servant was healed in the same hour.

**MARK 5:25-29, 34** 25 And a certain woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, she came from behind and touched His garment. 28 For she said, If I may but touch His clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed from that plague. 34 And He said unto her, Daughter, your faith has made thee whole; go in peace, and be free of your plague.

TO DISCIPLINE OUR FAITH

**1 PETER 1:5-7** 5... through faith ( _we_ ) are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

**HEBREWS 12:6-7, 9-11** 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and disciplines every son whom He loves. 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you, as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

**REVELATION 3:19** As many as I ( _Christ_ ) love, I rebuke and chasten:

TO TEACH OBEDIENCE TO HIS WILL

**HEBREWS 5:7-8** 7 ( _Jesus_ ) who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to the Father that was able to save Him from death, and spoke that He feared; 8 Though He was the Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered;

**ACTS 9:3-6, 8-12, 17** 3 And as he ( _Saul of Tarsus_ ) journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly there shown round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecute: 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will you have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what you must do.

8 And Saul arose from te earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: But they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, 11 Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus, for, behold, he prays, 12 And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming to put his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 17 And Ananias entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might regain your sight, and be filled with the Spirit.

**ROMANS 9:20-21** 20 O man, who are you to reply against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why have you made me thus? 21 Has not the potter power over the clay...?

TO PREPARE US TO COMFORT OTHERS

**2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4** 3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort we received from God.

TO PROVIDE HOPE

**ROMANS 5:3-4** 3... we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation works patience; 4 and patience, experience; and experience, hope:

**ROMANS 8:35, 38-39** 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God.

Even Jesus suffered emotional and physical pain on earth. He reminded us such ordeals are part of the human condition (John 16:33). Even the death of a loved one serves the purpose of making the survivor value life more fully.

If Scripture offers no comfort in a time of trouble, turn to prayer. Prayer is God's antidote for stress and despair. Pray as He taught us, "let Thy will be done," keeping in mind that the tribulations of life are temporary and the glory of eternity is never ending.

**LUKE 6:21** Blessed are you that hunger now: For you shall be filled. Blessed are you that weep now: For you shall laugh.

**ROMANS 8:18, 28** 18 I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 28 And we know that all things ( _including adversity and affliction_ ) work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

COPING WITH FEAR AND WORRY

**ISAIAH 12:2** Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid: For the Lord is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation.

**LUKE 12:22-23, 31** 22 And He said to His disciples; Therefore, I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on. 23 For life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 31 But seek the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be given to you.

**MATTHEW 6:34** Take no thought for the morrow: For the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.

With God on their side, why do people spend so much time worrying? Simon Peter, a man of great faith, knew Jesus intimately and witnessed many marvelous acts. Nonetheless, even he became frightened as he began to sink while walking on the sea toward Jesus. Many believers will admit they are like Simon Peter; they trust in God, but...

Obsessive fear and worry leads to an overemphasis on the Plan, but don't fret. Focusing on God's eminent love is a powerful antiserum for earthly worries.

There are many unknowns in life, events that can't be explained this side of heaven. Christians should focus on the knowledge that nothing can separate them from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39) who makes everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). He will not forsake those He loves (Deuteronomy 31:8).

God will comfort those that feel lost, bind those that are broken, and strengthen those that are sick (Ezekiel 34:16). His Spirit empowers, teaches, and guides all who turn to Him (Jeremiah 31:3).

In Chapter 10 of his gospel, Luke relates the story of how Jesus entered a certain village and met a woman named Martha. She had a sister, Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening carefully to His words as Martha worked. Martha complained about having to serve the meal alone and came to Jesus saying, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to serve alone?" Jesus admonished her for focusing on the cares of the world, "Martha, Martha, you are troubled about many things: Only one thing is essential, and Mary has chosen that good part" (Luke 10:38-42).

**DEUTERONOMY 8:11-14** 11 Beware that you not forget the Lord your God... 12 when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses, and dwell there; 13 And when your herds and your flocks are multiplied, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and everything you have is multiplied; 14 Then your heart should be lifted up, but don't forget the Lord your God.

If you fear the Lord (i.e. tremble in awe), you have nothing else to fear.

**PSALM 27:1** The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

**PSALM 55:22** Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain you:

**MATTHEW 6:25-30, 33** 25 Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall wear. Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: For they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? 27 Which of you who is anxious can add a second to your life span? 28 And why think about raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not toil, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say to you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothed the grain of the field, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 33 Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall come to you.

Worry is self-made. It comes from turning away from God and choosing to subject yourself to the world. It is impossible to admire a chorus of birds, or the wind in the trees with the iPod going and ear-buds firmly implanted.

One secret to happiness in the manic world is to isolate yourself from man-made distractions, marveling that the Creator of all loves you.

The faithful do not worry what the future holds, for they know who holds the future. Don't worry about tomorrow at the expense of today (Matthew 6:34).

God hears all prayers. Those that are just will be answered in God's time. Recall the ten lepers Jesus encountered on His final journey to Jerusalem were not healed immediately, but progressively as they continued on to Jerusalem for the Passover (Luke 17:11-14). Belief in God requires patience.

Simply because you can't see the Spirit at work does not mean it is not there. Similarly, the fact you do not "hear" God does not mean He is not trying to reach out to you.

People are more likely to ask God for what they want, than what is good for them. Recall a prayer you made that went unanswered, but how it became clear in hindsight that it would have had unfavorable consequences if answered as you asked. Sometimes, an unanswered prayer is a prayer answered.

**JOHN 14:27** Peace I (Jesus) leave with you, My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives, I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

#  Appendix VI

# A Bible for the People

Bibles in the Middle Ages were written exclusively in Latin for use by the clerics. There was no attempt to transcribe copies into the vernacular of the people.

Church leaders believed that only those with the proper religious preparation could comprehend its true meaning. Limiting knowledge of what Scripture said had the added advantage of giving priests considerable influence over the people. Sacrifices made by many faithful scholars and priests over several centuries, beginning in the thirteenth century, finally resulted in the privilege of reading a common-language Bible.

An Oxford professor, scholar, theologian, and proto-reformationist, John Wycliffe, produced the first hand-written English language Bible manuscripts in the 1380's. With the help of faithful scribes, he produced dozens of copies translated directly from the Latin Vulgate. The pope was so angered that forty-four years after Wycliffe's death his bones were unearthed, crushed, and scattered in a river! The Church of Rome summarily decreed that anyone possessing a non-Latin Bible would be executed.

John Hus, one of Wycliffe's followers, was hanged and then burnt at the stake in 1415 for possessing an unauthorized version. Copies of Wycliffe's manuscripts were used as kindling. His last words reportedly were, "In one hundred years, God will raise up a man whose calls for reform cannot be suppressed."

Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press led to the first printed books in the 1450's, beginning with the authorized Latin Vulgate Bible. The introduction of movable type meant Scripture could be produced in large quantities in a much shorter time. This advance served to aid the spread of the coming Reformation.

Thomas Linacre, another Oxford professor and physician to King Henry VII and VIII, read the gospels in Greek and compared them to the Vulgate in the 1490s. Noting how far the Vulgate strayed from the Word found in the earlier Greek Bible, He wrote in his diary, "Either this ( _the original Greek_ ) is not the gospel... or we are not Christians."

The Latin Vulgate was so corrupted by modifications intended to serve the ecclesiastics that it no longer preserved the message of the gospels. The Church of Rome nonetheless maintained the position that anyone who read the Word in other than the approved Latin version should be put to death. Scripture had become an instrument of power.

A Dutch theologian and scholar, Erasmus, was also concerned about errors he found in the Vulgate and published a Greek-Latin Parallel New Testament in 1516. The readers' ability to compare the Greek and Latin texts focused attention on how untrustworthy and inaccurate the Vulgate had become.

Martin Luther nailed his famous Theses of Contention on a church door in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1517. He called for reforms addressing ninety-five issues he considered heretical or crimes of the Roman Catholic Church.

Luther was the first to publish Scripture in the vernacular of the German people (1522). In that same year in England, seven of the faithful were burned at the stake for the "crime" of teaching their children to say the Lord's Prayer in English, not Latin.

The English theologian and spiritual leader, William Tyndale, was the first to take advantage of the introduction of Gutenberg's movable type to print The New Testament in English. Tyndale was burned at the stake in 1536 for his efforts.

By the 1580s, the Roman Catholic Church realized it lost the battle to suppress the widespread availability of Scripture in native languages. Its leaders determined that if the Bible must be available in English, it should be an official Roman Catholic version. The Douay-Rheims Bible came directly from the Vulgate, without rectifying the distortions that Erasmus revealed 75 years earlier. (Roman Catholic Bibles today are based on the same Hebrew and Greek texts used by Protestants.)

Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England in 1603, Prince James VI of Scotland became James I of England. The Protestant clergy approached the king in 1604 petitioning for authority to create a new English translation. More than fifty scholars were assembled to address the task.

In their wisdom and as influenced by the Spirit, King James I and Church of England leaders created a volume for the masses "... that it may be understood even of the very vulgar." The final text was read aloud to the revision committee to ensure its meaning would be well understood by largely illiterate congregations. Their concern that the Word be accurate and understandable by all was a product of Reformation thinking.

The first of the sixteen-inch tall pulpit folios was printed in 1611. It became hugely popular, and a copy was chained to every pulpit in England to guard against theft.

There are more than 400 English versions of various qualities available today, and more than 2,000 translations in other languages. Most people take for granted the privilege of reading Scripture in their native tongue. It is a blessing brought about by the spiritual dedication of dozens of the faithful.

Thanks be to God.

# Appendix VII

#  Issues Facing Christianity Today—  
A Point of View

Readers are invited to close the book here, if they wish. What follows (for anyone interested) is a series of mini sermons expressing my views (based on Scripture) on the state of the nation and Christian church in the world today. They represent the views of one (me!) who, as a cradle Christian, has studied Scripture diligently and witnessed a decline of spirituality in the United States during seven decades.

The Church of God is the spiritual body of Christ. The church in the world is a diversified collection of religious institutions.

The Spirit points the way for church leaders and lay members as they set about doing God's work supporting what is good and opposing what is evil as revealed in Scripture. The problem, as I see it, is many in church authority are departing from Scripture and demonstrating greater concern for social issues than the saving of souls. They are failing as defenders of the faith and becoming instead champions of human "rights," more social engineers than guardians of souls.

The desire of some bishops and priests to appear politically correct, open-minded, and relevant has encouraged the spread of scriptural revisionism in an attempt to make Christianity appear more relevant. The selective use (misuse) of Scripture, combined with an emphasis on entertaining instead of illuminating, has eroded Christian core values. The effect is seen in many areas of modern society. I will address the following issues.

Serial Marriage

Abortion

The Human Heart without the Spirit

"God Hates Sin, but Loves the Sinner."

The Misuse of Scripture

Plucking Verses from Scripture

Churches that Seek to Amuse

Spreading the Word

The Spirit and Wealth

The Fall of Empires and Nations

"The Separation of Church and State"

The Instruction of Children

SERIAL MARRIAGE

The "cleaving" together of a man and a woman to "become one flesh" was one of God's earliest rubrics (Genesis 2:20-24). He established this bonding as a holy covenant between a man and a woman. He meant for the attachment to be physical, spiritual, and permanent.

The children of God were "marrying" before the flood (Genesis 24:38). A man was the head of the family, loving and caring for his wife until they were separated by death (Genesis 3:16; 1 Corinthians 7:39. 11:8; 1 Peter 3:1-2; 1 Timothy 2:13). Such permanent commitments are considered quaint by much of society today.

Marriage is a sacred and honorable institution (Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 19:6). It is a partnership symbolic of the relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:21-33). Jesus told the Pharisees any man who "puts away" his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another commits adultery: And whoever marries his first wife also commits adultery (Matthew 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12).

Historically, most denominations taught that divorce (if allowed at all) should be a last resort after every effort toward reconciliation failed. Marriages today are often little more than ceremonial short-term "hook ups."

The divorce rate in the United States is approaching fifty percent. The median duration of a marriage is 7.2 years. Nearly three-quarters of all divorced people remarry, half of them within three years, and sixty-five percent of these second marriages fail.

Anyone married for an extended period will admit wedlock is not easy. No two individuals will mesh perfectly over the long haul. Both must be willing to make accommodations, particularly with age when passion fades and differences surface.

There is no place for a divorce in God's eyes. He expects partners to work through difficult times and to reconcile incompatibilities, except in cases of abuse or infidelity.

The wedding vow is an oath before God. Honoring and upholding that vow brings glory to God. Breaking the promise puts self-will above God's will.

**MALACHI 2:16** I hate divorce, says the Lord God... So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

Christians who attend church regularly have a divorce rate thirty-five percent lower than secular couples. In contrast, those who call themselves Christians and seldom or never attend church have a divorce rate higher than secular couples. The cliché seems correct, "Families who pray together, stay together." Divorce can be traumatic for the children involved. They tend to blame themselves for the separation. A single parent often raises the children after divorce, putting emotional and mental stress on their development. More than 13 million single parents in the United States are raising 21.8 million children, one quarter of all boys and girls under 21.

Part of that total is the result of the increased number born out of wedlock. A 2010 Pew Research Center study found a record forty-one percent of babies in the United States were born to unmarried women in 2008, up from twenty-eight percent in 1990. By 2011, fifty-one percent of all babies born in the United States came from an unwed mother.

Increasingly, marriage is seen as burdensome. Married couples dropped to fewer than half of all U.S. households for the first time in 2010, according to the Census Bureau. The number was seventy-eight percent as recently as 1950.

The stability of the American family is at risk. Church leaders should strongly encourage faithful lifelong relationships and speak out more forcefully on the issue of serial divorce and its consequences. Local pastors and ministers should counsel every couple before agreeing to marry them in church, denying the use of a House of God if the couple appears spiritually uncommitted to a marriage for life. City Hall is the best option in such cases.

ABORTION

The percent of known pregnancies ending in legal abortions in the U.S. has reached an annual rate of nearly one in four. That equates to 220 deaths per 1,000 conceptions, while the normal infant mortality rate is less than seven per 1,000 births. Apparently, the most dangerous place for a child in the United States is the womb.

No passages in Scripture address abortion specifically, but teachings make it clear what God must think about the death of an unborn child. Jeremiah 1:5 reveals God knows each individual before he or she forms in the womb. Psalm 139:13-16 speaks of God's active role in the formation of a fetus, supporting the argument that an unborn child is God's own.

God loves the unborn. There are situations where an abortion might be necessary for the physical or mental health of the woman, or in cases of incest or rape. In such instances, it should be dealt with as a private matter between the mother, her doctor, and her spiritual advisor.

Abortion should never be used as after-the-fact contraception. There are many ways to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Prevention should be a priority.

God is not pleased when someone like women's lib activist Gloria Steinem smugly displays a t-shirt (as she did) declaring proudly, "I had an abortion!" The killing of an unborn child is never something to boast about.

Nowhere in Scripture does God speak against contraception, nor directly forbid its use. The single criticism of a contraceptive act is a special situation where Onan, son of Judah by the Canaanite woman Shuah, displeased the Lord by "spilling his seed" on the ground instead of fulfilling Judah's direction to impregnate the wife of a deceased brother, Er (Genesis 38:1-10).

Contraception is not singled out as sinful and there is no clear indication that God is displeased by family planning.

THE HUMAN HEART WITHOUT THE SPIRIT

Humans are not naturally "good" as many wish to believe. This is as it has been since the Fall when "God observed that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). He later declared, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9).

Human wickedness is immanent, as demonstrated by action and words. Evil tendencies exist in every heart. This means most sweet babies are not truly innocent at birth and later corrupted by society. A few receive the Spirit at the instant of conception (Luke 1:15). Many grow in faith and live righteous lives with the aid of the Spirit. Others remain "desperately wicked" in the world.

The good news is the capacity for goodness seems to rest on a native ability to differentiate between goodness and cruelty. In one experiment, babies were shown a series of drawings featuring a figure struggling to climb a hill. In another, a second figure is trying to help the first. In a third, the second figure is trying to hinder the climb. Babies, as young as six months, demonstrated a preference for the drawing showing the helper over the one with the hinderer. In follow-on drawings, the hinderer is shown as either punished or rewarded. Eight-month olds preferred scenes where the hinderer was punished. This doesn't mean they are naturally good, simply that they sensed the difference between good and bad, what is right and what is not, likely equipping them to learn ethical attributes if properly instructed.

C. S. Lewis famously argued in his work _Mere Christianity_ that there is "Natural Law," a Law of Human Nature whereby we all possess an innate understanding of right and wrong. He observed humans can generally agree that someone or something is either right or wrong, and this could only be if each had an innate sense of the difference. If you accept that such a Natural Law exists, you must consider there is a law giver. If so, forgiveness for something done on the wrong side of right or wrong would naturally rest with the creator of the law. Lewis uses this condition as part of his argument for the existence of God and the need of the Crucifixion to forgive our sins.

Jesus summed up the human condition, "... out of the heart of men precede evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:20-23). Yet, many have the capacity to be and do "good." How else would you explain the selfless act of a rational person risking his life to save someone who is drowning, an action at variance with the survival instinct intended to keep the species vibrant? Perhaps a vestige of the Creator's "likeness" remains in all humans waiting to be awakened.

Many credit themselves for the bountiful life they enjoy when they should be giving thanks to God instead. Reread the story of Naboth's Vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-15) and consider God's response to pride shown by King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:30-37).

God knows the prideful tendencies of the heart and watches as individuals congratulate themselves for life's achievements and attainments. He warns then against assuming they act alone.

**LUKE 18:9-14** 9 And He spoke this parable those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed this way with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but beat upon his breast, saying God is merciful to me, a sinner. 14 I tell you, this humble man went down to his house more justified than the other: For everyone who exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

Self-actualization is gaining favor in many parts of the world. It is a disposition to follow personal desires without regard for others or God. Clear examples of this trend in popular culture are found in the lyrics of a 1968 hit song that goes, "Whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong, Whether I find a place in this world or never belong, I got to be me," and a verse in the 2014 Oscar winning children's movie, Frozen, "No right, no wrong, no rules for me."

Following this mantra can lead to earthly successes and wealth, but it will likely be at the expense of others.

This is true of individuals, businesses, and nations. It is hard not to be cynical about the wars the United States involved itself in at the beginning of the twenty-first century. The nation's entry into Iraq was not about retribution for 9/11 (Iraq and Saddam were not involved), but about the huge oil reserves there.

The United States presence in Afghanistan after the death of Osama Bin Laden is about more than a desire to crush Al-Qaida or help the people advance into the twenty-first century. It is also about meeting the interest of multinational businesses.

_The New York Times_ reported in 2010 that an internal Pentagon memo noted that nearly a trillion dollars in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan. They include huge veins of iron, copper, cobalt, gold, and critical industrial metals like lithium. Afghanistan "could eventually be transformed into one of the most important (and profitable) mining centers in the world."

The rationale underlying the decision by any nation to engage in warfare can be linked to one or a combination of reasons: Nationalism, religious beliefs, a quest for territorial gain, need for natural resources, racism, or revenge. The real purpose of such involvement is often masked from the public using one or more reasons citizens will accept.

The corrupting influence of five "isms" is afflicting spiritual growth in the nation: Relativism (i.e. you can have your truth, and I can have mine), reductionism (i.e. everything is fathomable by simply dividing it into its smallest elements), materialism (i.e. "stuff " and physical comfort), revisionism (i.e. truth as situational and adaptable), and secular humanism (i.e. espousing human reason, while rejecting Christian principles as the basis of morality and decision-making). Not one of these is God centered.

Removing God from the creation equation (Theory of evolution) left mankind without universal ethical standards, purpose, or hope, with no way of knowing what is right or wrong, moral or immoral, cruel or not.

Greed and an unwillingness to compromise have filled the void. The non-compassionate accumulation and use of wealth is the goal.

A group of cosmologists, historians, and theologians wondered on a recent television talk show if God really made the universe. The scientists asserted they were close to understanding the secrets of the cosmos and can soon discount God as having anything to do with it. The historians did not know whether there was a divine influence but postured that the belief in god(s) came about because ancient peoples needed a way to explain natural phenomena, the implication being that science might eventually meet that need. The theologians held that, even if man can someday explain the universe came through natural forces, which will not invalidate the possibility of a supernatural Creator.

" **GOD HATES SIN, BUT LOVES THE SINNER"**

"Jesus loves me, that I know, for the Bible tells me so" is a verse from a familiar children's song. But, does Scripture really tell us that God loves all people, under all conditions, continually?

"God hates sin, but loves the sinner" is a canard used by those who love sin more than the Creator. It implies that you can sin all you wish, and God will still love you. Using the act of sodomy as one example of God's reaction to unrepentant sin, revisit the history of Sodom and Gomorrah.

**GENESIS 19:24-25** 24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; 25 And He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities...

**JUDE 6-7** 6 And for the angels that did not keep their first estate, but left their own habitation (heaven), He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day. 7 Doing as did Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, they are set forth to serve as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Not all men, women, and children in Sodom and Gomorrah surrendered to "unnatural desires." Why, then, did God destroy them all? He was angered by the unrepentant sinners as-well-as others who passively condoned sinful acts. They were destroyed as an example for future generations.

Recent changes in civil law protect homosexuals and lesbians from discrimination. This is a good thing, for no mortal should be persecuted by society for acting in a way not forbidden by civil law. Unfortunately, this newfound protection has created a situation where some homosexuals feel empowered to proclaim a special dignity, flaunting their sexuality as a matter of pride. Expressions of "gay pride" in public forums, while legal, are provocations before God who has stated His position on the matter.

**EZEKIEL 16:1, 49-50** 1 Again the Word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 49 Behold, this was the iniquity of Sodom: Pride... 50 They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore, I did away with them... (NIV)

**ROMANS 1:25, 27, 32** 25 They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature ( _of desire_ ) more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. 27... the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one to another; men with men working that which is unseemly. 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also have pleasure in them that do them.

Members of the gay and lesbian community would like the general population to believe that homosexuals are not a small minority, and as many as twelve percent of adults should be counted in the group. A widely accepted United States National Health and Social Survey confirmed the number is actually fewer than three percent for males and one-and-one-half percent for females.

Society is becoming more tolerant of homosexual and lesbian unions to the point of providing legal status and benefits. The editors at Newsweek concluded these trends are based on the belief that a homosexual orientation is morally equivalent to a heterosexual orientation—beyond the control of the individual, "unchosen" and unchangeable, the result of nature not nurture. The issue for the church is not how it comes about, but what individuals should do about it.

Many who wish to keep their addiction to alcohol from ruining their lives while causing pain for others join Alcoholics Anonymous and abstain. Homosexuals should demonstrate restraint instead of parading their homosexuality to "recruit" others for sexual gratification.

The problem, some say, is that if they do not express their same-sex desires publicly they will be "living a lie." Wait a minute! Aren't those who profess to love God but elect to ignore Scripture by performing homosexual acts without repenting (in the full sense of that word) already living a lie?

**1 JOHN 2:3-4** 3 And hereby we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

**1 JOHN 3:9** No one born of God continues to sin; for His seed ( _Spirit_ ) remains in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

What about those who claim they do not know what God expects? That is no excuse; just as saying, "Officer I didn't know it was illegal to park in a red zone" is no excuse under civil law. Ignorance of the law does not avoid punishment under the law. Ignorance of the Word of God is not a justification for sinning (Luke 19:41-43). Sodomy is a sin in the eyes of God, but loving feelings for one of the same sex is not.

All children of God should be welcomed by the church community and invited to join in Bible study groups. Access to the Holy Sacraments and the Word should be available to anyone who comes fully prepared to seek forgiveness. For many, the seed of the Spirit is planted in the hearing of the Word. It can be the author faith (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 12:2; Titus 3:5-7). Anyone flaunting their sexuality, whether "straight" or "gay," is acting against the Spirit.

Those who love sin more than God cannot truly believe in Him and will not be saved (John 3:16). Anyone who chooses to walk in darkness is not in fellowship with God, nor He with them, for they reject His Spirit (1 John 1:6-7, 3:9).

Back to the question, "Does God love sinners?" Esau was a loathsome sinner and God said He "hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness" (Genesis 25:25-34; Malachi 1:2-3; Romans 9:10-13). God said in speaking of Jewish idolaters, "... I _hated_ them: For the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of my house, I will love them no more" (Hosea 9:15).

God cannot love an unrepentant sinner, as that would put Him in fellowship with sin. (See the section "Forfeiting Grace" in Chapter 6.) He does love those who confess, repent, seek forgiveness, and intend to live a new life following His commandments, walking in His ways. This is true, no matter their worldly sin.

Christian progressives holding to a single "hug thy neighbor" doctrine are missing the point. Jesus into the world came to conquer sin and death! Faith in Him is the path to salvation. Without that truth, Christianity is just another group of handholding do-gooders professing the gospels while ignoring the divinity of the messenger. Loving one's neighbor is a response to faith in that message.

Divisions among the faithful are not new. Separatists and internal discord have confronted Christianity since the days of the apostles. Paul found it necessary to rebuke members of the church in Corinth for being divided, encouraging them to be "perfectly joined in the same mind." He called for unity under the Word, to which all Christian groups should aspire.

Jesus didn't instruct His apostles to accept culturally relevant thinking for the sake of unity. He cautioned them against false prophets.

**2 CORINTHIANS 11:13-15** 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore, it is no great thing that his ministers also are transformed as the ministers of righteousness.

Turn to Scripture when approached by false prophets claiming to have supernatural or magical insight. The Word is a strong defense against the emissaries of Satan, who is the source of untruths and deceptions (John 8:43-44).

THE MISUSE OF SCRIPTURE

The misuse of Scripture within the Roman Catholic Church helped instigate the Reformation. (See Chapter 5, Pollution of Scripture.) It remains a threat to the faith today.

One facet of the trend is the principle of "progressive revelation." This form of biblical interpretation accepts that God chooses to reveal more of His nature over time. The suggestion is that each succeeding generation is better positioned to understand the Bible message and free to challenge the thinking of earlier generations.

Each denomination has its own set of absolutes that separate it from others. Some are reinterpreting Scripture, and adopting doctrine and practices, to fit shifting societal values. Such adjustments are not "progressive," but wrongheaded.

The idea that God's Word falls out of date, requiring refinement in contemporary society to bring it in line with the current social "wisdom," is superbly arrogant. The Word of God should not be explicated to accommodate social convenience.

The headspring behind this movement is clear to anyone who recalls that the deceiving serpent that led Eve astray did so by causing her to question the Word of God (Genesis 3:2-6). One of Satan's primary tactics is to raise doubt about what Scripture reveals.

There are some wonderful commentaries available on the Internet for anyone wanting to return to a traditional understanding of the Word. Some worth special note are: The comments of Jamieson/Fausset/Brown and Matthew Henry at blueletterbible.org, and Dr. Chuck Missler at khouse.org.

PLUCKING VERSES FROM SCRIPTURE

The practice of what I call "cherry picking," choosing from Scripture only verses that satisfy a personal position, is deceitful. As spurious is forming a position on one or a few books of the Bible without considering the others.

A basic understanding of the complete range of Hebrew and Christian Scripture is essential to grasp the full meaning of any particular verse. Every verse is subordinate to the message of Scripture in its entirety.

Gideons International has done an outstanding job of spreading copies of the Bible around the world since 1899. These native-language Bibles have undoubtedly led individuals to faith.

A problem arises when someone in a time of trouble simply opens to a page and plops a finger down hoping providence will give him or her an answer to their troubles. Sadly, it rarely works that way, and they move on more confused or depressed than ever while leaving the Bible behind.

You will occasionally hear someone try to win a point by declaring, "But the Bible says...," and then reference a particular verse. Matthew 18:19 demonstrates the problem one can get into when plucking a single verse and applying it as doctrine.

**MATTHEW 18:19** Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. (KJV)

The NIV translation is a bit clearer.

**MATTHEW 18:19** Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. (NIV)

The verse can be read in both translations to mean if two agree and ask for something God is obliged to answer that request. I remember thinking I struck gold when I found this verse as a lad. All I needed to do to guarantee a stack of presents under the tree at Christmas was to find a friend to join me in passing my request to God. I learned on Christmas morning that it does not work that way.

Jesus in Chapter 18 of Matthew is speaking with His apostles about the forming and care of the church, its founding and organization. He explained it is not necessary for all the apostles to agree on any particular point. When two or more are of the same mind concerning some aspect of the worldly church or its welfare (recall the Mosaic requirement for two agreeing witnesses—Deuteronomy 17:6) they can turn to God and it will be done (Acts 1:14-26; 15:1-29). Jesus was not speaking of God's response to group prayer in general.

As another example, Jesus declaration that "the Truth will set you free" (John 8:31-36) is often quoted by those seeking social justice. This is a misapplication. In Scripture it deals only with freedom from sin for those who find truth in Him (John 8:31-36, 1:14-17).

CHURCHES THAT SEEK TO AMUSE

Christian fellowship is important. Sharing joyful times with others of the Spirit nourishes the soul. There is danger in overemphasizing the good times and avoiding the hard truths of the Word.

Seeker-friendly mega-churches are springing up across the nation. These immense assembly halls accommodate large gatherings. They provide a wholesome, happy meeting place for music-and-praise programs promoting great excitement. But, increasingly, the emphasis is on recreation, not devout worship.

The stated goal of such gatherings is "to bring souls to Christ," following a "bread and circus" approach measuring success by a growth in membership. Despite what pastors proclaim, churches do not "bring souls" to Christ. The Holy Spirit does. Getting throngs through the door is not synonymous with bringing souls to Christ.

Jesus did not concern Himself with numbers. He did not seek out large crowds. He never mentioned the need to entertain, nor did He assign quotas when He sent His apostles into the world. They were simply instructed to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15). He eventually resorted to parables, limiting the Word to "those who have an ear" instead of all the curious that came to be awed or amused (Matthew 7:21-22; Luke 13:25).

Pep rally liturgies of songs and testimonials evoke an emotional response. They foster enthusiasm without solemnity or spirituality. They do not promote fervent prayer or deep reflection. The Sacrament of the Eucharist is often reduced to passing trays of small cups filled with grape juice to be downed in unison, without a confession of sin or accompanying pledge to repent.

Arms flung in the air supported by shouts of "hallelujah" is not a sign of piety. True Christians are not identified by how loudly they proclaim their faith, but how quietly they go about doing good deeds.

Jesus spoke against religious exhibitionism (Mark 12:38-40). He denounced prayerful flamboyance in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14).

God reveres reflective prayer more than collective ritual (Matthew 6:5-7; Hosea 6:6).

**MATTHEW 6:5-6** 5 ( _Jesus said to them_ ) And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites: For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on street corners so they may be seen. Verily I say to you, They have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, enter into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father that sees in secret shall reward you openly.

SPREADING THE WORD

A recent poll by the Gallup Organization found ninety-two percent of the respondents owned at least one Bible. Fifty-nine percent reported they read the Bible at least occasionally (down from seventy percent in the 1980s), but only fourteen percent belonged to a Bible study group (down one-third from 1990).

According to Gallup, "Despite the impressive statistics concerning Bible ownership, ignorance about its contents is widespread." Less than half of the adults interviewed could name any of the four gospels. Just thirty-seven percent could name all four. Seven in ten could name the town of Jesus' birth, but less than half knew Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Twelve percent thought Joan of Arc was Noah's wife.

The mission of the faithful is the same given to the apostles by Jesus—share the gospel. The Word of God can set (and keep) individuals on the path to salvation (John 17:17-21). Listening to Scripture on Sunday morning is a starting point. Immersion in the Word through regular study should be the next step.

Many feel ill-equipped to share their faith, believing it requires a complete grasp of Scripture, an evangelical passion, and a forceful personality. That is not so.

Every Christian can offer Godly fruit without even quoting Scripture. All they need to do is live by the example Jesus presents in the gospels, letting His light shine for all to see (Matthew 5:16; 2 Peter 2:21).

If you are asked to suggest a few verses from The New Testament, consider:

John 3:1-17; 11:25-26; 14:13:17

Romans 3:21-26; 5:3-5; 6:15-22; 8:28, 35-39; 10:5+

1 Corinthians 15:1-38, 51-58

Colossians 1:15-20; 3:5-10

Galatians 2:19-20; 3:6-14, 23-29

Ephesians 2:1-10; 3:7-21; 4:4-7

Philippians 2:9-11; 4:4-9, 12-13

Hebrews 9:11-14

1 John 3:11-14, 19-24; 5:3-5

Revelation 21:1-4; 22:3-5

THE SPIRIT AND WEALTH

**1 TIMOTHY 6:10** For the love of money is the root of all evils which, through its craving, some have wandered away from their faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

"Greed is good!" That is a famous line spoken by Michael Douglas in the 1987 movie, _Wall Street_. It summed up his belief that one should employ whatever tactics are necessary to make money, no matter who is hurt in the process.

Scripture is replete with warnings about succumbing to the temptation of greed. A concordance search will turn up more than fifty cautions on the subject.

Jesus admonished the multitude to "be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15).

The consequences of greed appear in multifarious media reports every year. The slacking of ethical standards is endemic.

In Donna, Texas, signs bearing a skull and crossbones circle a local reservoir on the US/Mexican border, yet fishermen stand among the reeds reeling in their catch contaminated with chemicals banned for human consumption. They later sell the carp, catfish, and gar in nearby neighborhoods.

Several corporate examples reported during the writing of this book come to mind: Coal mine executives who cut corners on safety simply to increase profits, leading to an explosion killing 14 miners; oil company managers who ignored procedures to boost production, resulting in a "blow out" of 206 million gallons of polluting crude in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 workers; securities brokers who "churned" portfolios and took unwarranted risk to increase commissions, while draining the funds of many; Ponzi scammers who wiped out the retirement savings of those who trusted them; and bank managers and loan officers who failed to do everything possible to save homes, farms, and businesses from foreclosure.

Culpable individuals involved in these events were not the good shepherds of their employees and customers God calls on them to be.

**1 PETER 5:2** Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;

Some who think they are not greedy have a storage locker somewhere filled with goods. If something is not being used, it is likely not needed. The Salvation Army, Goodwill, a local parish rummage sale, or another worthy 501c3 organization would be thrilled to share that excess "stuff" with someone in need.

Jesus applied a fitting parable.

**LUKE 12:16-21** 16 The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought to himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room to store my crops? 18 And he said, This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones; and there I will store my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said to him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you ( _taken_ ), then whose will all these things be? 21 So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

**PROVERBS 3:9-10** 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Here is a final petard for any parish that builds a mega-edifice and a grand parking lot without devoting a greater amount of its treasure to meet needs of those beyond the property line.

**EZEKIEL 33:31** ( _And the Lord said_ ) My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to my words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy..." (NIV)

THE FALL OF EMPIRES AND NATIONS

Historians chronicle the coming and going of great empires and nations. They identify patterns in the ascent to greatness and the inevitable decline into insignificance. One stage leads to the next in a causal relationship based in large measure on the values of the people as influenced by military, political, economic, and religious evolution.

The cycle to greatness begins with the outbreak of pioneers, followed by an age of acquisition, an age of commerce, and an age of affluence and intellectual prowess. This apex is followed by an age of apathy and moral decay, a period of economic and ethical decline, a rise in unprincipled leadership, and political and fiscal collapse.

Look around and ask yourself if the United States has entered a period marked by the loss of economic discipline, a rise in bureaucracy, a devaluing of education, the weakening of social values, and a decline in the influence of religious beliefs. These are happenings historians have identified as signs of a nation's pending fall from greatness.

To some, the United States is like Greece and Rome during periods of fading glory. There is a similarity between the twenty-first century lifestyle and that of the Romans in the late republic and early empire periods.

United States citizens are increasingly obsessed with beauty, sex, food, and celebrities who exhibit ignoble moral standards. The Romans venerated gladiators and charioteers—now we glorify athletes, actors, and rock stars. The ancients employed various forms of vacuous entertainment to keep the people pacified. Today's theaters and commercial networks offer unimaginative entertainment that is increasingly coarse, vapid, and banal.

The great thinker and historian, Edward Gibbon, listed five attributes that signaled national decline: Mounting love of luxury, a widening gap between rich and poor, obsession with sex, "freakishness" in the arts masquerading as creativity, and an increased desire to live off the state. He might well have been referring to the United States today, but was summarizing what he learned when writing his six-volume 1776-1789 work, _The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire_.

Our belief in free speech has evolved into the acceptance of filthy speech. Established levels of civility have lessened as exemplified by "shock radio" where the thoughtless can feel trendy as they revel in smut.

During the past three centuries in the West painting "progressed" from the Baroque, to the golden age of Dutch and Flemish artists, to the realists and the impressionists, art nouveau, cubism, Bauhaus, art deco, abstract expressionism, pop art, and total abstractism, until today when hurling pails of paint at a canvas on the wall is a sign of creative genius.

The harmony of "classical" music in the seventeenth through nineteenth century reflected a faith in the order and balance of the universe under God, the source of order and justice. A decline in individual faith contributed to the rise of pessimism in the twentieth century with an accompanying loss of purpose and meaning in life. This veering from the reliable to the inconstant led, I believe, to a decline in musical balance reflected in rise of dissonance and fragmentation in popular music. How else could one explain Mozart being replaced by hard rock groups like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Alice in Chains, or rappers such as Snoop Dogg and Ghostface Killa?

The musical transition followed closely on the final works of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911). His symphonies have always sounded to me like a million notes in search of a hummable melody, except Symphonies 2 and 5. Mahler's ninth and last symphony marks a drastic departure from the pleasant-sounding final works of Beethoven.

The prevalence of pornography, particularly on the Internet, is a threat to the psyche. Pornography devalues, debases, objectifies, and degrades women created by God as "helpmates," companions, and partners (Genesis 2:18).

The French political leader and historian Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States in the early nineteenth century and recorded his impressions in his work _Democracy in America_. He stated in part, "There is no country in the whole world in which the Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men, than in America. The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and liberty so intimately in their minds, it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other. There are certain populations in Europe whose unbelief is only equaled by their ignorance and their debasement, while America, one of the freest and most enlightened nations in the world, fulfills all the outward duties of religion with fervor." These words were published a little more than 175 years ago. Much has changed.

Masseur de Tocqueville is perhaps best remembered for something he did not write, "Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great." The crediting of this statement to de Tocqueville is mistaken, but the sentiment is not.

The Old Testament tells us much about mankind in history—past and future—and offers useful examples of how God deals with nations that do not repent and change as He directs.

God called Jonah to minister to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian world at the time, and an enemy of Israel. Jonah, a Jew, resisted when asked to go and warn the Gentiles there to repent or be destroyed. He thought their ruination would suit them and Israel very well. He worried that God might have mercy on the enemy nation and spare the people.

Jonah disobeyed God and did not preach repentance to the Ninevites as instructed. He simply warned the people that the Lord declared the city had only forty days before it would be destroyed. Remarkably, the king of Nineveh considered what Jonah told him and envisioned that, if he and the people repented, God might relent. They did, and God did. The nation was given another century in which to prosper.

The people eventually returned to their sinful ways and failed to repent. God appointed another prophet, Nahum, to speak to the people. Nahum prophesied the coming fall of Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire. The city and empire were vanquished by the Babylonians and Medes in the early seventh century BC.

The lesson for any nation experiencing a decline into immorality is clear. Trust in God, repent, and turn away from self-centeredness and faithlessness. The Almighty has a tipping point. Though bountiful in His mercy, He will not condone faithlessness indefinitely (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Francis A. Schaffer correctly notes in his work _How Should We Then Live_ (1979) that humanism has replaced God-centered reasoning in Western society, and there is no longer a transcendent ethic or universal moral standard. The absence of such a standard has occasioned social chaos giving rise to an elite class offering arbitrary absolutes.

History teaches unprincipled people will accept autocratic standards if they have no yardstick of "truth" to measure them against, and their lifestyle is not threatened. Schaffer believed ecclesiastics are contributing to the decline by teaching relativistic humanism wrapped in religious terminology. He wrote that Christians must gain a proper world view through the study of Scripture and then act to rectify society to the full extent of their individual and collective ability.

**JEREMIAH 18:8, 10** 8 If that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it. (NIV)

Whatever happens on the North American continent, Western civilization is not doomed. Pockets of intellect and culture survived in Europe during what is misnamed "the Dark Ages." Now, as then, centuries of intellectual development remain in enlightened centers from the Bosporus to the islands of western Ireland, from the Gulf of Gdansk to the straits of Gibraltar.

Ironically, the Soviet isolation of Eastern Europe for nearly fifty years insulated the people from the influence of "modern" culture. Fine music, art, architecture, and philosophy are still esteemed there, and in other parts of the developing world.

" **THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE"**

A misguided young female priest removed the American flag from the sanctuary at a college chapel to demonstrate her agreement with the popular concept of "the separation of church and state." She likely felt that she was "politically correct," but her action was not in accord with the Constitution or what its authors intended.

The overworked "separation" concept is often credited to the English political philosopher John Locke, but more likely came, quite by accident, from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1802, well after the Constitution and Bill of Rights was adopted. In it, Jefferson noted the First Amendment effectively created a "wall of separation" between church and state. The wording can be seen to imply the two should be partitioned, but that is not what it says.

The First Amendment to the Constitution, ratified on December 15, 1791, states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..." There is nothing in the wording about creating a wall between church and state; between religion and government.

The United States was established by godly men of various denominations who respected the right of each individual to worship God in his or her own way. There was general opposition to regulating how one should worship, but no desire to restrict worship itself. The aim was to ensure the equal protection for all faiths, not to keep God out of daily life.

Many early colonists came to the continent to escape the persecution of state religions common in Europe. By 1775, with a growing number of Christian persuasions in the Colonies, the founders wished to be impartial to all and show preference to none. They believed no individual, or group should feel the need to flee the new United States because of religious persecution.

The authors of the Constitution understood clearly the need to avoid creating a state religion, as existed in England. They did not intend to exclude faith from the functioning of the state.

They feared a state religion, not a righteous state. They sought freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Quoting James Madison, fourth President, and major architect of the Constitution,

"The religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. This right is in its nature an unalienable right. It is unalienable because the opinions of men, depending only on the evidence contemplated by their own minds, cannot follow the dictates of other men: It is unalienable also because what is here a right towards men, is a duty towards the Creator. It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage and such only as he believes to be acceptable to him."

The framers were godly men who openly acknowledged a Creator. By the unanimous declaration of the thirteen colonies adopted July 4, 1776, the preamble to the Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The Supreme Court later ruled that the nation's institutions "presuppose a Supreme Being" and such governmental recognition of God does not constitute the establishment of a state religion.

In the twentieth century, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Ten Commandments cannot (with exception) be displayed in a courtroom. The reasoning given is the First Amendment prohibits the government from endorsing or supporting one religion above others. While the ruling is distasteful to many, its wording affirms the original intent of the Constitutional Convention: Show no preference.

"In God we Trust" remains the official motto of the United States. Atheists claim its use constitutes the establishment of a religion by the government. In 1952, the Supreme Court upheld the official wording of the motto and approved its continued use on currency.

Circling back to the priest who removed an American flag from a college chapel sanctuary, nothing in the Constitution or any decision made by the Supreme Court dictates such an action. If your parish does not have a flag on display, ask to have one added.

God has blessed this country from its founding. Placing a flag in the sanctuary confirms Christians recognize this as fact and are thankful.

It is also proper to seek God's continued protection by singing the final verse of Samuel Francis Smith's 1832 nondenominational prayer, "My Country, 'tis of Thee" found in many hymnals, "Long may our land be bright, with freedom's holy light, Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King."

Christians should unite against any law or personal act that further separates the nation from God. God has not abandoned the United States, but the United States seems to be abandoning God. Consider what is happening in the United States today, recall the history of Nineveh and Rome, and pray for the nation.

THE INSTRUCTION OF CHILDREN

**DEUTERONOMY 6:5-7** 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. 6 And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart: 7 and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.

I was privileged to mentor abused and unwanted children in the care of Father Flannigan's Girls and Boys Town in San Antonio. They were generally intelligent and eager to learn.

Sitting one-on-one reading a book suitable to their age or playing a "Where is it?" game with a globe I always sensed a genuine interest on their part. They were enthusiastic students, often asking me to stay after the allotted time passed.

A large measure of their inquisitiveness and attentiveness can be attributed to the fact that someone cared enough to take a few minutes to share a learning experience in a safe Christian environment. They discovered, some for the first time, that some adults can be trusted!

One young lady rescued from sexually abusive parents at age 13 returned to visit the shelter several years after she was placed in a foster home. She wanted to say "thank you" and report she absorbed advice on matters of morality and spirituality, remained in high school, graduated with honors, and earned a four-year scholarship to Texas A&M. Many more young lives could be saved through the involvement of adults walking as God instructed by caring for children.

Parents were once deeply involved in the education of their children, often at the kitchen table. Today, both parents more often feel a need to work to achieve a certain level of physical comfort. Little time remains for teaching and coaching at the end of the day.

Teaching values and discipline have become an added task for overworked and underpaid teachers. A great teacher can excite a student to learn facts, but a devout parent is best suited to stimulate the moral development necessary for a child trying to successfully navigate a challenging world.

Parents can ready them for a world the parents experienced and understand. No one can predict what things will be like when the children are adults, but a foundation in the truths of Scripture can prepare youngsters for whatever comes later. Early knowledge of the truth in Scripture can lead to faith in life and salvation after.

A generation ago children in one-room schools learned to read by studying the Bible and every Christian family had one in the parlor. The Bible is no longer a required part of public school curricula. Parents must fill the void by reading Scripture with their children, nurturing moral standards for a lifetime.

As pointed out earlier, children are potentially evil by nature. If that does not seem a reasonable statement, watch a group of three-year-olds fight over a single new toy. They have the will to injure, but lack the capacity.

Instructing children to pray early in their development teaches that they are subject to a higher authority. A Child's first prayer should be substantive, but easily memorized.

Dear God:

Thank you for keeping me safe this day,

For letting me eat and run and play.

Please keep me safe tomorrow too,

And fill my heart with love for You.

If you teach them the little ditty, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so," be certain you instruct them He wants their love in return.

The counter lady at the copy store I frequent noted the title of my book and shared that she too was a Christian, but her seventeen-year-old son decided to become a Buddhist. She went on to say, "That's O.K., he is old enough to make the decision himself." O.K.? Her thinking is antithetical to the forewarnings of Scripture. While she likely filled his young life with love and gifts of various sorts, she failed in her duty as a Christian to ensure his salvation. How sad. Parents who truly care about their children's welfare will be more concerned with helping them find salvation than ensuring they own the most recent electronic gadget. It is important to take them to worship services regularly. They learn by example, and joining adults in the pew makes them feel important, while demonstrating that church participation is a fundamental of faith.

Parents, grandparents, and godparents are accountable before God for helping children grow in knowledge, faith, and love, and seeing to it that they are baptized and later confirmed.

#  The Nicene Creed

Emperor Constantine gained control of the Roman Empire at the battle of Milvian Bridge at the beginning of the fourth century. He credited the victory to the intervention of Jesus Christ, and elevated Christianity to be the religion of the empire: One God, one Lord, one faith, one Church, one empire, one emperor.

The third century church grappled with challenges relating to the language of the gospel as interpreted in the Greco-Roman world. It was fractured by theological disputes, especially concerning the nature of Christ.

Arius, a priest of the church in Alexandria, asserted God created the divine Christ before the beginning of time. Therefore, the divinity of Christ is similar to the divinity of God, but not of the same essence. Arius was opposed by the Church hierarchy which held the divinity of Christ is of the same substance as the Father.

To counter a widening rift that threatened the universality of the young Church, Constantine convened a council in Nicaea in 325. At this first ecumenical council, the participants agreed God the Father and God the Son were consubstantial and coeternal. A creed reflecting that position was written and signed by a majority of the attending bishops.

The First Council of Constantinople in 381 adopted a revised version. It became the confession of faith most widely used in Christian liturgy. It summarizes what Scripture reveals.

We believe in one God,

The Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

Through Him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

He came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day He rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified.

He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen

#  The Apostles' Creed

The Apostles' Creed is an early statement of Christian beliefs, likely formulated to refute the insistence of Gnostics that Jesus was not fully human and did not truly suffer and die, but only appeared to do so. Tradition has it that the creed was written initially under the inspiration of the Spirit after Pentecost, with each of the twelve apostles dictating part of it. Whatever its origin, this statement of faith was modified between the second and ninth centuries to read as it does today.

One clause in particular is an issue, "He descended into Hell." Some denominations consider it optional or refuse to include it at all. To some of the faithful descent into Hell suggests the Son of God carried the sins of the world to Hell. To others, His descent is seen as the Son of God carrying the Good News of deliverance to the godly dead, such as Lazarus the beggar and the repentant thief, and to preach to the departed saints concerning the end of the world and the coming resurrection of the dead. Still, others believe the descent into Hell confirmed God's justice by providing an opportunity for even the deceased to hear and receive His message of redemption.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, dead, and buried.

He descended into Hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven,

and sits on the right hand of God the Father almighty.

From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

#  Venite

The _Venite_ is the opening psalm of the Roman Catholic matins and Anglican morning prayer (Psalm 95:17; 96:9, 13).

O come, let us sing unto the Lord;

let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,

and show ourselves glad in Him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God,

and a great King above all gods.

In His hands are all the corners of the earth,

and the strength of the hills is His also.

The sea is His and He made it,

and His hands prepared the dry land.

O come, let us worship and fall down

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For He is the Lord our God,

and we are the people of His pasture

and the sheep of His hand.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;

let the whole earth stand in awe of Him.

For He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth,

and with righteousness to judge the world

and the peoples with His truth.

"Your Kingdom come,

### Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

"In the World to Come, rather than strife, conflict, and challenge prevailing, the soul will triumph, and the body's desires and physical needs will be totally subjugated. Thus, the two worlds are suited for their purpose: this world operating according to laws conducive to man's effort, while the World to Come will function in accordance with laws fit for receiving "crowns" for efforts made in this world. It will be a deathless existence, overflowing with unimaginable bounty and endless resources, imbued with peace, an altered sense of time, and continual spiritual elevation."

(Paraphrase, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Derech Hashem, ca. 1730)

