Science Proves That Time Is Running Out For Humanity…

Science Proves That Time Is Running Out For Humanity… - by MichaelSnyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/science-proves-that-time-is-running-out-for-humanity/ Even if we weren’t facing an apocalyptic future of our own making, humanity would still be doomed due to the nightmarish reproductive crisis that we are now facing. Justabout every measure of human fertility that you can measure is dropping precipitously, and this is particularly true in the western world. As a result, we have vast numbers of young adults that are either infertile or that deeply struggle with fertility issues,and the number of babies born with birth defects has been soaring. It gets worse with each passing year, and the future for humanity is exceedingly bleak unless we find a way to turn things around. Dr. Shanna Swan has been closely studying these issues for decades, and she is now warning that the “current state of reproductive affairs can’t continue much longer withoutthreatening human survival”… Sperm counts in Western countries have dropped by more than 50 percent since the 1970s. At the same time, men’s problems with conceiving are going up: Erectile dysfunctionis increasing and testosterone levels are declining by 1 percent each year. “The current state of reproductive affairs can’t continue much longer without threatening human survival,” warns Mount Sinai fertility scientist Dr. Shanna Swan in her book, “Count Down” (Scribner), out Tuesday. “It’s a global existential crisis.” Sadly, she is not exaggerating one bit. There is simply no way that the human race will be able to avoid a dramatic population decline if these trends continue. Previously, Dr. Swan made headlines when she warned that sperm counts dropped by a staggering 59 percent between 1973 and 2011… In 2017, she sounded the alarm with a meta-analysis of 40,000 men that showed that sperm count fell a whopping 59 percent between 1973 and 2011. We are already seeing the effects. Worldwide fertility has dropped by 50 percent between 1960 and 2015. The United States has a total birth rate that is 16 percent belowwhat it needs to replace itself. Though there are obvious factors at play (couples are conceiving later and opting to have smaller families), Swan argues that the issues run deeper than personal choice. What would our planet look like if worldwide fertility plunged by another 50 percent? Global population growth has already come to a standstill in most areas, and there are some countries that are already starting to experience significant declines. Men in particular are becoming infertile at a frightening rate. According to Swan, sperm counts have gotten extremely low… Today the average male is nearing that number at 47.1 million sperm per milliliter. Compare him to his father, who had an average of 99 million sperm per milliliter, andit’s clear that this is a deeply worrying trend. Once you get below 40 million, it becomes challenging to have a child, and the average male is nearly there already. So why is this happening? Well, Dr. Swan is pointing to the prevalence of endocrine disruptors in our society… Swan and other experts say the problem is a class of chemicals called endocrine disruptors, which mimic the body’s hormones and thus fool our cells. This is a particularproblem for fetuses as they sexually differentiate early in pregnancy. Endocrine disruptors can wreak reproductive havoc. These endocrine disruptors are everywhere: plastics, shampoos, cosmetics, cushions, pesticides, canned foods and A.T.M. receipts. They often aren’t on labels and can bedifficult to avoid. In order to completely eliminate endocrine disruptors from your life, you would probably need to drop out of society entirely. Another scientist at Washington State University has found that exposure to endocrine disruptors can make 20 percent of mice infertile in just three generations… Patricia Ann Hunt, a reproductive geneticist at Washington State University, has conducted experiments on mice showing that the impact of endocrine disruptors is cumulative,generation after generation. When infant mice were exposed for just a few days to endocrine disrupting chemicals, their testes as adults produced fewer sperm, and this incapacity was transmitted to their offspring. While findings from animal studies can’tnecessarily be extended to humans, after three generations of these exposures, one-fifth of the male mice were infertile. Of course there are many other factors that affect fertility as well, and I have covered quite a few of them in previous articles. The point I am making in this article is that humanity is in very serious trouble, and the only way out is to radically alter our behavior. But we aren’t going to do that, are we? In addition to our “fertility collapse”, other research has found that over thousands of years humans have been getting smaller and shorter… An earlier study by Cambridge University found that mankind is shrinking in size significantly. Experts say humans are past their peak and that modern-day people are 10 percent smaller and shorter than their hunter-gatherer ancestors. And if that’s not depressing enough, our brains are also smaller. To me, reading that our brains have been getting smaller was particularly depressing, but that would definitely help to explain the level of competence displayed by someof our political leaders these days. Our founders wrote such brilliant things, but in our time most Americans are so dumb that they literally cannot understand material written at that level. We have become a dumbed-down “idiocracy” that thinks that reality television and watching people kick one another in the groin are some of the highest forms of entertainment. It is frightening to think about how much we have degenerated already, and I don’t even want to imagine what Americans would be like 50 years from now. Unfortunately, we won’t have to worry about that, because there won’t be an America if we stay on the path that we are currently on. Of course the clock is ticking for humanity as a whole, and everyone should be able to see that. But we love our self-destructive behaviors so much that we will never give them up. So there will be no change of course, and we shall surely reap what we have sown. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

THE MIRACLE BEFORE US

By Hal Lindsey The State of Israel may seem normal. But it’s not. It is no more normal than the restoration of a withered hand or the parting of a vast sea. Israelis not normal. Israel is a miracle! The nation’s existence feels normal to most people today partly because it has been there for 73 years. They forget that for two millennia, Jews wereonce scattered across the whole globe with no place to call home. In all that time, they continued to revere the law of Moses. They kept on celebrating Passover. Their culture did not disappear into the dominate cultures of the places they landed. They adaptedto a variety of civilizations, but at their core, they remained the same. This is unique in human history. They did not achieve this because of their virtue or courage. We can admire generations of brave Jews standing up to bullying, persecution, and evenmass murder. But they remained a unique people because God promised that they would. Through Moses and the other prophets, He had warned them that certain behaviors would cause them to be dispersed across the earth. But even in His warnings, He promised tobring them back to the land He gave them. He brought them back in order to uphold His word and the honor of His name. In Ezekiel 36:22, God says to the nation, “I do not do this for your sake,O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake.” In verses 24-25 of that chapter, God said, “I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean;I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.” Notice the word at the beginning of verse 25 — “then.” He promised to first bring them back to the land, THEN cleanse them of all filthiness. He’s beenbringing them back for the last hundred years and that process continues. During the tribulation period, an awakening will take place among the people of Israel. They will turn to Jesus suddenly and in overwhelming numbers. Today, Israel may look like other nations. It faces all kinds of problems — everything from mundane problems to existential threats. Its leaders makemistakes. As a nation, it often embraces political correctness over the morality spelled out in God’s word. There are pockets of corruption. Like so many other democratic nations in the world right now, some are trying to use the courts to unseat politicalopponents that they cannot defeat at the polls. Israel is doing better than any other nation in the world at getting its population vaccinated. But, as with other nations, Covid-19 has given Israela very rough time. The nation has allies and enemies. In the second half of the Trump Administration, many old enemies reversed course and became friends. Against all odds, they have a thriving economy and under their care, we have seen the desert blossom,just as God said it would. But that’s not the biggest miracle. The biggest miracle is that Israel exists! And it exists in the ancient land God gave the Israeli people throughAbraham almost four thousand years ago. God said He would do it and — against all human wisdom — He did. Israel exists today as a living testimony that God will do everything He prophesied. Israel proves the Bible! That’s why so many nations and people rageagainst Israel to this day. So, when you read about the Jewish state’s high-level trials, her elections, economy, and fight against the pandemic — remember that Israel’s existenceis not normal. It is a miracle! VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Our Future Destiny Awaits

Our Future Destiny Awaits - by Pastor Mike Taylor - https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2021/02/our-future-destiny-awaits.html 1 “ If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4) Have you ever been to a funeral of a loved one and felt so sad, almost to the point of total depression because of the cold, unnatural looking person who you loved liesin a perpetual state of unawareness? Most people have, and I really don't like going to funerals, as I would rather remember them in life, than have that last image of them in their casket burned into my memory.But you can understand that many people believe that death is the end of our existence, that your loved one is completely gone and never coming back. The Godless world believes that death is the end of our thoughts, our memories and the end of our consciousness. Think about your loved one for a moment that has passed on. When they were with you, they were warm, animated and engaged with life. Now they are cold and still and totallydisconnected from this life. Have you ever reached out and maybe just touched their hand or finger, how it feels like a piece of a stick? All that you knew them to be is gone, and your loss and pain of the unbeliever is overwhelming. One, you have to faceyour own mortality, as that will be you in the future, should the Lord tarry longer than your date of death, which only He knows. MAN IS DESTINED TO DIE I read where man is the only creature that knows he is going to die. Even though everything on this planet at some point dies, man knows that it also includes him. So whydo we fear it so much? What you're looking at, in that casket, is the mortal remains full of embalming fluid to preserve the flesh till you get it in the ground. It knows nothing, feels nothingand the life force has left its shell. But what of the consciousness? What happens to it? Do you have a body, or is the body you? Is your body your possession, or as the song goes “is this all there is?” Someone who is not a believer in Jesus Christ and has no relationship with God, called an Atheist would argue that the body and the consciousness are one and the same. Whenthe body dies, so does the consciousness of the person. They reduce mankind to some kind of roadkill that was runover in the road and doesn't go to heaven. In this viewpoint, you ARE your body. There is no “ghost in the machine” ..no spirit, nothing that goes on and continues to live. Your brain produces your mind and yourmind is what makes you think that you are YOU. An Atheist credits reason for reaching this “enlightened” perspective. But to qualify as an atheist, that person must know EXACTLY what happens to the mind, their will and their emotions. And if they entertain the possibility that death isthe great UNKNOWN, then they are not atheist, but now are agnostics...They just don't know for sure. For the worldview that claims “reason” as it's father, it's not very reasonable. WHAT DID THE ANCIENTS BELIEVE ABOUT DEATH? As early as Job's time, God had revealed the existence of the Redeemer Christ, and the PHYSICAL resurrection of the dead. Job not only expected to see Christ with his PHYSICALeyes, but he expected his physical body to be changed. 25 “ For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” (Job 19:25-27) The prophet Daniel also wrote of what we would be, those who have the Hope of the resurrection to a new life. 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. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:2-3) Job awaited the call of a trumpet that would raise the departed souls from their sleep and raised in a new body. This change was believed a thousand years before it wasgenerally known as the resurrection of the saints, some call the rapture. 12 “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. 16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?” (Job 14:12-16) Our Lord Jesus expressed this same concept when He spoke in John: “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29, and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (John 5:28-29) Many point to the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes where Solomon referred to the PHYSICAL body which is “asleep” and not the spirit. Soloman addressed the eventual end ofboth body AND sprit. 7 “ Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7) But note what Paul the Apostle said concerning the body that dies. It is not the end of all consciousness. Yes, the body dies, but the consciousness lives on. 8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be goodor bad.” (2nd Corinthians 5:8-10) May we point to the parable that Jesus gave when He spoke of Lazarus and the rich man? Some say this is just an analogy, but did Jesus lie when He gave parables? No, Hespoke them of truth, but many could not hear them, or understand them, as it was not meant for them to understand, because if they remained ignorant of the point, they would not be guilty of sin of unbelief. 19 “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in thisflame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would comefrom thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:19-31) Jesus spoke truth and never lied when He spoke of such a case that makes the reader heart sick for one so unable to change his destiny. And maybe those who read that identifywith that rich man. It brings a sense of dread to the unbeliever. If you or your loved ones were in such a condition, would you not pray for another chance as this rich man did in the story Jesus told? Jesus told us in plain truth what the person experiencesupon physical death. Lazarus died physically, but the angels carried him into Abraham's bosom which is another word for Paradise. The rich also died and was totally conscious of his fate whilelooking up from the flames of hell. Let us look at the facts that I believe Jesus was relaying to His listening audience: 1. Lazarus, Abraham and the rich man were all there, and they were all conscious of their surroundings. 2. the rich man was conscious of his torment and was able to speak with Abraham and was aware of Lazarus whom he knew also. Abraham was also conscious of his surroundingsas well and able to give reply to the rich man's questions. 3.note that the rich man was in Hell, not in the Lake of Fire, which establishes the story playing out in real time at some point before the resurrection of Jesus. It wasnot a scene of the penalty imposed on those at the Great White Throne Judgment. The rich man had memories not only of his life on earth, but the memories of his family as well. 4.The rich man cared for his family, his father and five brothers, so all of his earthly memories remained intact. And also his emotions which are entirely human. His physical body was dead in the grave, or asleep as Solomon puts it, but his soul, what made him who he was, was very much alive in the sense of his consciousness andhis mind. So taking this parable and knowing it was an actual event Jesus was telling the people around Him, the question remains, what happens when we die? Answer: We are absentfrom the body, but there is no cessation of our consciousness until the resurrection of the dead. Our dead bodies will be changed and we will rejoin them and be united and stand before the God of the Universe and give an account of our lives..Some will receiverewards and eternal life at the 1st resurrection, and those raised in the 2nd Resurrection will be raised to judgment and condemnation. Both being immortal but different destinations. The Apostle John wrote of this judgment of the unrighteous in Revelation: 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 hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reignwith him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:5-6) Note that John speaks of those raised in the 1st Resurrection, but the rest lived not until the end of the 1000 years. He separates the two resurrections. Those who areraised before the Millennium along with those Tribulation saints are of the 1st resurrection, beginning with Jesus, the first fruits of those born of the dead. And the second resurrection is not where anyone wants to be, as it will be condemnation, judgmentand the penalty of separation from God for all eternity. John addresses the PHYSICAL resurrection of the dead whose consciousness remain awake and very much alive in hell with the rich man until final judgment after the 2nd resurrectionof the lost. 11 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged outof those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15) As to the 'dead in Christ' -- they are also conscious, but in Heaven in the presence of the Lord from the moment of physical death until the Rapture. Furthering Job's theme of 'the change' Paul writes, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”. (1st Corinthians 15:51-52) At the coming of Jesus for His church, some believer will not have experienced physical death. They will be instantly changed into their incorruptible bodies, and thosewho have experience physical death will be raised prior to those found alive, and they will receive their resurrection bodies first. And then we will all be united in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. THE GREAT DEBATE, WHAT OF THE SPIRIT? The is a great debate on what the spirit of those who have died experience when their spirit returns to the Lord. Does the Bible give us a description of what we will be?No, it does not...but I am of the mind, we are not some disembodied spirits floating on clouds playing harps, as the imagery fostered by a major world religion. The Bible doesn't come right and say what we will be between here and the coming of the Lord forthose departed, but Paul makes this statement in his epistle 20 “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified inmy body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:” (Philippians 1:20-23) Did you catch that? “I desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better” If Paul was desiring to be with Christ, is it in his grave, or his spirit with the glorifiedSavior whom he saw with his own eyes. The God who blinded him, and was taught by Him in the wilderness for three years prior to coming to see the other Apostles, and the man who was translated (raptured) intothe third heaven and heard words that are not lawful for a man to hear? Paul knew our Savior almost as intimately as the other Apostles, but He knew Him as the glorified Savior in His power and glory. That is who Paul wanted to leave this life and join andhe has been with Him, in whatever form of spiritual expression that God has deemed fit, for now over 2000 years. So we await what is promised those who have died and those who are alive that are found in faith and belief in our Lord Jesus Christ At the return of our Lord for His church, the Bible says that; "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 (physically incorruptible)first: Then we which are (physically) alive and remain (in our natural bodies) shall be caught up together with them (changed and incorruptible) in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1st Thessalonians 4:16-17)(parenthesis are my explantions) Our loved ones who have gone home to the Lord are ALREADY in His Presence, enjoying Heaven and its unimaginable joy and riches in what form, we are not told. . They areNOT moldering in the grave, unconsciously awaiting the call of the Trumpet. They are alive and aware and eagerly anticipating the opportunity to meet with us in the air and embrace us once more. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION? Where do you see yourself on this great debate. Are you the rich man waiting for his demise in an eternal hell? Or are you the beggar who is not rich, but rich in the powerof the Holy Spirit? Do you see yourself in the arms of your Savior, or destined to be cast out? It is a question that everyone of us must make a decision over, and it is why everyone that has ever been born has to decide. “what will you do with the God/man,Jesus Christ? Will you accept His free offer of mercy and grace, or will you enjoy your sin and unrighteousness, being deceived but for a short while?” This world is coming to an end. Maybe quicker than you even imagine as prophecy is being fulfilled everyday at a blinding speed, especially in the last year 2020. But thebible says we all die. Are you ready to die? “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. .” (Hebrews 9:27-28) In this life, you only get one chance to get it right. No second chances. No passing GO and collect $200...when you die, you have two places to end up...with Christ, orin hell....or the Lake of Fire. Don't wait, as we are not promised even tomorrow. Tonight might be the beckoning call of death that awaits us all. Look to Jesus, as He will save you only if you ask Him. “For God so loved the Word, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosover believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God ”(John3:16-18) 8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13)”: Make that decision right now...Your eternal destiny depends on it.. This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying for your salvation. If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, email me at, pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com, or visit on mymy blog for more sermons directed at the end time prophecy, God bless you all, TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET. VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

PURIM: God Is Sovereign Even Behind-the-Scenes

PURIM: God Is Sovereign Even Behind-the-Scenes – Olivier Melnick - https://www.newantisemitism.com/antisemitism/purim-god-is-sovereign-even-behind-the-scenes Thursday, February 25, 2021, marks the celebration of the Jewishfestival of Purim. Jewish people around the world will gather to recall God’s protection in days of old. This is a time when people eat special foods, dress up and read the Megillat Ester or scroll of Esther in the synagogue, where a lot of noise is made atthe calling of the names of the three main protagonists: Mordechai, Esther and Haman. Gifts are often exchanged as well as donations made to charity. • PURIM IN THE BIBLE: The first time we read about Purim, isat the end of the book of Esther–a book about God’s miraculous preservation of the Jewish people–even though this is the only book of the Bible where God is never mentioned by name. This doesn’t prevent God from orchestrating an incredible story of survival,redemption and blessing, albeit behind-the-scenes. The story of Purim is also a very strong post-Genesis example of God’s promise to Abraham to bless those who bless him and curse him who curses Abraham (Genesis 12:3Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)).Haman, the archenemy of the Jews built gallows to hang Mordechai, and at the end, he and all of his sons were hanging on these very gallows…A curse for a curse! People ought to take the promise made by God to Abraham in Genesis 12:3Open in Logos Bible Software(if available) very seriously. In a sense, it is God’s foreign policy when it comes to Israel, and it has proven absolutely true all throughout history (biblical and post-biblical). Haman’s approach to the “Jewish problem” is worth looking at from the perspective of Satan, the ultimate enemy of the Jews. Early in the scriptures, in Genesis 3, Satancame up with a master plan: Use people – even Eve – to destroy the Jews on a global scale – and antisemitism was born! The reason? Satan is very familiar with the message of the Bible and with God’s master plan for the world in general and for Israel and theJewish people in particular. Satan knows that the day that the Jewish people recognize Yeshua as their long-awaited Messiah as told in Zechariah 12:10Open in Logos Bible Software (if available), willusher in His return, but that will also mark the beginning of the end of Satan’s career of hatred and destruction. In an attempt at postponing it all–since he cannot prevent it, Satan is the mastermind behind the longest hatred. He is the creator of antisemitismand he continually subcontracts his hatred against the Jews to various groups through the ages, making the most irrational thoughts, words and deeds appear very rational to those who listen to him. The book of Esther tells us the story of how Satan used Hamanto go after the Jews. He could have succeeded, but God is greater, even behind-the-scenes. In Esther chapter 3, Haman puts his curse against the Jews in motion, and because of one Jew, namely Mordecai, Haman seeks to destroy all of them. We start seeing the irrationalbehaviors promoted by an antisemitic heart. Haman seeks to destroy ALL THE JEWS of the Persian Empire where many of them lived at the time. In a sense, Haman tried to make antisemitism a government-sanctioned policy, something that will be picked up again much later in history by Nazi Germany. We read in Esther3:1-2Open in Logos Bible Software (if available), 5-6Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) “After these events, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes whowere with him. And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage…. When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down norpaid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdomof Ahasuerus. Furthermore, in verse 8, Haman proceeds to give the reason why the Jews are not wanted in Ahasuerus’ kingdom, and that is simply because THEY ARE DIFFERENT. “Then Hamansaid to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people, and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’sinterest to let them remain. Because of his hatred for one man who happened to be Jewish, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews of the kingdom. This was a very extreme decision, driven by an irrationaldesire to hold all people of the same ethnic group responsible because of one of theirs who actually wasn’t guilty of anything but faithfulness to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Haman was on a mission to destroy all the Jews. However, he also realized that his endeavor would require some logistical finesse, so in Esther 3:9-13Open in Logos Bible Software (if available), we read that he askedthe king to issue a decree for the destruction of the Jewish people, knowing that a royal decree cannot be canceled or ignored. Not only did he ask for the decree, but he also committed to financing the whole project out of his own wealth. “If it is pleasingto the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king’s business,…And letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces to destroy, to kill, and to annihilateall the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder. While it might not be obvious at first glance, the process by which Haman sought to annihilate all the Jews within his reach and the one used by Hitler and the Nazi regimehave many similarities. Consider the parallels between Haman and Hitler in these five points: • One Man’s jealousy led to uncontrolled hatred (3:5) • Targeted hatred became global hatred (3:6, 13) • Hatred was apparently caused because of non-conformity (3:8) • Attempted annihilation of the Jews was structured and organized (3:9-13) • Funds were spent and financial wealth was provided for the perpetrators (3:9, 4:7) Fast forward to the 1930s and 1940s, and we see how Hitler developed his well-organized “factory of death” against the Jewish people. • PURIM in the 1940s: Soon after coming to power, Hitler quicklybanned the celebration of Jewish festivals including Purim. In a speech delivered the day after Kristallnacht, in November 1938, Julius Streicher (1885-1946), Hitler’s“Director of the Central Committee for the Defense against Jewish Atrocity and Boycott Propaganda” declared that since the Jews killed 75,000 Persians in the days of Esther, the same fate could befall the German people and so the Jews had to be stopped. Streicher was also the publisher of the virulently antisemitic newspaper Der Stürmer. After the war,he was never accused of any actions or orders against the Jews but for thoughts and words published in his newspaper and as a result, he was convicted of “crimes against humanity” and sentenced to death. The Nuremberg military tribunal declared, “Streicher’sincitement of murder and extermination at the time when Jews in the East were being killed under the most horrible conditions clearly constitutes persecution on political and racial grounds in connection with war crimes as defined by the Charter, and constitutesa crime against humanity.” Again, the “curse-for-a-curse” biblical principle was applied to Streicher, who, on October 16, 1946, was executed on the gallows at the end of the Nuremberg Trials. Streicher’sfinal words before he was let down into the gallows trap door was “Purim Fest 1946”, as his final claim that the Jews were out to get him. It would have required a certain knowledge of the Jewish lifestyle and festivals for Streicher to even make that parallel. As to Hitler’s obsession with the destruction of all European Jews, history is our witness that all methods used by Haman­–as irrational as they might have been– were alsoused by Hitler. Hitler’s jealousy led to uncontrolled hatred. It is hard to pinpoint why Hitler was so against the Jews. There have been rumors that he had some distant Jewish ancestry,and also that he was mad at the Jewish doctor who unsuccessfully treated his mother who died of cancer in 1908. There is also the possibility that Hitler took his lead from the Muslim Grand Mufti of Jerusalem (1921-1937) Amin al-Husseini. All these are nearlyimpossible to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt, but the fact that almost a whole country of Germans was ready to follow one man into his evil agenda of destruction says a lot about our sinful nature. • Targeted hatred became global hatred. Whatever hatred Hitler had against one Jew or a few of them, it should have never led to his desire to kill all of us. Yet, the ghettothat separated and ostracized the Jews eventually led to the Einsatzgruppen (death squads responsible for mass shootings of Jews after they were forced to dig their own graves). When shooting people was deemed inefficient and psychologically damaging for theSS officers (you read it right!), large trucks and vans were outfitted with engines that pumped carbon monoxide into the sealed compartment filled with Jewish people. Even that method proved to be too slow for Hitler who developed the concentration camps thatbecame the death camps. The rest is history. That is of course if you don’t buy into the ludicrous Holocaust Denial theory. • Hatred was apparently caused because of non-conformity The fact that the Jewish people had survived so much hardship and violence against them for centuries was probably a mystery to Hitler, but possibly a reason why he loathedthe Jews so much. The Jewish people have survived through the ages and continue to hold many of the ancient customs and traditions. To Jewish people, identity is often synonymous with survival,so Jewish rituals and customs are critical. This would appear as non-conformity, but while they might be strictly religious at home and in their own community, Jewish people have always been willing to contribute to society wherever God placed them in thediaspora. Jewish ingenuity has proven that beyond the shadow of a doubt over the years. • Attempted annihilation of the Jews was structured and organized Hitler’s “Final solution to the Jewish question” was further organized at the time of the Wannsee Conference in Berlin in 1942 when Reinhard Heydrich took leadership ofit to make sure that various government ministries all complied and worked together. The meeting itself only lasted 90 minutes, but it further sealed the fate of European Jewry • Funds were spent, and financial wealth was provided for the perpetrators Much money was needed for war and to maintain the infrastructure of the death camps into which Hitler fed the Jewish people. Forced Jewish labor, taxes on Jews and confiscatedJewish wealth were factors in how Hitler financed the war and the Holocaust. Eventually, even those resources ran dry. Hitler was not a very good military commander, but he was very stubborn with his destructive obsession with the Jews. Towards the end ofthe war, this might have cost him more than he wished, when resources used for the transport of Jews were not available to fight at the Russian front. PURIM IN 2021: Satan knows that he cannot succeed, but he trieswithout ceasing. He has indoctrinated much of the world against the Jewish people, creating antisemitism and making it the oldest and most enduring form of hatred against a people group. While he keeps sub-contracting his hatred to different groups of people,the danger remains the same and the Jewish people continue to be the “scapegoats of humanity”. The same approach used in biblical days and during Hitler’s reign is used today by historical revisionists, BDS promoters, Christian Palestinianism proponents andall other enemies of Israel and the Jewish people. If they had their way, Israel would be erased from the map and the Jewish people completely eradicated from existence and from history. But in a very “Purimesque” ending, the Jewish people will continue toflourish as promised by God Himself in Jeremiah 31:35-37Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) and Israel will prevail because of God. Be it during biblical times, during the 1930s and 1940s, or even today, through thick and thin, God has always had Israel in the palm of His hand. Even though He was absentby name in the book of Esther and it felt more like “the eclipse of God” during the Holocaust, He never reneged on His promises. So, we can celebrate Purim with confidence and with joy because the same God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Who was behind-the-scenesin the days of Esther, has our back and still keeps His word today. Chag Purim Sameach! Happy Purim! VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Living in Prophetic Times

Living in Prophetic Times - By Daymond Duck - https://www.raptureready.com/2021/02/21/living-in-prophetic-times-by-daymond-duck/ Here are 16 differences between the Rapture and the Second Coming: 1.The Rapture will be before the Tribulation Period—The Second Coming will be after. 2.At the Rapture, Jesus stays in the air—At the Second Coming, Jesus comes down to the earth. 3.At the Rapture, the Church goes up to heaven—At the Second Coming, the Church comes down to the earth. 4.At the Rapture, the living saints are caught up to heaven—At the Second Coming, the living saints remain to repopulate the earth. 5.At the Rapture, the Mt. of Olives is untouched—At the Second Coming, Jesus touches down on the Mt. of Olives, and it splits in two. 6.The Rapture is followed by the reign of the Antichrist—The Second Coming is followed by the reign of the Christ. 7.At the Rapture, the physical character of the earth is unchanged—At the Second Coming, the physical character of the earth is changed (Jerusalemwill be elevated). 8.At the Rapture, Satan will go on a rampage—At the Second Coming, Satan will be bound and chained. 9.At the Rapture, Jesus will remove peace from the earth—At the Second Coming, Jesus will establish peace on earth. 10.The Rapture is a secret event (Like a thief in the night)—The Second Coming is a public event (Every eye will see Jesus). 11.At the Rapture, the Church will be removed from the earth—At the Second Coming, the lost will be removed from the earth. 12.The Rapture is before the Marriage of the Lamb—The Second Coming is after the Marriage of the Lamb. 13.At the Rapture, Jesus comes for His Church—At the Second Coming, Jesus comes with His Church. 14.There are no signs of the Rapture—There are many signs of the Second Coming. 15.At the Rapture, Jesus rescues His Church—At the Second Coming, Jesus rescues Israel. 16.The Rapture demonstrates the grace of God—The Second Coming demonstrates the wrath of God. Here are some recent events that are related to Bible prophecy: One, God gives people that ignore Him (men that sleep with men,women that sleep with women, etc.) over to a reprobate mind (Rom. 1:24-28). He will allow them to reach a point where they cannot make sound decisions. On Feb. 10, 2021, it was reported that a hospital in the U.K. has started saying “chestfeeding” instead of “breastfeeding”; “human milk” instead of “breastmilk”; “parent,”“co-parent,” or “second biological parent” instead of “father.” The growth of the LGBTQ community seems to be causing an increase in unsound thinking. Two, on Feb. 12, 2021, it was reported that Israel ranked seventhin Bloomberg’s list of the 60 most innovative economies. The U.S. dropped from 9th last year to 11th this year. Think about it: The U.S. didn’t even make the top 10. Three, on Jan. 20, 2021, the great prophecy teacher, Jan Markell,made some profound statements about the coming Great Reset, called the Great Reset global socialism and/or Marxism, and said its goal is to take the world to global godless government. She rightly said the Great Reset will abolish Christianity, cash, private property, national sovereignty, and more, and the Biden/Harris administration cannot wait to implementit. If silence in the pulpits over the destruction of Christianity is not lukewarmness and unsound thinking, what is it (Rev. 3:15-22)? Four, concerning deceit, on Feb. 10, 2021, it was reported thatGerman officials have found internal documents showing that Germany’s Interior Ministry paid people to create fear in the nation to justify Covid lockdowns and other restrictive measures. Interior Ministry officials were pushing a political agenda and paying people to scare their citizens to justify what they were doing. Five, on Feb. 12, 2021, Iran announced that it will join theEurasian Economic Union (EAEC), a regional trading bloc of nations that includes Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. On Nov. 15, 2020, 15 nations, including China, agreed to make the ASEAN EC the largest regional trading bloc of nations on earth. On July 1, 2020, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) went into effect. These regional trading blocs of nations are being patterned after the E.U. According to the Bible, Ten Kings will appear before the Antichrist appears (Dan. 7:7-8, 24). I have long contended that the U.N. will be divided into 10 regions or 10 regional trading blocs of nations (E.U., USMCA, ASEAN EC, GCC, etc.) with one leader over eachregion before the Antichrist rises to power. These regional trading blocs of nations have been coming on the scene for years. It is my opinion, based on past reports, that the 10 regional trading blocs will each pick a leader that will turn out to be the 10 Kings. Six, in his first three weeks in office, Pres. Biden calledthe leaders of several nations (Canada, UK, China, Russia, France, Japan, etc.), but he has not called Prime Min. Netanyahu of Israel. Some Israeli and media officials believe Biden is deliberately snubbing Israel. California Representative Ro Khanna believes Biden is sending a message that he will radically change America’s relationship with Israel if it doesn’t stop building settlementson the West Bank and recognize Palestinian Statehood. Some of the concern may have started when Biden’s Sec. of State, Antony Blinken, said Biden would not adhere to Trump’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the GolanHeights (he may have backed off on this). Biden’s resumption of relations with the P.A. and his decision to resume economic aid to the P.A. have not helped. On Feb. 11, 2021, Biden’s Press Sec., Jen Psaki, was asked, “Does the administration still consider the Saudis and the Israelis important allies?” She did not answer thequestion. During the Tribulation Period, the whole world will hate Israel, and that includes a godless U.S. Seven, some U.S. citizens, especially young Americans, thinkSocialism is a good thing. I recently read a 6-month-old CBNNEWS.COM article about a Christian named Georgian Banov who escaped Socialism in Bulgaria and made his way to America. Banov reminded people that the USSR was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (notice the word “Socialist” because some historians estimate that Joseph Stalin may havekilled as many as 20 million people). According to Banov, there was no such thing as “Soft Socialism.” It is an anti-God, anti-Christ system of government that rules with an iron fist. Citizens were poor, most didn’t have enough to eat, they were spied on, they lived in fear, and those that complained (or supposedly complained) about the government werearrested or they just disappeared. Those who are calling for Socialism in America need to pray that they never get what they are asking for. We are living in prophetic times, and a Socialist/Marxist world government is looming that will be more evil than what Banov experienced. Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc. Daymond Duck VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

The Wise Shall Understand

The Wise Shall Understand – Pete Garcia - https://www.rev310.net/post/the-wise-shall-understand-1 Originally Posted June 12, 2013 (The Omega Letter) ''But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.'' Daniel 12:4 Imagine if you will that one-day scientists abandon the flawed and completely illogical theory of Darwinian Evolution. Imagine all that science could accomplish withouthaving that biased monkey hanging on their neck like a dead albatross? For many of these men and women, it would revolutionize the way they analyze a problem. Rapid advances in our civilization came because men like Isaac Newton, Nicolai Tesla,and Albert Einstein did not follow the status quo. Like the harnessing of electricity or the invention of the printing press…mankind’s great leaps forward in time propelled understanding to a new level. A new paradigm opensup and thus spins off subsequent discoveries like an endless Fibonacci Spiral. What has largely kept men at bay was our own preconceived notions about what was logical, feasible, and possible. Because of that reason, knowledge was often bottlenecked at variouspoints throughout the course of human history. A great discovery is made, and there is an explosion of new ideas that spiral out from that one and continue until it reaches a point when further progress becomes frustratedor stifled. And whether that roadblock comes in the form of a government, a church, or just our preconceived notions about how to do something. It would seem that man’s capacity for increased knowledge comes in brilliant, brief flashes…followed by long periodsof darkness. A great example of this is in our understanding of the prophetic scriptures, or in how we have come to know what we know. Most of the Early Church Fathers (ECF) believed in a literal return of Christ and a literal kingdom that He would establish one day in the end times. (Daniel 2:44-45, Isaiah65:17-25, Revelation 20). I imagine we would have had considerable more information about what their thoughts on the prophetic texts were, but the ECF soon became valiantly engaged in battling the Gnostics, Judaizers, pagans, and skeptics for the better partof 250 years against them making inroads into the Church. They fought just to keep the basic tenets of Christianity intact. They were able to do all that, and still face ten periods of intense persecution by a pagan Roman Empire. (Smyrna) The Sealing However, beginning in the year 313, Constantine legalized Christianity with the Edict of Milan. Christianity went from being persecuted and fringe, to being accepted andlegal. Over the course of the rest of that century, instead of Christianity going out into the world, the world would come into Christianity. (Pergamum) As Christianity became more acceptable to the establishment (Roman Empire), political correctness got its toe in the door of the church. I imagine it was not very popularto be preaching that Christ would soon return and destroy all the kings and kingdoms of the world, while under the watchful eye of an Emperor. Allegorizing scriptures provided a way for priests and bishops to remain politically correct and still keep theirjobs. This had begun in earnest by an early “Christian” mystic named Origen in the 3rd Century. A century later, a Christian priest named Jerome was commissioned to translate the Bible into Latin, finishing around the year 405 A.D. Around that same time, a Christiantheologian named Augustine of Hippo (who had been influenced by Origen) had begun applying that same method of allegorizing the scriptures to all of his interpretations of the Bible. This type of hermeneutics would create a new strain in Eschatology called ‘Amillennialism’. 'Amillennialism' denied that Christ would literally return to earth, but that the Kingdom was spiritual and ever-present. Since Augustine was in large part, the ‘doctrinal-father’ for the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), ‘Amillennialism’ became THE eschatology for most of Christendom. Moreover, as the RCC gained power and authority, they retained their clerical power by making the Latin Vulgate the only legal and acceptable translationof the Bible. The only people who were able to read and speak Latin were the clergy within the RCC, which ensured that they would have a monopoly on anything that was called “Christian” for the better part of 1,000 years. (Thyatira) Removing the Veil However, the times they were a-changing. A scholar named John Wycliffe in the 1380s had handwritten a new translation in English. Another man followed Wycliffe not longafter named John Hus (burned at the stake) who also began handwriting Bibles in English. The first printing press was invented around 1450 (Guttenberg) and the first book to ever be printed was the Guttenberg Bible in 1455 (in Latin). The first English Bibleever printed was the Tyndale Bible (1526). Now that the Bible was available in something other than Latin, and could be mass-produced, there was an explosion of interest into Christianity. For the first time since the early church days, people could read theBible in their own language. They did not have to rely on a priest to tell them what the Bible said. The early 1500s brought about a long-overdue desire for change within Roman Catholicism. The Reformation began as a protest-movement led by a Catholic monk named MartinLuther who was sick of how corrupted the system had become. With the selling of indulgences for the absolution of sins, the “good works” salvation system, and the abuses by RCC clergy, Luther had finally had enough. On October 31st, 1517, he nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church in Wittenberg, Germany. The rest as they say is history. Protestant groups beganpopping up all over Europe as the word was put into the vernacular of the common man. Although the “protesters” may have corrected many of the doctrinal abuses on orthodox Christianity by the RCC, their major failing was that they kept the Catholic Eschatologicalviewpoint of Amillennialism. (Sardis) The First Great Awakening occurred toward the end of the 1700s, and Protestant Missionaries were sent around the world to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. An evangelisticmovement broke out in Ireland in the mid-1800s called the ‘Plymouth Brethren’. They came together and began to study their Bibles in a literal manner shaking off the confines of denominationalism altogether. Just as Martin Luther rediscovered the soteriological doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, so too did these Plymouth Brethren rediscover some long, lost truths.The result of returning to a literal understanding of the entire Bible led them to the conclusion that the Bible is a) dispensational, b) Pre-Millennial, and c) that they were somewhere near the end times. Therefore, it wasn’t that John N. Darby and companycreated Pre-Millennial Eschatology out of thin air, but really, only rediscovered what had been hidden in plain sight for almost 2,000 years. (Philadelphia) “About the Time of the End, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the Prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation, in the midst ofmuch clamor and opposition” Sir Isaac Newton Precept upon Precept Sir Isaac Newton wrote more about biblical prophecy than he did on any other topic. He was particularly fascinated by the books of Daniel and Revelation. Nevertheless, evenwith all his mental genius and boundless energy to write and study the prophetic word, he remained largely “ignorant” of prophetic events that even the average Bible prophecy student today takes for granted. Here at the Omega Letter (now Rev310.net), many of us looked up (and still do) to the late Jack Kinsella as not only a pastor but also a mentor. He provided a straightforwardand simple understanding of not only Bible Prophecy, but of what it means to be a Christian living in these last days. Jack’s mentor was Hal Lindsey. Hal’s mentors were most likely men like Lewis Sperry Chaffer, Cyrus Scofield, and Clarence Larkin. Larkin and Scofield picked up on what the Plymouth Brethren had been doing,which simply was returning to a literal understanding of the Bible. Thanks to those men, we know that we are in that last church age that precedes the coming of our Lord. (Laodicea) Each group or generation of men learned from the previous, and that knowledge was passed on, built upon, and measured against the current events of that day. So we heretoday, are the recipients of over 190 years of accumulated learning and study. This learning has been greatly accelerated by the use of the Internet, study bibles, commentaries, and teachings. What had been hidden to many in Christianity only two centuries ago, has come to light with the return of national Israel to their ancestral homeland. But even as earlyas 1919, Cyrus Scofield noted in his Scofield Study Bible, that Israel HAD to become a nation again because a literal reading of Ezekiel 36-37 demanded it. I imagine he caught a lot of grief for including that in his Bible back then...that was…until 1948. However, we only know what we know today because we have stood on the shoulders of giants. Not only do we benefit from their diligent study and willingness to follow thepromptings of the Holy Spirit, but also we have accumulated more history than them. We have had the privilege to see Israel become a nation again. We have seen the formation of revived Roman Empire via the European Union, coming together into a single politicaland economic body. We have seen the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reemergence of Russia. We are now seeing Red China rising and the US declining. We are seeing the push for a New World Order that will one day lead to a one-world currency, religion,and political body. We are seeing the signs of increasing natural disasters in both frequency and intensity. We are seeing technology moving at a frightening pace that allows men to play godand computers to become like men. Communications have become global with an instantaneous reach. Artificial intelligence is leaving the realms of science fiction and becoming reality. There is an increased fascination with the supernatural, occult, and unexplainable. Closing Thoughts Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up andsealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. Daniel 12:8-10 Once again we are reaching that point in time where the prophetic text has been studied, preached, taught, and dissected so many ways…by so many great teachers, that itseems impossible that we could still pull any new information out of what we already know. Any study, about any verse of the Bible, is available many times over in either written, audio, or video formats. I do not know what else can be brought out of the mostintensely studied book in the history of the world. These are indeed exciting times, but the watchmen can grow very weary in seeing how rapidly the world is sinking into spiritual and moral depravity. It weighs heavy on ourhearts. We are instructed to be ready, to watch, and to lift our heads up when these things begin to happen. Nevertheless, there is one other thing I do know, and that is we will have the privilege of seeing what the prophets, apostles, early church fathers, and those godly menof old, longed to see. If we are patient and watching, we will be that generation in the not too distant future who hears the shout, the voice of the Archangel, and the trump of God calling us home. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to preparea place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3 Even so, Come Lord Jesus! VISIT: PROPHECY WATCHER WEEKLY NEWS: HTTP://PROPHECY-WATCHER-WEEKLY-NEWS.BLOGSPOT.COM

Satan�s Final Solution from the Beginning

Satan�s Final Solution from the Beginning - By Joe Southerland- https://www.raptureready.com/2021/02/09/satans-final-solution-from-the-beginning-by-joe-southerland/ �And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD� (Job1:12). �He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of thedevil� (1st John 3:8). We are witnessing the trailing strands of Satan�s long, dark, corrupting thread that runs throughout the entire Bible. Before our eyes, Satan�s long-sought-after goal ofobtaining complete global domination over Mankind is once again within his grasp. It has been a long, wide path of destruction Satan has blazed for himself and his minions to entrap Mankind in his tempting snares. But now, he is primed to finish whathe conceived in his vile heart ages ago in the Garden of Eden � the complete spiritual defilement and domination of Mankind. Satan�s Opening Act In Genesis 3:15, after Satan�s first rebellious deceptions were vomited forth to Eve, God prophesied Satan and his minions would perpetually war with Eve�s seed, Jesus Christ,and those who called upon His name. Though this judgment was damning, Satan in his arrogant pride would claim victory, for He had succeeded in separating future generations of Adam from God, as they were now all born spiritually dead. But his dark work inEden was only Satan�s beginning act. In Revelation 12:4, we see Satan, pictured as a dragon, as he starts his four-millennium-long pursuit of the woman (Israel/those in faith relationship with God), as he attemptedto devour her child Jesus Christ even before he was born. The Bible provides us a wealth of historic details on Satan�s strategies to separate Mankind eternally from God. Satan�s Pre-flood Global Spiritual Corruption nearly succeeds� In Genesis 4:8, though not specifically mentioned, Satan�s handiwork is on display as he destroys the first two sons of Eve � Cain spiritually and Able physically. As inJob 1:6-12, God, for His greater purposes, had removed His hedge of protection and allowed Satan and Cain to perform their will. While God would ensure Mankind�s survival by blessing Eve with Seth, Satan would try to destroy them physically and/or spirituallyby keeping them from calling upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26). And he nearly succeeded, for God appears to have given Satan nearly free reign up until Noah and his family are sealed into the Ark. By Genesis 6:7 of the pre-flood era, Satan�s cancerous corruptions had spiritually blackened almost all of Mankind upon the face of the earth. Left to his own will and withoutthe intervention of God, Mankind had descended into the self-centered spiritual decay outlined by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-32. Satan rejoiced, for disastrously rebellious, pre-flood Mankind was deemed beyond redemption by God who sentenced them to thefirst death � as their bodies were washed away in the cleansing waters of the flood. Only Noah�s family of eight was hedged by God and saved. Satan�s Post-flood Global Destruction attempt� In Genesis 11, Satan tried to repeat his previous diabolical success by raising the first recorded global god-king, Nimrod, in order to again destroy what remained of Mankind,Noah�s rapidly expanding offspring. As a foreshadowing of things to come throughout history, Satan would empower a thoroughly corrupted man in willful open rebellion against God to do his evil bidding. Nimrod, Satan�s first prototype of the Antichrist, through wars of conquest, had subjugated all Mankind and, in doing so, created the first known One-World Government (OWG)and One-World Religion (OWR). God would have none of it and directly intervened, or Satan�s wicked plan would have worked to perfection. God abruptly thwarted the Father of Lies and miraculously confounded the tongues of all Noah�s 70 grandsons, formed theminto separate nations, and then scattered them upon the face of the earth. Though Satan would use his god-king template to spiritually corrupt and deceive entire nations throughout history. Even though he is a powerful being, Satan has his limitations;for unlike God, he is neither omniscient, omnipotent, nor omnipresent. God Aborts Satan�s Plan and Hedges His Power Upon the Earth� God scattered the nations, knowing full well that Satan�s power is finite and that by decentralizing the governance amidst multiple nations, Satan�s influence and powerwould be dramatically weakened. God knows that the potential for great evil comes with consolidation of too much power in the hands of a few people, who could fall under the controlling and corrupting influence of Satan as he temptingly appeals to peoples� self-centered, sin natures. Therefore, to maximize and enforce his will and deceptions upon the world, Satan must concentrate his power upon spiritually wicked rulers in high places of power and inprincipalities. It was Lord Acton, the British historian, who said, �All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.� The reason this quote rings so true is that it speaks directly to the fallen sin-nature that resides within each and everymember of Mankind. Satan knows absolute power corrupts people, and ultimately his power over Mankind thrives upon that fact. Satan Focuses His Attacks upon Israel and the Seed of Eve� Hamstrung by God since the Tower of Babel, Satan�s strategy switched from taking global dominion outright to a two-pronged approach: 1) destroy the seed of Eve, which wouldcome via the line of Shem (the Semites), Heber (the Hebrews) to Abraham (the Jews), and 2) corrupt the masses of humanity by spreading false religions which appealed to the sin-nature within Mankind. In short, Satan succeeded in corrupting/destroying the Lineage of King David and corrupting the nations of Israel/Judah to the point that God allowed the destruction ofthe Jewish nations, temple, and capital of Jerusalem. But Satan failed, for Israel �brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne� (Revelation 12:5). Thwarted by the Messiah, Satan retrenches for the Church Age Satan was enraged by the unforeseen events of the Messiah defeating death and then birthing the Church, but he was not defeated, and he retrenched. During the unfoldingChurch Age, Satan adds three new objectives to his plan: 1) destroy, attack and internally corrupt the churches, 2) destroy, attack and corrupt the remnant of Israel, and 3) set the stage for the Antichrist�s End-Time rule. Additionally, Satan still maintainedhis successful corrupting attacks upon the masses of humanity through raising and spreading false religions and spiritually compromising the rulers of the nations. However, Satan was frustrated; despite all his evil success, his limited power was insufficient to control all Mankind dispersed over the entire earth. But given time, thatwould all change. God Advances Technology � Satan�s Span increases For his greater purposes, God has allowed the advance of technology in the waning centuries of the Church Age as He oversaw the gradual accumulation of man�s knowledge ofthe underpinning laws upon which he created our world and our universe*. The Lord�s pleasure was to shape discovery and invention in order to set the perfect technological conditions to maximize the Lord God�s coming harvests for His kingdom. Satan, ever the opportunist, has always embraced and leveraged technology to expand his influence and power amongst Mankind. His corrupting lies were at first limited toface-to-face and word-of-mouth contacts, and then he gradually expanded his deceptions through the written and then printed word. Now, armed with global communications, mass media and social media, with little effort, Satan can place his lies and deceptions into the hands and before the eyes of nearlyevery soul on the planet. But Satan wants much more than that. Satan�s pride swells, for now, due to technology, he can once again consolidate and concentrate his power in his desire to control and defile all Mankind. And according to Scripture, he will attemptto do just that. Satan�s Final Solution � Totalitarian Global Control No longer limited geographically due to telecommunications, Satan can now enforce tight-fisted control over his children of disobedience to secure his global political andspiritual ambitions. Today, his globalist minions and crop of billionaire business elites are working with and within the nations and global governance bodies to form the underpinning structures required for the next phase of his plan. Satan�s grand strategy, first conceived in Babel, can now be vigorously relaunched with a new global god-king, the new Nimrod, Caesar, and Fuhrer. Known by many names � Son of Perdition, the Beast, the Antichrist � he will be installed and then enthroned by Satan to rule over the entire earth to align all of Mankind to his wicked will. We know from Revelation Chapter 17 that Satan�s Antichrist will cease power and controlthe world through ten evil kings/rulers who have sworn their complete allegiance to their master. The ensuing seven-year reign of the Antichrist will be the most horrific, brutal and bloody period of terror the world has ever seen, leading to the persecution, pursuit,enslavement, starvation and slaughter of hundreds of millions, if not billions. In the final three-and-one-half years of his demonic rule, the Beast will proclaim himself god and demand all nations, tribes and tongues worship him as God, or face death. According to Jesus Christ, this will be a time worse than any other in history. But Satan will not prevail. The Lion of Judah Triumphs At Tribulation�s end, all of Satan�s brilliant schemes will ultimately prove to be failures as the KING of KINGs and LORD of LORDs triumphantly returns and, with the utteranceof His voice, destroys the Antichrist and his godless, satanic worshippers. Satan of Revelation Chapter 12, �the great dragon, that old serpent, called the Devil, which deceiveth the whole world� will, at the direction of the Lamb of God, be bound with a greatchain and cast into a bottomless pit for a thousand years. Come out of her, my people Already, the Prince of the Power of the Air and his children are taking control of the data being transmitted into our lives as they work towards his final act of rebellionagainst God. Do not be ensnared in Satan�s deceptive utopian promises, nor his false religions, nor become tangled in the materialistic weeds of this fleeting world. Drawn near to Jesus Christ, and he will draw near to you even though he has never been far from you. Get right with God. Get into His Word. Spread the Gospel. May our mighty God bless and strengthen you! Maranatha! J&J Ranch Ministries �But as for me and my , we will serve the LORD� (Joshua 24:15). All verses KJV. Author�s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGWbMhR5tdQkhPuV3JRky6Q/ * God�s Creation Laws � The Transcendent Foundation of the Universe https://youtu.be/73m66hMjUCM ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Why Did Jesus Leave Heaven for Us? Jesus leaving Heaven for us is one of the greatest gifts that we could ever receive in our lives. It is more than every worldly possession. His coming fulfilled the promise from God and redeemed us from our sins so that we can be in Heaven with Him forever. As Christians, it has been our greatest gratitude to God for giving His only begotten Son to the world to live amongst us. However, it is also a question among Christians as to why Jesus had to leave heaven to fulfill God’s promise to us? To understand this, we have to understand the deeper meaning of Jesus’ purpose here on earth, which is that He was on a mission to confirm God’s promise to men stemming from generation to generation. We also have to understand that this mission’s purpose was not only to save us but also to reveal the Father to the world. Let’s discuss this in detail as we come to understand why Jesus had to leave paradise for us. Jesus’ Mission Was Mandated by God the Father The purpose of God to send His only begotten Son to the world is due to God’s nature, which is His love for His creation. This purpose of God is the greatest love that any creation can ever receive. This is revealed in one of the most well-known Bible verses, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The incarnation of Christ was necessary to fulfill God’s mandate of love to us and that is why Jesus had to leave heaven to fulfill this. Jesus’ Mission Confirmed God’s Promise We can read in the Old Testament that God continued the promise to His chosen people, the place of Paradise. However, it is also written that His Chosen people continued to doubt God’s promise for them. However, despite this, God never failed in His promise to His creations, and for this reason, He fulfilled it through His only begotten Son, Jesus. It is written in Romans 15:8, “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” Jesus is indeed the fulfillment of all the prophecies and laws employed in the Old Testament but yet, some Christians think He was brought to earth from heaven to break such prophecies. This is not true at all. In fact, in Mathew 5:17, it is written, “‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.’” There are about 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled by just taking the form of a human. Jesus’ Mission Revealed the Father to the World One of the many reasons why Jesus had to leave Heaven and come to earth was for God the Father, as well. Historically, God physically walked with men on earth, and then He was present as a pillar of cloud and fire and then through the Tabernacle and thenthe Temple. God brought His son to earth to become human so that we could see God, as it is written in John 1:8, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” This move by God the Father was not only for the time of Jesus’ incarnation but also for future generations. Because of Jesus and through the Holy Spirit, the present modern world can know God. Jesus Redeemed the World from Sin Jesus was the only human without sin, as He was both fully human and fully God. One of Jesus’ chief purposes here on earth was to redeem us from our sins. When Adam and Eve first sinned, they were both physically and symbolically covered by God with animalskin. This meant that God would not allow humans to be covered with sin, rather, with His ultimate love in the form of Jesus, as it is written in Genesis 22:8, “God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” This verse means that God provided a more powerful offering for men so that we are redeemed from the sins of the past and the future through Jesus Christ if we choose to repent and believe. In John 1:29, it is written that Jesus is the “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Jesus Provides an Example to the World In 1 John 2:6, we can read this, “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” Because of Christ, we now have someone we can emulate to the highest level. As fully human, Jesus suffered the obstacles of this world, and yet, as fully God, He lived a sinless and holy life. In 1 Peter 2:21, we can read Jesus as an example, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” Jesus Provides the Greatest Gift Jesus leaving Heaven for us is one of the greatest gifts that we could ever receive in our lives. It is more than every worldly possession. His coming fulfilled a promise and mandate from God, redeemed us from sins, and gave us the ultimate example of what we should truly be in this world................ ------------------------------------------------------------------ What Was Jesus’ Mission? This act of salvation was a one-time event, but it continues to affect people around the world just as it did over 2000 years ago when His mission was accomplished. No other superhero act compares to the sacrifice of the ultimate Hero, Jesus Christ. Special missions — they are common among superheroes and secret agents in movies. Audiences are accustomed to the typical mission of a hero saving the world or a spy defeating a villain. Although comic book heroes, like the Avengers, Superman, and X-Men, have gained popularity in recent years as individuals on larger-than-life missions, there is a person described in Scripture whose mission was epically greater than any plot in a modern superhero movie. This real-life hero is Jesus Christ. Readers of the Bible can sometimes become distracted by other events in Jesus’ life and believe these events were the focus of His mission, such as His good life as a great Teacher or His discussion of Kingdom ethics in the Sermon on the Mount. These events in His life are important, but paradoxically, Jesus’ main aim in His ministry is found in His death. Christ came to die for the sins of mankind and to be resurrected, bringing the gift of salvation to all who place faith in Him. Jesus’ mission as Savior of the world is demonstrated in His name, the biblical birth narratives, and His personal statements. Before diving into how these aspects display Jesus’ mission for coming to the world, understanding why Jesus had a mission to begin with is an important point to establish. The Story Begins God’s plan to save humans began long ago, with the first people on earth. Adam and Eve, perfect in creation, chose to disobey God’s special orders not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis2:16-17). Instead of obediently following these instructions, Adam and Eve rebelliously ate the fruit from the tree, bringing darkness and death into the world (Genesis3:6; 17-19; Romans 5:12). Because of man’s sin, humans were utterly desolate and without hope. Thankfully, God did not leave them in that position but gave them hope. A Savior would be born as the seed of woman, who would crush the head of the tempter, the deceitful serpent, Satan (Genesis3:14-15). This promise of salvation, known as the protoevangelium, foretold of a coming Messiah who would save His people from their sin. Thousands of years later, the Messiah appeared, heralded by a beacon: A bright star in the sky (Matthew2:1-2,10-11). No, the Messiah was not the political leader the Jews wrongly believed Him to be, breaking them free from the chains of Roman rule. Instead, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came as the gentle Servant-King to free all people from the chains of spiritual darkness: The oppression of sin (Zechariah9:9; Romans 6:18; 8:2). The Name of the Hero Derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua or Joshua, the name “Jesus” is theologically charged. In Bible times, names carried significant depth and meaning, which can be easily overlooked by modern readers. For instance, in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, the daughter-in-law of Eli the Priest gave birth to a son quickly after she heard the news of her husband’s and father-in-law’s death, as well as the loss of the Ark of the Covenant from the Tabernacle(1 Samuel 4:19-20). Because of her despair over these events, she named her son Ichabod, whose name in Hebrew means “no glory” since she noted how “[t]he glory has departed from Israel” (1Samuel 4:21). As seen in this example, biblical names hold strong meaning and significance. Jesus’ name fits His goal since His name means “the Lord saves” or “Yahweh saves.” When the angel Gabriel told Joseph to name Mary’s son “Jesus,” he explained the name choice: “Because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew1:21). Significantly, the Hebrew derivative of Jesus, “Yeshua,” also carries the meaning of “rescuer” or “deliverer.” Jesus is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew1:20), who came to bear the sins of the world and take mankind’s punishment upon Himself through death on a cross. He successfully carried out His mission as Jesus — the God who saves. Birth Narratives Matthew and Luke detail the birth of Jesus and the events directly after His birth. As was shown through His name, Jesus had already been foretold as the Savior of His people (Matthew1:21). Not only did this message from Gabriel indicate Jesus’ saving purpose, but also Simeon’s prayer of praise and Anna’s reaction to seeing the Christ child at the temple demonstrates His salvific mission. Simeon’s prayer alluded to the salvation Jesus would bring. As he states in his prayer, “My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all nations” (Luke2:30-31). According to Simeon, Jesus would be a “light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke2:32). This passage is an allusion to Isaiah 49:6, which links the light of the nations to the Lord’s salvation. Also, when Simeon saw Mary and Joseph, he prophesied of Jesus’ death, which would cause Mary anguish (Luke2:33-35). In addition to Simeon’s recognition of the young Messiah, the prophetess, Anna, also referenced Jesus’ mission of redemption, focusing on His mission in relation to Israel (Luke2:36-38). She gladly proclaimed the good news of Jesus’ coming as the Messiah to all those who were listening in the temple courts (Luke2:38). Even from the time of His presentation of the temple, people had begun to recognize Jesus’ true reason for coming. Jesus’ Statements in the Gospels Throughout His ministry, Jesus prophesied His death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22). During these times, the disciples did not understand what Jesus was referring to, but Jesus’ continual mention of these events emphasized their significance. His focus was on accomplishing the mission the Father had given Him (John 6:28), which was to lay down Hislife for others and rise from the dead, according to the prophecy of Scripture (Luke 24: 25-27, 46-48). In addition to the individual predictions of His death and subsequent resurrection, Jesus also stated His intention for coming in clear declarations. When Zacchaeus expressed faith in Jesus and experienced a change of heart, Christ succinctly declared: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke19:10). Reflecting Simeon’s prophecy of Jesus being the Savior of all, Jesus made this statement after commenting on Zacchaeus’ status as a son of Abraham, even though he was a despised tax collector and “sinner” (Luke19:2,7). When addressing the Pharisees’ negative statement about Jesus eating with “tax collectors and sinners,” Jesus spoke about the purpose of His coming. Rather than coming to help those who believed themselves to be righteous, Jesus came to save those who acknowledged their true spiritual state of deadness. Using the comparison of a doctor helping sick patients, Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark2:17). All people need the atoning work of Christ to cover their sins since no one can pay for their own sins, but not all recognize this need (Romans3:9-18). Many other statements point to His world-saving mission. He declared Himself to be the Bread, which brings eternal life (John6:51), the Light of the world (8:12), the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:11),the resurrection and life (John 11:25), and the Way of salvation (John14:6). Among all these statements, the clearest one about His mission was when Jesus said He came to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew20:28; Mark 10:45). Mission Accomplished His death and resurrection was the goal of His coming, to bring salvation to those who believe (John3:16-17). Only Jesus, who is the God-Man, could act as the perfect sacrifice to pay the terrible sin debt of all people (1Peter 2:24). Even so, He had no sin, He took all of man’s evil deeds upon Himself, dying in mankind’s place on the cross (2Corinthians 5:21). Bringing victory over death at His resurrection, Jesus freely gives new life in eternal relationship with Him to all who place faith in Him (Romans6:23). In a hero-like description of Jesus’ saving act and how this sacrifice affected his own life, the Apostle Paul wrote in a letter to his friend Timothy, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to savesinners — of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15). Through His own power and choosing, Christ laid down His life as the sacrificial lamb of God (John 1:29).This act of salvation was a one-time event, but it continues to affect people around the world just as it did over 2000 years ago when His mission was accomplished. No other superhero act compares to the sacrifice of the ultimate Hero, Jesus Christ. ------------------------------------------------------------------- How Was it the Right Time for Jesus’ Life on Earth? Whereas in earlier and later periods, Jesus would have had a much harder time moving and speaking freely, such practical concerns had been overcome. There were still dangers and obstacles ahead, but this phase of Rome’s supremacy best served the Lord’s purposes. “Would you agree that God, knowing the cost, would consider every angle in planning such an operation? He sent the right man for the mission, which was accomplished in the only possible way: Jesus’ death and resurrection.” Yet, “what was it about the vastRoman Empire that was so ideal for the coming of Christ?” Why, after hundreds, even thousands of years, did God decide this was the right time for Jesus’ life on earth, not earlier or later? What Was the Right Time? This was a historically significant time because “the Mediterranean world — the cradle of civilization — was unified” for the first time. The Romans extended Greek foundations of civilization by adding “the famous Roman roads [...] that would allow messengers to travel safely with news and ideas,” creating better ships, which would also help the apostles spread the gospel, and there was peacefor over 200 years. Greek was widely spoken, enabling Jesus to communicate with many individuals and groups. In this “relatively calm environment [...] the Jews were allowed to preserve their own faith and customs.” Whereas in earlier and later periods, Jesus would have had a much harder time moving and speaking freely, such practical concerns had been overcome. There were still dangers and obstacles ahead, but this phase of Rome’s supremacy best served the Lord’s purposes. What about Before Christ? Rome started as a monarchy but became a republic, which grew in military might. They had taken “control of the entire Italian peninsula by 264 BC” before fighting “the Punic Wars with Carthage, a powerful city-state in northern Africa.” By the end of that war, Rome was “in full control of Sicily, the western Mediterranean and much of Spain.” A Third Punic War (149–146 BC) enabled Rome to spread north of Greece into Macedonia. These were turbulent times around the Mediterranean. Close to home, the “Roman-appointed king of Judaea” named Herod “was in great pain and in mental and physical disorder. [...] The slaying, shortly before his death, of the infants of Bethlehem was wholly consistent with the disarray into which he had fallen.” Jesus’ family would flee to Egypt and the prophecy would be fulfilled: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son” (Hosea11:1). And After Christ? The second half of the first century AD was tumultuous, in part because of the fighting between Jews and the followers of Christ. Nero also persecuted the Christians, and the Romano-Jewish War of AD 66 led to the martyrdom of Paul and Peter “when anti-Jewish frenzy was at its height.” The “JewishRevolt of AD 132” demonstrates the ongoing antisemitic feeling in Rome. Yet religion was not the only problem for Palestine. A political shift brought short-term peace as Emperors no longer assumed their role as a matter of heredity. Men of skill and mental stability expanded the Empire, but they overextended themselves with “constant warfare.” The Empire succumbed to financial strife and disunity in the fifth century. The rise of Christianity caused upheaval in its own right, but if Christ had come during the unraveling of Rome’s supremacy, he and the apostles would have encountered major practical hurdles such as rejection of the Greek language as emerging cultures establishedtheir own languages, and intolerance of the Jews, which would have limited public teaching. Jesus would not have attracted crowds who listened and watched as he rebuked the Pharisees, performed miracles, preached the Beatitudes, and taught parables. God’s Perfect Timing The entire Old Testament was leading to this window in time. “God revealed his heart for the nations over and over throughout the Scriptures” (Christ in the Feast of Pentecost, Bickner and Robinson). We can trust that his timing is perfect in every personal, societal, and global matter. “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end — it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay” (Habakkuk2:3). Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us “for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter underheaven.” Paul encouraged the church at Galatia: “let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Ecclesiastes6:9). But did the Old Testament provide clues as to when Christ would be born? Intervals in Scripture The Father brought Jesus into the world as Immanuel at a particular, predestined time preceded by other carefully divided events. For example, “forty is associated with almost each new development in the history of God’s mighty acts, especiallyof salvation” such as “the Flood, redemption from Egypt,” and “Elijah and the prophetic era.” The flood rains fell for 40 days: Spies explored Canaan for 40 days. Seventy also has a sacred meaning in the Bible and its “factors” are “two perfect numbers, seven (representing perfection) and ten (representing completeness and God’s law). As such, it symbolizes perfect spiritual order carried out with all power. It can also represent a period of judgment.” For instance, “ancient Israel spent a total number of 70 years in captivity in Babylon” and Jerusalem “kept 70 years of Sabbaths while Judah was in Babylonian captivity.” “Seventy sevens (490 years) were determined upon Jerusalem for it to complete its transgressions, to make an end for sins and for everlasting righteousness to enter into it” according to Daniel 9:24. With hindsight, the faithful can see landmarks demonstrating God’s mathematical attentiveness. Yet, by these means the Lord has not permitted his people to discern a pattern revealing the date of Christ’s return: “Concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark13:32). Celestial Timing and the Birth of Jesus “May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!” (Psalm72:10). “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). Jesus’ birth coincided with a major celestial event set in motion when the Lord separated earth and sky, creating the cosmos. The timeline of these circuits led to some type of astronomical event during Christ’s infancy. In 2020, Saturn and Jupiter lined up to create a huge, bright light for those who enjoyed clear skies. “A conjunction occurs when two or more celestial bodies appear to meet in the night sky.” Such an event can produce what appears to be an especially large, particularly bright star visible “every night in a similar location for days or weeks. If the wise men were to follow the moment of conjunction, it’s possible they would have been led in a specific direction.” That is, a conjunction of planets could have produced the Star of Bethlehem. Even more unusual, “a triple conjunction event did actually occur over a span from September, 3 BC through May, 2 BC,” according to Jay Ryan in his article, “What Was the Star of Bethlehem.” The Lord’s plan to bring Jesus to earth was catalyzed at the beginning of time with the orbit of every planet and the placement of everybody of light in the universe. Heaven, Earth, and God’s Timing Scripture frequently alludes to the stars in heaven as a way of describing how numerous the people of God would be, and not one word of Scripture appears at random. He could have used grains of sand, blades of grass, or some other unquantifiable symbol to represent the vastness of his Kingdom. A star came out of Jacob: Jesus. The image of a bright, beautiful light — a star — seems to foreshadow the coming Immanuel. That same image simultaneously conveys eternity and mathematical precision; the placement and timing of Creation to the full extent of the universe, all of it under the Almighty’s control. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Was Jesus Fully God as a Baby? God, in His fullness, came to be with us. Although Jesus was fully God when He was a baby, He emptied Himself and was found in the appearance of a human — in the most vulnerable way — for us! People talk about the wonder of childhood Christmas as if the “magic” of it fades with adulthood. The Christmas tree did seem to shrink as I grew, but with each passing year of my adult life, I think that Christmas gets more and more big, deep, high, andjust plain surprising! The very thought of God coming to earth, condescending to live with us as one of us, and then die for us, is all too much to take in at the mere face value of the words we use to communicate the Christmas story. And the cornerstone of that wondrous, shocking love-story is the baby Jesus became. So, was Jesus fully God even as a baby? Let’s look at what the Scripture tells us: The Word Became Flesh And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (John1:14). John’s words assert that God the Son (also called the Word of God) came and lived among us yet He was full of the glory of God because He was fully God. He did not grow into God. He was God! He Will Be Called Immanuel Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son;and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear A Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus (Matthew1:18-25). Matthew records that Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit and that He would save people from their sins, and that His name would be Jesus and Immanuel meaning “God Saves” and “God with Us.” Again, Matthew’s account doesn’t sound like someone growing into deity, but deity come in fullness. God with us, not God growing with us. Matthew tells of God in His fullness coming to be fully with us! A Baby in a Manger While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. Butthe angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will finda baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:6-14).The account of Luke is full of more descriptions of Christ’s coming than just this section of Scripture. But this is perhaps my personal favorite. God sent His Son’s birth announcement not to kings in palaces, but to lowly shepherds living outside — outside literally and often figuratively outside because smelly sheepherders just generally didn’t make the cut for the popular crowd. I love that our Lord is like this! The angels’ announcement was, “Don’t be afraid! There is Good News for everyone. God has come to save you from your sins and the way you will know is this: There’s a baby wrapped in rags in a stable!” That God came as a baby and didn’t just appear as a fully-grown man in the prime of life, was part of God’s plan to be a sign to us! He was fully God and yet He wanted us to know He had come to be so thoroughly with us that He came as a baby! The shocking sight of God as a human baby was part of the plan! It was a sign for us. As I watch my son grow, sometimes I remember my own struggles to grow and then consider how God came and lived as a kid. Endured the struggles of teenage life. All the waiting to live out His calling and it’s simply too big to wrap my mind around that God chose all that as part of His coming to save us. In no way did He shortchange His human experience. He felt the pain of the cross, He was hungry and tired, endured traffic jams of people, politics that He wouldn’t have chosen, slept in random places because His ministry required it, and He even lived,speculatively, through diapers, teething, acne, and just all of it! It wasn’t even for Him. He was God. He already knew completely what it was to be human because He knows all things. It was for us. For me. For you. So that we could know He understood us. So that we could know our Lord doesn’t hold His children at a cosmic arm’s length. He is with us! So close that He became one of us. As our world spins full of unknowns and fears, the baby in the manger is the most comforting hope we can hang our hearts on. Because that is the sign God gave us to show us that He is with us! But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…” (Isaiah43:1-2a). Throughout Scripture, God spoke over His children words to quiet their fears but the most powerful words that hush my heart’s anxieties is that no matter what “I will be with you!” Fully God and Fully Man Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likenessof men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians2:5-8). Although Jesus was fully God when He was a baby, He emptied Himself and was found in appearance as just a man, even a baby. God is big enough to grasp being human and God at the same moment. Big enough to submit Himself to death, but too powerful to be mastered by it! Praise Him! When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, God came looking for them, calling to them. He knew exactly what had happened the moment sin entered Creation, yet He still came to hear their story, to make a covering for them, and to give them hope of the promisethat would heal the sickness that had now come upon all Creation. Over the next millennia, He gave “breadcrumb” promises through prophecies that revealed more and more of His coming until the day He finally came. And when He came, He chose to come as a baby! Why Does This Matter? When you think of Christmas, the Baby Jesus, and the manger scene, let it remind you that His arrival shouts, “I am with you!” and let that message stir comfort and peace over your struggles and worries. Let it encourage service and humility over the offenses in your heart and let it strengthen and anchor your soul to the confidence that your God is with you in and through everything this life can throw at you. ------------------------------------------------------------------- What Is Heaven Like According to the Bible? We shall see the Lord face-to-face. The fact that our all-knowing, all-powerful Creator will dwell with us and we shall know him in an even more intimate way should be sufficient for the true Christian to rest assured that they will be satisfied. When people try to imagine heaven, they sometimes picture ethereal images like angels loafing on clouds or chubby cherubs strumming on harps. In order to be motivated to live for the values of heaven, maintaining a biblical mindset about eternal realitiesis important. But maintaining this perspective is difficult when we are bombarded with numerous misconceptions about heaven in popular culture. Here are three of the most common ideas about heaven and what the Bible says about them. Common Misconceptions about Heaven 1. Heaven is where good people will spend eternity. The scriptures make clear that there is no one who is good enough for heaven (Romans3:11-12; Psalm 14:3). Any righteousness that we think we have is like a “filthy rag” (Isaiah 64:6) when heldup to the standard of God’s incomparable holiness. Those who think they are good enough for heaven are self-deceived and their pride separates them from God who “opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James4:6, ESV). In fact, Jesus said the way to heaven is small and narrow, and “only a few find it” (Matthew7:14). One of the scariest warnings Jesus ever gave was about people who will be self-deceived. They will think they are following Christ and many of them will even be doing miracles in his name, but they will not be allowed entrance to heaven. At the end of theirearthly lives, Jesus will reveal to them that he never knew them. Rather than living for God and his will, they had actually been living for themselves and their own selfish desires (Matthew7:21-23). Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke9:23). 2. Heaven is where Christians will spend eternity. This might not be as clear in scripture as people think. Some scholars on the topic of heaven argue the opposite. For example, in his book, 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell, Alan Gomes believes that the Bible indicates we will spend eternity on the new earth that God will create. He points to passages such as 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1-2. Gomes writes, “What possible reason would we have for existing in heaven? It could not be to experience God’s presence more fully, for God will have made his dwelling with us on earth. Nor could it be that heaven provides an especially suitable habitat forresurrected human beings, for God designed a renovated, material earth precisely for that purpose…the New Jerusalem is a literal city that God will situate on the new earth.” 3. Heaven will be boring. Randy Alcorn comments: “Our belief that Heaven will be boring (and I hear this from people all the time) betrays a heresy — that God is boring. I think that we will see that for the lie it is if we realize that Heaven is God’s place and it’s the person whose place it is that determines the nature of the place….if we’re experiencing the invigorating stirrings of God’s Spiritand trusting Him to daily fill our lives with divine appointments, experiencing the childlike delights of His gracious daily kindnesses to us, then we will know that God is exciting and Heaven is exhilarating. People who love God crave His companionship. Tobe in His presence will be the very opposite of boredom.” Biblical Description of Heaven 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says, “The things God has prepared for those who love him” are “revealed to us by his Spirit.” To counter false, unbiblical notions, we need to study and meditate on “words taught by the Spirit” (1Corinthians 2:13). Our eternal home is a real place (John 14:1-3) where we will reside in real,physical bodies (1 Corinthians 15) and where we will experience everlasting joys, rewards, and treasures (Matthew5:12; Matthew 6:19-20; Luke 6:23). God dwells there (Revelation 21:3) and the light of Jesus will permeate every corner of thisplace (Revelation 22:5). Charles Spurgeon said, “To the lover of Jesus it is very pleasant to observe how the Lord Jesus Christ has always stood foremost in glory from before the foundation of the world, and will do so as long as eternity shall last.” We shall see the Lord “face-to-face” (1 Corinthians 13:12). The fact that our all-knowing,all-powerful Creator will dwell with us and we shall know him in an even more intimate way should be sufficient for the true Christian to rest assured that they will be satisfied there, but the Bible gives us many other glimpses of what this place will belike. 1. Eradication of evil. Jesus promised that when he returns, he will send out his angels to “weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil,” and “then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of theirFather” (Matthew 13:41-43). Picture your favorite place on earth. Now imagine that place completely free from any of the unpleasantries that make you feel sad, uncomfortable, or anxious. Perfect righteousness and justice reign supreme. Every shred of evil has been completely eliminatedand, instead, will be the opposite of anything that causes displeasure. In Revelation 21:4, we see that the eternal state will have “no more sickness, crying, or pain.” What is the opposite of these? Perfect health, joy, and pleasure. In God’s presence, there are “pleasures forevermore” (Psalm16:11, ESV). Lovers of God will find that the pleasures of heaven eclipse their wildest imaginations (1Corinthians 2:9). 2. Perfect friendships. Think of all the Old Testaments saints or Christians down through history that you would like to meet… Abraham, Moses, Hannah, the Apostle Paul, Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Jim Elliot, Corrie Ten Boom. The Bible says we will be with all of those people but describes them as “just men made perfect” (Hebrews12:22-23). There will no longer be any hint of pride, insecurity, jealousy, discrimination, or competition — nothing that would hinder the sweetest Christian fellowship. Think about a time when you felt deep love and respect for fellow believers. Now imagine that love and respect being completely untarnished by any ounce of sin on their part or yours. Imagine that love being multiplied to a perfect degree and encompassingpeople “from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Revelation 7:9; Daniel 7:14) who are perfectly united in the one aim of loving God and seeking his glory alone. 3. Learning and growth. While our knowledge will greatly increase in the eternal state (1Corinthians 13:12), there is no reason to conclude that we will become all-knowing. William G. T. Shedd states, “By this we are not to understand that the creature’s knowledge, in the future state, will be as extensive as that of the Omniscient One; or that it will be as profound and exhaustive as His. The infinitude of things can be known only by the InfiniteMind.” Alcorn comments on Ephesians 2:6-7: “The word show means ‘to reveal.’ The phrase in the coming ages clearly indicates this will be a progressive, ongoing revelation, in which we learn more and more about God’s grace.” 4. Meaningful work. Work was part of God’s original plan for humans before the fall (Genesis2:15). God is always working (John 5:17) and Jesus said his mission was to finish the work of doing theFather’s will (John 4:34) to bring God glory (John17:4). Reagan Rose writes, “Imagine all of the things you love about work — the satisfaction, the sense of progress, the knowledge that you have brought something that was disordered into a greater state of order — but imagine all of that without the confusion, sweat, orannoyance that is part and parcel of our work now! Now, that’s a job I wouldn’t mind signing up for.” This eternal view of the satisfying aspects of work can impact our perspective on our earthly jobs. Tom Nelson comments, “If our daily work, done for the glory of God and the common good of others, in some way carries over to the new heavens and new earth, then our present work itself is overflowing with immeasurable value and eternal significance. Living for Eternity Knowing the reality of our eternal state and that many of the things we are doing now will continue, only in a perfected condition, should motivate us to live with purpose and godly motivations now. Those who love God will continue to love God and want toobey Him. Those who do not love God would not enjoy heaven anyway and will not be allowed entrance there. Peter writes, “What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming….since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace withhim” (2 Peter 3:11-14). ------------------------------------------------------------------- What Is the Significance of ‘For God So Loved the World’? We can never do anything to deserve Jesus’ immeasurable sacrifice for us. In humble gratitude, we can only accept God’s grace and follow Jesus’ instructions in the gospel to attain the salvation that symbolizes how God so loved the world. Arguably the most well-known verse in the Bible is also the one describing the essence of our relationship with Jesus: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John3:16). From handheld signs at train stations to the bottoms of fast-food cups to a football player’s eyeblack, this message of the ultimate sacrifice for our ultimate salvation is a universal call to worship Jesus Christ. When considering this verse, we often focus on its second half, which highlights the link between belief in Jesus and the hope of eternal life. This article explores the verse’s first half, which summarizes the intensity of God’s love for humanity and how that love prompted Him to send down His only Son to be tortured and killed for our sake. God’s Love for Us Is Everlasting and Sacrificial Our bond with God has been a story about fatherly love from the beginning. God created the world and everything in it out of love, declaring His creations good and blessing it (Genesis1). God showed His love for mankind in particular by making us in His image and entrusting us to be caretakers of the world (Genesis1:27-28). Emphasizing how important it was for humanity to live in love, Jesus Himself summarized the whole of Scripture into two commands about love: Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. “All the Law and the Prophets,” Jesus continued, “hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:34-40). Expanding upon this binding theme of love, the Bible declares simply but powerfully that, “God is love” (1John 4:8). When Scripture speaks of God’s love for us, it speaks of the highest level of love — or, agapelove. Agape is the Greek word for the highest form of love. Agape loveis everlasting and sacrificial, freely given whether or not the giver receives the same level (or any level) of love in return. Agape love is the perfect love that God showed for humanity when He sent His only Son to be sacrificed in atonement for our sins so that, through our belief in Jesus, we may have eternal life. God Sent His Son to Save Us Out of Love for Us Since the Garden of Eden, God has loved us. Since the Fall of Man in that Garden, we have rebelled against God. Undoubtedly, God has been brokenhearted over His children’s choice throughout history to sin and to turn against each other. To guide His children toward Christ, God handed down 10 commandments and included over 600 laws for His people to follow in the first five books of the Old Testament. These laws included sacrifices the people could perform to reconcile themselves with God when they, inevitably, broke one of those many laws. As the people of old proved true, humanity’s expected obedience to hundreds of Old Testament laws proved futile,as our human nature skews us toward deception and selfishness, and away from obedience and self-sacrifice (Romans8:7-8). God knew that this myriad of laws would make one thing clear to us: People would sin no matter how many rules they had on hand to help them navigate the different situations they found themselves in. This propensity to sin separated the human race from God and showed humanity its need for a Savior — someone to save us from the condemnation of the hundreds of Old Testament laws and to show us the way to salvation through faith. Knowing that it was the right time in history for an intercessor, God then sent down His Son Jesus to be that Savior. Jesus taught us a new, more peaceful way of life, rooted in love and faith in Him as the long-awaited Messiah. The New Testament message is that this faith in the teachings of the Risen Messiah and in His identity as the Son of God offers Man perpetual salvation and does away with the need for bloody Temple sacrifices. But this salvation was not without its pricefor God. God Watched His Son Die Out of Love For Us Jesus Christ freed humanity from the grip of sin by the lashes that dug into his skin as the Roman soldiers whipped him (John19:1). Jesus freed us from the condemnation of the Old Testament laws by being beaten, mocked, spat upon, and made to carry His torture device on His back to Calvary (John19:2-17; Matthew 27:27-31). Jesus offered us the hope of eternal salvation by Himself, dying a criminal’s death, hung up on a pole to perish slowly and painfully. God not only watched His Son go through all of this, He knew it would happen. As Jesus’ father, God knew the physical anguish that Jesus would suffer. Yet God loved us so much that He willed it to happen. God also knew the mental anguish that Jesus would suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane. In fact, the human aspect of Jesus was so distraught at what awaited Him that Our Savior sweated blood as He prayed that God “takethis cup” from Him (Luke 22:41-44). At that moment, God sent down an angel to strengthen Jesusbecause it was the Father’s will that the Crucifixion happen for us, for our salvation, despite the horror Jesus willingly endured because of it (Luke22:43; Philippians 2:8). Set against this backdrop of Jesus’ Passion, the words, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” take on a crystal clear and heart wrenching reality that should bend the knee of even the casual believer. This is what perfect love, selflessand sacrificial love in action, looks like. What Does This Mean? While we were still sinners, God sent down His only Son to die in our place so that we might enjoy eternal life (Romans5:8). In exchange, we’re to turn from sin and live our lives in a way that reflects our faith in His Son Jesus Christ. We can never do anything to deserve God’s (and Jesus’) immeasurable sacrifice for us. In humble gratitude, we can only accept God’s grace and follow Jesus’ instructions in the gospel to attain the salvation that symbolizes how God so loved the world. ------------------------------------------------------------------- How Can I Identify Messianic Prophecies in the Old Testament? There are prophetic types and shadows all throughout the Old Testament pointing to Jesus Christ. From the tabernacle and the feasts to the offerings and the High Priest, we can identify the Messiah who was, and is and is to come. There are more than 300 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus Christ, revealing the true Messiah who would come to atone for sin and to redeem both Jew and Gentile unto Himself. In order for Christians to identify Messianic prophecies and prophetic types and shadows within the Old Testament, it is important to be a student of the Word of God and to understand that the New Testament is needed to understand the Old Testament and viceversa. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament testify of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament predicts the One to come. The New Testament reveals the One who has come and will come again. You may be familiar with the account in Luke 24 where Cleopas and another disciple are walking along the road to Emmaus following the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As they walked along, Jesus drew near and began asking them questions about their conversation. Unable to recognize Jesus, they told of what had happened and of their languishing hope that He was the one to redeem Israel. Jesus rebuked them saying, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (Luke24:25,26). He then went on to interpret to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets (Luke24:27). These passages along with countless others in the New Testament are interwoven with Old Testament prophecies and types, clearly identifying Jesus Christ as the Messiah who was foretold hundreds of years before His birth. According to Walter Kaiser, “There is no finer teacher on whether Jesus is to be found in the Old Testament than the teaching of our Lord Jesus Himself.” Along with Luke 24, we find Jesus saying to the crowd in the Sermon on the Mount, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew5:17). He also rebuked the Jewish people in John 5:39 saying, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.” Something worth noting here is that the scriptures Jesus referenced were from the Old Testament. The Partnership of the Testaments Identifying Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament requires reading and understanding the New Testament. For instance, by studying and understanding the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ, we can recognize the scriptures that foretold of Him in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament partnertogether to point to Jesus Christ. Details surrounding the life and ministry of Christ Jesus and Old Testament prophecy become evident when reading the New Testament. Matthew 1:22-23 quotes the prophet Isaiah concerning the virgin birth of Christ (Isaiah 7:14). Jeremiah 31:22 foretells of Him being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and this is fulfilled in Matthew 1:20 and Luke 1:35. The place of Christ’s birth as Bethlehem is noted in two of the gospels with it first prophesied in Micah 5:1-5. Details surrounding His ministry, such as the blind seeing and the deaf hearing (Matthew 11:5) wereprophesied by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 29:18,19; Isaiah 35:5). Psalm 78:2 says, “I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old.” We know from the New Testament that Jesus spoke many times in parables (Matthew 13:34-35:34). The Old Testament speaks of Judas who would fulfill prophecy in betraying Christ for 30 pieces of silver (Psalm41:9; Zechariah 11:12,13). Several of the Psalms mention the piercing of a righteous Sufferer’s hands and feet (Psalm 22:16),soldiers casting lots for this same individual’s coat (Psalm 22:18), this One having no bones broken(Psalm 34:20), and His resurrection (Psalm49:15). Even the cry of Jesus Christ from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” would have brought this Psalm to the crowd’s remembrance, recognizing its source from the Old Testament. Jesus Christ was the One in Psalm 22. From Genesis to Malachi In the very beginning of the Old Testament, we find the first prophecy recorded in the garden after the fall, which would tell of the Seed from a woman who would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis3:15). All throughout the Old Testament, Messianic prophecies can be found pointing to Jesus Christ. According to Walter Kaiser, there are at least six direct Messianic predictions in the Pentateuch: Genesis 3:15; 9:27; 12:2-3; 49:8-12, Numbers 24:15-19, and Deuteronomy 18:15-18. The One to come would defeat Satan, dwell with His people, and bless the nations of the earth through Abraham’s seed, which would come through Judah. He would be a star to come out of Jacob and a scepter to rise out of Israel, and He would be a prophet. The scriptures tell us that the throne of David would be established forever, and this is prophesied in 2 Samuel 7:12,13, 1 Chronicles 17:11-14, and 2 Chronicles 21:7. The promised Redeemer is mentioned in Job 19:25-27. A priest like Melchizedek is noted in Psalm 110:1-7. Proverbs 30:4 declares the Son of God. The prophets of the Old Testament foretold of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Isaiah proclaimed more prophecies concerning Christ than anyone, particularly the well-known verses in Isaiah 53. A description of the New Covenant brought forth by Christ is described in Jeremiah 31:31-34. Ezekiel 34:23 says, “I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.” This is referring to the Messiah, the Good Shepherd. Daniel speaks of His everlasting Kingdom (Daniel 7:13,14). As we continue on with the minor prophets, we see Messianic prophecies of Israel’s restoration (Hosea 3:5),the promise of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-32), the establishment of the Kingdom (Micah4:1-8), the Lamb on the throne (Zechariah 2:10-13), a heavenly High Priest (Zechariah6:12,13), and the light of the world (Malachi 4:2,3). These are but a fraction of the Old Testament prophecies proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and these prophecies are fulfilled through Jesus Christ and found within the gospels, Romans, Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation. According to The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, the early church held the responsibility of showing how the Old Testament prophecies pointed to Jesus and that He came into the world as the Son of David, “a title closely linked with the Messiah as a royal person.” The early church would rely on the Old Testament to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to testify of Him. What Does This Mean? There are prophetic types and shadows all throughout the Old Testament pointing to Jesus Christ. From the tabernacle and the feasts to the offerings and the High Priest, we can identify the Messiah who was, and is and is to come. The importance of staying in the Word of God, understanding the New Testament and its harmony with the Old Testament, cannot be overemphasized. To understand one is to understand the other, and they both testify of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. --------------------------------------------------------------------- TheFirstborn of Every Creature �Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.� (Colossians1:15) A widespread cult heresy based on this verse claims that Jesus Christ was not eternal but merely the first being created�perhaps an angel�before becoming a man. Note, however, that the verse does not say He was the �first created of every creature� but the �first born of every creature,� and there is a big difference. In fact, the very next verse says that �by him were all things created� (v. 16). He was never created, for He Himself is the Creator. �All things were made by him; and without him was not any thingmade that was made� (John1:3). He is �born� of God, not �made,� the �only begotten Son� of God (John3:16). �No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him� (John1:18). The eternal Father is omnipresent, and therefore invisible, inaudible, inaccessible to the physical senses. The eternally existing Son is the �image� of the invisible Father, the One who declares, reveals, embodies His essence. Although He is always �in the bosom of the Father,� yet He is eternally also �the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person� (Hebrews1:3). He is the eternal, living Word, which was �in the beginning with God� (John1:2), and which �was God� (John1:1). Thus, the phrase �firstborn of every creature� in our text can be translated literally as �begotten before all creation.� The eternal inter-relationship of the Persons of the Godhead is beyond human comprehension in its fullness, and the terms �Son� and �begotten� are the best human language can do to describe it. Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, is the only begotten, eternally generated Son of the Father, forever shining forth as the image of the otherwise invisible God. HMM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Entrance Exam The popular belief is "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" (Acts16:31). While this is true enough in its own right, it leaves out a great deal of biblical instruction about what God wants us to do with our lives between baptism and our glorious entrance into His Kingdom. Other just-as-true scriptures tell us that we have to meet His expectations, His standards, which are high and rigorous. And rightfully so, as the rewards are stunning! Jesus tells us in Matthew 13:43, "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (see Romans 8:17). Only a relative few can meet His standards because they are complex, extensive, and demanding. This fact is one reason "many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew22:14). For God's called, they are easy to understand but difficult in terms of execution, even with the help of His Spirit in us. For instance, note the instruction of the apostle Peter: But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. . . . Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble. (IIPeter 1:5-7, 10; see Galatians 5:22-23) That is a significant challenge! So, it is good to review these things on occasion, to examine ourselves, to determine whether we are still standing tall, albeit humbly, before God, continuing to grow in His righteousness. We will do this by noting the passages in which Godtells us what kind of person He will�or will not�allow to enter His Kingdom. They will make up a kind of entrance exam against which we can evaluate ourselves. To Nicodemus, Jesus says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John3:5). Belief, repentance, baptism, and receipt of the Holy Spirit are requirements for salvation. With God's special calling and the gift of His Spirit, He sets us apart to come to know His way and plan, and eventually, to undergo complete regeneration at His coming(see Titus 3:5; Matthew 19:28). All along the way, we must put on the New Man, the character of our Lord (see Ephesians 4:17-24; Colossians 3:10-17). Further, Jesus teaches in Luke 6:20: "Blessed are you poor: for yours is the kingdom of God." If His statement refers to those who are financially needy, it would mean that all the poor of the world would receive a free pass into God's Kingdom! However, this is not the case. He is speaking directly to His disciples, then and now. Matthew5:3 contains a parallel saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." When used this way, "poor" means that, in comparison to God, we reckon that we are spiritually impoverished, without resources. We are weak, powerless, and spiritually bankrupt. Being poor in spirit is the attitudinal launching pointfor all the characteristics of love and godliness that please the Father. When we are poor in spirit, we recognize our spiritual need, which causes us to draw close to Him. Jesus also tells His disciples in Mark 10:15: "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." Little children are teachable and eager to learn, mild, humble, and free from obstinance and preconceived notions. Christ islooking for the ability to accept freely and eagerly what God teaches. Acts 17:11 judges the Bereans to be noble because they searched the Scriptures daily, not to prove Paul's teachings were wrong, but to determine the truth of what they had heard and if they themselves were aligned with them. Christ lays out another point of examination in Luke 9:62: "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." He is not dispensing farming advice. However, farming is hard work, too difficult for some, and so they find an easier, more enjoyable way of earninga living. Similarly, some whom God has called find the difficulties of the Christian life�one of self-sacrifice�too challenging, and they turn back and lose their reward. The prime illustration of this turning back is Lot's wife. She looked back, probably longingly, at a way of life in Sodom that God was about to destroy, rebelling against the explicit instruction in Genesis 19:17 not to look back. This has a firm application for us today, those living at the end of the age. As He said about Sodom, God has promised to destroy the corrupt world we live in. We must keep our eyes on our magnificent goal, move toward it,and endure. However, our path often brings us into tribulation, that is, circumstances that seem to want to squeeze, crush, and break us. Standing up to one such experience is not easy, yet the Bible says that we can expect many tribulations! Luke writes in Acts 14:22 that Paul and Barnabas told new converts, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." This warning was among the last things Jesus also told His disciples before His arrest: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John16:33). These difficult circumstances "perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle" us (IPeter 5:10). The same apostle writes that God called us to this sometimes harsh life "because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that [we] should follow in His steps" (IPeter 2:21). He, too, was made "perfect through sufferings" (Hebrews2:10). If we wish to be like Him, we have to overcome as He did. Patienceor endurance goes hand in glove with tribulation and is just as necessary for entrance to the Kingdom. Paul writes in II Thessalonians 1:4-5: [W]e ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdomof God, for which you also suffer . . .. The writer of Hebrews concurs: "For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" (Hebrews10:36). Our everyday battle is against corruption of all sorts. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:5: "For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God" (many other disqualifying sinful practices are listed in I Corinthians 6:9-10; 15:50; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:7-8; 22:14-15). He exhorts us in I Timothy 6:11, "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." The apostle James puts our purpose in a nutshell: "Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James2:5). We are selected and approved by God specifically to develop our faith in Him and love for Him, and we do this by striving to meet the high standards God sets throughout His Word for those who will enter His Kingdom. Trying to meet all of God's standards�in essence, to be like Christ�is neither simple nor easy. It can result in an arduous, painful life, as His did. Thank God for His grace and help in time of need (Hebrews4:16)! Yet, if we make a sincere effort to overcome and grow, we have this sure promise: ". . . if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior JesusChrist" (IIPeter 1:11). - Mike Fuhrer