Biblical Prophecy
Preface
It is encouraging to see, that people still show an interest in the Word of God. And this, in a time when unbelief grows. The events taking place in our world worry us. Almost daily we hear about strife, war, pollution, disasters or other negative news. One wonders where this will lead. We do not claim that this book is a conclusive work. We would like to encourage the readers to study each theme prayerfully to gain an even deeper insight into the Word of God. Man the readers of this book receive a rich blessing.
Table Of Contents
1. Bible Introduction.
2. World History Forecast in the Bible.
3. United States in Biblical Prophecy.
4. The Second Coming of Jesus.
5. Reunion Day in Heaven.
6. How Much is Our Righteousness Worth?
7. The Books on Judgment Day.
8. How Do We Learn About the Will of God?
9. An Angel Who Became the Devil.
10. The Biblical Baptism.
11. Why Are Many Christians so Weak?
12. Was the Law of God Nailed to the Cross?
13. Tradition or Bible Truth?
14. Which is the Lord's Day?
15. Which is the First Day of the Week?
16. What Happens After Death?
17. Satan Bound for a Thousand Years.
18. The End time - When did it Start?
19. What Does the Bible Say About Our Health?
20. The Antichrist in Bible Prophecy.
21. What is the Mark of the Beast?
22. Is There a Hell?
23. Prophets and Prophecies.
24. A Financial Secret.
25. The Coming of Elijah.
26. Identifying the True Church of God.
27. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
28. The Best Life Insurance.
29. The Last Deception
30. Appendix.
01. Bible Introduction
In this chapter we will consider the following points.
1. Where does the Bible come from.
The Bible is a revelation of God to man consisting of sixty-six books bound together and forming one book. 39 are in the Old and 27 in the New Testament. Even though written by about forty different authors who were kings, farmers, lawyers, generals, fishermen, ministers, a tax collector, a doctor, some rich and some poor, stretching over a period of 1,000 years, yet the Bible is one book because God was its real author. We shall read some texts from this book. If we give the Bible the opportunity, it will explain itself.
2.Kings 21:10
10 And the LORD spoke by his servants the prophets, saying,
Here it is said, that the Lord spoke by His servants - the prophets.
David says in 2 Samuel 23:2:
2 The spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and his word was in my tongue.
In Jeremiah 1:4-9 we read:
4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou earnest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shall go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shall speak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, said the LORD.
9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. (Read also Ezekie12:7)
Luke says in the 1st chapter verse 70:
70 As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: (Read also 2 Corinthians 13:3)
Can we accept after reading these statements, that the Word of God really comes from God and not from men? The Bible claims, that it was written by people inspired by God. Peter brings this very clearly into focus.
2 Peter 1:20-21
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
We should have these statements always before us, when we are reading the Word of God! They remind us that the Bible is no ordinary book.
Paul says in Galatians 1:11-12:
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul makes it clear, that he is only an instrument in God's hand, and passes on what he has received. John makes a similar statement.
John 7:17
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Further, we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Therefore, not only the parts of Scripture which suit us, but all the written Word of God is good for us. (Read also Revelation 22:18-19, Proverbs 30:5-6, Deuteronomy 4:2, 2 Peter 3:14-17.)
What does Jesus Himself say about the Word of God?
John 5:39
39 Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
2. The foundation of truth
It is very important to start building on the right foundation.
1 Corinthians 3:11
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:20
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
If we keep our eyes on Christ and His Word, we cannot go wrong. John 17:17
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
And how can we find truth? John 16:13
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
We are guided by the Holy Spirit. Everyone who would like to understand the Bible receives wisdom freely.
James 1:5
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But what will be the result, if a person should reject truth?
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in un righteousness.
Proverbs 28:9
9 He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
3. What do we understand by "Faith"?
It is only by faith, that we can accept all that is written in the Bible.
Hebrews 11:1,6
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
According to these texts, it is obvious that we cannot come to God, but by faith. But how do we get faith? Romans 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith is the foundation of every Christian who is studying the Word of God.
4. The earth - accident or creation?
What does the Bible say about creation? Is the earth, and the people on it, the result of chance? Did everything develop by evolution? The Word of God tells us, that everything - including man - was created by God.
Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:26-28
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.
Hebrews 11:3
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Heaven and earth and everything we see, were created by the Word of God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit cooperated in creation, but God the Son, Jesus Christ, was the Creator.
Colossians 1:15-17
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by Him all things consist.
Hebrews 1:2
2 Has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
The animals were created before man, every one after their kind (Genesis 1:25). Man however was made in the image of God.
Genesis 2:7
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
5. What hope is there for the sinner?
First we have to ask - what is sin?
In 1 John 3:4 we read:
4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
If sin is the transgression of the law, we need to know what the "law" is. We can read this in Exodus in the 20th chapter. The Bible also tells us the result of sin.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
But even when a person does not believe in Christ, it is sin.
John 16:7-11
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and ofjudgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more;
11 Ofjudgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Because of sin, man was banished from Paradise. Now let us go back to the originator of all evil, to Lucifer who was cast out from Heaven for the same reason.
Revelation 12:9
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
God has set man as a steward over His creation. Genesis 2:16-17
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou may freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eats thereof thou shall surely die.
We know from the history of the Bible (Genesis chapter two and chapter three), that Adam and Eve ate of this tree through Satan's deception and became guilty of death. So, they became slaves of sin.
Romans 6:16
16 Know you not, that to whom •you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
But God, through his infinite love has prepared a way for man. When man sinned, Christ who created all things (John 1:3), offered to die for him. Christ offered to- pay the wages of sin and in this sense He was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8). When Jesus died on the cross He paid the death penalty for our sins. This makes forgiveness and eternal life possible for those who by faith accept Him as their Savior (Romans 3:23-25).
Acts 3:19
19 Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
1 Peter 1:13-23
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy.
17 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18 Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever.
1 Peter 3:8-12
8 Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
2 Peter 1:3-4
3 According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that bath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
God would like to save all mankind. John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God has prepared a way of salvation for everyone, but the sinner has to repent and confess his sins. 2.Corinthians 7:9-10
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that you might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death.
The original word for repentance here, denotes a change of mind that produces a change of life. Godly sorrow leads to repentance and separation from sin and a firm determination to resist, by God's grace, the temptation which led to sin in the first place. As a result of genuine repentance there is joy in Heaven (Luke 15:7-10). When the dying thief confessed his sins and repented, Jesus gave him the assurance of salvation (Luke 23:43). When Zacchaeus confessed his sins and repented, Jesus said, "This day is salvation come to this house." - Luke 19:9.
1 John 1:7-9
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Read John chapter 17) Jesus Christ is the door to eternal life.
1 John 5:11-13
11 And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.
At the return of Jesus, everyone who has lived according to the Word of God will be resurrected and receive eternal life.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
John 6:39
39 And this is the Father's will which has sent me, that of all which he has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
As we can see, the Bible explains itself when we take enough time to study.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Do we do this?
In Mark 16:15 we read:
15 And he said unto them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Does this commission apply only to the disciples? No. It applies to all the followers of Christ.
1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
What would we answer, if somebody ever asked us why we are Christians?
6. The last decision
In the 14th chapter of Revelation, we read about a decision every person has to make before probation closes.
What do we understand by "PROBATION"? It is the opportunity provided man in which to accept divine grace and to prepare for eternal life, and the time allotted for this purpose. The individual's probation closes at death. In addition, prior to the second coming of Christ, a decree terminating probation for all then living will go forth (Revelation 22:11-12). This decree marks the close of probation. During probationary time Christ is ministering as the Christian's High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary.
Revelation 14:6-12
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Do we understand what this is all about? If we do not know what Babylon, the beast, and the image of the beast represent, then how can we make the right decision? These and other questions are answered in the following chapters.
02. World History Forecast in the Bible
Many people wonder where the troubling, global events will lead. Let us take only the last few years. What has happened in Europe! The fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism. The Iraq war. The situation in the former Yugoslavia and many other events.
Scientists have warned us many times about upheavals in nature, food shortage and declining quality of drinking water. Are they right? How long will our resources last? These are questions many people are concerned about. Are you too? If so, you are not alone. We know that many politicians admit to the truth of the Bible. But do they really believe in this book or do they prefer to seek advice from their astrologers and soothsayers as it was in the time of the Old Testament? The Bible describes the history of this world. The books of Daniel and Revelation are books of prophecy.
In Daniel 12:4 we read:
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Here we see, that this book deals with the time of the end. Therefore it is very important for people in our day to study it. The books of Daniel and Revelation go together like a hand in a glove. The prophecies in the book of Daniel are repeated in the book of Revelation.
Revelation 10:2
2 And he had in his hand a little book open:
We find in Daniel that this book was sealed, but in Revelation it is opened. So the book of Revelation is exactly what it says it is. It is a revealing of the Word of God which helps us to understand where we arc, where we are heading and what will take place in the future. Now we will look at a prophecy in the book of Daniel and trace it down to our day in the light of biblical prophecy. God revealed to the heathen king Nebuchadnezzar an image in a dream which attracted his attention, and made a strong impression on him.
Daniel 2:28
28 But there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and makes known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; This dream was given by God, and dealt with the latter days. When the king awoke he could not remember the dream. The Scripture says in Daniel 2:3, that he called in all his wise men, astrologers and soothsayers and told them he had a dream but was unable to recall it.
Then the Chaldeans spoke (verse 4):
And the king answered (verse 5):
The king's primary demand of the wise men was to reveal his forgotten dream. His secondary concern was the interpretation of it. After much discussion the wise men declared their inability to reveal the dream. The Bible and history report that the Babylonian captivity of the Jews was ca. 605-586 B.C. Amongst the wise men in Babylon there were young men named Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abednego). They were prisoners from Israel and enjoyed an education at the king's court. But because they were too young, they were not brought with the others before the king. He called to himself only those men, in whom he had confidence. But this time he was not pleased because they could not help him. They answered him (Verse 11):
11 And it is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
But this answer did not please the king.
Daniel 2:12-13
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
Immediately the decree went forth, pronouncing destruction upon all of them. In harmony with the decree, Daniel and his fellows were sought to be killed, even though they had not been called before the king. Daniel however, was wise and discreet. In approaching his superior, "Arioch the captain of the king's guard", he did so in the framework of seeking counsel. He asked, "Why is this decree so hasty?" When Daniel approached the king, his request was simply for time and he assured the king that the interpretation would be given.
Daniel 2:16
16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
How could Daniel be so sure? His life was in harmony with the principle stated in the Bible.
Psalms 6:9
9 The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
Daniel and his friends began to pray about this matter, and God answered their request.
Daniel 2:19-20
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
Daniel then appeared before the king.
Daniel 2:26-28
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king;
28 But there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and makes known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
Daniel described the dream which was a prophecy of future events.
Daniel 2:31-38
31 Thou, O king, saw, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
34 Thou saw till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven has given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38 And where so ever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven has he given into your hand, and has made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom he was ruling, was the head of gold. It was a tremendous kingdom ruling the world from 605 to 539 B.C. The city of Babylon was looked upon as a city t hat could never be taken. But prophecy says differently.
In Isaiah 13:19-22 it is predicted what would happen with Babylon.
19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellence, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.
21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.
Consider the country where Babylon once existed. It is now called Iraq. The city of Babylon was about 80 km out of Bagdad, and we can see the prophecy has been fulfilled because only ruins remain. Some people may say the Bible is a good book. Some may say it is a good history book. Others may say it is a good book of morals. However, this book is more than that. It is divine! Let us go to the next prophesied kingdom.
Daniel 2:39
39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee,
HEAD OF GOLD BABYLON (B.C. 605 - 539)
BREAST OF SILVER MEDO PERSIA (B.C. 539 - 331)
THIGHS OF BRASS GREECE (B.C. 331 - 168)
LEGS OF IRON ROME (B.C. 168 - A.D. 476)
FEET OF IRON AND CLAY DIVIDED NATIONS (A.D. 476 - 2nd ADVENT)
OF WESTERN EUROPE (A.D. 476 - 2nd ADVENT)
Just as silver is inferior to gold, so too was the next kingdom to be inferior to Babylon. A Bible text tells us about the man who would overthrow Babylon. It was written about 100 years before he was born.
Isaiah 45:1
1 Thus said the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
Cyrus was the general of the Medes and Persians. He marched with his army towards Babylon. As they approached the city, the Babylonians closed their gates. The inner city of Babylon was surrounded by double walls. The inner wall was about 6.5 m thick and the outer wall about 3.5 m. Every 17 to 18 m there were towers. Admission into the city was granted by at least 8 double gates with a length of ca. 50 m each. Cyrus took his men and they marched down the Euphrates River, which flowed through the city of Babylon. At a selected spot he had his men dig canals so that the water could, if necessary, be diverted. He sent out spies. They found out that on a certain night the king of Babylon, Belshazzar, was to have a huge celebration. Cyrus decided that on this night, he would take the city. As the people in Babylon were partying, Cyrus had his men break the dikes of these canals and diverted the river Euphrates into them. He and his men marched down the muddy riverbed. There, the gate that opened from the city to the river was open (as it was prophesied - Isaiah 45:1). The guards were drunk. Cyrus and his men marched into the city, unopposed. In the palace, where Belshazzar was feasting, a mysterious hand suddenly wrote something on the wall.
Daniel 5:25-28
25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Nobody understood what was happening, until Daniel, now 90 years of age, explained the meaning of the words mysteriously written on the wall.
26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
It happened just as God had predicted. The breast and arms of silver represented the Medes and Persians, the second world empire, which ruled from 539 until 331 B.C.
Further on we read in Daniel 2:39:
39. And another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
Greece, under the leadership of Alexander the Great, overthrew the Medo-Persian empire at the decisive Battle of Arbela in 331 B.C. This kingdom was symbolized by the brass belly and thighs of the image shown to Nebuchadnezzar and ruled until 168 B.C. Arbela was an Assyrian city near Gaugamela (Iraq) and is now called Erbil. "Alexander marshaled his army, consisting of forty thousand infantry and seven thousand cavalry." He defeated Darius and the Persian Grand Army, ,,...for it is said to have consisted of one million infantry, forty thousand cavalry, two hundred scythed chariots, and fifteen elephants." ..."In fact the whole conflict was hardly more than a repetition of the battle of Issus." - Grote, "History of Greece," chapter 93, paragraphs 72-9 1. However, this third kingdom was to pass away as well.
Daniel 2:40
40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things: and as iron that breaks all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
The fourth kingdom, symbolized by the iron legs, was said to be "strong as iron" and represented the Iron Monarchy of Rome which overthrew the Grecian empire at the Battle of Pydna in 168 B.C. and lasted until A.D. 476. This was the kingdom which governed when Jesus Christ was born, and it was the same kingdom which governed when Jesus died, for we know it was a Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus as He hung upon the cross. Now we could say that the fifth kingdom had to come, but let us see, what the Bible has to say.
Daniel 2:41-42
41 And whereas thou saw the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou saw the iron mixed with miry clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Daniel went on to show that even Rome, with all her strength, was to be broken in pieces. This fourth kingdom was divided into ten parts, symbolized by the ten toes of the image. Those divisions were:
Alemanni Germany
Franks France
Burgundians Switzerland
Suevi Portugal
Anglo-Saxons England
Visigoths Spain
Lombards Italy
Heruli Destroyed
Vandals Destroyed
Ostrogoths Destroyed
We see, that three tribes are missing.
Daniel 2:43
43 And whereas thou saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
There were many and varied attempts to unite these ten divisions of Western Rome. There was a time when nearly all the crowned heads of Europe had intermarried. However, even this unifying attempt failed. God had predicted there would never be another nation with enough power to unite all nations into one kingdom - "They shall not cleave one to another."
Charlemagne built an empire like the Caesars in the ninth century, but at his death it fell apart. Charles V of Spain tried to be the sole ruler in the 15th century. He conquered several nations, but was finally forced to abdicate because of illness. Louis XIV of France tried it in the 18th century, but at the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, his plans tumbled like a fence of toothpicks. Then came Napoleon, a great military genius. He swept over nation after nation in the 19th century. He wanted to create a new European system. He also failed. Do we know who conquered Napoleon? It was not Russia, but the Russian winter that brought him to fall. When he marched his army into Russia, they experienced one of the coldest winters. Napoleon was forced to retreat. From his mighty army, only about one fifth returned to France. As the rest of his army returned home, he could not regain his former strength. He tried again. Within a few weeks Napoleon had again amassed a vast army, but he lost the battle of Waterloo in 1815. Exiled to the Isle of St. Helena, he died on the 5th of May 1821. The plans of Kaiser Wilhelm II (First World War - 1914-1918), Hitler and Mussolini have failed too, as will any such attempt in the future.
But how will it continue in this world? Daniel 2:44-45
44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45 Forasmuch as thou saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
What is the meaning of the stone in this vision? The stone that smites the image on the feet represents the establishment of Christ's kingdom. We are living in the days of the nations of Europe represented by the feet and toes of the great image. Christ's kingdom will soon be a reality. Christ's prayer, "Thy kingdom come", is about to be fulfilled!
03. United States in Biblical Prophecy
There is probably no country, which has been blessed by God like the USA. Even Israel at the height of the reign of David and Solomon never experienced the blessings that modern America has had the privilege of experiencing. There are two particular reasons why this country is mentioned in the Bible.
1. Its worldwide influence.
2. Because of the effect it will have upon the people of God especially in the last days.
Prophecy has been given by God, so that we can know where we stand, if we are willing to study His Word.
Amos 3:7
7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets.
We would be disadvantaged, if we did not know what the Bible tells us about America. It was once wisely stated: "If we could first tell where we are, and where we are heading, we could tell better what to do and how to do it." In the preceding chapter we have spoken of different countries such as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, which are mentioned in the Bible. America is no exception. The Bible also tells us what part this country has to play in these last days in which we are living. In the 13th chapter of Revelation, we see that God speaks about two beasts. The first beast is like a leopard. The second is described as a two-horned beast. We see that God simply uses beasts to represent nations and powers.
Daniel 8:20-21
20 The ram which thou saw having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
21 And the rough goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
When we read newspapers, we will find symbols representing different nations. For example an eagle (USA), a bear (Russia), a rooster (France), and so on. The two beasts mentioned in Revelation 13 will have a huge influence in the last days of the whole world.
Revelation 13:1-2
I And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
In these verses the first beast is described. However, we only want to talk about the second beast which symbolizes the United States. We are simply establishing a time sequence.
Revelation 13:10
10 He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Here it says "He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity:" In the preceding chapter, we heard about different men who wanted to unite Europe. The French Revolution started in 1789. One of the leaders was Napoleon. He knew he could never control Europe before breaking the power of the first beast. Napoleon sent General Berthier, who overthrew this power in the year 1798. He took Pope Pius VI captive and brought him to France, where he died at Valence in exile on the 29th of August 1799. From that time on, there was no Pope for a while. The text goes on to say that as this beast goes into captivity, a second one will appear. Revelation 13:11
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.
We now want to look at the time, in which the power of the first beast was broken and the second beast appeared. There is only one power, that fits into this prophecy. Let us consider history here. The Pilgrim Fathers, a party of 102 Puritans, 74 men and 28 women, were members of John Robinson's church at Leyden (Holland), who, on the 6th of September 1620, sailed from Plymouth aboard the Mayflower to seek religious freedom in New England. They landed at Plymouth Rock on the 16th of December 1620. Their settlement later formed part of Massachusetts. These Pilgrims established 13 colonies. Then trouble brewed with England and they decided to be an independent nation. In the year 1776 the Declaration of Independence was drawn up, followed in 1787 by the Constitution, and in 1789 by the Bill of Rights. (The Constitution provides that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof', and that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office of public trust under the United States.") Let us summarize: The first beast went into captivity in 1798. Where did the second beast come from? Out of the earth. Reading in Daniel and Revelation, we find that almost all the beasts came out of the water. But why did this second beast come out of the earth? What does water mean in Bible prophecy?
In Revelation 17:15 we have the answer.
15 And he said unto me, The waters which thou saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
In Bible Prophecy, water represents people and nations. All other nations like Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome fell through revolution and war. America however was discovered. People immigrated there and it became a free nation. Those who were persecuted in Europe, found a new land with a new future in America, with new freedoms.
Further we read in Revelation 13:11: 11. And he had two horns like a lamb...
The lamblike horns indicate youth, innocence, and gentleness, fitly representing the character of the United States when presented to the prophet as "coming up" in 1798. Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the nation. These principles are the secret of its power and prosperity. These people who came to America were God fearing people. They wanted a government after God's will and took the following Scripture as their guidelines.
2 Samuel 23:3
3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
Is there a better principle for a government than this? England however, did not want to give these people the privilege of freedom. Patrick Henry once said: "Give me liberty or give me death." The two horns were the problem with which they were confronted. They represent civil and religious rights, which England did not want to grant them. America still has these two principles today. The question is, for how long.
Let us return again to Revelation 13:11
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.
That means, that this beast will change in its character. It first had, as it appeared, lamblike traits. However, it will change and speak as a dragon. If we look at America today, we can see that this process is already taking place. Whether it is in politics or in economics, America has changed greatly. If people replace biblical principles with human ideas, it can only go downward. This applies not only to America, but to the whole world. The power this beast represents was a newly born power, and there is only one country in this world, that fits this description. It is America. When this nation was born, it was Christ like in its character.
America was founded on biblical principles, for these people believed in the Bible. When the Bible speaks of the LAMB, who does it refer to?
John 1:29
29 The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
1 Peter 1:19
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Revelation 5:12
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
In Matthew 7:15 Jesus warns us, for he says:
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Elsewhere in the Scriptures, this nation (USA) is also presented as a false prophet.
Revelation 16:13
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
We know the lamb represents Jesus. But the Bible also tells us who the dragon represents.
Revelation 12:9
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
In America, as in other parts of the world, atheism has increased greatly. The home was the centre of the family and also (lie foundation of a nation. What is it today? Today we don't have enough homes, but we do have a lot of houses. Parents no longer have enough time for their children. Crime increases, prisons arc full, but this is not only the case in America. This nation was founded on biblical principles and if we follow the history of this country, we will recognize that this prophecy ("and he spoke as a dragon") will soon be fulfilled. Let us now read the remaining texts of chapter thirteen and notice what this beast will do.
Revelation 13:12-18
12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
(In chapter 20 and 21 of this book, when we will look at "The Antichrist" and "the Mark of the beast", more details will be revealed.) Many may wonder whether this will be so, but if we open our eyes and consider the present world situation more objectively, we would see that America is well on its way to fulfill what we have just read. God however, has something special planned for those who follow him.
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Notice the four conditions we have to meet, before God will fulfill his promise.
04. The Second Coming of Jesus
Ibis chapter will be divided into two parts:
A: The Signs of the Second Coming of Jesus
The coming of Christ is predicted in the Old Testament. However, the Jewish nation misinterpreted these prophecies. When Jesus came as a child into this world, they were not ready to receive Him. I n fact, they even overlooked it when the wise men came to Jerusalem and asked for the new born King of the Jews. When Herod heard about this, he asked the scribes where this child would be born and they answered: in Bethlehem (Micah 5:1-2, Matthew 2:4-6, John 7:42). But even the scribes did not bother to investigate further. In the last three decades much has been said about the moon and millions of dollars have been invested for research. What does the Bible tell us about the moon, the sun and the stars?
Luke 21:25
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Matthew 24:29
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And in Mark 13:24-25 we read again the same:
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, •the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
According to these texts, we can see that the second coming of Christ is not far off. Let's consider the sequence: the first sign occurs in the sun, the next in the moon and then in the stars.
Revelation 6:12
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
In Acts 2:20 we read something, which already has been predicted in the Old Testament.
Acts 2:20
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And in Joel 2:31 we read the same again.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Here it says, that before Jesus comes again, the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood. With these signs God shows us the closeness of Christ's return. The disciples of Jesus were very concerned about His return and they wanted to know when this would be. So they came to him on the Mount of Olives and asked him three questions.
Matthew 24:3
Question no. 1: Tell us, when shall these things be?
Question no. 2: And what shall be the sign of thy coming? Question no. 3: And of the end of the world?
They wanted to know, when He would come again and which signs would precede His coming and the end of the world. Jesus explained it step by step to the disciples. We also have the same opportunity to find out step by step what will happen before the return of Jesus. When the disciples asked Jesus, He first gave then the following counsel.
Matthew 24:4
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
To the disciples questions Jesus answered, "Take heed that no man deceive you." Jesus said that one of the easiest ways to be deceived, relating to His second coming, is contained in the false doctrines taught about it. How can we be sure, that we will not be deceived? How can we know, what is right and what is wrong? There is only one way and that is to read the Bible. We need to spend sufficient time studying the Word of God because this is the only way that keeps us from being deceived. We have to prove everything according to the Scriptures (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Luke 21:20
20 And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Here He predicted what would happen, but for the disciples it was incomprehensible, that one day they would have to flee. They could not separate the return of Jesus, the end of the world and the destruction of Jerusalem. In their minds was the thought that if Jerusalem should ever be destroyed, this would also be the end of the world. When we read Matthew chapter 24 and Luke chapter 21, Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and combined this with the end of the world although these are two completely different events. He said that the first sign they had to look for, was the siege of Jerusalem.
Luke 21:21
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter there into. (Read also Matthew 24:16-20.)
Christ had warned His disciples, and all who believed His words watched for the promised sign. When Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D., not one Christian who heeded the warning perished in the destruction. Jesus prophesied that the temple would be destroyed and there would not be left one stone upon another (Luke 21:6). When Jesus said this, people cried "blasphemy" because there were stones measuring 2.40 meters in height and thickness and 12 meters long, stacked on top of one another. On the inside of the temple they had walls with cedar and gold. As the Romans surrounded Jerusalem, the general decided to take the city without fighting. They wanted to starve the people to death. They did not let anybody in or out of the city. Those who tried to sneak out of the city by night were caught and crucified. After a certain time the Roman General decided to take the city by force but commanded explicitly that they should spare the temple. However, in the heat of the battle one of the soldiers took a firebrand and accidentally threw it through the window of the temple. It immediately caught fire. It could not be stopped. Further, Jesus says:
Matthew 24:21
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
The next event Jesus spoke of was of a great tribulation. This period of time is known as the Dark Ages when there was a union of church and state. There was intense persecution during this time. The Bible was withheld from the common people. They moved backwards in knowledge instead of forwards.
Further it says in Matthew 24:29:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
In Timothy Dwight's "Historical Collections" we read:
"The 19th of May, 1780, was a remarkable dark day. Candles were lighted in many houses; the birds were silent and disappeared, and the fowls retired to roost. A very general opinion prevailed that the day of judgment was at hand."
The sun lost its shine. The moon was blood-red for three nights as we have read in Revelation 6:12. It came exactly as the Bible predicted.
Revelation 6:13
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. (Read also Matthew 24:29.)
"The morning of November 13th, 1833, was rendered memorable by an exhibition of the phenomenon called shooting stars, which was probably more extensive and magnificent than any similar one hitherto recorded. Probably no celestial phenomenon has ever occurred in this country, since its first settlement, which was viewed with so much admiration and delight by one class of spectators, or with so much astonishment and fear by another class." - Denison Olmsted in The American Journal of Science and Arts, volume 25 (1834), pages 363,364.
Frederick Douglass, in reminiscing about his early days in slavery, says:
"I witnessed this gorgeous spectacle, and was awe-struck. The air seemed filled with bright descending messengers from the sky. I was not without the suggestion at the moment that it might be the harbinger of the coming of the Son of Man; and in my then state of mind I was prepared to hail Him as my friend and deliverer. I had read that "the stars shall fall from heaven", and they were now falling." - Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1941 ed.), page 117.
These signs had given a strong impression that the day ofjudgment, the coming of Christ and the end of the world were at the door. God had given these signs in the sun, moon and the stars to mark the beginning of the time of the end. These signs will appear again just before the coming of Christ.
Daniel 12:4
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Here it is written, that the understanding of the Scriptures will increase in the last days. When did the last days or the so called end time begin? In 1798. Knowledge has increased not only in reference to the Scriptures but in every respect. Probably one of the fastest areas we can see, is in technology. Let us have a look at something as simple as a wheel. Let us go back in time to the days of Abraham. How fast did a wheel turn in the days of Abraham? Just as fast as a horse could pull it. Let us go about 3000 years further towards our time, to the time of George Washington, president of the USA 1789-1797. How fast did a wheel turn in the days of George Washington? No faster than it did in the days of Abraham. As we approach the 18th century man started to use steam, then electricity and, suddenly man started to travel at speeds that he had never known before. If we could go back to just over 100 years from today there would be no airplanes, no cars, no rockets etc. As we have read, knowledge will increase at the end time, which started in 1798. In the last fifty years knowledge has doubled every ten years. If we just consider the field of electronics today, the progress man has made is unbelievable.
Luke 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
If we compare these texts with our time, it fits exactly. The economical and also the political situation is very uncertain worldwide. Another point to consider is the population explosion, the food and drinking water that are needed to feed all these people. Today we have about 5.5 billion people on our planet earth. By the year 2000, scientists assume that there will be 7 to 8 billion. The rich become richer, the poor become poorer. Unemployment rises. But those who trust in the Lord and study the Scriptures daily, have confidence for the future, because the Lord will not abandon His people. James says something very interesting about this situation.
James 5:1-8
1 Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall he a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4 Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, cries: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; you have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be you also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh.
When we listen to the news or read the newspapers, we know almost every country has problems. Some can barely pay back the interest on their debts.
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 we read about the conditions in our days.
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. -
But Jesus gives us comfort and confidence.
John 14:1-3
1 Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (Read also 2 Corinthians 5:1.)
Jesus reproved the Pharisees, because they could forecast the weather by looking at the heavens, but not the signs of the time. Matthew 16:2-3
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern the signs of the times?
How can WE recognize the signs for OUR time?
B: The Return Of Jesus
We live in a time, in which technology has reached a high standard. Today an astronaut can travel around the world faster, than it took Lindbergh to cross the Atlantic. With the airplane we can reach all parts of the world in a short time. But we also live in the time when Jesus will come again. (Read also John 14:1-3)
Revelation 19:11-16
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he dim sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his nm me is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
It is written that when Jesus Christ returns, the kingdom over which He will rule will endure forever. We have spoken about the signs of Christ’s return. Now we will pay attention to how He will come back.
Revelation 1:7
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kingdoms of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Read also Acts 1:11, James 5:7-8.)
From this text we can clearly see, that all people living at that time, will see Him coming. The idea that Christ comes secretly and that His coming is revealed to the rest of mankind only by the absence of the righteous, is untrue. In order for those who pierced Christ to see Him return, there will be a special resurrection to make this possible (Daniel 12:1-2).
Matthew 24:27
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Read also Luke 17:24.)
This powerful event will not remain hidden from any eye. Neither will there be a "secret rapture" as some people think. The Bible further says:
Revelation 6:14-17
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
The preaching of the gospel is not destined to bring about world conversion. The gospel is preached "for a witness." After the proclamation of truth, Christ will return. (Read also Matthew 24:14.)
Revelation 16:17-21
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightning; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
Never before was there such an earthquake as this will be. Hail as heavy as a talent (about 76.5 pounds - U.S. Standard). Without a doubt, this event will excel anything that has happened before. Surely everybody will notice it. Sometimes we hear the saying, that Jesus will come as a thief in the night. Let us consider this text more closely.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
I But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
Now, many will say: here it is. Unfortunately they do not read further, where the Scripture explains itself.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Jesus will come back suddenly, like a thief in the night; not for the just, but for the unjust who are not prepared.
5 You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Think carefully. If Christ returns to us suddenly, like a thief in the night, we are lost. The unsaved will hide themselves when Christ comes again, as we have read in Revelation 6:15. Christ's coming will not only be seen but will also be heard.
Revelation 11:15
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
This voice will be heard by all in heaven and on earth. Paul confirms what John has written.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (Read also further the verses 17-18; Job 14:12-15)
By the sound of this trumpet the whole earth will tremble.
Matthew 24:30
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Read also verse 31)
According to 1.Thessalonians 4:16 the Lord himself will come and the dead in Christ shall rise first, starting with Adam up to the last righteous person who died. Isaiah also predicted this. Isaiah 26:19
19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, you that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
(Read also John 6:39-54). Then the resurrected saints will sing:
1 Corinthians 15:55
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
That is the hope, which was given to us. We have read in the texts in Matthew 24:30 and Revelation 1:7 that Jesus will come in the clouds.
Psalms 104:2-3
2 Who covers thyself with light as with a garment: who stretches out the heavens like a curtain: Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks upon the wings of the wind:
Psalms 68:17
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
These clouds are many thousands of angels, who will accompany the Lord when He comes.
Revelation 19:14
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Here in verse 14 we read that the host of Heaven, the angels, followed Him. Can we imagine the glory of Jesus and His angels when they come? It will be such a display of power, as we have never experienced before. Luke likewise describes the arrival of Jesus in the clouds.
Luke 21:27
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Read also Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:911.)
Jesus Himself talks about His return.
Luke 9:26
26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
If we are lukewarm Christians and fail to witness that which Jesus has done for us, He will be ashamed of us too. It also says that Jesus will come in His and in His Fathers glory. What does that mean?
Matthew 17:2
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
We know that the disciples could not bear to see His glory. Moses also desired to see the glory of God, but God said: "Thou canst not see my face:" -Exodus 33:17-23. As Moses returned from the mountain the people could not bear to look at his countenance. Another example is given in Matthew.
Matthew 28:2-4
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
The appearance of this angel made the soldiers fall to the ground as if dead. When we try to imagine how many angels will accompany Jesus at His return, it surely must be indescribable.
Matthew 25:31
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
How many angels will there be?
Revelation 5:11
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Most probably an indescribable number. If we can imagine that every angel has the appearance like lightning, this phenomenon becomes incomprehensible. There will be a glory which nobody has ever seen Now we can understand why the unbelievers will try to hide when Jesus comes.
Matthew 24:31
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Have we ever realized, that we all have a guardian angel? God has given this angel for our protection.
Matthew 18:10
10 Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the lace of my Father which is in heaven.
Hebrews 1:14
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Our guardian angel will also be there when Jesus comes. Let us consider three more verses.
Revelation 3:11
I 1 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou has, that no man take thy crown.
Revelation 14:15
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Revelation 22:20
20 He which testifies these things said, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
This concluding testimony of Christ should be enough to convince all that Christ is coming soon. Let us pray that we will be amongst the saved when Jesus returns.
05. Reunion Day in Heaven
If we would ask people: "Where is Heaven?", we would probably get different answers. Some think there are different phases of God's reward for the righteous. If we were to ask the people in Borneo about Heaven they would point to Kinabalu and say, "Helo, Kinabalu." Helo means way off over there in the great beyond - Kinabalu is where they believe the spirits go. The Buddhists in Siam picture Heaven as being a series of steps. You must get to the place where you have no desires. The Hindus have the idea of the transmigration of the soul. At death, according to their belief, a good person goes to a higher form of life. A bad person would go into a lower form. A strict Hindu will destroy nothing that lives. But let us see what wonderful promises the Bible gives us about Heaven.
2 Peter 3:13
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. (Read also Hebrews 13:14)
Revelation 21:1
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Psalms 115:16
16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth has he given to the children of men.
How many Heavens are there really? The Bible speaks of three Heavens. 2.Corinthians 12:2-4
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (Read also Hebrews 8:1.)
According to these texts Paradise is in the third Heaven. Paul tells us of the visions or revelations which God gave to him. The vision of the third Heaven was so real and vivid he didn't know whether lie was transferred there bodily or just in vision. So Paradise or the third Heaven is where Jesus is now. It is there, where Christ will take the righteous when He returns. The second Heaven has to be where the sun, moon, and the stars are. It is the Universe as we know it.
Psalms 19:1
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handy work. (Read also Genesis 1:14, Psalms 8:3.)
The air above our earth is the first Heaven, where the clouds move and birds fly. The Bible also calls Heaven the firmament.
Deuteronomy 11:17
17 And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest you perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD gives you.
Genesis 27:28
28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
Genesis 1:8, 20
8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that bath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
Have we ever read, how big the heavenly Jerusalem is? It will descend upon this earth after the 1000 years.
Revelation 21:15-17
15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
16 And the city lies foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
Revelation 21:23
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Revelation 22:1-5
1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Isaiah 60:18
18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shall call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
Isaiah 35:5-6
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Isaiah 33:24
24 And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.
Isaiah 11:9
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Will there be marriage on the New Earth? Matthew 22:30 and I tike 20:35-36 give us the answer.
Luke 20:35-36
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Will there be children on the new earth?
Isaiah 11:6-8
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
These children died as children, and as children they will be resurrected. Will our names be known there as well?
Isaiah 66:22
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, said the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
Therefore we will recognize each other. We do not become like invisible spirits as some think.
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Romans 8:11
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.
Luke 24:36-43
36 And as they thus spoke, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are you troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have you here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
How would we feel, if we could suddenly see somebody, who had died three days before? There are three positive proofs that Jesus had a real body after He was resurrected. Firstly, the disciples could see Him. Secondly, they could touch Him. Thirdly, He ate food in their presence. Since the righteous are to be like Jesus when He returns, it is clear they will have real tangible bodies. Just as Christ was recognized after passing through death, the righteous can also expect to be recognized. The righteous will have a Home in the heavenly Jerusalem and an other one in the country which they will build personally. (Read also 2.Corinthians 5:1, John 14:1-3.)
Isaiah 65:21-22
21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of m~ people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
The New Earth, with the New Jerusalem as its capital, will be the home of the saved forever.
1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.
No words are able to describe what God has prepared for the saved. We can also read about the conditions for being a citizen of heaven.
Revelation 22:14
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Read also Psalms 15:1-5.)
To make the New Earth even more enjoyable, all former things will be wiped from the memory.
Revelation 21:4,7
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Read also Daniel 7:18 & 27).
06. How Much is Our Righteousness Worth?
Some may calculate how good they are and how many good deeds they have accomplished, or how much money they have donated etc. Perhaps they are like the one, who thought to himself, that he would be just, if he loaded all the good deeds upon one side of the scale, so that they outweighed the bad ones on the other side. But what does the Word of God say about this important subject?
Isaiah 28:14-20
14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
15 Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
16 Therefore thus said the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then you shall be trodden down by it.
19 From the time that it goes forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.
20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
The bed is too short and the covering is too narrow. What does it mean when it says:
14 You scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
15 We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
God says: "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, Judgment also will I lay to the line, And righteousness to the plummet:" W ill God measure us with that? Let us read again verse 17.
Isaiah 28:17
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
God says here: If I deal with this people, I will lay judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet. What is God's standard Mien He lays judgment to the line and righteousness to the plummet? If we consider God's law, we recognize that this is God's standard. (Read also Amos 7:7-8.)
James 2:12
12 So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Which law is here referred to? The Ten Commandments. Therefore we are judged by this law. Let's read a few texts and see what the Scripture tells us about the law of God.
Romans 7:12
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Psalms 19:8
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
God's law is holy, just and good, what then does God expect from us?
Matthew 5:48
48 Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. .
Here we learn, that we should become perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect.
Further we read in Ephesians 1:4
4 According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Isaiah 28:16
16 Therefore thus said the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Do we know what we need a cornerstone for? If one constructs a building, everything has to be in line with the cornerstone so that all is set straight. Who is the living cornerstone the Bible talks about?
Ephesians 2:20
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Isaiah 28:17
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
I lave we ever watched a bricklayer as he erected a wall? He uses a plumb-line and a plummet. Brick by brick will be laid upon another according to the plumb-line and the cornerstone. "Judgment to the line" means: everything has to be in order. Jesus Christ the corner stone, helps us to draw the lines in our life so that we may walk on the right path. When God judges men, they will be judged according to the righteousness of Christ. What are the requirements for the candidates of heaven?
Revelation 21:27
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
We sinners, we are completely dependent on Jesus. Our own righteousness is worth nothing. If we do not accept Jesus as our personal Savior, His righteousness cannot be imputed to us on the day of judgment, because only through His righteousness can we have access to Heaven. What does David say about us?
Psalms 51:5
5 Behold, I was shaped in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
When we are born into this world, we come in a nature that is fallen. For our mother could only pass on to us the same nature, which she had herself That does not mean that we are born as sinners, but in sinful flesh. We become sinners at the moment we transgress the law. The Bible tells us that we are all sinners (1 John 3:4, James 2:9). When God created Adam and Eve they were perfect; but the day they were disobedient towards God, death passed upon the whole human race.
Romans 5:12
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
According to this text we all are sinners, because we have broken the law by free choice. No person is ever forced to sin, but because we are not obedient towards God, we are deceived by the devil, as Eve was.
Isaiah 53:6
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The reason why we go astray is because we turn to our own ways. We have a nature that is contrary to God. Naturally the question rises: Is there any hope for sinners? What should we do now?
Romans 7:14
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
What is the law? It is spiritual but we are carnal. Therefore the problem is not with the law, but with us. What can we do about that? There are people who think, they can only come to Jesus when they have straightened out everything in their lives. But if we try to do so in our own strength it will never happen, although there arc many people who believe this. If we think that we can enter Heaven with our own righteousness, then it will be the same for us as we read at the beginning: Isaiah 28:20 "the bed is too short and the covering is too narrow." That means that our righteousness is not sufficient. It is too short because we have sinned. Therefore we need a mediator who never sinned. His righteousness will be given to us by the grace of our heavenly Father. There is a parable in the Bible about a Pharisee and a publican.
Luke 18:10-14
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbled himself shall be exalted.
Do we not sometimes see ourselves in the role of this Pharisee? Mere are people who recognize and admit that they are sinners and they regret it. Then there are those who are sinning and think they can be saved by their own works. This is not possible, because there is not one who is righteous.
Romans 3:10-12
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Isaiah 64:6
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
No other help can save us except Christ, our righteousness, who is made unto us wisdom, sanctification and redemption.
Isaiah 28:15,20
15 Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
Jesus regained Heaven for man by bearing the test that Adam failed to endure. Jesus obeyed the law perfectly. All who have a right conception of the plan of redemption will see that they cannot be saved while in transgression of God's holy precepts. They must cease to transgress the law and lay hold on the promises of God that are available for us through the merits of Christ.
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
In everything He was tempted as we are but remained without sin. As Jesus spoke of the devil He said:
John 14:30
30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and has nothing in me.
That means that the devil could find nothing in Jesus because He never sinned. In Matthew 22, we find the cardinal point for this subject.
Matthew 22:1-14
1 And Jesus answered and spoke unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then said he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go you therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he said unto him, Friend, how came thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
These verses say they shall invite both the "bad" and the "good." Everybody was offered a free wedding garment but one thought his own clothing was good enough for this occasion. He was cast out into darkness. What garment was it that they got for free? It was the righteousness of Jesus (Jeremiah 33:16) that will be imputed through faith to all. Not everyone accepted it as we read in the parable that Jesus told. In the biblical understanding of righteousness we should understand two things.
The first is our title to Heaven, the second is our fitness for Heaven. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul.
Romans 4:7
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
The moment a sinner confesses his sins, repents and accepts Christ by faith, he is pardoned. Pardon and justification are one and the same thing. Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sin because these sins are borne by his Substitute and Surety. The Lord Jesus speaks to His heavenly Father, saying: "This is My child. I reprieve him from the condemnation of death, giving him my life as the insurance policy - eternal life - because I have taken his place and have suffered for his sins. He is even My beloved son. This man, pardoned, and clothed with the beautiful garment Christ's righteousness, stands faultless before God. That is the way it works when a sinner confesses his sins, repents and asks for forgiveness.
Romans 8:1
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 1:17
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 5:1
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Jesus spoke with Nicodemus.
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus told him. He could not comprehend, that a person could be born again. Then Jesus answered him.
John 3:6
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
But Nicodemus still could not understand. Then Jesus reminded him of Moses.
John 3:14
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (Read also Numbers 21:4-9.)
The Israelites were discouraged and spoke against God and against Moses. The protecting hand of God was then removed from Israel and great numbers of the people were bitten by snakes. The people then humbled themselves before God. They came to Moses with heir confessions and entreaties. "We have sinned." "Pray unto the Lord" was their cry. God told Moses to make a serpent of brass resembling the living ones, and to elevate it among the people. To this, all who had been bitten were to look, and they would find relief. The lifting up of the brazen serpent was to teach Israel an important lesson. They could not save themselves from the fatal effect of the poison in their wounds. God alone was able to heal them. Yet they were required to show their faith in the provision which He had made. They must look in order to live. It was their faith that was acceptable with God. By looking upon the serpent their faith was shown. They knew that there was no virtue in the serpent itself, but it was a symbol of Christ; and the necessity of faith in His merits was thus presented to their minds. Until now many had brought their offerings to God, and had felt that in so doing they made ample atonement for their sins. They did not rely upon the Redeemer to come, of whom these offerings were only a type. The Lord would now teach them that their sacrifices, in themselves, had no more power or virtue than the serpent of brass, but were, like that, to lead their minds to Christ, the great sin offering. (Read also John 1:29.)
John 3:15-16
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Many people go their own way as did the Israelites of old. If we go the way God has shown us in His Word, we will not suffer eternal death, but we will receive eternal life by the grace of God. Christ came to manifest the love of God to the world, to draw the hearts of all men to Himself. He said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" - John 12:32. The first step toward salvation is to respond to the drawing of the love of Christ.
God sends message after message to men, entreating them to repentance, that He may forgive, and write pardon against their names. Shall there be no repentance? Shall His appeals be unheeded? Shall His overtures of mercy be ignored, and His love utterly rejected? Then man will cut himself off from the medium through which he may gain life eternal; for God only pardons the penitent! By the manifestation of His love, by the entreating of His Spirit, He woos men to repentance; for repentance is the gift of God, and whom He pardons He first makes penitent.
The sweetest joy comes to man through his sincere repentance toward God for the transgression of His law, and through faith in Christ as the sinner's Redeemer and Advocate. It is that men may understand the joy of forgiveness, the peace of God, that Christ draws them through the manifestation of His love. If they respond to His drawing, yielding their hearts to His grace, He will lead them on step by step, to a full knowledge of Himself, and this is life eternal. The gospel of Christ is a blessing that all may possess.
The poorest are as well able as the richest to purchase salvation; for no amount of worldly wealth can secure it. It is obtained by willing obedience, by giving ourselves to Christ as His own purchased possession. Education, even of the highest class, cannot of itself bring a man nearer to God. The Pharisees were favored with every temporal and every spiritual advantage, and they said with boastful pride, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing"; yet they were "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" - Revelation 3:17.
Christ offered them the pearl of great price; but they disdained to accept it, and He said to them, "The publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you" - Matthew 21:3 1. We cannot earn salvation, but we are to seek for it with as much interest and perseverance as though we would abandon everything in the world for it. (Read also Revelation 3:19-21.)
07. The Books on Judgment Day
Let's see what takes place in the judgment. The Bible says, that all of us must appear before the judgment seat.
2 Corinthians 5:10
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 has done, whether it be good or bad.
As we can see, there is no exception. Every single person, no matter who they are, has to appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
People who have called themselves Christians, but have not lived according to the Word of God, will experience a surprise at the end.
Matthew 7:22-23
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
Everything we have done or spoken is written in the books in Heaven. In Daniel seven, the judgment is described in the following words.
Daniel 7:9-10
9 1 beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
"The judgment was set, and the books were opened." Nobody can escape.
Romans 2:3
3 And thinks thou this, O man, that judges them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shall escape the judgment of God?
Each person must appear in the presence of God, to give an answer for what he or she has done, be it good or evil. There is a text in Revelation relating to the return of Jesus, which we should consider carefully.
Revelation 22:12
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
When Jesus brings His reward with Him, it means, that everyone has already been judged. Let's think about it. It would be terrible to hand out rewards and then pass judgment and find out that somebody didn't deserve it. That will not happen because the judgment is over when Jesus returns. When the Bible speaks of the great final judgment it involves three steps.
Daniel 8:14
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
The Jewish Day of Atonement was on the tenth day of the seventh month, at which time the Sanctuary was cleansed. This Day of Atonement was looked upon by the Jews as a day of judgment, and was in fact, a type of the investigative judgment in Heaven. The 2300-day period, representing 2300 years according to symbolic prophecy, reaches to the cleansing of the sanctuary in Heaven, or the investigative judgment. Throughout this vision Daniel was very disturbed.
Daniel 8:27
27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
What didn't Daniel understand in this vision? He did not understand the 2300 days. Then Daniel prayed to God as was his manner.
Daniel 9:3
3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
Daniel 9:21-23
21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
As Daniel prayed, God sent His angel Gabriel to instruct hi concerning the vision he received. Daniel 9:24
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
"To Finish the Transgression."
The Jews were to fill up the measure of their iniquity by rejecting and crucifying the Messiah. They would then no longer be His peculiar, chosen people. (Read also Matthew 21:38-43, 23:32-38, 27:25.)
"To Make an End of Sins."
The best explanation of this clause is given in Hebrews 9:26: "Now once in the end of the world has He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself'; and in Romans 8:3: "What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh."
"To Bring in Everlasting Righteousness."
This must mean the righteousness of Christ - that righteousness by which He was enabled to make an atonement for sin, and which, through faith, may be imputed to the penitent believer.
"To Anoint the Most Holy."
The Hebrew words used here are regularly employed for the Sanctuary, but not for persons. The anointing of the "most Holy" then, must refer to the anointing of the heavenly Sanctuary, when Christ became the "Minister of the Sanctuary, and of the true Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man" Hebrews 8:2.
In prophecies such as those of Daniel 2,7 and 8 and most of the chapters of Revelation, the persons, animals, objects, and actions described are symbolic. That is, they are not reality itself, but figurative representations of real persons, things, and events. Accordingly, it is reasonable to suppose that the time periods specified in such prophetic passages are also symbolic. An instance of such usage occurs in Ezekiel 4:6, where the prophet was to perform a symbolic act for 40 days, each day being representative of a literal year.
Ezekiel 4:6
6 And when thou has accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.
The same principle is used in Numbers 14:34
34 After the number of the days in which you searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall you bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you shall know my breach of promise.
"THE YEAR-DAY PRINCIPLE"
When did these 70 weeks, which would be a period of 490 literal years, and were determined upon Daniel's people, begin?
Daniel 9:25
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (Read also Ezra 6:14.)
Sixty-nine (7 weeks and 62 weeks - 483 literal years) of the seventy weeks were to reach "unto the Messiah the Prince." Messiah is Christ, "the Anointed." Messiah is the Hebrew word, and Christ the Greek word, meaning "anointed".
It is evident that the sixty-nine weeks (483 years) were to reach to the baptism of Christ, as that was the time of His anointing by the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist began his work in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, and this would put the anointing of Jesus in A.D. 27, at the time of His baptism.
Luke 3:1-3
1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
When was a decree made to restore and rebuild Jerusalem? Let's turn to the book of Ezra.
Ezra 7:7-26
7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in your hand;
15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
17 That thou may buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.
21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of. the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in your hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy
God; and teach you them that know them not. 26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. Three decrees were issued by Persian monarchs for the restoration of the Jews to their homeland. They are mentioned in the book of Ezra: "They built, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia" - Ezra 6:14.
The decree of Cyrus referred to the Temple only; the decree of Darius Hystaspes provided for the continuance of that work, hindered by Smerdis; but the decree of Artaxerxes restored the full Jewish government, making provision for the enforcement of their laws. This last decree, therefore, is the one from which we reckon the seventy weeks, as well as the 2300 days. The letter of Artaxerxes to Ezra, conferring upon him authority to do this work, is found in Ezra 7:11-26. The decree of Artaxerxes was issued in the seventh year of his reign, and according to ancient methods of chronology, went into effect in Jerusalem in the fall of 457 B.C. Reckoning 483 full years from the first day of 457 B.C. would bring us to the last day of A.D. 26. This is demonstrated from the fact that it requires all of the twenty-six years A.D. and all of the 457 years B.C. to make 483 years.
At the close of 483 years, in A.D. 27, one week, or seven years of the 490, yet remained. What was to be done in the midst of that week?
Daniel 9:26-27
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Matthew 27:51
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
As the sixty-nine weeks ended in the fall of A.D. 27, the middle of the seventieth week, or the three and a half years, would end in the spring of A.D. 31, when Christ was crucified. His death caused to cease, or brought to an end, the sacrifices and oblations of the earthly Sanctuary. Three and a half years more (the last part of the seventieth week) would end in the autumn of A.D. 34. This brings us to the end of the 490 years which were "cut off' from the 2300. There still remain 1810 years, which, if added to A.D. 34, takes us to A.D. 1844.
537 B.C. by Cyrus | Ezra 1:1-4 | |
519 B.C. by Darius | Ezra 6:1-14 | |
457 B. C. by Artaxerxes | Ezra 7 |
What did the angel say would then take place?
The 2300 Days in Daniel 8:14
Daniel 8:14
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
In other words, the great closing work of Christ for the world, the investigative judgment, would at that time begin. The typical Day iii Atonement for Israel occupied but one day in a year. This may occupy but a correspondingly short time. Already that work has been going on for more than a century, and must soon close. Who is ready to meet its decisions? Let's think about the earnest admonition the apostle Paul gives.
Acts 17:30-31
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent:
31 Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance unto all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.
We now want to see, what happens in the judgment. We will consider three different books.
Revelation 20:12
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 out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
How does our name come into the book of life? When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
Malachi 3:16
16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
According to this text, all our good deeds are written there.
3. The book of iniquity: Jeremiah 2:22
22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me, said the Lord GOD.
Consequently all our bad deeds are noted here. For a better understanding, we will look at some names, and I would like to emphasize here explicitly, that this is only an illustration to explain how it could be, for we cannot judge. We see a person from the outside, but God sees what's in the heart. We do not have the ability to judge over eternal life or eternal death. What happens when it comes to the judgment? The Bible tells us that Jesus is our Advocate and our High Priest who presents our case. But it also says that He is the Judge. How can He be our Advocate and our Judge at the same time?
Simply this way. When He accepts our case we cannot lose. If He does not accept our case we don't stand a chance. Whether Christ accepts our case or not, depends on whether our name appears in the book of life. If our name is written there, He gives consideration to our case, but if our name is not in the book of life, we will be judged according to our own works. If we are judged by our own works and would still like to be saved, we would not be allowed to have anything written in the book of iniquity, "for the wages of sin is death" - Romans 6:23.
Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
As I mentioned, the following example is only a short illustration. When the book of life will be opened and they read the name "Abel", Christ will step forward and say: "Father, Abel belongs to me." Right back there Abel brought a sacrifice and accepted Christ and through His righteousness Abel is saved. All his evil deeds will be wiped out. Cain chose to no longer walk with the Lord (Jude 11, 1 John 3:12) and therefore, his name will be wiped out of the book of life and out of the book of remembrance and will be left in the book of iniquity.
Let us have a look at two other brothers. Jacob and Esau. We know that Jacob accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior but Esau refused to do so. We cannot read anywhere in the Bible that Esau accepted God, only the contrary.
Romans 9:13
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Hebrews 12:16
16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
According to this, Esau will not be written in the book of life. There are many people who think they can make it to Heaven on their own merits. But this is contrary to the Bible.
Zechariah 3:1-4
1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
4 And he answered and spoke unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
We know that filthy garments in a Biblical sense signify sin. We have to be clothed with the white raiment of Christ's righteousness to be saved. That's the only way.
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 And you has he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;)
6 And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
We are saved by grace through faith.
Revelation 3:5
5 He that overcomes the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
The problem is not with God, but with us, as to whether He wipes our name out of the book of life. Jesus holds out His hand to us. All we have to do is accept Him.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Acts 3:19
19 Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Luke 9:23
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Let us be aware of the fact that at this very moment the investigative judgment is in process. We do not know when it will pass on to the living. But soon the day will come when God says:
Revelation 22:11
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
When this is proclaimed, it will be too late for regrets. Probation will have closed.
Revelation 22:12
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
08. How Do We Learn About the Will of God?
What do we understand about the will of God? Sometimes we hear people saying "This was the will of God" after calamities have happened. What do we mean by the "will of God?" What was Gods intentional will and what was His plan for the Jewish nation and for the world? Was it the will of God, that the Jewish people reject and crucify the Messiah who was sent to them? Shouldn't the Jews have been ambassadors for God in this world? At various times, God sent them prophets, to show them His will and bring them back to their proper course.
But the message of the prophets was almost always rejected by the people.
Matthew 23:37
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killed the prophets, and stoned them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathered her chickens under her wings, and you would not!
Since we know, that Jesus was crucified by the Jewish leadership, we must wonder whether this was the will of God. Firstly, let us ask: "Was it God's will that Jesus had to die?" Yes, He had to die. There is no doubt He had to die to be the perfect sacrifice, because without His death there could be no redemption for us. The plan of salvation was the will of God. For this reason God the Father sent His Son into this world. But did He have to die on the cross?
Isaiah 53:7-8
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
When we read the Old Testament, we see Jesus represented as the spotless lamb. Can we remember the story of Abraham and his son Isaac? God told him "Take your son and offer him as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah." Abraham obeyed. As Isaac was lying on the altar, Abraham was ready to kill his son. Then the angel of the Lord came and said to him, "Lay not your hand upon the lad." (Genesis 22). Suddenly, Abraham saw a ram caught in a bush. He took the ram and offered it instead of his son Isaac. All the animals sacrificed on all the altars in biblical times pointed to the coming Messiah. Was this an example of God teaching them how the Messiah should die? If the Israelites had accepted Christ, as God had planned, could Messiah have been sacrificed on the altar? He had to die to pay for our sins. Because the Jews rejected Jesus, the crucifixion became God's alternative will and God accepted it with a heavy heart. This situation was difficult for Jesus but He placed Himself totally in His Father's hands!
Matthew 26:39
39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Under these circumstances God allowed the judgment of Pilate as the mob screamed: "Crucify him! Crucify him!" We see, that we cannot frustrate the will of God, even if we reject it.
Job 42:2
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withheld from thee.
How can we as followers of Jesus now recognize the will of God for us?
James 4:13-15
13 Go to now, you that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeared for a little time, and then vanished away.
15 For that you ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, an do this, or that.
God says here, that in everything we do, we should ask, whether it is the will of God or not. In everything Jesus did, He was always in harmony with the will of God. Therefore, He had the power to overcome. (Read also Revelation 3:21.) Also, we must have a strong connection with God in order to understand Him and His will.
1 Corinthians 2:14
14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
According to this text, we cannot understand the will of God, unless we have this connection. In their time, the scribes did not have this personal connection with God. They had only a pretense. We cannot rely on others, but on God alone and what His "Textbook" clearly says. Did the Jews in the time of Jesus have more hope of salvation than the scribes themselves?
Matthew 15:14
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Nobody, but God Himself can tell us what His will for us really is. We can discover this only through a personal relationship with Christ.
Revelation 3:20
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Here Jesus speaks of this personal relationship with Him. When we allow Him in, He will enter and dwell in our hearts and minds.
Mark 14:36
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
When we also lay our lives trustfully in the hands of God, as Jesus did, while dwelling on this earth, we can claim the following promise.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
What requirements are necessary for this? Matthew gives the answer.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
What do we understand by "all these things?" This refers not only to spiritual things, but also to physical things for our benefit. The will of God for us is love, happiness and peace. Therefore we can trust our lives to His care. Jesus Himself says, that we are far more valuable than many sparrows - Matthew 10:31. In the Psalms, it is pointed out clearly, that the will of God is found in the Bible.
Psalms 119:105
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
How often have we read the Bible and did not understand what we were reading. After further study we read the same passages and understood more perfectly and our eyes were opened. It was not because we suddenly became smarter, but because the Holy Spirit was working on us.
Another way to learn God's will, is through earnest prayer.
Acts 13:2
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
James 5:16
16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
God opens and closes doors, but He only opens one after the other. Therefore we should pray: "Lord, if this is not your will, then do not open this door." Sometimes we need patience, but for this virtue we must also pray. Look at the life of Moses. When he was about forty years of age, he killed an Egyptian and fled for his life. Arriving in the wilderness of Midian he became a shepherd for his father in law and stayed there almost alone for forty years. God told him to go to Egypt and tell Pharaoh, "Let My people go." It was God's will that Moses would lead the Israelites out. However, Moses tried every excuse to be released from this commission. Then the Lord sent Aaron, his brother, to accompany him. But did Aaron challenge Pharaoh? No! It was Moses! We know the story of the Exodus.
When they reached the borders of Canaan they revolted against Moses who was God's appointed leader. For this, Israel had to spend forty years in the wilderness as punishment. Then God called Moses to Mount Nebo and showed him all the promised land which He had promised to his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God said, "I will give it to thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with your eyes, but thou shall not go over thither" - Deuteronomy 34:4.
How did Moses react to this personal disappointment? He did not murmur, but gave himself into God's hands. There, he died. Was that just? In human reasoning, maybe not. If we continue to read the story, we see that God had something much better in mind for him. He sent His angel to take him to Heaven.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
We all have cares, great and small. The Lord knows that. Therefore, He says:
Matthew 6:25
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Furthermore we read:
1 Peter 5:7
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.
Has any person ever said this to us? Hardly. Life is not always but we know where to find the will of God and He knows what best for us. If we leave ourselves in His hands, we are in the best hands.
Hebrews 10:35-39
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward.
36 For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and, will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back; my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
The more we are familiar with the Word of God, the better we can understand His will. This is only possible if we take enough time for our daily Bible study.
09. An Angel Who Became the Devil
The modern religious world is full of confusion. One church says: We have the truth." Again another church says: "We have the truth." However, although we all have the same God and the same Bible, many people wonder why the churches are divided today. I his was never God's intention. There is only one truth.
Ephesians 4:11-14
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
God wants us all to come to one belief. How is this possible? There is only one way. We do not find the truth in a church, but in the Bible. Not the word of man, but the Word of God is important. It is highlighted in the following verse.
John 17:17
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Which word is the truth? "THY WORD" it says. But what is meant by "THY WORD"? THE WORD OF GOD - THE BIBLE. Therefore, if we find the truth in the Word of God, we must spend time to study it. When we take time for daily Bible study, God will lead us into all truth, till we all come into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, as we have read in Ephesians 4:13. Our only protection from deception is a thorough knowledge and conviction of the Word of God. Then we know what God expects from us. Otherwise, we will be easily misled by every false teaching. (Read John 16:13)
When we know the Scriptures, we can say "Thus says the Lord" It will then be easy to distinguish truth from error. When we read, hear or see the news, there is almost always a war somewhere. Do we know where the first war broke out? Surprisingly, the Bible answer is Heaven.
Revelation 12:7
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Here it says that a dispute broke out in Heaven. God created a magnificent angel who stood above the heavenly host. His name was Lucifer.
Ezekiel 28:2
2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus said the Lord GOD; Because your heart is lifted up, and thou has said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set your heart as the heart of God:
In this chapter of Ezekiel 28, the Prince of Tyrus represents Lucifer. This is a prophecy about the literal King of Tyre, but a careful reading shows it has a wider meaning because of certain references such as "thou has been in Eden the garden of God" - verse 13.
Ezekie128:13-14
13 Thou has been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou was created.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covered; and I have set thee so: thou was upon the holy mountain of God; thou has walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
In these verses we are given a picture of this beautiful angel that God had made.
Ezekiel 28:15
15 Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee.
This angel was made perfect in his ways till iniquity was found in him. What was his iniquity?
Isaiah 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou has said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
This angel created by God, said that it was his desire to be like God. This was his iniquity. His obsession led to the great conflict in Heaven, and so war broke out.
Revelation 12:9
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceived the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
A third of the entire host (angels - read Revelation 12:4) of Heaven was cast down to this earth together with Lucifer. Has Lucifer forsaken his desire to become like God, since he was thrown out of Heaven? No! He still wants to be like God. When Jesus was on this earth, fasting for forty days out in the desert, the devil approached Him when He was at His weakest.
Matthew 4:3-4
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
The devil however did not relent. He again tempted Christ.
Matthew 4:5-7
5 Then the devil takes him up into the holy city, and sets him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God.
Do we consider this as a temptation? Jewish tradition had taught that when the Messiah came, He would go upon the temple and throw Himself down without being injured. They pointed to Psalms 91:9-12. Then the devil tempted Him a third time. He took Him up on a high mountain. There, the devil demanded something from Christ which he also demands from us today.
We possess something far more valuable than material possessions, or even our own lives. It is the ability and the will to worship.
Matthew 4:8-10
8 Again, the devil takes him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then said Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and him only shall thou serve.
It was exactly the same issue in Eden with our first parents, Adam and Eve.
Genesis 2:16-17
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou may freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eats thereof thou shall surely die.
The serpent then came to create confusion and doubt in the minds of firstly Eve and then Adam. The serpent misrepresented the truth, as it successfully does today. (Read also John 8:44.)
Genesis 3:4-7
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Was what the devil said the truth, or was it a lie? It was a mixture of truth and lies which caused the confusion. This is the secret formula of the devil. If he only told blatant lies, it would be too obvious to all. Since the entrance of sin into this world, all of mankind is subject to death. However, God in His boundless love and grace for us, even there in Eden, gave us the hope of a Savior and Redeemer.
Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel.
God has put enmity between the serpent and the woman. In this text, the seed of the woman refers to Jesus Christ. (Read also Galatians 3:16.) As He hung there on the cross this prophecy was fulfilled. While Satan bruised His heel (people crucified Jesus), Jesus bruised the devil's head by being resurrected on the third day, thus defeating Satan. Jesus became the world's Redeemer, rendering perfect obedience to "every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." He redeemed Adam, uniting the earth, that had been divorced from God by sin, to Heaven. Satan was conquered by Christ so that we can be saved. Jesus died for you and for me. There are many temptations in this world and the devil, the old serpent, doesn't make it easy for us. However, we can be victorious by surrendering our will to Christ. Jesus was tempted in all points, yet He never sinned. There is victory over the devil by following the instruction written in the Bible. (Read also James 4:7, Philippians 4:13, Isaiah 45:2.)
When the Bible speaks of the seed of the woman, it also refers to people such as Adam and Eve, Noah, all the prophets in the Old and New Testament, and all the righteous who follow the Lord. The Bible speaks of a city which belongs only to the righteous. Even Abraham was waiting for this city "which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" - Hebrews 11:10.
Matthew 22:37
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
There is another group that is of the seed of the serpent. They are opposed to the first group. In the days of Noah they did not heed his warning. In the days when they built the tower of Babel, they served Baal and other gods. All who don't serve God are identified in the Bible as the seed of the serpent. It is the same in our time. It depends entirely on whom we serve and obey.
Romans 6:16
16 Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
With the knowledge we have so far, we can see what a woman symbolizes in Bible prophecy.
Jeremiah 6:2
2 I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.
In Bible prophecy a woman always symbolizes a church. In Revelation chapter twelve we read about a pure woman who represents a pure church. Then in Revelation chapter seventeen we read about the Mother of Harlots, who symbolizes a corrupt or fallen church. If we understand this prophetic principle, prophecy will be easier to understand. A text in Isaiah speaks of seven women.
Isaiah 4:1
1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
According to this verse, one could assume, that during the last days each man would have seven women. But that is not what it means. In the Bible the number seven stands for perfection. The man described in that verse is Jesus Christ. The meaning therefore is, that they believe in Christ, but they believe what they want to believe and they do what they want to do, but still like to be called Christians. It is the same today, when we look at Christianity with all the different denominations. Remember the four verses we have read in the beginning?
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith" - Ephesians 4:13. Let us go to the 12th chapter in Revelation and see the meaning of this.
Revelation 12:1
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
This woman represents the pure Christian church.
Revelation 12:2,5
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
5 And she 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. (Read also Psalms 2:7-9.)
The child in these verses is Jesus Christ. He is the only one who will rule all the nations. He is also the only one who was caught up to God and to His throne. In the next verses a completely different character appears.
Revelation 12:3-4
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
The third part of the stars, symbolizes the angels who supported Satan in his rebellion. They were cast out from Heaven with him. We know the story of the birth of Jesus. A decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Luke 2:1-7
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
We read the next part of this story in Matthew.
Matthew 2:1-18
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
We see, that the great red dragon mentioned in Revelation 12:3, represents the devil. In Bible prophecy the dragon not only represents the devil but also pagan Rome. With all of his cunning however, he was unsuccessful in his attempt to kill this child.
Revelation 12:13
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
What power did the devil use to persecute the pure church? It was pagan Rome. We can read in church history how Christians were persecuted and killed. We know that the disciples received a commission from Jesus to preach the gospel to the whole world. This naturally did not please the devil, but the disciples carried out their duty.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Many people accepted the gospel and became Christians. Today many call themselves Christians. But do we know what this means? it means simply "followers of Christ." Do we know what it meant to be a follower of Christ in the days of the apostles? Many were put into prison. Others were led into the arena. If, for example, Christians refused to obey the pagan decree to offer incense to the goddess Diana, they would be fed to the lions in the arena. The decision of the true Christians was an inspiring one. It succeeds in conveying the very spirit of the great apostle's immortal declaration.
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let us read further.
Revelation 12:6
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
As a result of this ruthless persecution of the Christians, Scripture tells us that the woman (church) fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for tier for a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Elsewhere Scripture says the same but in a different way.
Revelation 12:14
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
In verse six, 1260 days are given and verse fourteen speaks of "a time, and times, and half a time." What does this mean? The decree of the emperor Justinian, issued in A.D. 533, recognized the Pope as "head of all the holy churches." (Justinian's Code, book 1, title 1, sec. 4, in The Civil Law, translated by S.P. Scott, volume 12, page 12.) The overwhelming defeat of the Ostrogoths in the siege of Rome, five years later (A.D. 538), was the death blow to the independence of the Arian power then ruling Italy, and marks that year as prominent in the development of papal supremacy.
The year 538 then, may be taken as marking the beginning of the 1260 years of this prophecy, which would extend to the year 1798. As a direct result of the revolt against papal authority in the French Revolution, the French army, under General Berthier, entered Rome and took the Pope prisoner in February 1798. The Pontiff died in exile at Valence, France, the following year. The year 1798, during which this death stroke was inflicted upon the papacy, may thus be taken as marking the close of the long prophetic period mentioned in this prophecy. God is careful to mark off the time of the supremacy of this system. In the Aramaic language the word translated "time" in Daniel 4:16,23,25,32 means "a year". "Times" comes from the same word as "time" and most scholars agree this denotes "two times" or two years. The word which is translated "dividing" may be translated "half'.
Revelation 12:16
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
The earth helped the woman, the pure church. The devil started a persecution so savage, that it looked as if the true church would be extinguished. For a long time it was very bleak for Christians. Then the Reformation came with men like Martin Luther, Zwingli, Knox, Wesley, Huss and others who preached the Word of God again. Many people accepted the gospel and started to study the Word of God. America was discovered and people who were persecuted for their beliefs, migrated to the new world "and the earth opened her mouth..." Let us now go to the last verse in this chapter.
Revelation 12:17
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Who are the remnant of her seed? They are those who keep the commandments of God. The more we approach the end and the second coming of Jesus, the harder it will become for Christians. Now we could say: "We'll give up. We don't have a chance." Or we could say: "The devil is defeated and through faith in our Redeemer, the Victor, he cannot take us out of the hands of Jesus."
John 8:31-32
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed;
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
It does not mean, that only Jews, preachers or ministers shall know the truth, but all, who accept His Word and study it. Since the beginning of his rebellion in Heaven, this angel who became the devil, only wants to destroy. He wants to deceive all those who are loyal to God, but our hope is in Jesus Christ who has defeated Satan.
PROPHETIC DATES
An important principle in prophetic interpretation in connection with time prophecies is the year-day principle, under which a day of prophetic time is counted as a calendar year of historic time. Before the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, they sent twelve spies ahead to investigate. The spies were gone forty days, and upon their return the Hebrews, frightened at their report, refused to go up and occupy the Promised Land. The result was a sentence the Lord passed upon them: "After the number of the days in land which you searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall you bear your iniquities, even forty years" - Numbers 14:34. A similar method of computing future time is indicated through the prophet Ezekiel. Forty years of punishment for iniquities awaited the kingdom of Judah. The Lord said through the prophet: "Lie again on thy right side, and thou shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year" - Ezekiel 4:6. This year-day principle has an important application in interpreting the time element of the prophecy of the "two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings" (Daniel 8:14, R.V.) and the 1260-day period, variously indicated as "a time and times and the dividing of time" (Daniel 7:25), the "forty and two months" (Revelation 11:2; 13:5), and the "thousand two hundred and threescore days" (Revelation 11:3; 12:6).
The 1260 Year-Day Prophecy
Daniel 7:25 A time and times and the dividing of time.
Daniel 12:7 A time, times, and an half;
Revelation 11:2 Forty and two months.
Revelation 11:3 A thousand two hundred and threescore days. Revelation 12:6 A thousand two hundred and threescore days. Revelation 12:14 A time, and times, and half a time,
Revelation 13:5 Forty and two months.
In biblical prophecy, a year or a time is composed of 360 days, or 12 months of 30 days each. If we divide 1260 days (biblical years), by 42 months, we arrive at exactly 30 days.
One time one year 360 year-days
Two times two years 720 year-days
Half a time half a year 180 Year-days
Total 1260 year-days
10. The Biblical Baptism
If we ask different churches how they baptize their members, we would probably get many different answers. One church might say: "We baptize by immersion." Another church would say: "We baptize by sprinkling with water." Yet another church perhaps would say: "We baptize by pouring water over." There are different ways to be baptized, and I am sure that there are even more kinds of baptisms. It all depends in which church we go to. Is baptism important? Is it necessary for salvation? Why do we have to be baptized at all? Let us see what the Bible says.
Ephesians 4:5
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
When the Bible speaks of "one baptism", even though it refers to the method, we can see from Scripture that there were people who were baptized more than once (Acts 19:2-5). Let us now consider some Scriptures relating to biblical baptism.
John 3:23
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
Here John baptized in Aenon, because there was much water. Consequently we can assume that baptism needs lots of water. When we read about the river Jordan, where John baptized, one could visualize the Jordan as being a large river. However, as with other rivers, the Jordan has places where only little water flows. John baptized at a certain place, because there was enough water.
Mark 1:9-10
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
Christ was baptized in the Jordan river. He was immersed because the Scripture says He came "up out of the water." In Matthew we also read that people were baptized "in the Jordan."
Matthew 3:5-6
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Baptizo is the Greek word for baptism. It means to dip, to plunge under water, to immerse. When you bury something you cover it completely. A person is buried face upward, not downward. In true Bible baptism the candidate is lowered beneath the water completely, on his back, and then brought up out of the water. If all would read the Bible as it is written, we really would have only one kind of baptism: the one the Bible teaches. One of the clearest proofs in Scripture is found in Acts.
Acts 8:26-39
26 And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Why did this Ethiopian go to Jerusalem? To worship the God he believed in.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understands thou what thou reads?
The Ethiopian was reading from the scroll of Isaiah. Philip asked him whether he understood what he was reading. He received the following answer.
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaks the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Philip explained to the Ethiopian what Isaiah said about Jesus. Suddenly something peculiar happened.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
This Ethiopian was moved by the Holy Spirit from what he read in the Scripture, and made his decision to be baptized.
37 And Philip said, If thou believes with all your heart, thou may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Who went down into the water? Both Philip and the Ethiopian (eunuch) went into the water and came up out of it.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip and the eunuch went his way rejoicing because he had found his Savior. The Bible also tells us what baptism means.
Romans 6:2-5
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Baptism is a gospel ordinance commemorating the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In baptism a public testimony is given to the effect that the one baptized has been crucified with Christ, buried with Him, and is raised with Him to walk in newness of life. Only one method of baptism can rightly represent these facts of experience. That is immersion, the method followed by Christ and the primitive church. However, there are some steps preceding a baptism.
Acts 2:38
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
What do we understand by "repent"? We have to confess and regret our sins otherwise there is no forgiveness.
Proverbs 28:13
13 He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.
No person repents naturally, "for it is God, which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." - Philippians 2:13. We have to let God work within us. Is there anything else? Yes there is.
Acts 16:30-33
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spoke unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
We must "believe", for without faith we cannot please God.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Read also Mark 16:15-16.)
Here it says, that we have to be taught. A person who wishes to be baptized should repent, believe and be taught. Being taught doesn't mean that we have to get a diploma in theology before we can be baptized. When did the keeper of the prison become baptized? That same night! When was the Ethiopian baptized? On the same day! There was a young pastor who prepared a man for baptism. Week after week they studied the Bible. One evening they read the following Scripture.
Acts 2:41
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and thc same day there were added unto them about three thousand Souls.
The man said to the young preacher: "The only thing I can say to that is, that if the apostles had studied the Bible as thoroughly with all who were baptized as you have with me, then surely there wouldn't have been 3000 that day." When a person accepts Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, repents and confesses his sins, believes in God, and is willing to be taught from the Scriptures, there is no hindrance to baptism. Jesus counseled with Nicodcmus.
John 3:5
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Isn't this statement clear enough? There are people however, who do not want to be baptized. If we, after reading this verse, still believe we can get to Heaven without being baptized, we are mistaken. We know that a baby cannot believe, nor can it be taught, nor need it repent because it is not old enough to do so. Since a baby cannot meet these conditions it is clear that infant baptism is not biblical. Child baptism was introduced in about 1200 A.D. What happens to children who die without being baptized? Remember when Jesus was baptized in tile Jordan River (Mark 1:9-10).
Why did He need to be baptized'? Did He have to repent'? No! If He would have had only one sin the whole plan of salvation would have been in vain. We know that He trusted and believed fully in Scripture. Did He have to be taught'? We know His parents were His first teachers and also the Holy Spirit, which we can claim as well. According to these facts, Jesus had no need of baptism. Why then was He baptized? He was baptized for people such as the thief on the cross. This thief, who repented of his sins while on the cross, did not have an opportunity to be baptized. He gave his heart to Christ while dying. He was assured of salvation and will go to Heaven without baptism because he did all he could do. Had he accepted Jesus before this and refused baptism he could not be saved. Jesus was also baptized for those babies who died, and for all those who never had a real opportunity to be baptized, but were found righteous in the eyes of God.
We know that God is just. He will surely make the right decision in every single case. When the truth about baptism is understood, the question put to Saul (who later became Paul) by Ananias should be acted upon (Acts 22:16).
There are those who were baptized as babies and did not know what happened, because it was the will of their parents and not their own. The parents did this with good intentions. But this does not take away the responsibility of a person who knows the full truth about Bible baptism. Then there are those who were baptized as adults but for certain reasons drifted away from the right path. There are circumstances in which people make a decision to be re baptized.
There is a peculiar comparison in the Scripture.
1 Peter 3:20-21
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like Figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Why does Peter compare the ark in the Flood with baptism? Those eight people went into the ark as God had told them. The ark was the way through which those eight people crossed from the old world over to the new. By doing this, those people gave a public declaration of their belief in God.
Baptism does not wash or make us clean. It is a symbol of the blood atonement of Christ. It is a public testimony, like a wedding ceremony, of a previous change of life and linking one's life with Christ. As long as there is probation, Jesus accepts all who want to come to him. (Read also Matthew 19:28 - the word regeneration means born again or new born.)
11. Why Are Many Christians so Weak?
Let us go to the "great Physician", and see what diagnosis an remedies He suggests.
Mark 2:15-17
15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eats and drinks with publicans and sinners?
17 When Jesus heard it, he said unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Read also Psalms 7:10.)
When we visit our family doctor, he usually examines our heart. What does the Bible say about our heart?
Jeremiah 17:9
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Is that so? Do we agree with this diagnosis? The doctor also looks into the mouth and the throat. What does the Bible say about our tongue, mouth and throat?
James 3:8-10
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Romans 3:13-14
13 Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Our spiritual condition is of great significance.
Romans 8:6-8
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Colossians 1:21-22
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
This condition not only existed at the time of the New Testament. It was the same in Noah’s time.
Genesis 6:5
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
What happened afterwards? One hundred and twenty years later the Flood came upon this world. The great Physician diagnosed our condition and revealed heart problems, mouth problems and spiritual problems.
Psalms 51:5
5 Behold, I was shaped in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Perhaps some think, that we have inherited bad habits from our parents, because children sometimes behave exactly the same. We could say, we got the bad habits from our father and the good ones from our mother. Is this correct? We are all weak and therefore need help. There are some that say, "I never intentionally do something bad." However, the Bible says otherwise.
Psalms 58:1-3
1 Do you indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do you judge uprightly, O you sons of men?
2 Yea, in heart you work wickedness; you weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Isaiah 64:6
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Our nature is contrary to God. When Adam and Eve were created, they did not wear artificial garments. They were clothed with a covering of light and glory. As long as they lived in obedience to God, this robe of light continued to enshroud them. After his transgression, Adam imagined himself entering upon a higher state of existence. However, the thought of his sin filled him with terror. The air, which had been of a mild and uniform temperature, seemed to chill the guilty pair. The love and peace which had been theirs was gone. In its place they felt a sense of sin, a dread of the future, a nakedness of soul. The robe of light which had enshrouded them, now disappeared. To replace it they endeavored to fashion a covering. They could not, while unclothed, meet with God and holy angels. Now, because of sin, a mediator between God and man became necessary.
Like Adam and Eve, our parents could only give us the same nature as themselves.
Romans 7:14
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
What does this text mean? Surely there is nothing wrong with the Ten Commandments. They are spiritual but we are carnal. We cannot keep the Ten Commandments unless we are born again. We cannot become a better person in our own strength. Neither can we be saved by keeping the law (Galatians 2:21).
John 3:6-7
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is horn of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, You must be born again.
God alone can give us a new nature. Nobody else.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
However, many think it is acceptable to live according to their own ideas. Unfortunately this is not so. When we surrender to God, He will develop in us that which we are not able to do for ourselves.
Ezekie136:26-27
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Our way of life will then change in both, deeds and thoughts. Romans 12:2
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Often we try to take God's plan into our own hands, as Abraham did. He and his wife wanted to carry out God's plan on their own. Later they realized, that they had made a mistake (Genesis chapter 16). God promised them a son. He changed their names. Abram to Abraham. That means father of nations. Sarai to Sarah, which means mother of nations. As they traveled around the country and people asked them about their names, they answered "Father of nations and Mother of nations.” Naturally they would be asked about their children. Then they had to say "We don't have any." Abraham however still believed.
Romans 4:17-22
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickens the dead, and called those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Why does it say here "the deadness of Sarah's womb?" Because of her age. She could no longer have any children, yet God had promised her a child. God expects the same kind of faith from us as he did from Abraham and Sarah. Our nature can only be changed when we are born again and allow Jesus to work in us. There is no other way. But how can this happen?
1 Peter 1:23
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever.
Only through trust and faith in Jesus can our spiritual nature be restored. How can we get such faith?
Romans 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Read also Galatians 2:21.)
What are we, if we are free from sin?
Romans 6:18
18 Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.
We can be servants of righteousness or servants of sin. It is up to us whom we choose to serve. God would like to save all mankind. However, we must first obey His voice. We have to come to God as did the prodigal son.
Luke 15:18
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Faith however means more than just "belief', for we know: "The devils also believe, and tremble" - James 2:19. We must also understand, that our own righteousness is not sufficient for our salvation.
Romans 10:3
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Here is our problem. If we think we can obtain righteousness according to our own ideas, we will certainly find out one day, that we were mistaken. It is by faith also that we receive the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 3:14
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Read also Romans 9:25-32, 10:1-12.)
What is the result, if we receive the Holy Spirit through faith?
John 7:38
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
If the rivers of living waters are flowing in us, it cannot be contained. We will want to serve God by witnessing to our fellow man.
Ephesians 5:8-9
8 For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (Read also 1.Corinthians 1:10.)
By faith, it is possible to gain victory over every weaknesses and be victorious Christians.
12. Was The Law of God Nailed to the Cross?
Here is a short summary of biblical doctrine.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Read also Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:14; Gen. 2:9; Matthew 12:36-37;)
The Ten Commandments are found in the twentieth chapter of Exodus, in the Old Testament. Did this law, which is also called the moral law, the royal law (James 2:8,12), and the law of liberty, already exist before it was given to Moses at Mount Sinai? Is this law also found in the New Testament? The Bible gives us the answers.
The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17 (Read also 1 Corinthians 15:56-57)
Exodus 20:1-17
1st Commandment
1 And God spoke all these words, saying,
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shall have no other gods before me.
2nd Commandment
4 Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shall not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments [See also Psalm 115]
3rd Commandment
Thou shall not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.
4th Commandment
8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shall thou labor, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shall not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5th Commandment
12 Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God gives thee.
6th Commandment
13 Thou shall not kill.
7th Commandment
14 Thou shall not commit adultery.
8th Commandment
15 Thou shall not steal.
9th Commandment
16 Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10th Commandment
17 Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.
(Read also 1 Corinthians 7:19; John 14:15; Matthew 22:37-40 - "Thou shall love the Lord ..." refers to the first four commandments; "Thou shall love your neighbor” refers to the other six.
The following diagram shall answer our question concerning the moral law, the Ten Commandments
On Sinai Before Sinai In the New Testament
Exodus 20:2-3 Genesis 35:2-4 Matthew 4:10
Exodus 20:4-6 Genesis 31:19-34; 35:1-4 1 John 5:21
Exodus 20:7 Exodus 3:15 1 Timothy 6:1
Exodus 20:8-11 Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 16:4-29 Hebrews 4:4: 9-10
Exodus 20:12 Genesis 9:20-25, 50:15-17 Matthew 19:19
Exodus 20:13 Genesis 4:8-15 Romans 13:9
Exodus 20:14 Genesis 39:7-9 Matthew 19:18
Exodus 20:15 Genesis 44:4-17 Romans 13:9
Exodus 20:16 Genesis 27:12-24 Romans 13:9
Exodus 20:17 Genesis 2:17; 3:6; 25:29-34 Romans 7:7
Read also 1 Corinthians 7:19; Matthew 22:37-40; John 14:15
Are we now convinced, after reading all these statements in the Bible, that the Ten Commandments have the same validity for our time? Let us read another statement.
Genesis 26:5
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
According to this text, Abraham knew this law as well. He lived long before Moses. Even our first father, Adam, was acquainted with God's law. Otherwise, how could he sin? (Read Romans 7:7) There was a law that was abolished when Christ died on the cross. It had to do with ordinances concerning meats and drinks, special holy days, religious festivals, annual Sabbaths and animal sacrifices. Instruction concerning the yearly feasts and their related ritual Sabbaths is specifically given in Leviticus 23. Since these yearly feasts were used for worship and they occurred on certain fixed days of the month, these ritual Sabbaths also fell on various days of the week as does Christmas. These annual or ritual Sabbaths were separate from the weekly Sabbath which always fell on the seventh day of every week.
Colossians 2:14
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
In Dr. Adam Clarke's Commentary we read: "By the handwriting of ordinances, the apostle most evidently means the ceremonial law." The moral law is permanent. It is rooted in the relationships between the Creator and His creatures. The ceremonial law (ritual laws - including sacrificial laws) would have passed away when their fulfillment - the true sacrifice - was met on the cross.
Hebrews 7:27-28
27 Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Which law demanded sacrifices from the sinner through the priests? It was the ceremonial law.
Hebrews 9:12
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Galatians 3:13
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: (Read also Ephesians 2:15-16.)
How can we understand this?
They were written by God on tables of stone and were preserved by Israel as the universal law for man. If Jesus had not died as a spotless sacrifice for us, we would have no hope. The Ten Commandments cannot save us. We all have transgressed God's royal law and we all deserve eternal death.
Hebrews 10:4-9
4 For it is not possible that the blood of hulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he said, Sacrifice and offering thou would not, but a body has thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou has had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou would not, neither had pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second.
Thus far we have clarified that it was the ceremonial law which Jesus abolished. But what did He establish? We are saved through faith. That is the only hope we sinners still have. (Read also John 20:30-31, Hebrews 11:1-6.)
If however the Ten Commandments are no longer valid, how do we explain the following verses?
John 14:15
15 If you love me, keep my commandments. (Read also l John 2:4)
Revelation 14:12
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Matthew 19:16-21
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why call thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He said unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shall do no murder, Thou shall not commit adultery, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not bear false witness,
19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.
20 The young man said unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou has, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Romans 3:31
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yes, we establish the law.
Hebrews 10:16-18
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, said the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
If God has written His law into our hearts, we have no further excuses
1 John 5:1-4
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
And through whom can we overcome? Through Jesus.
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Read also Matthew 21:22, Mark 9:23, 2.Corinthians 2:14, Galatians 5:16-26, Romans 8:31, 37.)
What effect would it have on us, if the moral law had also been nailed to the cross? 1. There would be no knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:20 (Please read the whole chapter.)
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 4:15
15 Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
4 If there was no moral law, there could be no transgression. We would not need a Savior. Every sermon would be in vain. God however, could not put his law aside, because it is the foundation of his government. Therefore Jesus had to come and die for us, so that we could be reconciled with God the Father. The law of God is a mirror. It shows man the defects in his character. It is not pleasant to those who take pleasure in their unrighteousness to see their moral deformities. They do not prize this faithful mirror, because it reveals to them their sins. Therefore instead of waging war against their carnal minds, they war against the true and faithful mirror, given them by God for the very purpose that they may not be deceived, but that they may have revealed to them the defects in their character.
John 5:30-31
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me.
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
Matthew 5:17-19
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Do Heaven and earth still exist? The law mentioned here included all that Moses and the prophets had written. Jesus did not come to set aside any of it. He fulfilled the ceremonial types and shadows in the books of Moses as their great antitype. The Ten Commandment Law Jesus fulfilled through perfect obedience. He also fulfilled what the prophets had written of Him when He came as the Messiah, the Savior of the human race.
In James 1:22-25 there is some valuable advice for us.
22 But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
If people will be judged by the law of God, the Ten Commandments, then at the day of judgment the cardinal question for all will be: "Have you been obedient to My Commandments?" (Read also Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Romans 2:12-24)
The sacrifice of a lamb symbolized the sacrifice of the "Lamb of God" for the salvation of mankind.
13. Tradition or Bible Truth?
In Ephesians 6:12 we read:
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Here are forces warring against God's people. They would be helpless without the help of God. Let us be very clear on what the Bible says concerning spirits, so that there is no confusion about this subject.
1 John 4:1
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
This text tells us that spirits are able to speak through people.
1 John 4:6
6 We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
The Bible shows us here that there arc two different kinds of spirits, of truth and of error.
Hebrews 1:14
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Here the Bible speaks of spirits that support, protect, lead and teach the people of God.
Revelation 16:13-14
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Here is a description of the spirits of devils that lie and deceive people. These are fallen angels which were cast out of Heaven with Satan (Revelation 12:9). The difference between the spirits of Satan (fallen angels) and God's ministering spirits (sinless angels) is that God's ministering spirits assist people for salvation. The spirits of Satan attempt their destruction. Tragically, people only realize these evil spirits have deceived them when it is too late, because Satan works with all subtlety to deceive people today as he did in Eden. As always, he mixes some truth with some error. Both types of spirits can also take on human form.
Luke 22:31-32
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Satan desired not only Simon Peter, but he desires each person who is obedient to God. Why the obedient? The disobedient he already has in his grip. Jesus said that He prayed that Peter's faith would remain firm. Just as Jesus prayed for Peter's salvation, so does He pray for you and me. Unaided and on our own, we would be lost. The Bible is our only protection against the power of evil.
Ephesians 6:11
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
What does the Bible mean by the "Armor of God" and what is its purpose?
Ephesians 6:13-18
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
God does not leave us in darkness. In His Word, He tells us all we need to know concerning our salvation. It is our only hope. Our own strength is absolutely powerless. Let us read some Scriptures which you may never have heard. Let's read them without prejudice, willing to open our minds to God's Word.
Ezekiel 28:14-15
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covers; and I have set thee so: thou was upon the holy mountain of God; thou has walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee.
This angel was in command over the whole heavenly host.
Isaiah 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou has said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 1 will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
This angel wanted to be like God. As a result of his desire, war broke out in Heaven. This angel became the devil.
Revelation 12:7-9
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Nothing has changed since he was cast out of Heaven. He still desires to be like God. He has instituted and spread a system all over this world through which he can be worshiped, to satisfy his desire. Let us investigate how the devil gained a foothold on earth. This story starts in Genesis.
Genesis 10:8-10
8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.
9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.
10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
Cush was the son of Ham, who was the son of Noah. Noah only had three sons, so all of mankind are descendants of these three sons. In Hebrew, the correct rendering of verse nine means that Nimrod was "against the Lord." He was a powerful man and started to build walled cities to protect the inhabitants. Babel (Babylon) was his first city. When Nimrod died, his wife Semiramis cast his corpse into the river. She proclaimed that Nimrod had ascended into the sun. Henceforth, people would worship the sun. Genesis 11:4
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
We know what happened at the tower of Babel. The inhabitants of Babylon were afraid of a future flood. Their security was in this lower as a refuge. They did not have God as their refuge which the Bible says He is (Psalms 46:1-3). This displeased the Lord. He carne down to confuse their language. Babylon means "confusion." These people now spoke in different tongues but their religion remained the same. The religion spread all over the world. There were now different names for the sun god Nimrod such as: Baal, Baal-Peor etc. Time passed. Semiramis mysteriously became pregnant. She proclaimed that she had conceived by the spirit of Nimrod whom people worshiped as the Sun god. A male child was delivered and he was called Tamuz. People worshiped Semiramis as the goddess of love and fertility. Her name, like the false religion, spread all over the world and also changed in the different tongues such as: Venus, Diana, Ashtoreth etc. Since both parents (Nimrod and Semiramis) were worshipped as gods, Tamuz also was worshiped as the god of fertility.
The classic "The Two Babylons" by Revelation Alexander Hislop, documents much of this ancient apostasy. As we can see, Satan never changes. He soon instituted a false system of worship with parallels to the story of the true Messiah, thus deceiving many. We won't dwell on every minor detail, but we can see the influence of this false system that started in Babylon with Nimrod and Semiramis. The Bible tells us of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When the descendants of Jacob (Israel) were in bondage in Egypt, God answered their prayers and sent a deliverer, called Moses. He was commanded to go to Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites. Pharaoh stubbornly refused. The ten devastating plagues followed and Pharaoh finally let the people go.
They went out, but as they reached the Red Sea, Pharaoh changed his mind. God opened the sea and the Israelites marched through. When Pharaohs army followed them, the sea closed and the Egyptians drowned. Israel was now safe and they sang the victory song, called the song of Moses as recorded in Exodus 15. There were about "600 000" men not counting women and children (Exodus 12:37). Through the Israelites, God wanted to spread His truth all over the world. As they arrived at Mount Sinai, Moses went up to the mountain and God spoke with him. There, God wrote out the Ten Commandments with His own fingers (Exodus 20). Moses stayed forty days and nights on the mount with God (Exodus 24:12-18).
As Moses tarried, the people quickly grew impatient (Exodus 32:16). The leaders confronted Aaron and said: "Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him." The leaders had pressured Aaron so much, that he finally gave in and made them a golden calf
Exodus 32:7-8
7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou brought out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Where did the Israelites get the idea to worship a golden calf? For hundreds of years, they had seen the Egyptians worship the molten calf which was a symbol of fertility. Let us read what happened when Moses returned.
Exodus 32:19
19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he-saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
When Moses saw this idolatry he smashed the tables of stone with the Ten Commandments written on them at the foot of the mountain. Why? Didn't Moses know about their idolatry? Surely. God had told him already.
Exodus 32:25-28
25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; That Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)
26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
27 And he said unto them, Thus said the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.
28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
When Moses said: "Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me", many people came out of all the tribes. Every member of the tribe of Levites came. For this reason, God chose them as His priests on Earth. The above text may sound harsh, but God had to intervene because Satan wanted to corrupt God's work and people at the very beginning as he had done in Eden. However, God allowed this to happen. We would think after all of this, that the Israelites would have learned their lesson well. Let's continue.
Numbers 25:1-4, 9
1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.
9 And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
Have we ever heard of Gideon?
Judges 6:24-28
24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-Shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father has, and- cut down the grove that is by it:
26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shall cut down.
27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
Israel worshiped Baal, the Sun god. God said to Gideon: "Throw down the altar of Baal..." and Gideon did it. The ancient heathen people always built their altars on the highest places in the area. Before dawn, they would ascend the mountain to worship the rising sun. Ahab, an Israelite king, married a woman named Jezebel.
1 Kings 16:29-33
29 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.
31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Haal, which he had built in Samaria.
33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
Jezebel's father, Ethbaal was not only King of Sidon, but also the high priest of Baal. The second part of his name was to the glory of Baal. Ahab chose to serve Baal instead of the God of Heaven. Then God sent His prophet Elijah and told him to go to Ahab and Jezebel and tell them to turn away from all idolatry. If not, it would not rain for three and a half years. So it happened. After the drought, God told Elijah to confront Ahab again. Elijah said to Ahab: "If the Lord is God worship Him. If Baal is God worship him." Then both went up to Mount Carmel. Elijah told Ahab to make an altar and place a sacrifice upon it so that Baal may send fire from Heaven to consume the sacrifice. The prophets of Baal spent the whole morning praying to Baal. Nothing happened. Then mid afternoon Elijah said: "It is enough." He built an altar of twelve stones and placed a sacrifice upon it.
1 Kings 18:36-39
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou has turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
God gave Elijah the commission to turn His people back to the true God of Israel. Jeremiah tells us about the apostasy in his time.
Jeremiah 7:16-18
16 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.
17 Sees thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
God said to Jeremiah: "Pray not thou for this people, for I will not hear thee." What was so repulsive in the eyes of God that He would even ignore the pleading of Jeremiah? "Sees thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?" What did they do? "And the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven." What is wrong with baking cakes? These buns today are called "hot cross buns." The cross on those buns was actually a "T" and stands for Tammuz, the son of Nimrod and Semiramis. This custom did not originate in the Bible, but was adopted by the heathen into the church. These "Hot cross buns" are baked at Easter. Ezekiel also tells us about the abominations in his time.
Ezekie18:5
5 Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up your eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
The prophet says here, that he saw images of heathen idols on the door of the Sanctuary.
Ezekiel 8:13-14
13 He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shall see greater abominations that they do.
14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
Why were the women weeping for Tammuz? They believed that Tammuz, the god of fertility, died every autumn when nature lay dormant. They also believed that Tammuz returned to life in the spring. Every year they wept forty days before the springtime for his return. These forty days are called "Lent". Tammuz, the offspring of Nimrod and Semiramis, so ancient tradition tells us, was born on the 25th of December. That is our Christmas time. Isn't that a coincidence? Christmas doesn't come from the Bible. Jesus was most likely born in late September. We don't know the exact date but it is certain He was not born during the northern winter. When Jesus was born, there were shepherds still tending their flocks in the field by night (Luke 2:8). In October, the shepherds brought their herds home into stables to protect them from the wet and cold winter weather (Song of Solomon 2:11, Ezra 10:9, the ninth month was called Kislev and usually falls in our western calendar between November and December). There- fore Christmas is nothing but a heathen custom. There is nothing wrong about remembering the birth of Jesus. Neither is there anything wrong with giving presents. The problem is really that we want to receive gifts but forget about Jesus. For some it may come as a surprise, but Easter is also a heathen custom.
Easter is not a biblical feast but is really a festival in honor of the fertility goddess, Ishtar - the queen of heaven. She was none other than Semiramis the wife of Nimrod. Other names of Semiramis are: Aphrodite, Venus, Diana, Hestia, Vesta etc. All these customs started with Nimrod in ancient Babylon. If this is difficult for us to accept then let us consider what Easter-eggs and Easter-bunnies have to do with the resurrection of Christ. They are nothing other than the fertility symbols of pagan gods. There is nothing wrong with remembering the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Again, what is wrong is the mixture of the spirit of error with the spirit of truth, or the mixing of heathen customs with Christianity. Also, Sunday was reserved for the worship of the Sun god Baal. This day's name is derived from the two words "sun" and "day", and was introduced by the Roman Emperor Constantine in 321 A.D.
From this time onward, the Christian church increasingly adopted Sunday instead of the true Sabbath of the Bible. The leadership thought they were honoring God by Sunday worship, in reality however it was little more than a thinly disguised idol worship, which was nothing other than Satan's counterfeit. Satan's other delusions involve Semiramis and Tammuz, and also the Madonna and child (Mary and baby Jesus). Some examples are: the Chinese Madonna with child "Shing Moo", the Egyptian Madonna with child "Isis and Osiris", the Indian Madonna with child "Divaki and Krishna." There are still more pagan substitutes for Mary and Jesus. The worship of Mother and Child was adopted by the Christian Church starting in the fourth century. However, the Bible does not support the worship of Mary (Matthew 4:9-10, Matthew 12:4650,). Some other names for the sun god Tammuz are: Mithras, Horns, Isvara, Deoius, Jupiter, Plutus, Ninus, Osiris, Dionysus, Bacchus, Iacchus, Adonis, Attis etc. All these false ways of worshipping lead back to Babylon. These traditions were slowly adopted into the Christian Church without biblical approval. From Genesis to Revelation, we find nothing about Sunday as a day of worship. All four Scriptures in the Gospels that speak of the first day of the week refer to the resurrection of Jesus. (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, 2, 9, Luke 24:1, John 20:1,19.) They say nothing about worshipping on the first day.
Acts 5:29
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
It is never easy to admit that we have been deceived for so many years. When truth is presented to us clearly and plainly, our duty is to humbly accept it. We can only go by God's Word. Men's opinions, regardless of how learned they may be, are worthless if they are not in accordance with a plain "Thus said the Lord" or a clear "It is written."
14. Which Day is the Lord's Day?
Have we ever watched a farmer putting up a fence? What does he do first? First he sets up a corner post. From this corner post he steps three to five meters and sets another post, and then another, and lines them up. So when he looks over the corner post they are all in line. The same principle can be applied when studying God's Word. We should, like this farmer, take one post at the time. We can look up what Moses wrote about a certain subject, then Isaiah on the same subject as well as Daniel, Matthew, Paul etc. We can do the same through the whole Bible and line it up with the chief corner stone Jesus Christ. We will then find the right answers. We will receive wisdom to get the correct understanding. Let us now set up such posts to find out which is the Lord's Day. The first post is found in the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:10
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
John here makes the statement: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." When we consider this text, it can be looked at different ways. Some may say: John was in the spirit on Sunday. Others may say: John was in the spirit on the Sabbath. Again others may say: John must have had a vision about the coming of the Lord. This text tells us, that the Lord has a day. However, it does not say which specific day. Therefore we need to set another post.
Mark 2:27-28
27 And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath:
28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.
This text tells us that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. It does not however tell us which day is the Sabbath. Again we need another post.
Hebrews 4:4
4 For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
Here it says: God did rest the seventh day. To find out if the seventh day is the Sabbath, we need to set another post.
Exodus 20:10-11
10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shall not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Read also Isaiah 58:13).
The seventh day of the week is therefore the Sabbath day. A clear statement, yet there are people who question this. So, we will go back to the beginning, when God created the earth. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Creator of this world.
Hebrews 1:2
2 Has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he bath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
We know, that the Father and the Holy Spirit were also present at creation, but Jesus was the creative power (John chapter one).
Colossians 1:15-16
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Genesis 2:3
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Here the word "God" refers to God the Son.
Hebrews 13:8
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
When we read the Ten Commandments it says there:
Exodus 20:11
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
There are people who claim that nobody kept the Sabbath until Sinai. Do we remember the lesson concerning the heavenly "Manna"7 All the baking and cooking and gathering of Manna for the Sabbath was to be done the day before. In arranging that "Manna" would fall six days but none on the Sabbath, God taught Israel two important lessons: to depend on God and to obey Him. This happened before Sinai.
Exodus 16:21-28
21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.
22 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.
23 And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD bath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which you will bake to day, and seethe that you will seethe; and that which remains over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.
24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.
25 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a Sabbath unto the LORD: to day you shall not find it in the field.
26 Six days you shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none.
27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.
28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse you to keep my commandments and my laws?
The Sabbath will be maintained throughout all eternity. In Isaiah we read that the Sabbath will also be kept on the new earth.
Isaiah 66:22-23
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, said the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, said the LORD.
The Sabbath will not be changed, not even on the new earth. Some people say Jesus changed the Sabbath. Let us read a text in Luke.
Luke 4:16
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
On what day did He go to the synagogue? On the Sabbath day according to His custom. Is that something we do once or twice? It is something we do over and over again - as a custom. Many say that when Jesus died on the cross, everything changed, that the Sabbath belongs to the old covenant, and that Jesus nailed the law to the cross.
The Bible says that the new, or second covenant and the Abrahamic, or old covenant, are virtually the same.
Galatians 3:29
29 And if you be Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
No one should be confused by the terms first covenant and second covenant. While the one made at Sinai is called the first covenant, it is by no means the first covenant that God ever made with man. Long before this He made a covenant with Abraham; He also made a covenant with Noah, and with Adam. Neither must it be supposed that the first, or old covenant existed for a time as the only covenant with mankind, and that this must serve its purpose and pass away before anyone could share in the promised blessings of the second or new covenant. In that case, during that time there would have been no pardon for anyone. What is called the new, or second covenant, virtually existed before the covenant made at Sinai; for the covenant with Abraham was confirmed in Christ (Galatians 3:17). Only through Christ is there any value to the new, or second covenant. There is no blessing that can be gained by virtue of the new covenant that was not promised to Abraham. The second covenant existed in every essential feature, except its ratification, long before the first, even from the days of Adam. It is called second because its ratification occurred after the covenant made and ratified at Sinai.
Hebrews 9:14-17
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. (Read also Luke 22:20, Hebrews 13:20-21.) What would have happened if Christ really had changed the
Sabbath? He as the Testator, would have had to change it before He died. The Bible does not tell us anything about a change of the Sabbath, either before or after the death of Christ. What is the difference between the OLD and the NEW COVENANT? Only the relationship to the law.
Similarities between the two covenants
Differences between the two covenants
OLD COVENANT NEW COVENANT
Written on tables of stone, Written in the heart,
Deuteronomy 4:13. Hebrews 8:6-12.
Dedicated with the blood of animals Ratified with the blood of Christ
Exodus 24:4-8, Hebrews 9:19-20. Luke 22:20, 1.Cor. 11:25,
2 Corinthians 5:18.
People sought justification by works Justification by faith, Christ gives power to obey,
works,
Exodus 19:5-8; 24:3-7. Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 13:20-21.
(Read also Galatians 4:22-26 and Hebrews 12:24)
Whether we talk about the law of God or of man, it l1INMve demands perfect obedience.
1 Corinthians 15:56-57
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
When Jesus was on this earth, he predicted, that the Sabbath would still be kept about forty years after his death.
Matthew 24:20
20 But pray you that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: (Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.)
How did Joseph of Aramathia act?
Luke 23:52-56
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.
One could assume the apostles could have perhaps changed the Sabbath. Let us read.
Acts 13:42-44
42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Who had asked for the Word? The Jews? No, the heathens! The heathens came to Paul and -asked him: "Preach to us!" and Paul said: "I will preach to you the next Sabbath." Why didn't he tell them that the Sabbath had been changed? Because there never was a change! If we read further in Acts 13 we can see, that the Jews became envious of Paul because he preached to the gentiles. (Read also Isaiah 56:2-8.)
Acts 17:1-2
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, (Read also Acts 16:1-13; 24:14; 25:7-8.)
How can we be sure, which day is the real Sabbath? We know Good Friday was the preparation for the Passover (Easter), the day when Jesus died. (For the Jews the preparation day was the day before the Sabbath.)
Acts 18:4
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
John 19:14-15
14 And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he said unto the Jews, Behold your King!
15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate said unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
On this preparation day (Friday), Jesus died at the ninth hour.
Matthew 27:46-50
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?
47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calls for Elias.
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
On this preparation day they laid Jesus in the tomb.
John 19:42
42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulcher was nigh at hand.
The preparation day ended. Which day follows the preparation day?
Luke 23:50-56
50 And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good man, and a just:
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.
What happened the next day, on the Sabbath, which we know began in the evening at sunset? They rested according to the law. The Jews did not leave the crucified on the cross over the Sabbath. They broke the legs of the criminals and took them down from the cross till the Sabbath was over.
John 19:31
31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
When the last day of the week, the seventh day comes to an end, the week starts again with the first day. Therefore the Sabbath has to be the seventh day of the week, the day after Friday.
Matthew 28:1
1 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. (Read also John 20:1.)
Luke also describes this in the 24th chapter.
Luke 24:1-7
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek you the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spoke unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Some people have a problem with the three literal days. The Jews count a day as inclusive, even when a child is born in the last hour of the day. We do the same. Jesus died on Friday afternoon. So Friday was the first day he was dead. The Sabbath then was the second and Sunday the third day which started in the evening at sunset after Sabbath (Saturday) ended. It does not say that Christ was resurrected after three whole days but on the third day as we read in Luke 24:7. (Read also Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:22-23, Luke 24:21, 1 Corinthians 15:4, Acts 10:40, Luke 9:22, Luke 18:33, Acts 2:27-31, Acts 13:35-37, Psalm 16:10,)
Has time been lost? It takes the earth exactly 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 47:8 seconds to go around the sun. But there's no way of putting that into our calendar, so it must be constantly updated. That's why we have a "leap year." In 1582 it was discovered that a year was a little longer than 365 days. So astronomers added 10 days to bring the months up to date, but the weekly cycle was not altered.
In The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3, article "Chronology", page 740we read:
"It is to be noted that in the Christian period the order of days of the week has never been interrupted. Thus, when Gregory XIII reformed the calendar, in 1582, Thursday, 4th October, was followed by Friday, 15th October."
Although we had leap years down trough the centuries, the sequence of the days of the week have never been changed so not even a minute of time has been lost! There have been many ancient calendars. The first modern calendar as we have it today, was put into effect in 45 B.C. by Julius Caesar. The names of the days as we know them now were also used then. Jesus clearly said:
John 14:15
15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
Matthew 24:35
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Based on these texts we can be sure, that the Sabbath is still valid.
Psalms 111:4
4 He bath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
Is the creation of the Heavens and the earth and everything in them not a miracle? So the fourth commandment begins with:
Exodus 20:8,11
8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Read also Genesis 2:2-3.)
According to these Bible texts, it is clear that God has set apart the Sabbath from all other week days. For He has blessed and hallowed only the Sabbath day. This is the difference between Sunday, Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Jesus is the same yesterday today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8) and so is His Word. Isaiah gives a clear description of how to keep the Sabbath.
Isaiah 58: 13-14
13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shall honor him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words:
14 Then shall thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD bath spoken it.
What does the Catholic Church say concerning the change from Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday? "The Catholic Church, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday." - The Catholic Mirror, official organ of Cardinal Gibbons, September 23rd 1893.
There are commandments received from God and there are commandments received from man. What does Jesus say?
Matthew 15:9
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Whom do we want to serve and obey, God or man? If we want to obey God, we have to accept what is written in His book.
Acts 5:29
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
15. Which is the First Day of the Week?
These days many people don't know much about the Bible. Is it because they haven't got one? Or is this book too expensive? Or do they prefer to follow their own ideas? Many churches follow their own traditions. We however, should not follow traditions or clever fables, but the Word of God alone.
Matthew 15:3,9
3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
God has shown us clearly, where to find truth.
1. Jesus Himself.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
2. The Scriptures. John 17:17
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Psalms 119:142
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
There are people who believe there is a text in the Bible, that tells us about the change from the true Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday. Let us see if that is true and begin in the Old Testament.
Genesis 1:5
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
On the first day, God created the light. The text does not mention anything about this day being hallowed or blessed. This first day is the only day which could not be the Sabbath. God would have been able to create this world in five days and rest the sixth. Or in four days and rest the fifth. Or in three days and rest the fourth. Or in two days and rest the third. Or in one day and rest the second. There is one thing however He could not have done. Create this earth in one day and rest on the same day. According to Genesis 1:5 the day always starts with the evening (sunset). This is the only text in the Old Testament that mentions the first day of the week.
Matthew 28:1
1 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
All this text is saying is, that the Sabbath was over. The first day of the week has already begun at the previous sunset when the women visited the tomb. Matthew mentions two days. One is called the Sabbath. The other, is called the first day of the week. The Sabbath comes before the first day. No change of the Sabbath is even suggested. The Gospel of Matthew is generally supposed to have been written about thirty years after the crucifixion and Matthew still calls the seventh day the Sabbath. If Jesus had changed the Sabbath, Matthew surely would have mentioned it, but he doesn't. Let's see what Mark says.
Mark 16:1-2,9
1 And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
The same first day is mentioned in verses two and nine. Verse nine merely affirms Christ rose on the first day and met Mary Magdalene. Verse two tells us that the women came to the tomb early (because embalming a body is a lot of work) on the first day, and that the Sabbath had passed. Mark indicates that the Sabbath comes just before the first day. Furthermore, they would have embalmed Christ's body on the first day. They did not even think of doing this on the Sabbath. Let's see what Luke says.
Luke 24:1
24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Probably because Luke was a doctor, the event is more detailed in his gospel.
Luke 23:52-56
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.
55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.
This is the same event recorded by the other writers with some added information. Christ was crucified on the day of preparation, which was Friday. He died as the Sabbath was drawing on. On that same Friday the women prepared spices for His embalming. The following day, which was Saturday, they rested "according to the law." Therefore three days are noted: the day of preparation, the Sabbath, and the first day of the week. The women worked on the preparation day (Friday), and on the first day of the week (Sunday), but they rested on the Sabbath day (Saturday).
When Jesus died on Friday afternoon at about 3 p.m., how could His burial happen on the same afternoon? The way from the cross to the tomb was only a short distance (John 19:20-42).
John 20:1,19
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and sees the stone taken away from the sepulcher.
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.
In the first verse John merely repeats what the other evangelists have written. Verse nineteen points out that the disciples assembled and that the doors were shut and bolted "for fear of the Jews." They were not there to celebrate the resurrection even though they knew He was not in the tomb. They did not believe He had risen.
Mark 16:14
14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
Now there are only two more Scriptures in the New Testament where the first day of the week is mentioned. These however, bring up most of the arguments that occur about this subject.
Acts 20:7-14
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.
12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
13 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.
14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.
This meeting was held in the evening, for there "were many lights in the chamber." Paul not only preached till midnight, but he continued "even till break of day." In the Bible, the day was reckoned from sunset to sunset. Strictly speaking a meeting held in the evening of the first day of the week would be what we know now as Saturday night. Notice these points:
This was a farewell meeting for Paul. He left Troas in the morning to catch the ship in Assos. This was a distance of approximately thirty kilometers. Paul undertook three missionary journeys. This was his last one. A prophet from Judaea named Agabus came and told Paul what would happen to him if he went to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:10-11
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus said the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
The next Scriptures is found in 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do you.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
No church meeting is mentioned here. Paul encourages the saints to put aside on the first day a sum proportionate to the prospering hand of God. Each was to lay "by him in store." This would mean by himself at home and he was to keep it until it was called for. Paul was encouraging systematic giving. This text does not support Sunday sacredness. Paul did not mention a public collection, nor is he speaking of a church service. This was not a "regular" weekly collection, but was a special gift being made up by the churches for the poor saints at Jerusalem. Paul was taking these gifts with certain representatives from each group who would present the token of love. (Read also 1 Corinthians 16:3-4, Romans 15:24-28, 2 Corinthians 8:1-4, 2.Corinthians 9:1-5.)
We have now read all the texts in the Bible that mention "the first day of the week." None of these verses indicate that the first day of the week was blessed and hallowed by God. Neither was it changed by Jesus or His disciples. All the prophets, the apostles and Jesus have kept the Sabbath: (Saturday). So, we too would do well in keeping the Sabbath as they did, and holding fast to the Word of God.
2 Peter 1:19
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
In "The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine" (1946 ed.), page 50 by Peter Geiermann, who received the "apostolic blessing" of Pope Pius X on his labors, January 25, 1910, it says:
Question. Which is the Sabbath day?
Answer. Saturday is the Sabbath day.
Question. Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
Answer. We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church transferred the
solemnity from Saturday to Sunday."
Daniel predicted this act of change.
Daniel 7:25
25 ... and think to change times and laws:...
Now the question arises for each one of us: Whom do we want to obey? "God or man?" (Read also Joshua 24:15.)
16. What Happens After Death?
This subject has caused much confusion. There are many different opinions. Some say when man dies, he goes to heaven, purgatory or to hell. Others say that the dead lie in their graves till Jesus returns. We could easily make a long list of different ideas people have about the condition of man after death. But what does the Bible tell us about what happens when man dies?
Ecclesiastes 12:7
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
At death, the spirit goes back to the great Author of life. It came from Him and it belongs to Him. Man can have it eternally, only as a gift from God, through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). When the spirit goes back to God, the dust, from which man's body was formed, goes back to the earth. The individual no longer exists as a living, conscious, thinking being. What does the word "spirit" mean here?
James 2:26
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
A body without a spirit is dead. The spirit which returns to God is "the breath of life which God gave him." So when man's breath, that is, the life principle, is withdrawn, the body is dissolved into dust. The heart no longer beats. The brain does not function. The blood no longer flows. What has become of man's consciousness? It is gone.
Job 27:3
3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
Job 14:10-14
10 But man dies, and wastes away: yes, man gives up the ghost, and where is he?
11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decays and dries up:
12 So man lies down, and rises not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
13 O that thou would hide me in the grave, that thou would keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou would 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. (Read also John 11:11-14.)
Here death is compared to sleep. The Greek word for spirit is called "Pneuma", which we can translate as air or breath. However, we cannot just equate these words "breath" and "air" simply with oxygen. When we talk here about "spirit", we are talking about life that only God can give. Here is an example. If a new born baby does not start to breathe on his own, we can pump as much oxygen into this baby as we want, but it will not live. So we are not simply talking about air, but about "the breath of life", which goes back to God after man dies.
Genesis 2:7
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Read also 1.Corinthians 15:45.)
A living soul was not put into man; but the breath of life which was put "into his nostrils" made him man, formed of the earth, a living soul or creature. "Man became a living being." The Hebrew words translated "living soul" in this text are "nephesh chayyah", the same expression used in Genesis 1:24, translated "living creature." We are all living souls because we have a body and the breath of life, received from God at birth. Why does man have to die?
Ezekiel 18:4,20
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die.
20 The soul that sins, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (Read also Genesis 2:16-17, Genesis 3:1-19, Romans 5:12, Romans 6:23, 1.Corinthians 15:56, James 1: 15.)
The Bible definition for soul is varied. In some places it speaks of the soul as the life of the individual; in other places as the living person; in still other verses soul refers to an animal.
Genesis 12:5
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into, the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
Leviticus 17:15
15 And every soul that eats that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening then he shall be clean.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-10
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepts thy works.
8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou loves all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he has given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labor which thou takes under the sun.
10 Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goes.
When man dies, he has lost the powers of mind and body. He loses all the attributes of the mind- love, hatred, envy, etc. It is plain that his thoughts have perished. He can have nothing more to do with the things of this world. (Read also Job 14:10-12)
Psalms 146:4
4 His breath goes forth, he returns to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
The Bible tells us, there were two men who didn't die. One was Enoch (Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5). The other was Elijah (2.Kings 2:11). Elsewhere in the Bible we read that people were resurrected from the dead, such as Tabitha (Acts 9:40), Eutychus (Acts 20:9-10) etc. However, there is one case we will look at a little closer. It is about a man who died and was resurrected by Jesus (John 12:1). It is the story of Lazarus. What did Jesus say to bring Lazarus back to life (John 11:43)? He called: "Lazarus, come forth." Jesus did not say: "come up" or "come down", He said "come forth." From where did Lazarus come forth? From the tomb where they put him after he died. At this time, Lazarus had already been dead for four days.
John 11:17
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
Psalms 6:5
5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? (Read also Psalms 104:29-30 & 115:17.)
As we've already seen, the Bible consistently presents the dead as being asleep, without even a remembrance of God. If they were in Heaven or in hell, would Jesus have said, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps" - John 11:11? If so, calling him to life was really robbing him of the bliss of Heaven that rightly belonged to him. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke chapter 16) does not teach consciousness in death, but that riches will avail nothing in the judgment and that poverty will not keep one out of Heaven. (A "Parable" is to signify an independent fictitious narrative, employed for the illustration of a moral rule or principle.) What does the Bible tell us about king David?
Acts 2:29, 34-45
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he said himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
In his sermon on the Day of Pentecost, Peter declared that David had not gone to Heaven at his death, but was resting in his grave. When Jesus returns, David will hear His voice and will be resurrected with the righteous saints. The same is said about Daniel - Daniel 12:13. (Read also 2 Timothy 2:16-18.) One of the most popular passages of Scripture which is quite often used to prove man is immortal, and that he goes to his reward at death, is the scriptural account of the repentant thief on the cross.
Luke 23:42-43
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comes into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shall thou be with me in paradise.
Did Jesus promise the repentant thief he would go to Heaven on the day of his crucifixion? It seems that way. As written originally, the Greek was without any punctuation. The adverb "today" is between two clauses which in the Greek read "truly to you I say" and "with me you will be in the Paradise." According to Greek usage the adverb could modify either clause. So the question is, what did Jesus mean to say? Did Christ promise the thief he would be with Him that very day in Paradise, or did He simply tell him that that day He was giving him the assurance of salvation? The only way to know what Jesus meant is to further carefully study the Bible.
John 19:31-33,36
31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
It is clear according to John 19:31-33 that the thief did not die the day of his crucifixion. Otherwise, his bones would not have been broken. We know that Paradise is where the throne of God is, in Heaven. We also know from the Bible that Christ did not go to Paradise nor to His Father on the day of His crucifixion. (Read also Luke 23:52-53.)
John 20:14-17
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said unto her, Woman, why weeps thou? whom seeks thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, said unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou has laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus said unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and said unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus said unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Is it really that important what we believe about what happens after death? Yes it is. There are many peculiar things happening in Spiritualism and Eastern religions. Many people are so easily deceived simply because they do not believe the Bible. The doctrine that a person goes to Heaven or hell after death, stands in contrast to the teachings of the Bible. But if, as taught by some, man's powers of thought continue after death, he lives; and if he lives, he must be somewhere. Where is he? Is he in Heaven, or in hell? If he goes to either place at death, what then is the need of a future judgment, or of a resurrection, or of the second coming of Christ? If men go to their reward at death, before the judgment takes place, then their rewards precede their awards.
1 Corinthians 15:16-19
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (Read also 1.Corinthians 15:20-23, 50-53.)
1 Thessalonians 4:16
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (Read also John 6:39-54, Acts 24:15, Revelation 20:4-6)
The hope of the believer's resurrection is based on Christ's resurrection. The two are linked together. The resurrection of Christ is the most important event ever to have taken place. If this great truth could be overthrown then all other truths would be useless.
If, as stated in Ecclesiastes 9:5, the dead know not anything. then they also have no knowledge of the lapse of time. It will seem to them when they awake that absolutely no time has elapsed. Six thousand years in the grave to a dead man is no more than a wink of the eye to the living. It ought also to be a comforting thought to those whose lives have been filled with anxiety and grief for deceased loved ones who persisted in sin, to know that they are not now suffering in torments, but, with all the rest of the dead, are quietly sleeping in their graves. Again, it would spoil the bliss of one's joy in Heaven could he look upon the earth and see his friends and relatives suffering from persecution, want, cold, or hunger, or sorrowing for the dead. God's way is best; that all sentient life, animation, activity, thought, and consciousness should cease at death, and that all should wait till the resurrection for their eternal reward. (Read also Hebrews 11:3940.) The Bible tells us that God alone is immortal.
1 Timothy 6:15-16
15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
16 Who only bath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man bath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.
With what lie did the devil deceive Eve?
Genesis 3:4
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die:
Using exactly the same lie the devil has great success today, simply because many people do not read, nor do they trust the Bible. Many people believe in Spiritualism. What does the Bible tell us about that?
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
10 There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Isaiah 8:19-20
19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
The comforting promises in 1 Corinthians 15 and in Revelation 21, will be fulfilled for all the saints of all ages.
1 Corinthians 15:51-57
51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:4
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things arc passed away.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Just as Jesus raised His friend Lazarus (John 12:1), so will He raise all to eternal life whose names are written in the book of life, when He comes again.
17. Satan Bound for a Thousand Years
In Revelation chapter twenty, we read about Satan being bound for a thousand years. It is also known as the "Millennium."
Revelation 20:1-3
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Most Bible students know that the word "millennium" is not found anywhere in the Bible. It is derived from two Latin words, "milli", meaning a thousand, and "annum", meaning a year. Although the word is not mentioned in the Scriptures, there are references to a thousand-year period of time.
We are going to find out in this chapter:
- When these thousand years begin.
- What will happen during these thousand years.
- When the thousand years will end.
Revelation 20:6
6 Blessed and holy is he that bath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death bath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Those who take part in the first resurrection will reign with Christ for a thousand years. Only the saints will partake in the first resurrection. This is the starting point of the millennium.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
The dead in Christ are those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior and have been obedient to His commandments.
John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
From the Scripture we can understand that at least five events take place at the beginning of the millennium.
John 14:1-3
1 Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Jesus gives us the assurance of His return.
1 Corinthians 15:50-53
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
The saints are raised from their dusty beds. Instantly, they are changed into glorious immortality. At the same time the righteous living are translated and are given immortal bodies just like the resurrected saints.
1 Thessalonians 4:17
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The resurrected righteous together with the living saints, "meet the Lord in the air" at the same time. There are different groups of people at the return of Jesus. They are:
There is only one group left. The wicked living. What about the wicked who are alive when Christ returns? What happens to them?
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Notice what happens to sinners at the same time the saints are glorified.
2 Thessalonians 2:8
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
John describes the desperate attempts of the wicked to escape from Christ's presence when He returns. They will hide in the dens and rocks of the mountains, and pray, "Fall on us, and hide us..."
Revelation 6:14-17
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
The 19th chapter of Revelation describes the second coming of Christ.
Revelation 19:11-16
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
What is meant by: "And the armies which were in heaven followed him..."? This is an innumerable host of heavenly angels.
Matthew 25:31
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Jude 14-15
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Further we read in Revelation chapter 19:
Revelation 19:17-21
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
18 That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
(The sword which proceeded out of His mouth is the Word of God - the Truth - John 17:17, Hebrews 4:12, Jeremiah 23:29.) There is a question that has puzzled many people. Can anyone repent and be saved after the coming of Jesus? Absolutely not. The Bible is very explicit on this point. John records the actual words of a mighty decree which Christ declares just before His return to this earth.
Revelation 22:11-12
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
What happens to Satan at this time?
Revelation 20:1-3
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Fortunately, we do not have to speculate about the location of that "bottomless pit." The Bible makes it very clear. The original Greek word for "bottomless pit" is "abussos" from which we get our English word "abyss", meaning "a deep place." That same word is used again in the Greek version of Genesis 1:2. Here the word "deep" is the Greek word "abussos" which is translated as "bottomless pit" in Revelation 20:1.
Some may ask, "But what about the chain?" Just remember that Satan is a fallen angel, and spiritual beings cannot be bound with literal chains. The Bible speaks about the evil angels being bound with chains of darkness. The purpose of the binding is "that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years should be fulfilled." The only possible way to accomplish this is to take Satan away from all the people, or take the people away from him. Even putting him into a deep, literal pit would not prevent him from deceiving people, because he has millions of other demons to carry on his work. The fact is that the devil is bound by circumstances which forbid him access to any human being during the thousand years. What is the earths' condition during the millennium?
Jeremiah 25:33
33 And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
Jeremiah 4:23-27
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
27 For thus has the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
At the coming of Jesus every work of man will be humbled to the dust. Skyscrapers are leveled to the ground as a result of the devastating earthquake which attends the coming of Christ. The shocks and aftershocks of that earthquake will spread desolation to every corner of the earth. Inhabited islands will disappear into the sea. Great mountain chains will disintegrate and vanish. The earth itself will reel like a drunkard (Isaiah 24:1,20) at the second coming of Christ. What will the saints do in Heaven during the millennium?
Revelation 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
1 Corinthians 6:1-3
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know you not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Why have a judgment after all the cases have been decided? At the coming of Christ He takes His people with Him to Heaven. The wicked will not live until after the 1000 years have expired. They will be resurrected to receive their punishment of the second death. Should the saved discover that a loved one is not in Heaven during the millennium, they can find the reason for this by looking over the heavenly records. God has allotted a thousand years for the judgment of the wicked. He is careful to take no chances of leaving any doubt in any mind about His work on behalf of man. When the wicked receive their punishment it will be recognized by all that their punishment is deserved and God is just. During the one thousand years that the righteous sit in judgment, they will learn of every effort put forth to save every person.
Revelation 20:3,5
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (John 5:28-29)
We now arrive at the closing events of the millennium. At the first resurrection all come forth in immortal newness, but at the second, the marks of the curse are visible upon all. All come up as they went down into their graves. As we can see, there is a big difference between these two resurrections.
Revelation 20:7
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
The loosing of Satan is easy to understand when we read verse five again. The lost of all ages will be raised from their graves at the end of the millennium. This enables the devil to begin his work of deception once more. Suddenly something enormous happens. The holy City descends from Heaven as John describes it.
Revelation 21:2
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Read also Zechariah 14:4-5)
Satan has had enough time to plot how he could still save himself.
Revelation 20:8
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Several important things are brought to view in these verses. After the wicked are resurrected, Satan leads them in an attack against the New Jerusalem. He deceives them into thinking they can actually capture the dwelling place of God and the immortalized saints. Why are they so desperate to capture the city?
Revelation 22:2
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Their aim is to eat of the tree of life so they would not have to die (Read also Revelation 2:7; Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22).
Revelation 20:9-10,15
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Read also 2 Peter 3:10-13).
This is the last act in the great controversy between Christ and Satan. The entire human race meets here for the first and last time. The eternal separation of the righteous from the wicked takes place here. At this time, the judgment of God is executed upon the wicked in the lake of fire. This is the second death. This ends the great rebellion against God and His government. All hear the voice of God as He sits upon His throne. He speaks to the saints, and says, "Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5). Out of the burnt ruins of the old earth springs forth before the admiring gaze of the millions of the redeemed, "a new Heaven and a new earth", in which they find an everlasting inheritance and dwelling place.
Revelation 3:20
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Jesus knocks at the door of our heart, but it must be opened from the inside.
18. The End Time - When did it Start?
If we consider the events that are happening around us, we can surely see that we are near the end. This is also the time we should be preparing ourselves for the second coming of Jesus. There is a chapter in the Bible people don't often talk about. It is the tenth chapter in Revelation.
Revelation 10:1-4
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
Verses one and two describe an angel, standing with his right foot on the sea and with his left foot on the earth. That means, that his message is intended for the whole world. What ever this angel cried out, the prophet was not allowed to write it down, but was instructed to seal it. In Revelation 14 we read about three angels who have an urgent message. In Revelation 18 we read about an angel that comes down from Heaven to enlighten the earth with his glory. Let's continue with the message of the angel in chapter ten.
Revelation 10:5-6
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
This angel calls out to the whole world "that there should be time no longer." Accordingly, this message is appointed for the End time.
Revelation 10:7-9
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he bath declared to his servants the prophets.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
What is this little book all about, which was in the mouth sweet as honey, but in the belly bitter? The books of Daniel and Revelation go together like a hand and a glove. The prophecies in the book of Daniel are repeated in Revelation.
Daniel 12:4
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
The book, as we read in Revelation was open. To Daniel however, the angel said: "shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end." There are expressions in the Bible such as "Time of the end" and "End of time." Do we understand the difference? With the "Time of the end" we recognize the time we are living in right now. With "End of time" we understand the last day God gives to this world. Everything comes to an absolute end.
When did the "Time of the end" (End-time) start? In Daniel and Revelation we find different quotations such as "A time and times and the dividing of time" - Daniel 7:25, "Forty and two months" - Revelation 11:12, "A thousand two hundred and threescore days" - Revelation 11:3. (See also chapter nine in this book - "The 1260 Year-Day Prophecy".)
The year 538 A.D. may be taken as marking the beginning of the 1260 years of prophecy, which would extend to the year 1798. As a direct result of the revolt against papal authority in the French Revolution, the French army, under General Berthier, entered Rome. The Pope was taken prisoner in February, 1798, dying in exile at Valence, France, the following year. The year 1798, during which this death stroke was inflicted upon the papacy, may thus be taken as marking the close of the long prophetic period mentioned in this prophecy (dark ages - papal supremacy). The close of this time prophecy marks the beginning of the End-time - 1798. In the past, many devoted believers studied the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation but did not fully comprehend them. That's why even today we hear statements such as: "The book of Revelation is a sealed book." As the understanding of Bible prophecy increased in the Time of the end, certain Bible students started to calculate the year of the second coming of Christ. They took as their starting point the Scripture in Daniel 8:14.
Daniel 8:14
14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Let's see what some Bible scholars had to say about this prophecy. Manuel de Lacunza (1731-1801), a Jesuit of Chile and Italy, writer on the prophecies. The fruit of 20 years of study was his book "La Venida del Mesias en Gloria y Magestad" ("The coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty"), written in Spanish about 1791 under the pen name of Juan Josafa Ben-Ezra, supposedly a Christian Hebrew. The book emphasized the Second Advent at the beginning of the millennium. In 1827 Edward Irving issued a two volume English translation in London. As a result, the book became well known in Britain.
Another young man in the series of interpreters of Daniel 8:14 was Joseph Wolff (1795-1862). He was a Missionary traveler (Palestine, Egypt, Arabia, India and other distant places) and a linguist. Of Jewish birth (born in Germany), with a Catholic education, and finally Protestant persuasion he became known throughout the world because of his trips to Asia. He sought the ten lost tribes and preached the Second Advent of Christ, stating that "He shall come again, according to my opinion, in the year 1847, and reign in Jerusalem one thousand years."
Another one was William Miller (1782-1849). An American farmer and Baptist preacher who announced the imminent coming of Christ and founded the movement popularly known as Millerism. Miller concluded that Scripture "is its own interpreter", and that the words ought to be understood literally, that is, in their ordinary historical and grammatical sense, except in those instances where the writer used figurative language. Specifically, he put his first and greatest emphasis on the prophetic declaration of Daniel 8:14. Miller was a good preacher, but not a good promoter. However, help in this area soon came. In December 1839, he was invited by Joshua V. Himes, of the "Christian Connection", to speak in Boston. For Himes there was only one question of importance. If this message was really true, then what steps should be taken to publish it over the whole land?
Miller used the general phrase "about the year 1843" to describe his belief as to the time of the advent, until in January 1843 he set forth the time as sometime "between March 21st 1843, and March 21st 1844." He never set a date or day within this period. Then came Samuel S. Snow (1806-1870). A Congregationalist, then a skeptic and later a Millerite minister. He was the initiator of the "seventh month movement."
Beginning with an article written February 16th 1843, he emphasized the tenth day of the Jewish seventh month, Tishri, the Jewish Day of Atonement, as the true ending date of the prophetic 2300 years. Later he set forth the specific day as October 22nd 1844, our calendar equivalent of the tenth day of the seventh month in that year according to the old Karaite Jewish calendar. Now Miller too was convinced that Jesus would come on October 22nd 1844. When this day passed the disappointment was devastating because Jesus did not come.
Remember the prophecy in Revelation 10:9: "in thy mouth sweet as honey" but the disappointment was really "bitter in the belly." The date was correct, but its meaning was misunderstood. If any honest person would like to search the Scripture he would come to the same conclusion - October 1844.
To understand all this we ought to know something about the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary, literally, "holy place", in the Old Testament, was the centre of public worship for the Hebrew nation. At first this was the tabernacle erected by Moses in the wilderness (Ex. 25:40), and later the Temple built by Solomon (1.Chr. 28:10-20), and following the Babylonian exile, the second Temple. The Sanctuary was God's dwelling place among His people. The Mosaic tabernacle and its animal sacrifices and priestly ministry were "a figure for the time then present" that pointed forward to Christ, "who was once offered to bear the sins of many" and who became "an high priest of good things to come", in "a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands" (Hebrews 9:9,11,28). The tabernacle on earth was "a copy and shadow of the heavenly Sanctuary" (Hebrews 8:5), "the true one" where "Christ has entered in 1844 to appear in the presence of God on our behalf." (The Bible scholars we mentioned, concluded that "the cleansing of the Sanctuary" after the period of the prophesied 2300 years, would be accomplished by the fire of the last day, in connection with the second coming of Christ.)
The earthly Sanctuary was cleansed at the end of every year. The heavenly at the end of 2300 years, in 1844. An objection is frequently raised that there can be nothing in Heaven that needs cleansing. But let us hear Paul on this point. Speaking of the same Sanctuary, he says:
Hebrews 9:23-24
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Shadow and fulfillment in the Old Testament Sanctuary
The Earthly Symbol - The Heavenly Reality
Exodus 25:8-9 The Sanctuary on earth - and in Heaven Revelation 11:19
Exodus 25:30 Table of Show bread - Christ's presence John 6:48
Exodus 30:7-8 Altar of Incense - represents the prayers of God's people Revelation 8:3-4
Exodus 26:33 Ark of the Covenant - also in Heaven Revelation 11:19
Exodus 25:17,21 The Mercy Seat on the Ark - Hebrews 4:16
The Throne of God in Heaven
Exodus 40:24-25 The Seven Branch Candlestick John. 8:12
Symbol for Christ and His church Matthew 5:14
Revelation 1:12-13,20
Exodus 12:3-7 The Lamb - Christ the Sacrifice as our substitute John 1:29
1 Corinthians 5:7
Exodus 12:46 No bones broken to the lamb - fulfilled on the cross John 19:33-36
Leviticus 4:23 The sacrifice without blemish - Christ the spotless sacrifice 1 Peter. 1:18-19
Paul gives us clearly to understand that it was necessary that the earthly Sanctuary, made from patterns of the heavenly, should be cleansed with the blood of beasts (for so the law required); therefore it was also necessary that the heavenly Sanctuary, from which the patterns were taken, should be cleansed with better sacrifices. The "Wonderful Time Prophecy" places the cleansing of the heavenly Sanctuary at the end of the 2300 days. We have read all the texts in Revelation ten except the last one.
Revelation 10:11
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Jesus did not come in 1844 because certain things were not fulfilled at that time. The three angels of Revelation 14 with the message for the whole world, was not preached yet.
Revelation 14:6-11
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the
beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.
If we don't find out what is meant by the beast and his mark and all we have read in the verses 6-11, then we will not be prepared for the second coming of Christ.
Matthew 24:32-36
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Some claim that Christ will come as a thief in the night. Is that true?
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
We know from previous chapters, that if Jesus comes to us as a thief in the night, we are lost. Some may think that God does not know when He shall come, but according to the Scriptures we know that everything God does, is done on time.
Galatians 4:4
4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth hi Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
John 2:4
4 Jesus said unto her, Woman, what have Ito do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
Even to the very hour. Not before and not after the time.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
John 19:30
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
What kind of people does the Bible say there will be in the last days?
2 Peter 3:3-9
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day ofjudgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Here one might assume, that God does not have a set time, but that is not what this text is saying. In the following verse we read:
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Peter doesn't say that God is prolonging time but that He has patience with us.
Matthew 24:22-24
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
We do not know, how much time there is left. However, those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the whole world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). To all the testing time will come. By the sifting of temptation the genuine Christian will be revealed. Are the people of God now so firmly established upon His word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible and the Bible only? Satan will, if possible, prevent them from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange affairs as to hedge up their way, entangle them with earthly treasures, cause them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged with the cares of this life and the day of trial may come upon them as a thief.
19. What Does the Bible Say About Our Health?
The Bible has much to say about healthful living. Sometimes man reasons that the care of the human body is strictly up to him. No one has the right to tell him what to do regarding the care of his body. This reasoning is wrong on at least two counts. Firstly, God created man in His own image - Genesis 1:26-27. Secondly, as stewards over our bodies we are to glorify God - 1.Corinthians 6:19-20.
There is only one way to know what is good for this infinitely complex body system, and that is to consult the One who made it. Only the manufacturer has the best operating manual for his products. Automobile makers always provide such instructions for keeping their vehicles in top running condition. The average man knows more about the needs of his automobile than he does about the physical needs of his own body. When God made man, He also gave specific operating instructions, including the best fuel and proper maintenance.
Genesis 1:29
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
No one has been able to improve on this diet. Nuts, fruits, grains and vegetables are still recognized by the best nutritionists as the finest possible diet. No one need be reluctant to espouse the ideal vegetarian diet commanded by a perfect God for the perfect bodies He created in the beginning. Today, under the increasing curse of sin, those bodies have degenerated in both size and stamina, but no argument or scientific data has been able to challenge the wisdom of God's original arrangement.
Psalms 139:14
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knows right well.
When we study the human anatomy, we realize that man did not emerge by chance, but originated by the Creator who made everything perfect.
Let us just consider our ears for example. With them we hear different sounds. Could we imagine, how it would sound, if we would hear everything in only one pitch? We see all the different colors with our eyes. How monotonous it would be, if we could see everything in black and-white only? Our whole body is a miracle. When God created man, he was made to live forever. In the beginning man reached an age much higher than we do today. Adam lived for 930 years. Methuselah made it to 969 years (Genesis chapter 5). However, after the flood people started to live shorter lives. Abraham lived 175 years. What a big difference to Adam's 930 years. At the time the Psalms were written, we read:
Psalms 90:10
10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
This applies to our time as well.
3.John 2
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers.
Exodus 23:25
25 And you shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
God promised His people, He would take sickness away and not allow disease to afflict His people, provided they would keep all His commandments (Exodus 15:26).
Jesus says in John 10:10
10 I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
God wants us to prosper and to have a good and healthy body and mind.
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Do we know that the Bible describes our body as the temple of the Holy Spirit?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
20 For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
These words reveal that the proper care of our body is not only a spiritual obligation but a moral requirement. Even though we have control of our bodies, they do not really belong to us. We are only stewards of someone else's property. No man has a right to say, "I'll do as I please with my own body, and it is my business alone." We can rob God by violating His divine purpose of the body temple to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
16 Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
There is such an incredible amount of ignorance concerning the way to take care of our sacred body temple. The Bible assures us that the human body is to be cared for, preserved and maintained according to the rules laid down in the Bible. Here is some good counsel to maintain a healthy body: One of them is fresh air and we should get plenty of it. It is very important for us and is even free of charge.
The sun is essential for all life. It also has healing power. (Avoid the sun in summertime between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. because of the harmful intensive UV rays.) Another element that God has given us is water. We need it for our hygiene, but especially as a drink. Do we know how much water we should drink per day to stay healthy? About two liters. Another thing we should look at is exercise. The best and most effective exercise for us is walking at a good pace.
Sleep is also very essential for our health. Some need more, some need less, but the average is about eight hours a night. We all have a certain amount of vitality. We cannot add anything to it but only deduct. We could compare our lives with a burning candle. When it is burnt down and the flame is out, our life has gone. Some people burn their candle on both ends. Temperance is a rather difficult subject, but it is very decisive what we eat and drink. By eating and drinking the right thing we can actually postpone our own funeral.
1 Corinthians 6:13 (1 Corinthians 10:31)
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
There are two classes of people. There are those that eat to live and there are those who live to eat. Don't miss the significant fact that the law of clean and unclean animals extends all the way back to the beginning of human history. Many have assumed that only the Jewish people were forbidden to eat unclean animals. Not so. There were no Jews in Noah's day, yet the distinction is clearly made. Why were extra, clean animals taken into the ark? Because all vegetation would be wiped out in the flood, and for the first time, God would allow man to eat meat. But only the clean meat! If Noah and his family had eaten any of the unclean animals, that species would have ceased to exist because only one male and one female had been preserved to perpetuate the species. There were seven pairs of the clean animals in the ark. Only they could be spared for food, without endangering the continuity of their kind. Since it is evident that even some "Genesis-kind" of animals were unclean, how do we determine where the line is drawn between the clean and unclean? God has not left us to wonder about this important issue.
Leviticus chapter 11:1-31 (Deuteronomy 14:3-21)
1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which you shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
3 Whatsoever parts the hoof, and is cloven footed, and chews the cud, among the beasts, that shall you eat.
4 Nevertheless these shall you not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
5 And the coney, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
6 And the hare, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
8 Of their flesh shall you not eat, and their carcase shall you not touch; they are unclean to you.
9 These shall you eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall you eat.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; you shall not eat of their flesh, but you shall have their carcases in abomination.
12 Whatsoever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
13 And these are they which you shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the osprey,
14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;
15 Every raven after his kind;
16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind,
17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,
19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.
20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
21 Yet these may you eat of every flying creeping thing that goes upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;
22 Even these of them you may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.
23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
24 And for these you shall be unclean: whosoever touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even.
25 And whosoever bears ought of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
26 The carcasses of every beast which divides the hoof, and is not cloven footed, nor chews the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that touches them shall be unclean.
27 And whatsoever goes upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso touches their carcass shall be unclean until the even.
28 And he that bears the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.
29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,
30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.
31 These are unclean to you among all that creep:...
How fortunate we are that the One who made us, also prescribed the kind of food that should and should not be eaten. We may not be able to explain why some are unclean and others clean, but we can trust the Creator to know the difference. In His great love for us He has revealed it for our good.
Isaiah 66:16-17 (Isaiah 65:3-5)
16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, said the LORD.
Such judgments of God, foretold to come upon His sinning ancient people, clearly indicate what His judgment will be on similar sins in the ultimate day of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 10:31
31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Not only wrong eating is harmful to our body, but so too is alcohol and tobacco.
Deuteronomy 29:19
19 And it come to pass, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
Proverbs 23:31-32
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it gives his color in the cup, when it moves itself aright.
32 At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.
Proverbs 20:1
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Isaiah 5:11
11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
Leviticus 10:8-9
8 And the LORD spoke unto Aaron, saying,
9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
9 Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Today it is a recognized fact that tobacco is harmful to the human body. With this our knowledge no one should smoke, chew, dip, drink, use recreational drugs, etc. The true Christian abstains from taking anything harmful into his body and uses only the good in moderation. Among all the popular poisons which are imbibed by modern man, none is so deadly and destructive as alcohol. Glorified as a symbol of gracious living, it has, in fact, been the most malignant social disease known to civilization. No wonder the Bible declares that no drunkard will be in Heaven.
Matthew 11:28
28 Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Satan makes life hard for us through his temptations. By yielding to them we separate ourselves from God. Jesus was tempted by Satan as well and He wants to help us overcome all our weaknesses.
Luke 4:18
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Read also Romans 12:1-2).
20. The Antichrist in Bible Prophecy
Is it important to understand Bible Prophecy with regard to our salvation? Will we miss Heaven if we do not understand it? Bible knowledge is no guarantee for salvation. Even someone who is very familiar with the Bible, will be lost if not living according to the Word of God (Matthew 7:21-23). God sets a strong emphasis on prophecy.
2 Peter 1:19
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Here it says, "the word of prophecy is sure and we shall take heed." Some may say: "it always depends on how we interpret the Bible." They usually overlook the following verse.
2 Peter 1:20
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
That means, the Bible is its own interpreter.
There are some requirements we ought to take into consideration.
1 Peter 2:1-8
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:
3 If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Accordingly we need faith in the Word of God.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The word "antichrist" appears only in Christian contexts. In the New Testament it is mentioned only four times - in the first and second book of John.
1 John 2:22
22 Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.
This text simply says, if someone denies that Jesus is the Messiah, he is an antichrist.
1 John 2:18
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Here we see another type of antichrist which was still to come. The next Scripture text tells us about the spirit of antichrist.
1 John 4:3
3 And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
John said the spirit of antichrist was already in the world in his time. About 2000 years have past since John wrote this down. Therefore he cannot be speaking about a person because man does not live that long. It must be a continuing system, a power.
The last verse about antichrist is in
2 John 1:7
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (Read also 1 Timothy 3:16.)
These are all the texts mentioning the word "antichrist" in the Bible. Paul refers to this power as well, but calls it by other names. He even says, that this power sits in the temple of God and is a great antagonist of God.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
However, the theme of the antichrist is much broader. The term has been used to refer to powers that set themselves in opposition to the plan of salvation. Antichrist means all who exalt themselves against the will and work of God. On the other hand all who persevere in obedience, all who will not sell their souls for money or for the favor of men, God will register in the book of life. Now we will see what historical background Daniel gives us to identify this system.
Daniel 7:2-3
2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
The prophetic books of the Bible usually deal in types and symbols. Consider the water, for example, out of which the animal arises. What does it represent?
Revelation 17:15
15 And he said unto me, The waters which thou saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
The symbol of the wind is also explained.
Revelation 7:1-2
1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
That winds denote strife and war is evident from the vision itself. As a result of the striving of the winds, kingdoms rise and fall. In Daniel 7:3-8 we read about the four beasts that rise out of the water. In Daniel 7:17 we have an explanation of what those beasts are.
Daniel 7:17
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
So plainly worded that no one can question or doubt! God says that animals in prophecy represent nations. To be more explicit, God added this in verse 23.
Daniel 7:23
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
If the fourth animal represented the fourth empire of history, then the first three have to represent the first three empires. This explanation becomes even simpler and clearer when we remember that there have only been four world empires on the earth since the days of Daniel. We will now look at these four beasts. Especially the fourth one with its horns is of great importance.
Daniel 7:4 (Daniel 2:36-38)
4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
The lion, the first of these four great beasts, like the golden head of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, represents the Babylonian monarchy. The lion, the king of beasts, stands at the head of his kind, as gold does of metals. The eagle's wings doubtless denote the rapidity with which Babylon rose to the peak of power under Nebuchadnezzar. From 605 B.C. until 539 B.C. Babylon continued to exercise her extensive authority. But a change was to take place. Daniel saw the second beast.
Daniel 7:5 (Daniel 5:28, Daniel 8:20 - the ram.)
5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Swift on the heels of Babylon came the kingdom of Medo-Persia in 539 B.C., the second world empire. The bear is raised up on one side. This represents the fact that Persia was stronger than the Medes. Those two powers were allied together in their domination of the earth. The three ribs in the bear's mouth probably symbolize the three provinces of that kingdom - Babylon, Lydia and Egypt.
Daniel 7:6 (Daniel 8:21 - the He goat.)
6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
In 331 B.C. Medo-Persia went down, and the third world empire arose. Any schoolboy who has studied his lessons carefully in ancient history will know that Greece arose as the next world ruler. Alexander the Great came marching from the west, laying the world at his feet in a very short time. The four wings of the leopard denote the exceeding speed with which Alexander subdued the nations. Within eight years he had completely subjugated the world. However, he could not conquer himself. He died as a young man of thirty-three in a drunken orgy. At his death the kingdom was divided among his four leading generals. Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy. The four heads of the beast represent those divisions of this empire. This brings us to the year 168 B.C. and the collapse of the Grecian empire. So far, every detail of the prophecy has been fulfilled exactly. Now let us notice the rise of the fourth beast (Rome overthrew the Grecian empire at the Battle of Pydna in 168 B.C.), which is "the fourth kingdom upon earth." Although Daniel had seen living wild beasts like those portrayed in the first three prophetic symbols, he had never seen anything resembling the fourth terrible beast. This is the way the Bible describes it:
Daniel 7:7
7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
As we have already learned, this symbolizes the fourth world empire, which was the iron monarchy of Rome. The extension of its cruel domination of the earth has been well documented in the pages of ancient history. But this powerful nation was also to be divided, as verse twenty-four indicates.
Daniel 7:24
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Let us be mindful that this is God's interpretation of the ten horns on this animal. Rome would be divided into ten distinct areas. By following the course of history we discover that the exact fulfillment did come in the year 476 A.D. Fierce tribes came sweeping down from the north country. They overwhelmed the territory of western Europe, dividing it finally into ten parts. Those parts, of course, correspond to the ten toes of the great image of Daniel two. Most students of history are well acquainted with the names of those tribal conquerors of western Europe in 476 A.D. They were:
Alemanni Germany
Franks France
Burgundians Switzerland
Suevi Portugal
Anglo-Saxons England
Visigoths Spain
Lombards Italy
Heruli Destroyed
Vandals Destroyed
Ostrogoths Destroyed
Seven of those tribes are still in existence to this very day, having grown into modem nations. They survive on the map of Europe as twentieth-century countries. Three of them disappeared from the stage of history, as we shall learn in just a moment. When we are going to identify this System, I would like to strongly emphasize that we are not talking of people but of a system and its doctrines.
We shall let the Bible and History speak for us. There are millions of kind and loving Christians in different denominations but many have just never heard these facts before. Everyone has the right to see it differently than how we represent it.
Daniel 7:8, 24-25
8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Here we must be very, very careful indeed. We must not make the mistake of falsely identifying the little-horn power, because it will prove to be the great antichrist power of history. In order to avoid all mistakes in identification, we would do well to first consider at least nine characteristic marks described in the prophecy itself. These identification marks will enable us to be absolutely sure of the interpretation. We dare not guess or speculate about the historical identity of this "little horn" of prophecy in Daniel chapter seven.
We now have before us a list of nine specific characteristics, which have been lifted out of the seventh chapter of Daniel, describing the little-horn power. There is only one power in all of history which meets the description given here. We believe that the Catholic Church alone fulfils all the identification marks established in Daniel seven.
L The little horn came up among the ten (Verse 8). "There came up among them another little horn" First of all, the papacy did arise in western Europe, at the very heart of the territory of the pagan Roman Empire-in Rome itself.
"And another shall rise after them"
Since the ten arose in 476 A.D., the little horn would have to begin its reign sometime after that date. The decree of the emperor Justinian, issued in A.D. 533, recognized the Pope as "head of all the holy churches." (Justinian's Code, book 1, title 1, sec. 4, in The Civil Law, translated by S.P. Scott, vol. 12, p. 12.)
"And he shall be diverse from the first"
The papacy was a diverse kind of power from the other political kingdoms before it. It was a religio-political system quite unlike anything which had been seen in the world before that time.
"And he shall subdue three kings"
When the papacy arose, it was opposed by three of the tribes which had taken over at the collapse of the Roman Empire. The Vandals, Ostrogoths and the Heruli were Arian powers who strongly opposed the rise of the Catholic Church. The armies of Rome marched in to uproot and completely destroy these three tribes. The last of the three was destroyed in the very year 538 A.D., when Justinian's decree went into effect.
V. It would have eyes like a man (Verse 8).
"In this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things"
This indicates that a shrewd human being would be at the head of this penetrating power represented by the little horn.
VI It shall speak great words against the most High (Verse 25).
"And he shall speak great words against the most High" Does the papacy meet this description? We need only to be reminded that the Catholic Church has ever attributed to itself the power to forgive sins. As to the great words, let me quote from an article by F. Lucii Ferraris, contained in the book, Prompta Bibliotheca Cononica Juridica Moralis Theologica. Listen to these claims: "The Pope is of so great dignity, and so exalted, that he is not a mere man, but as it were God and the Vicar of God. The Pope is, as it were, God on earth, chief king of kings, having plenitude of power." Volume VI, pp. 25-29.
What does the Bible say about blasphemy?
John 10:32-33
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makes thyself God.
Mark 2:7
7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
Does the Catholic Church forgive sins? Yes. Then the Catholic Church fulfils the identification marks as the little-horn power. Only Christ can forgive our sins – l John 1:9.
VII. It shall war against the saints (Verse 25).
"And shall wear out the saints of the most High"
"The Spanish Inquisition"
Let's read a statement about this seventh identification mark. "Under these bloody maxims those persecutions were carried on, from the eleventh and twelfth centuries almost to the present day, which stand out on the page of history. After the signal of open martyrdom had been given in the canons of Orleans, there followed the extirpation of the Albigenses, under the form of a crusade, the establishment of the inquisition, the cruel attempts to extinguish the Waldenses, the martyrdoms of the Lollards, the cruel wars to exterminate the Bohemians, the burning of Huss and Jerome, and multitudes of other confessors, before the Reformation; and afterwards, the ferocious cruelties practised in the Netherlands, the martyrdoms of queen Mary's reign, the extinction, by fire and sword, of the reformation in Spain and Italy, by fraud and open persecution in Poland, the massacre of Bartholomew, the persecution of the Huguenots by the League,...and all the cruelties and perjuries connected with the revocation of the edict of Nantz (Nantes). These are the more open and conspicuous facts which explain the prophecy, besides the slow and secret murders of the holy tribunal of the inquisition." - T.R. Birks, The Four Prophetic Empires, and the Kingdom of Messiah (1845 ed.) pp.248, 249.
The number of the victims of the Inquisition in Spain is given in The History of the Inquisition in Spain, by Llorente, formerly secretary of the Inquisition (1827 ed.), page 583. This authority acknowledges that more than 300,000 suffered persecution in Spain alone, of whom 31,912 died in the flames. Millions more were slain for their faith throughout Europe. These statements speak for themselves and we can see the complete fulfillment of this description.
VIII It shall change times and laws (Verse 25).
"And think to change times and laws"
Note. Of the power of the Pope to alter divine laws a Catholic writer has the following to say:
"The Pope is of so great authority and power that he can modify, explain, or interpret even divine laws. The Pope can modify divine law, since his power is not of man, but of God, and he acts as vice regent of God upon earth."- Lucius Ferraris, Prompta Bibliotheca, "Papa," art.2, translated.
Although the Ten Commandments, the law of God, are found in the Roman Catholic versions of the Scriptures, as they were originally given, yet the faithful are instructed from the catechisms of the church, and not directly from the Bible. As it appears in these, the law of God has been changed and virtually reenacted by the papacy. Furthermore, communicants not only receive the law from the church but deal with the church concerning any alleged infractions of that law, and when they have satisfied the ecclesiastical authorities the whole matter is settled. The second commandment, which forbids the making of, and bowing down to images, is omitted in Catholic catechisms, and the tenth, which forbids coveting, is divided into two.
IX. It shall exercise authority in the earth for a specific period of time (Verse 25).
"And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time"
Please see "The 1260 Year-Day Prophecy" in chapter nine of this book before reading further.
Finally, we come to the ninth identifying mark, which tells us exactly how long this papal power would exercise its authority in the earth. We discovered that it would be for a period of 1260 years. Remember, that we have noted how the papacy began its reign, by order of Justinian, in 538 A.D. By counting down 1260 years from this date we are brought to the year 1798. In that very year the French General Berthier, marched his armies into Rome and pulled the Pope off his throne. He was carried away into exile and all the properties of the church were confiscated.
So far nobody could apply these nine points we looked at, and point to any other system or power. The prophecy has been fulfilled. Remember the text in 2.Peter 1:19 where we read at the beginning of this chapter - "We have also a more sure word of prophecy." As we reach the end of this chapter some may raise the question, "why did those mighty world empires fall?" Reviewing Daniel two, seven and eight we conclude:
The image revealed to Nebuchadnezzar, while representing the deterioration of the kingdoms of the earth in power and glory, also fitly represents the deterioration of religion and morality among the people of these kingdoms. As nations forget God, as a consequence they become morally weak.
Babylon passed away because in her prosperity she forgot God, and ascribed the glory of her prosperity to human achievement. The Medo-Persian kingdom was visited by the wrath of Heaven because in this kingdom God's law was trampled under foot. The fear of the Lord found no place in the hearts of the people. The prevailing influences in Medo-Persia were wickedness, blasphemy, and corruption.
The kingdoms that followed were even more base and corrupt. They deteriorated because they cast off their allegiance to God. As they forgot Him, they sank lower and still lower in the scale of moral value.
Iron and Clay-Mingled Churchcraft and Statecraft. We have come to a time when God's sacred work is represented by the feet of the image in which the iron was mixed with the miry clay. God has a people, a chosen people, whose discernment must be sanctified. They must not become unholy by laying upon a foundation wood, hay, and stubble. Every soul who is loyal to the commandments of God will see that the distinguishing feature of our faith is the seventh-day Sabbath. If the government would honor the Sabbath as God has commanded, it would stand in the strength of God and in defense of the faith once delivered to the saints. But statesmen will uphold the spurious Sabbath, and will mingle their religious faith with the observance of this child of the papacy, placing it above the Sabbath which the Lord has sanctified and blessed, setting it apart for man to keep holy, as a sign between Him and His people to a thousand generations.
The mingling of church craft and statecraft is represented by the iron and the clay. This union is weakening all the power of the churches. This investing the church with the power of the state will bring evil results. Men have almost passed the point of God's forbearance. They have invested their strength in politics, and have united with the papacy. But the time will come when God will punish those who have made void His law, and their evil work will recoil upon themselves.
21. What is the Mark of the Beast?
There are many speculations about what the mark of the beast could be. Some even think it could be credit cards. For us however it is important to know what the Bible says.
Revelation 14:9-11
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.
This is the third angel's message. To understand the prophecy we need wisdom. (Read also Revelation 13:18, Revelation 17:9, James 1:5.) In Revelation 14:9-10 we are especially concerned about the mark of the beast. This is a matter of life or death. We must know exactly what this mark is and how we can avoid it. Firstly, notice in the Bible that the mark is always opposed to the seal of God.
Revelation 7:2-3
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Here we learn that the seal of God is placed in the forehead, just as the mark of the beast is set in the forehead. The two things seem to be in direct conflict with each other. Both are received in the forehead and in the hand. We may well ask, what is the seal? If we can establish this point, it will help us to identify the mark. A seal is something which has to do with legal affairs. Official documents are always stamped with the seal of the governing body. Every new law has a seal to show that there is power and authority to back up the law. Each seal has three important features. It must contain the name of the authority, the office or title of the authority, and the territory over which he has power. The seal of America's President contains the following words: His name, President, United States of America. When that seal is placed upon a law or an official document, it shows that the president's authority is supporting that declaration. Does God's seal have to do with His law also? If so, how and where is it impressed?
Isaiah 8:16
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
This shows that God's seal is connected with God's law. In fact, His law is sealed among the disciples of God. But where is the law actually placed upon those who are faithful? Again, the Bible answers.
Hebrews 8:10
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Hebrews 10:16
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, said the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (Read also 2.Timothy 2:19.)
This, then, is how the Lord's seal is placed on the disciples. It is written on their minds or, symbolically, on their foreheads. Proverbs 7:2-3 makes it even plainer.
Proverbs 7:2-3
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of your heart.
The law, we see, is observed both by the hand and in the mind. Therefore it is spoken of as being applied to the hand and forehead. A seal or a mark placed on the forehead stands for acceptance of the demands of the authority. The placing of a seal or a mark on the hand stands for cooperation with this authority. A president exercises authority by virtue of his office as President. God claims power, based on His office as Creator of the universe.
Jeremiah 10:10-12
10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
11 Thus shall you say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
12 He bath made the earth by his power, he bath established the world by his wisdom, and bath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Psalms 96:5
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Isaiah 40:25-26
25 To whom then will you liken me, or shall I be equal? said the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who bath created these things, that brings out their host by number: he calls them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one fails.
What is the sign or memorial of God's creation?
Genesis 2:2-3
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
The Sabbath is the memorial of His creative power which distinguishes Him from all false gods. The three requisites of the seal of God will be found only in the one commandment which includes the name, title and territory of God.
Exodus 20:8-11
8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shall thou labor, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shall not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Lord thy God (name), made (office-Creator), heaven and earth (territory).
In other words, the Sabbath is the seal of God. It is the mark of the only One who can create and who is authorized to rule the earth. To make His law authoritative, He has placed His seal in it, showing that He stands behind every single commandment in that law.
We may ask, "Is the Sabbath really the seal of God?" Let's look at Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 20:12,20
12 Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
20 And hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.
Here the Sabbath is called the "sign" of God. Is that the same as a seal?
Romans 4:11
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
We see that "seal" and "sign" are the very same thing, being used interchangeably in the Scripture.
Let us see now what the relation is between the seal of God and the mark of the beast. The two things are opposed to each other.
Revelation 14:9-10
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
In verses 9-10 the third angels message portrays those who have the mark of the beast. In verse twelve we have another group identified by these words:
Revelation 14:12
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
In other words, those who keep the commandments of God do not have the mark of the beast. Those who have the mark of the beast do not obey all the commandments of God.
The Ten Commandments, containing the seal of God, are set up in opposition to the mark of the beast. The seal is the Sabbath, therefore the Sabbath is opposed to the mark of the beast. Then what is the mark of the beast? To answer this question let's return to Daniel 7:25, where the papacy is described as a power who would "think to change times and laws." We have already found out how the second commandment was removed and the tenth commandment was divided in the catechisms of the papacy. But what about the "times" mentioned in the text? Where is time mentioned in the law? It is in the fourth commandment. Did the papacy think to change the Sabbath, the only time designated by the law? Yes, it did, It happened in a most interesting way as we found out in previous chapters. Constantine actually made the first law about keeping Sunday instead of the Sabbath on March 7th, 321 A.D. Papal church councils strengthened that law until it became firmly entrenched in Christianity and the world.
What then is the change of the Sabbath, but the sign, or mark, of the authority of the Roman Church, "the mark of the beast?" The mark of the beast, then, is the counterfeit Sabbath (Sunday) by which the beast power is trying to be recognized as an authority greater than the Creator Himself. The sign, or seal of God's authority (Sabbath), is displaced by the papal institution of a substitute mark (Sunday), which she claims as her authority. We have discovered that the first beast mentioned in Revelation 13:1-10 represents the papacy. The second beast in Revelation 13:11-18, as was pointed out in chapter three in this book, represents the United States of America.
Revelation 13:3
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
The "deadly wound" to the papal head of this beast was inflicted when the French, in 1798, entered Rome and took the Pope prisoner, eclipsing, for a time, the power of the papacy and depriving it of its temporalities. Again in 1870 temporal dominion was taken from the papacy, and the Pope looked upon himself as the prisoner of the Vatican. In 1929 the situation changed in favor of the papacy. Cardinal Gasparri met Premier Mussolini in the historic palace of Saint John Lateran to settle a long dispute returning temporal power to the papacy, to "heal a wound of 59 years." (The Catholic Advocate (Australia), April 18, 1929, page 16.)
As we know, this first beast - the papacy - has recovered. Let's go further and find out how these two beasts will finally cooperate.
Revelation 13:11-12
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.
12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
The lamblike horns indicate youth, innocence, and gentleness, fitly representing the character of the United States when presented to the prophet as "coming up" in 1798. Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental principles of this nation. These are the secrets of its power and prosperity. In other words, the time would come when the United States would change its peaceful, democratic tone. Under some influence it would begin to compel worship.
Revelation 13:14-16
14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
The "speaking" of the nation is the action of its legislative and judicial authorities. The statement that the beast with two horns "causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast" indicates that the authority of this nation is to be exercised in enforcing some observance which shall be an act of homage to the papacy.
A nation speaks through its laws. It may seem incredible to us as we read these things today that the USA would ever be persuaded to enact religious laws, and try to force people to worship a certain way, but prophecy has never failed. She will make an image to the papacy, or develop a system which resembles that power. When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.
The "image to the beast" represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas.
According to the prophecy, America will finally enforce the mark of the beast. What does this mean? On the basis of God's Word we have shown it to be the counterfeit Sabbath set up by the beast power. The keeping of Sunday instead of the Bible Sabbath is claimed as a mark of allegiance to the Catholic Church by her own priests and leaders. Will the United States, then, seek to enforce the keeping of Sunday? That is exactly what is predicted. It is also exactly what is developing right now in American politics. No matter how much we might prefer to believe otherwise, America will begin to use its influence to compel the keeping of Sunday. Right now, most of the states have such Sunday laws on the books.
The prophecy indicates that economic sanctions will be applied.
Revelation 13:17-18
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
According to these verses, the number of his name will also be the number of a man. Undoubtedly this refers to the man who heads the beast power. The ancient method of deriving the number of a name is to take the numerical value of all the letters and add them up to get the sum. If we want to apply this test to the papacy, we must find the official title of the Pope, who is the head of his church. If this is the number of a man, it would naturally be the man who is the head of the organization. It is interesting to note that there is an official Latin title for the Pope, a title which has been granted by the Church itself. "VICARIUS FILII DEL" This is the Latin for "Vicar of the Son of God." With this official title of the Pope in hand, we can proceed to apply the test of the Scripture. How do we derive the number of his name? By getting the numerical value of the Roman numerals of the title Vicarius Filii Dei, we actually come to a definite number, 666. Notice how it is worked out as each letter is given its numerical value.
V | 5 |
I | 1 |
C | 100 |
A | 0 |
R | 0 |
I | 1 |
S 0
F | 0 |
L | 50 |
I | 1 |
I | 1 |
D | 500 |
E | 0 |
I | 1 |
Sum up 666!
Someone might object that this could be a coincidental occurrence. We grant that it is possible for such a thing to be a mere happenstance, if we had only this one mark of identity to lean upon. But the fact is that this is the tenth of a long list of characteristic marks (Please see previous chapter) which the Bible uses to identify the beast power. It only adds weight and strength to that which has already been said in making the application to the papal power. It is the capstone proof in conjunction with all the other marks laid down so clearly in the Scripture. The question now arises: Who has the mark of the beast at this very moment? Nobody!
Many Christians of past generations observed Sunday, supposing that in so doing they were keeping the Bible Sabbath. There are now true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion, who honestly believe that Sunday is the Sabbath of divine appointment. God accepts their sincerity of purpose and their integrity before Him. However when Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome and to the power which enforces the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshiping the beast and his image. As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be the sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome- "the mark of the beast." And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive "the mark of the beast."
However, whoever has read or heard the truth about this issue has no excuses. Let's hope that the following message in Revelation 15 will be fulfilled for all honest and God fearing people.
Revelation 15:2-3
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. The song of Moses is written in Exodus 15:1-18.
22. Is There a Hell?
What and where is hell? What is the fate of the wicked? Will a God of love torture people throughout eternity? Will the fires of hell ever burn the wickedness out of sinners? These are questions which deserve sound Bible answers. The controversy surrounding the subject should not discourage us from searching for all the truth as it is in Christ. First of all, we need to understand that there is a Heaven to win and a hell to shun. Jesus taught that every soul will be either saved or lost. There is no neutral place, and there are no second prizes.
Matthew 13:41-43
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.
In view of these two ultimate destinies for all who have ever been born, how earnest we should be in seeking to find the right way. Christ said: "I am the way, the truth and the life." The only absolute safety for anyone is to take exactly what Jesus taught about hell. His doctrine is the only one which is wholly dependable and true. He said some will be cast into the fire, and some will shine forth in the kingdom.
The first important fact about hell is this: The unsaved do not go to any place of punishment as soon as they die, but remain reserved in the grave until the day of judgment to be punished. Christ explicitly taught this truth in the well-known parable of the wheat and the tares. After the householder had sown the wheat in the field, his servant came to report that tares were growing among the grain. His question was whether he should pull up the weeds while they were still very small. The householder's answer was:
Matthew 13:29-30
29 But he said, Nay; lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Now let's follow the words of Christ as He explains the meaning of the parable: Matthew 13:37-43
37 He answered and said unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.
No one can simplify the parable by enlarging on what Jesus said. It was in the harvest that the separation would take place, and He plainly stated, "The harvest is the end of the world" (At the second coming of Christ). He said the tares represented the wicked people, and that they would be cast into the fire "in the end of this world" (At the end of the millennium).
The whole idea of the wicked going into the fire at the time of death contradicts our Lord's specific teaching that they would be cast into the fire "in the end of this world." How could anyone misrepresent our great God of love with an inverted doctrine that would consign every lost soul to an immediate, never-ending hell at the time of death. Suppose a man died 5000 years ago with one cherished sin in his life. His soul would instantly go into the fire to be tormented for eternity. Then picture another death of a man who was a great criminal and professional killer and died just recently. According to the popular doctrine, his soul would also immediately enter hell to suffer eternally. But the man who was lost because of only one sin, would already have burned 5000 years longer than this criminal. How could that be just? Would God deal in such a manner? It would contradict the Bible statement that each one must be punished according to his works.
2 Peter 2:9
9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (Job 21:30; Proverbs 16:4).
The wicked are "reserved" until the "day of judgment", to be punished! This means they cannot be punished before that judgment day. Does the Bible tell us where they are reserved until then? Christ Himself said:
John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
How plain! Jesus said that both the good and the bad will come forth from their graves to receive either life or damnation. This proves that from the time of death until they come forth, either in the first or in the second resurrection, they do not receive any recompense or punishment. It all happens after they come forth. They are reserved until that day just as Peter indicated, but Christ told us where they will be reserved - "in the graves." If plainer words are needed let's read what Jesus says.
Luke 14:14
14 And thou shall be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (Read also 1.Thessalonians 4:16-17; Acts 24:15; Luke 20:34-38).
Matthew 16:27
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
When is "then?" When He comes with His angels. No reward or recompense is handed out until the resurrection of the just, when He comes with all the angels. Again Christ is quoted in the very last chapter of the Bible.
Revelation 22:12
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
The just receive their reward at the second coming of Christ and the wicked their punishment at the end of the millennium. Describing the punishment of the wicked, John wrote:
Revelation 21:8
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Here the lost are pictured in the fires of hell, suffering the punishment for their sins. What is that punishment? "The second death", says John. Do we realize what this proves about the wicked? It proves they will not be cast into the lake of fire until after their resurrection takes place. These people do die the second death in the fire, but they cannot suffer a second death until they get a second life. They lived the first life in this world and died the first death, going into the grave. Before they can die a second death they must be resurrected. They must be given a second life. This, of course, is what happens "in the end of this world." Jesus said, "All that are in the graves shall come forth." Now after getting that second life in the resurrection, the wicked will be punished for their sins in hell fire, "which is the second death." Actually, that second death is the final, eternal death from which there will be no resurrection. The point to be noted is the time of this hell-fire punishment. It is after the resurrection "in the end of this world."
It does not take place at the time of the first death as so many have been led to believe. John describes the dramatic events that take place at the close of the millennium.
Revelation 20:4-9
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:, and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
The rest of the dead, of course, has to be the wicked. Their resurrection (also by the power of God) at the end of the millennium, will provide opportunity for Satan to take up his continuing battle against God and the saints. He goes out to gather the host of lost ones, who by the power of God have been raised from the dead. He has people to deceive once more, and he convinces them that they can prevail against the New Jerusalem which has descended from God out of Heaven (Revelation 21:2). As they march up and encompass the city, the wicked are suddenly cut down by the devouring fire which rains upon them from Heaven. This is the hell-fire which is the final punishment for sin.
The Bible clearly asserts that this fire devours the wicked right here on "the breadth of the earth." Peter states:
2 Peter 3:7
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
He says this earth is reserved for that fire which will bring judgment and perdition to the wicked. Their punishment will be in this earth. It is also described in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 34:8-9
8 For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion. 9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
The prophet portrays the entire planet enveloped in the destroying fire. Even the streams and dust are transformed into an exploding combustion of pitch and brimstone. David adds to the testimony with these words:
Psalms 11:6
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
Notice that he uses almost the same words as John and Peter in describing the fate of the wicked. All agree as to the place of the punishment (the earth) and the agent of punishment (fire). Hell as a place of punishment will be this earth turned into a lake of fire at the day of judgment. Someone may raise the question, "What about the unquenchable fire that burns the wicked?" To quench means to extinguish or put out. No one will be able to put out the fires of hell. That is the strange fire of God. No one will be able to escape from it by extinguishing it. Isaiah says of that fire:
Isaiah 47:13-14
13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
14 Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.
After it has accomplished its work of destruction, that fire will go out. No one can save themselves from its flames by putting it out, but finally not a coal will be left. So say the Scriptures. Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem would burn with a fire that could not be quenched.
Jeremiah 17:27
27 But if you will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Let's read also 2.Chronicles 36:19-21
19 And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
20 And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:
21 To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years.
There is a text in Jude that describes Sodom and Gomorrah being destroyed with eternal fire.
Jude 7
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
It is a fact that these cities are not burning today. Yet they burned with "eternal fire." Let's see what Peter says.
2 Peter 2:6
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
The same will happen to the wicked at the end in the lake of fire. They will burn down to ashes. Malachi also describes this scene.
Malachi 4:1-3
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yes, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, said the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3 And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, said the LORD of hosts.
So Christ's words in Matthew are not confusing when we take the obvious meaning.
Matthew 25:46
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
The punishment is everlasting destruction. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, Psalms 9:5-6. "The wages of sin is death" - Romans 6:23. Only as long as something exists, can it be burnt or destroyed. The punishing is finished when the wicked are come to ashes. It is the end. The expression "eternal life" means, that the saved will not die any more. (Read also Revelation 21:4.)
Many have read the words of Jesus about hell, "Where their worm dies not."
Mark 9:44-46
44 Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46 Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.
Some have interpreted the worm to be the soul. That is not what Jesus meant. In this instance Jesus used the word "Gehenna" for the word "hell". When Jesus talked about Gehenna the people understood He was talking about the Valley of Hinnom as the actual place of burning just outside the walls of Jerusalem. It was the city incinerator. In their early history it had become a symbol of judgment, for in that valley divine judgment fell upon their idols and their idolatrous ancestors (Jeremiah 7:32-33). That which the fire did not devour, the worms did. The worm does not refer to a soul. The Greek word "skolex", in this instance, means maggots. Inasmuch as the fire was not quenched indicates it was only inextinguishable because there was a constant supply of refuse being placed there every day. However, no fire is burning there today! The undying worm and unquenchable fire serve to show that the final destruction will be complete. It will come to an end. Perhaps another easily misconstrued text about hell is John's allusion to the smoke ascending "forever and ever" in Revelation fourteen.
Revelation 14:10-11
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.
Forever in the Bible is repeatedly used as a figure of speech for a limited time rather than an indefinite period of time.
The length of forever is determined by the way it is applied, and the nature of the subject to which it is applied. If we apply it to the area of life and say, God lives forever, or that the saints will live forever, we mean their lives will be endless because God is immortal by nature and the saints will be given immortality. If we say the wicked and Satan will burn forever, we mean as long as they live, which will not be endless because by nature they are mortal and are not given eternal life (2 John 5:12). It does not necessarily mean a condition that never ends. It means a continuance without a break and the length of continuance depends upon the object to which it is applied. The word tall is like that too. For instance, a tall man may be 6,5 feet; whereas a tall mountain might be 6000 feet. Let's come to the last point in this chapter. There are those who believe the sinner, after he passes from this life, will have another chance to be saved. They say sinners go to a spirit world at death, and there the gospel is preached to them again and refer to the following text.
Acts 2:31
31 He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
The word translated hell in this verse is the same word translated grave in 1 Corinthians 15:55, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" The marginal reference gives the word hell instead of grave. Christ was not left in the grave. He is risen. The apostles never taught Jesus went into a place of torment at death.
An explanation about: Hell, grave, sheol and hades in the Bible.
THERE ARE FOUR MEANINGS OF HELL:
God is love, and He doesn't want anyone to be lost, but it is up to us to make decisions in favour of Christ that will ensure eternal life.
2 Peter 3:10-14
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
23. Prophets and Prophecies
It is very normal, even natural when people feel unsure about the future, that they then turn to the supernatural, hoping that somehow they can look into the future to see what lies ahead. At the moment, people are not sure where they are. They are not sure about what is happening. There is no voice that says: "This is the way, walk you in it." - Isaiah 30:21. People these days often listen to the voices of astrologers, stargazers and monthly prognosticators instead to the Word of God.
Isaiah 47:13
13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
Here God says, that if these astrologers, stargazers etc. can save you, let them stand up. No matter how we look at it, there is no guidance in this direction. It is vain. There was a king of Israel who thought to find the way and direction for his life and for his kingdom by consulting wizards.
2 Kings 21:1-5
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah.
2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
The host of Heaven mentioned here, are the man made gods.
2 Kings 21:6-15
6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
7 And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
8 Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.
9 But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.
10 And the LORD spoke by his servants the prophets, saying,
11 Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, and has done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols:
12 Therefore thus said the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever hears of it, both his ears shall tingle.
13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.
14 And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;
15 Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.
God says that this is not the way to look at what the future holds. These are spirits of darkness and have nothing in common with the real God of Heaven. God gives us clear instructions in the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesying.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
We as Christians should not despise prophesying, but examine everything and hold fast that which is good. But how do we know what is good and what God wants us to do? There is only one way to find out. By the Word of God. We should spend time to study the Scriptures daily and find out for ourselves. Just because we may hear or see something, does not necessarily mean that it is of God. Very often it is not.
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives thee a sign or a wonder,
2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou has not known, and let us serve them;
3 Thou shall not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proves you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he has spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shall thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
Moses warns us about false prophets. Even if what a prophet says comes true, it still does not mean that he is of God. Anyone who claims to be a prophet must be in agreement with the Word of God. If it is not so they are not prophets of God.
Isaiah 8:19-20
19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
When a prophet does not speak according to the law and the testimony then there is no light in them. This text implies that messages of any prophet ought to be in harmony with God's law and testimony throughout the Bible. A later prophet must not contradict earlier prophets. The Holy Spirit never contradicts His previously given testimony, for God does not change (James 1:17). Everything must be proved by the Word of God. But why?
1 Peter 5:8
8 Because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:
Revelation 16:13-14
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
1 John 4:1
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
The devil can perform signs and miracles. Therefore we can not just blindly accept what we see or hear. In all cases we have to prove everything to be certain. God has used prophets all the way through biblical history.
2 Chronicles 20:20
20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall you prosper.
If we would build on that foundation we would not be moved.
Deuteronomy 18:18-22
18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21 And if thou say in your heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?
22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken, but the prophet has spoken it presumptuously: thou shall not be afraid of him.
Let's have a look at a few specific guidelines for true prophets by which we can distinguish the genuine from the spurious.
- Noah Genesis chapter 6-8 - Moses Exodus 3:7-10 - SamuelI. Samuel 3:20-21 - Isaiah Isaiah 4:3
And there are many more examples we could add to this list. There were also prophets that never wrote a word of Scripture such as Huldah - 2.Chronicles 34:22, Anna - Luke 2:36, Simeon - Luke 2:34, Agabus - Acts 21:10. The same God who spoke through the prophets whose writings are in the Bible, also inspired these prophets and prophetesses.
Amos 3:7
7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Why do we need prophets and what is a prophet? Though sin ended face-to-face communication between God and human beings (Isaiah 59:2), God did not end His intimacy or contact with humanity. Instead, He developed other ways of communicating. He began sending His messages of encouragement, warning, and reproof through prophets. In the Scriptures a prophet is "one who receives communications from God and transmits their intent to His people." Prophets did not prophesy on their own initiative, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." – 2 Peter 1:21. Elias was a prophet and the Bible says:
James 5:17
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
There were not only prophets in the time of the Old Testament but there were also prophets in the time of the New Testament. John the Baptist, Paul, John the Revelator etc. They were all prophets of God. But what is the purpose of prophecy?
1 Corinthians 14:3
3 But he that prophesies speaks unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
"...to edification, and exhortation, and comfort."
God talks about spiritual gifts as we can read in the following verses.
1 Corinthians 12:1-6
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that you were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as you were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all.
It is always the same Lord and God who works through the same Spirit - the Holy Spirit (Ghost). If we would only realize, how mightily God would use us, if we gave ourselves as willing instruments in His hands. The Holy Spirit would then work in us.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these work that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
The Holy Spirit gives us whatever gift He wants to give us. However, we do not need to plead with God for any of these gifts. We need to go on our knees and plead with God for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We will then receive that gift from the Holy Spirit which He desires to give us. Only the Holy Spirit knows what He needs us for. All of those nine gifts are from the Holy Spirit. They are used in a very special way. Perhaps somebody may say, "I read the Bible but I don't understand it." That is possible, but the Bible gives us counsel on what to do.
James 1:5-6
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
What do we understand about wisdom?
James 3:17
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Here we are not speaking of worldly wisdom but wisdom "from above."
James 1:17
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
That means that God doesn't change.
We are counseled by the Bible regarding the sick.
James 5:14-16
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
God has given us enough counsel by His prophets. We don't need to walk in darkness. All we need to do is take some time for daily Bible study. Speaking in tongues is a gift. I believe in it, but only as the Scripture teaches and not as many people practice it in different churches. Let's read what Paul wrote.
1 Corinthians. 14:5-6
5 I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
What profit is it, Paul says, if I speak in tongues to you, but you don't understand? (Read also Deuteronomy 28:49)
1 Corinthians 14:19
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
God gives people the ability to speak in other tongues to witness and share the gospel to different nations. Let's look at the famous example in Acts.
Acts 2:1-5
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
In Jerusalem, there were people from different countries, speaking foreign languages.
Acts 2:6-11
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Evidently, these people from different nations who listened to the Apostles, heard them speaking in their own language. This proves that "speaking in tongues" as the Bible refers to it, means nothing more than speaking in different languages through the Holy Spirit. They were understandable human languages, used to spread the gospel.
Acts 2:12-15
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What means this?
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Some were mocking, saying that the Apostles were drunk. Does that sound familiar to us? When there are sincere Christians who search out the Bible, many people mock and laugh at them. Christ said it would be so (John 15:18-19).
1 Corinthians 14:27-28
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. (Read also 1. Corinthians 12:28-30 and 13:1).
Here, the Bible explains the correct procedure if someone wants to stand up and speak in tongues. There should be two or at the most three. They should speak one at a time and let one interpret. If there is no one who can interpret, then let them be silent. There are churches whose members claim to speak in tongues. If we hear only a babbling that nobody can understand, it is not of God according to the Scriptures. The true church of God received nine spiritual gifts. One is the gift of prophecy which also applies to our time.
Acts 2:17-18
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, said God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
God promises that the gift of prophecy would be given to the church in the last days.
Revelation 12:17
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Who is the dragon? - The old serpent, the devil. Who is here the woman? - The true, pure church. Who are the remnant of her seed? - Those who keep the commandments.
Revelation 14:12
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
These saints do not receive the mark of the beast because they keep the commandments of God. We have learned in previous chapters what the Ten Commandments are, what the mark of the beast is etc. It also says that the remnant church will have "the testimony of Jesus." What does that mean?
Revelation 19:10
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Notice here very carefully. The angel says to John: "I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren." The angel forbade John to worship him because worship is due only to God.
Revelation 22:8-9
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.
9 Then said he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Let us sum up:
The testimony of Jesus = the spirit of prophecy = the word of the prophets = inspired by God = the Word of God. Today there are many so-called prophets in this world. They are all striving to be more popular than the other. Do these so-called prophets also agree with the Word of God completely?
If a prophet deviates only in one matter from the Word of God he cannot be a true prophet of God. Reading in the Bible alone is not sufficient. We have to walk in the light that we receive by daily Bible study. Let us take an example from the people of Berea.
Acts 17:10-11
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
There are two texts in the Bible in connection with this theme which are often misunderstood.
Revelation 11:3-4
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Who are these two witnesses?
Candlesticks give light and are a symbol for the Bible. To be able to shine they require oil which they receive from the two olive trees. This oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit which is always given in connection with the Word of God. Let us read some more Scriptures.
John 5:36-39
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me.
37 And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38 And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he has sent, him you believe not.
39 Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
John 1:45
45 Philip finds Nathanael, and said unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Matthew 24:14
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Psalms 119:105, 125, 130
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. 130 The entrance of thy words gives light; it gives understanding unto the simple.
Zechariah 4:1-14
1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
2 And said unto me, What sees thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 So I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knows thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6 Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, said the LORD of hosts.
7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the head at one thereof with shouting, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me unto you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? 13 And he answered me and said, Know thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
Revelation 11:2-13
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kingdoms and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The periods here mentioned-"forty and two months" and "a thousand two hundred and threescore days"-are the same, both representing the time in which the church of Christ was to suffer oppression from Rome. The 1260 years of papal supremacy began in A.D. 538, and would therefore terminate in 1798. Concerning the two witnesses the prophet declares further: "These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth" - Revelation 11:4. "Thy Word", said the psalmist, "is a lamp unto my feet, and alight unto my path." - Psalms 119:105.
The two witnesses represent the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament. Both are important testimonies to the origin and perpetuity of the law of God. Both are witnesses also to the plan of salvation. The types, sacrifices, and prophecies of the Old Testament pointed forward to a future Savior. The Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament tell of a Savior who has come in the exact manner foretold by type and prophecy. In the darkest times, there were faithful men who loved God's Word and were jealous for His honor. To these loyal servants were given wisdom, power, and authority to declare His truth during these times.
God's faithful witnesses, slain by the blasphemous power that "ascends out of the bottomless pit" (which represents atheistic France) were not long to remain silent. "And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them." - Revelation 11:11.
It was in 1793 that the decrees which abolished the Christian religion and set aside the Bible passed the French Assembly. Three and a half years later a resolution rescinding these decrees, thus granting toleration to the Scriptures, was adopted by the same body. The world stood aghast at the enormity of guilt which had resulted from a rejection of the Sacred Oracles, and men recognized the necessity of faith in God and His Word as the foundation of virtue and morality. Said the Lord:
"Whom has thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom has thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up your eyes on high7 even against the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 37:23.
"Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD." - Jeremiah 16:21.
24. A Financial Secret
Here I must say from the start, that I have no recipe for growing money trees. Neither can I influence the stock market. We have considered the Ten Commandments and we know that breaking the law is sin. Do we know that there is a sin almost no one admits?
Luke 12:15
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.
Covetousness or "greed" is a sin that most people never mention. People may confess many terrible dark sins, but they don't like to admit that they are guilty of the sin of covetousness. The Bible gives us an interesting answer.
1 Timothy 6:10
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Let us go back to Luke chapter twelve, where Jesus told a story to illustrate the point further.
Luke 12:16-21
16 And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou has much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou has provided?
21 So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
God calls this man a fool because he was only concerned about himself. He forgot all about the solemn fact that one day we will all have to stand before the Lord in judgment. Wealth is not sin, but forgetting God leads to sin. We have to realize that we are only stewards on this earth and that everything in it belongs to God.
Psalms 50:10
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Haggai 2:8
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, said the LORD of hosts.
Psalms 24:1
1 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Deuteronomy 8:18
18 But thou shall remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that gives thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
When we add that all up and put it together, the Bible is simply saying this: Everything is God's. If we have anything at all, it is God who gave us the power and the intelligence to obtain it. If we have a problem with covetousness, Timothy gives us this advice:
1 Timothy 6:11-12
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and has professed a good profession before many witnesses.
People ask God for different things, but if they are not obedient to His law, all their pleading will be in vain.
Proverbs 28:9
9 He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
If we have no willingness to listen to God's Law, neither will God have an ear for our concerns, regardless of our long prayers.
Matthew 6:5-8
5 And when thou prays, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prays, enter into thy closet, and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which sees in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not you therefore like unto them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him.
We should not only ask God for our earthly needs. We should also ask Him what He wants us to do, for He knows our needs before we ask.
Malachi 3:8-9
8 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation.
God calls people who withhold the tithe, thieves. Abraham gave tithe to Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:1-4
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
What is a tithe? The Bible says Abram (= Abraham - Genesis 17:5) pursued the kings who had plundered Sodom and Gomorrah. When he returned, the Bible indicates he gave tithes of all (Genesis 14:19-20). In Hebrews chapter seven it is explained that he gave a tenth. As one seventh of our time (the Sabbath) belongs to God, so does one tenth of all the material things we acquire. Jacob made a promise to God concerning the tithe.
Genesis 28:22
22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shall give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
When we read the whole story of Jacob we can see how God had blessed him for his loyalty. The tithe is not just something we give because we have plenty.
Leviticus 27:30
30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.
Oh, may God impress us with that point. It isn't a question of our deciding whether we ought to turn it over to Him, whether it should become His, or will become His. It already is the Lord's. The tithe is the Lord's and so one tenth of every man's income belongs to God.
Tithes are sacred and are to be used for sacred purposes only. In Israel the tithe was used exclusively for the Levites, who, having received no tribal territory, were to use all their time in fostering Israel's worship, ministering at the Sanctuary, and instructing the people in the law of the Lord.
Nehemiah 10:37-38
37 And that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
Numbers 18:21-26
21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
25 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When you take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
After the Crucifixion, when the divinely directed role of the Levitical priesthood ended, tithes were still to be used to support the ministry of God's church. Paul illustrated this principle by drawing a parallel between the Levitical service and the newly established gospel ministry.
1 Corinthians 9:11-14
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do you not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so has the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Did Jesus endorse the tithing system?
Matthew 23:23
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Let's have a look at one of the most significant verses of Scripture about tithing.
Malachi 3:10-11
10 Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, said the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, said the LORD of hosts.
That is the only promise in the Bible, where God says "prove me." The storehouse means the treasuries of God's church
(Nehemiah 13:12-13). It is the duty of the treasurer to distribute the tithe to support God's ministers. If all churches had this God ordained system, perhaps the Gospel would have been preached to the whole world.
Mark 12:42-44
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow has cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
The principle behind the story of this poor widow tells us that it is not how much we give, but how much we have left after the giving. This widow gave everything she had. The others gave only out of their abundance. (Read also 2.Corinthians 9:6.) Let's have a look at one more example.
Mark 10:17-22
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why call thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knows the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lacks: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou has, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
This man had a high estimate of his own righteousness. He did not realize that he was defective in anything, yet he was not altogether satisfied. Christ read the man's heart. Only one thing he lacked, but that was a vital principle. He needed the love of God in the soul. Christ gave this man a test. He called upon him to choose between the heavenly treasure and worldly greatness. The heavenly treasure was assured him if he would follow Christ. But self must yield; his will must be given into Christ's control. The very holiness of God was offered to the young man. He had the privilege of becoming a son of God, and a coheir with Christ to the heavenly treasure. But he must take up the cross, and follow the Savior in the path of self-denial.
His claim that he had kept the law of God was a deception. He showed that riches were his idol. He could not keep the commandments of God while the world was first in his affections. He loved the gifts of God more than he loved the Giver. Think of what it means to say "No" to Christ. The man said, No, I cannot give You all. Do we say the same? The Savior offers to share with us the work God has given us to do. He offers to use the means God has given us, to carry forward His work in the world. Only in this way can He save us. The man's possessions were entrusted to him that he might prove himself a faithful steward; he was to dispense these goods for the blessing of those in need. So God now entrusts men with means, with talents and opportunities, that they may be His agents in helping the poor and the suffering. He who uses his entrusted gifts as God designs becomes a coworker with the Savior. He wins souls to Christ, because he is a representative of His character.
Let's give some thought to the following verses.
Matthew 6:20-21
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
25. The Coming of Elijah
The Bible tells us about two people who lived on this earth and who were both taken up to Heaven by God without seeing death. One was Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24) and the other was Elijah.
2 Kings 2:1-11
1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD has sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD lives, and as thy soul lives, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.
3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Know thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold you your peace.
4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD lives, and as thy soul lives, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Know thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold you your peace.
6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD has sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD lives, and as thy soul lives, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, Thou has asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Elisha witnessed Elijah's ascension in a chariot of fire. What was so special or significant about this prophet Elijah? The Bible says he returns just before the second coming of Jesus.
Malachi 4:5-6
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
According to the Bible, Elijah will come at an appointed time and for a certain purpose. Certainly, in the time of Jesus, people expected the coming of Elijah, before the coming of the Messiah.
Matthew 17:10-11
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
When Jesus was crucified, He shouted "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani." Some thought, He was calling for Elijah.
Matthew 27:46-47
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?
47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calls for Elias.
Even to this day people are still waiting for Elijah. The Jewish race are still looking for him to return. What was the powerful message, that this man gave, that God said would be preached again just before the second coming of Jesus? Elijah prayed earnestly that it might not rain for a certain period of time.
James 5:17
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. (Luke 4:25)
What right did this man have to pray "Lord don't let it rain for three years and six months?" Because he knew the Scriptures. He was very familiar with them.
Leviticus 26:1-4
1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.
2 Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
3 If you walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
What reason did God have to admonish Israel at that time?
2 Kings 17:16
16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
The Israelites did everything that God told them not to do. They erected images all over the land. They broke the Sabbath and the commandments. Therefore Elijah prayed "Lord don't let it rain" and it did not rain for three and a half years. Let's remember these three and a half years because they are very important. At that time, a king by the name of Ahab ruled over Israel.
1 Kings 16:29-33
29 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.
31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, who was not only the king of the Zidonians but was also the high priest of the temple of Baal. Ahab left the Lord and all His commandments. He not only did everything that God told him not to do, but he also turned Israel away from God. Ahab was worse than all the kings before him. God told Elijah to go and see Ahab and Jezebel. He warned them that if they would not repent there would be neither dew nor rain for three and a half years.
1 Kings 17:1
1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
Then God commanded Elijah: "depart from here and hide yourself by the brook Cherith. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." As the situation worsened, Ahab searched for Elijah. Finally Israel looked like a desert. People were suffering. After three and a half years in hiding, God told Elijah to return and see Ahab (1.Kings 18:1). When Ahab sent Obadiah out to look for water he met Elijah.
1 Kings 18:7-11
7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou would deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
10 As the LORD thy God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord has not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
11 And now thou says, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
Obadiah was afraid that Elijah would flee and again be in hiding.
1 Kings 18:12-22
12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14 And now thou says, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him to day.
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubles Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou has followed Baalim.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Cannel
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt you between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, 1, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
Elijah told Ahab to gather all the prophets of Baal and all the children of Israel and bring them up to Mount Carmel. There he would demonstrate who is the true God. Elijah told them to build an altar, put the sacrifice on it and pray to Baal that he might send fire from Heaven and devour the sacrifice. If this happened, he would be God.
1 Kings 18:26-39
26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleeps, and must be awaked.
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou has turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
The work of the prophet Elijah was to call the people back to the true worship of God and to keep His commandments. Now we will see what is written in the New Testament about the coming of Elijah.
John 1:19-23
19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias (=Elijah)? And he said, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What says thou of thyself?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias (Esaias=Isaiah; Read also Isaiah 40:3 and Luke 3:3-4).
If the scribes had known the Scriptures thoroughly, they would have understood John the Baptist when he said: "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord." They could not hear nor see because they were spiritually blind and deaf. Let's keep in mind the word "Way". John the Baptist was called for a special purpose and he had a clear message. Then he was thrown into prison. We don't know what discouraged John. He called his disciples and told them to find Jesus and ask Him if He truly was the Messiah. When his disciples found Jesus, they asked Him if He was the Messiah. He did not give them their desired answer. However, He wanted them to spend some time with Him.
Matthew 11:4
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see:
When John's disciples were with Jesus, they heard Him preach and heal the sick. He did all what was prophesied of the Messiah.
Matthew 11:7-15
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9 But what went you out for to see? A prophet? yes, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if you will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
15 He that has ears to hear, let him hear. (Malachi 3:1)
Then people asked John if he was Elijah he said: "I am not." However, Jesus said he was Elijah. Is this a contradiction? No! These people were just spiritually deaf. John's father was Zacharias. He was a priest, a Levite. While he was ministering in the temple an angel appeared to him.
Luke 1:11-17
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shall call his name John.
14 And thou shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
John's work was the same as Elijah's. What we read in Malachi 4:5-6 about Elijah to come was fulfilled in John the Baptist. Both were fiery personalities who wanted Israel to return to God's ways. In every stage of this earth's history God has had His agencies to carry forward His work, which must be done in His appointed way. John the Baptist had a special work, for which he was born and to which he was appointed-the work of preparing the way of the Lord. His wilderness ministry was a most striking, literal fulfillment of prophecy.
The childhood, youth, and manhood of John who came in the spirit and power of Elijah to do a special work in preparing the way for the world's Redeemer, was marked with firmness and moral power. Satan could not move him from his integrity. Let's have a closer look at the word "Way" as I asked you to remember.
John 14:6
6 Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jeremiah 31:9
9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
John said he came to "Make straight the way of the Lord." What does this word "way" mean?
Jeremiah 6:16-19
16 Thus said the LORD, Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
18 Therefore hear, you nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
We find the key to this in Psalms 119:32-35.
Psalms 119:32-35
32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shall enlarge my heart.
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yes, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
When Jesus says "I am the way", He means "I invite you to love and keep God's law." "Make straight the way of the Lord" as John the Baptist said, means, making God's law straight again because people have made it crooked.
Elijah and John the Baptist were calling the people back to keep God's law. If we want to be ready for the coming of the Lord, and His coming is not far off, then we had better be walking in "HIS WAY - HIS COMMANDMENTS."
Isaiah 58:12-14
12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shall honor him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words:
14 Then shall thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.
The heritage of Jacob was the law (Deuteronomy 33:4). The more we study the Scriptures, the better we understand them. Now we can go into the prophetic explanation.
Revelation 2:20-21
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou suffers that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
The book of Revelation was written in about 96 A.D. Jezebel, the wife of king Ahab lived approximately between 874 to 853 B.C. According to that fact, the "Jezebel" referred in Revelation 2:20 cannot be a woman of flesh and blood. We know that a woman in Bible prophecy represents a church. Do we know how Ahab's wife Jezebel met her end?
2 Kings 9:30-37
30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
31 And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?
32 And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.
33 And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trod her under foot.
34 And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter.
35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.
36 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:
37 And the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.
How long did God give Jezebel and Ahab to repent? Three and a half years. Jezebel represents the fallen church. The time prophecy of "three and a half years" refer to the 1260 years of papal supremacy, 538 - 1798. (Please see chapter nine in this book "The 1260 Year-Day Prophecy.") God gave the Catholic Church 1260 years to repent but she repented not. Jezebel in Revelation two, is also the same as the scarlet woman of Revelation seventeen, the fallen church which did not repent.
The Elijah message is to be preached again today, to bring people back to God and keep His commandments to be prepared for the second coming of Christ.
1 Kings 18:21
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt you between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
What is our answer?
26. Identifying the True Church of God
There are hundreds of different churches with various doctrines. Each one considers itself to be God's church on earth. How can this be? It would seem that for any church to qualify as God's church, it must teach and practice all that the Bible teaches. Paul talks about "the house of God, which is the church of the living God." He says it is "the pillar and the ground of the truth." 1 Timothy 3:15. Let us consider three main symbols used in Revelation twelve.
Revelation 12:1-2
1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Firstly, there is a woman who is clothed with the sun. This is a symbol of God's church. A pure, beautiful woman is God's way of representing His true church. (Read also Jeremiah 6:2, 2 Corinthians 11:2.) The sun represents the light of the gospel with which the church was clothed at the first advent (John 1:8). The moon is a symbol of the types and shadows of Old Testament times. The ceremonial law had been of value only until it was fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. The crown of twelve stars represents the twelve sons of Jacob in the Old Testament, and the twelve apostles in the New Testament.
Revelation 12:3-4
3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Secondly, there is the symbol of the great red dragon. In verse nine, the dragon is identified as the devil. Satan always works through human agents. Pagan Rome was that agent at the time of John's vision.
Revelation 12:5
5 And she 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.
Thirdly, the man-child represents Jesus Christ. For centuries the church had looked for the birth of the Messiah. When He came He was born a helpless babe. He was hated and attacked by the devil. Finally He will one day rule all nations. Jesus is the only person who fits all these specifications.
Revelation 12:6-16
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
There are three stages of the controversy between Christ and Satan brought up in Revelation twelve.
Firstly, there was the plot worked out by Satan to destroy Christ when He was a babe. It was Herod, the representative of Rome, who sent out the order for all babies of two years and under to be slaughtered. Ordinarily, the dragon is used as a symbol of Satan, but in this case the devil was working so closely with the pagan Roman power to kill Jesus that the dragon also symbolizes Rome. Secondly, during the Dark Ages, God's true church was driven into the wilderness where she remained, often persecuted, but loyal and true to God. Even though the devil, through wars, tried to exterminate the fugitive church, yet "the earth helped the woman." How? By providing hiding places in caves and secluded spots as well as by the discovery of the New World - America - where freedom to worship the way one chose was made possible. In order to escape extinction, the faithful Protestant refugees fled back into the Alpine mountains and valleys, holding onto the true doctrine delivered by Jesus. Another book of Acts could be written about the heroism of the Waldenses, Huguenots, and Albigenses who refused to surrender their pure faith during those centuries of fierce oppression. God fought for them. Sometimes the pursuing armies of Rome were cut off by mysterious avalanches and rock slides. At other times, the mountain streams were reddened by the blood of those faithful ones who sealed their devotion to the truth with their lives. The Revelation prophecy gives a symbolic picture of the desperate attempts made to wipe out those minority Christians who were hiding for their very survival. This period extended from A.D. 538 to A.D. 1798. That does not mean that after this date persecution will ease. The Scripture in 2.Timothy three will apply till the second coming of Christ.
2 Timothy 3:12
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
There have been persecutions since the very beginning of Christianity and a great persecution is still to come, just before the end of time. (Read also Revelation 13:14-17, and chapter 21 in this book "What is the Mark of the Beast?")
Thirdly, when the church emerged from her wilderness experience at the end of the 18th century, Satan again continued his terrible warfare against God's church - the remnant.
Let's consider the identifying marks of God's church in these last days.
Revelation 12:17
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The devil is angry "with the remnant" of the church's seed. Since a remnant (Remnant = that which remains) is always identical to the original, this means the last church is like the apostolic church. Therefore its teachings should square fully with the Bible, the Christian's blueprint.
God's last church will be a commandment keeping church in contrast to those who accept the teachings and traditions of men. It says "which keep the commandments of God." This designates the great moral law written by the finger of God on tables of stone. The Ten Commandments reflect the character of God, reveal His will for all His creatures, and form the basis for all morality and true worship.
The true church of God in these last days has "the testimony of Jesus Christ." This testimony of Jesus through the prophets (1 Peter 1:10-11) is the Bible term for the gift of prophecy which made it possible for "holy men of God" to produce the sacred writings of the Bible (2 Peter 1:21). This is the method God uses in guiding His church today. So, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." - Revelation 19:10. The remnant church, being the last phase of God's work, will naturally proclaim God's last messages. These are found in the three angels message of Revelation 14:6-11, and the angels message of Revelation eighteen.
The First Angel's Message
Revelation 14:6-7
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice,
"Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."
Firstly, we need to know, that these three angels represent those people who receive the truth, and with power present the gospel to the world.
Secondly, to give glory to God is to reveal His character in our own, and thus make Him known. And in whatever way we make known the Father or the Son (Jesus), we glorify God.
Thirdly, in Noah's days, God warned people about the coming judgment upon those that had trampled on His law, but people did not listen. The result of disobedience was the flood (Genesis chapter six and chapter seven). Do we not have exactly the same situation today as it was in Noah's days? (Read Matthew 24:3739, Luke 17:26-30.)
Fourthly, worship is due to God the creator, only. (Read Exodus 20:1-11.)
Fifthly, This message is calling people back to Sacred Sabbath Worship and to keep all the Commandments of God.
The Second Angel's Message
Revelation 14:8
8 And there followed another angel, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."
Modern Babylon stands for all Christian churches that have departed from the "Everlasting Gospel" as set forth in the Bible.
The fallen denominational churches are Babylon. Babylon has been fostering poisonous doctrines, the wine of error. This wine of error is made up of false doctrines, such as the natural immortality of the soul, the eternal torment of the wicked, the denial of the preexistence of Christ prior to His birth in Bethlehem, and advocating and exalting the first day of the week above God's holy, sanctified day. These and kindred errors are presented to the world by the various churches, and thus Scripture is fulfilled when it is said, "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." It is a wrath which is created by false doctrines, and when kings and presidents drink this wine of the wrath of her fornication, they are stirred with anger against those who will not come into harmony with the false heresies which exalt the false Sabbath, and lead men to trample under foot God's memorial.
It is the church of Rome which, thinking to prove itself not only equal to God, but above God, has changed the rest-day of God, placing the first day of the week where the seventh should be. And the Protestant world has taken this child of the Papacy to be regarded as sacred. This is called in the Word of God "her fornication." Thus the people of the world, in giving their sanction to a false Sabbath and trampling under their feet the Sabbath of the Lord, "have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." Wherever the papal Sabbath is honored in preference to the Sabbath of the Lord, there is the man of sin exalted above the Creator of the Heavens and the earth.
The Third Angel’s Message
Revelation 14:9-11
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
"If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name."
It is for the benefit of all to understand what the mark of the beast is, and how they may escape the dread threatening of God. The third angel's message has been sent forth to the world, warning men against receiving the mark of the beast, or of his image in their foreheads, or in their hands. To receive this mark means to come to the same decision as the beast has done, and to advocate the same ideas, in direct opposition to the Word of God. Of all who receive this mark, God says "The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:"
Revelation 14:12
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
The Message of Revelation Eighteen
Revelation 18:1-5
1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
This is the same message that was given by the second angel. Babylon is fallen, "because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." What is that wine?-her false doctrines. She has given to the world a false Sabbath instead of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and has repeated the falsehood that Satan first told to Eve in Eden - the natural immortality of the soul. Many kindred errors she has spread far and wide, "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
The three angels' messages are to be combined giving their threefold light to the world. In the Revelation, John says, "I saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory." This represents the giving of the last and threefold message of warning to the world. The proclamation of the gospel is the only means by which God can employ human beings as His instrumentalities for the salvation of souls. As men, women, and children proclaim the gospel, the Lord will open the eyes of the (spiritually) blind to see His statutes, and will write upon the hearts of the truly penitent His law. The animating Spirit of God, working through human agencies, leads the believers to be of one mind, one soul, united in loving God and keeping His commandments - preparing here below for Heaven. (Read also Acts 2:38-47.)
Jesus said in John 10:16
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
John 10:27
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (Read also Revelation 18:1-4.)
Each person must answer the call of God for himself. Now is the time of decision.
27. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
What is the difference between "Born by the Holy Spirit" and being "Baptized by the Holy Spirit?" What does the Bible say about this important subject?
1 Corinthians 10:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
According to this, the Israelites in the Old Testament time were baptized at the Exodus by passing through the Red Sea. Many have longed for and desired to have the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They read in the Bible how the Holy Spirit fell on the people at the day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
However, many have never received the Holy Spirit. If we turn our minds back to the time of Jesus and His disciples, we see that at the death of Christ, their hopes, ambitions and desires died with Christ. Instead came disappointment, discouragement and disillusionment. Then they heard the news that Jesus had risen. They rushed to the tomb and as they arrived there they encountered two angels.
Luke 24:4-5
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek you the living among the dead?
John 20:19-22
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive you the Holy Ghost:
What happens to us when we receive the Holy Spirit?
Acts 1:8
8 But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus said, that after receiving the Holy Spirit they would become witnesses for Him. Remember Peter who denied Christ three times? Fifty days later, at the day of Pentecost, that same Peter boldly stood before a crowd of people and said:
Acts 2:23,36
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
What could cause such a change in Peter? It was the power of the Holy Spirit. He was baptized by the Holy Spirit and became an effective witness for Christ. What is now the difference between "Born by the Holy Spirit" and "Baptized by the Holy Spirit?" A person is "Born by the Holy Spirit" when he accepts Jesus as his personal Savior and gives a public testimony at the water baptism.
Acts 8:5-13
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
"The Baptism of the Holy Spirit" is an experience that enables us to become effective witnesses for Christ.
Acts 8:14-17
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Philip preached in Samaria. Many people accepted the Lord and were baptized with water. Through this baptism and the acceptance of Christ they experienced "being Born again" or were "Born by the Holy Spirit", which is the same.
Romans 6:3-4
3 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Water Baptism (= immersion) is a gospel ordinance commemorating the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In baptism a public testimony is given to the effect that the one baptized has been crucified with Christ, buried with Him and is raised with Him to walk in newness of life. In Acts chapter ten we read that people received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized with water. Accordingly the point of time of receiving the Holy Spirit can be different. (Read also Romans 8:33-39).
Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. There are many people who never receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. What are the reasons for it? They are not willing to give up cherished sin. Then there are people like Simon who thought he could buy the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:18-24
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou has thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou has neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven thee. 23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray you to the Lord for me, that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me.
If we want to serve God, we have to become pure vessels which God can prepare for His work.
2 Timothy 2:21
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
A person who is born again enters, through entire submission to Christ, into a personal union with Him. Another reason why people cannot receive the Holy Spirit is because they grieve Him. God does not give us up because of our sins. We may make mistakes and grieve His Spirit, but when we repent and come to Him with contrite hearts, He will not turn us away.
Ephesians 4:30
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Now the question arises: How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? Simply by not obeying the Word of God (Acts 5:32). The following verses tell us how we ought to be.
Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
It is not easy to maintain this standard. But salvation also involves being delivered from the power of sin. This is called sanctification and it is a lifelong process. With the help of God, we have to work to overcome our natural inclination to sin (Romans 8:7).
Galatians 5:16-21
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would.
18 But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envying, murders, drunkenness, revelling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
9 Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Paul says:
Ephesians 4:26
26 Be you angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Some people do not receive the Holy Spirit because they quench the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesying.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Further we read:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
How much are we supposed to give thanks for? It says "in every thing." That means for the good and for the bad things in life. Why? If we are thankful only for the good things we receive, we have not given God complete control over our life.
1 Peter 5:7
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. (Read also l John 4:18.)
How can we avoid grieving the Holy Spirit?
Philippians 2:5
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
If we let Jesus live in our hearts we will also bring forth the right fruit.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Some try to change their life on their own (Romans 9:30-10:4). Can man repent of himself? No more than he can pardon himself. But with humanity and divinity combined we can accomplish a work as enduring as eternity.
Titus 3:3-6
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;
Before Jesus left this earth He promised His disciples to send a Comforter.
John 16:7,13
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
For the Holy Spirit to lead people into all truth, we need to study the Word of God very thoroughly.
John 17:17
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 14:16-17
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.
John 15:26-27
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And you also shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
We will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to become effective witnesses for Jesus Christ. We will then share the truth with our fellow man and demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
If we want to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we firstly have to make an inventory of our life.
1 Corinthians 11:28
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
Secondly, we have to confess and forsake sin (Proverbs 28:13).
1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Acts 2:38
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Thirdly, we have to submit our life completely to God. Paul gives a very interesting example.
Ephesians 5:18-20
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Why does Paul link the drinking of wine with the Holy Spirit? When people drink wine, the more they drink, the more the alcohol takes control of them. Even so, the more we let the Holy Spirit work in us, the more He will take control of our life.
Colossians 3:16-17
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Luke 11:13
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Then the following texts can also be applied to us.
Philippians 2:13-15
13 For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputing:
15 That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;
To become an effective witness for Christ we need to be born again and receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
28. The Best Life Insurance
This is not an insurance policy, the value of which someone else will receive after your death. It is a policy that assures you a life measuring with the life of God, even eternal life. (Read also John 11:25-26.)
2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power bath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that bath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
We must learn of Christ. We must know what He is to those He has ransomed. We must realize that through faith in Him it is our privilege to be partakers of the divine nature, and so escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. We are then cleansed from all sin, all defects of character. We need not retain one sinful propensity. As we partake of the divine nature, hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong are cut away from the character, and we are made a living power for good. Ever learning of the divine Teacher, daily partaking of His nature, we cooperate with God in overcoming Satan's temptations. God works, and man works, that man may be one with Christ as Christ is one with God, and that we may sit together with Christ in heavenly places. The mind rests with peace and assurance in Jesus. In His Word, God reveals what He can do for human beings. He molds and fashions after the divine similitude the characters of those who will wear His yoke. Through His grace they are made partakers of the divine nature and are thus enabled to overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. It is God who gives us power to overcome.
Those who hear His voice and obey His commandments are enabled to form righteous characters (Psalms 119:172). Those who disregard His expressed commands will form characters like the propensities that they indulge.
2 Peter 1:5-9
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
We are to add to faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. We are not to think that we must wait until we have perfected one grace before cultivating another. No; they are to grow up together, fed continually from the fountain of charity; every day that we live, we can be perfecting the blessed attributes fully revealed in the character of Christ; and when we, do this, we will bring light, love, peace, and joy into our homes.
2 Peter 1:10-11
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Temptation must be met and resisted. Day by day the spiritual battle goes on. Day by day we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. It is God that works in us, to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13). Every soul is to strive with "all diligence" to add constantly to his spiritual attainments, strengthening every grace, increasing in efficiency that he may grow in usefulness and holiness, as a fruit-bearing tree in the Lord's garden. He is to be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. True religion leads to the cultivation of the gifts that make a man more precious in God's sight than the gold of Ophir. "All diligence" means much. It means a daily diligence. There is danger that we shall be blind in regard to the working of satanic agencies, and that we shall be ensnared by Satan's alluring temptations. Therefore the word comes to us, "Giving all diligence", add to your character the graces that will make you strong to resist evil. "He that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off." He does not realize his spiritual poverty. "And to temperance patience." An intemperate man never can be a patient man. Temperance comes first, and then patience. To those who receive Christ as a personal Savior will be given power to become the sons and daughters of God. An eternal life insurance policy has been provided for all. Whom God elects, Christ redeems (Romans 8:3335). The Savior has paid the redemption price for every soul. We are not our own; for we are bought with a price. From the Redeemer, who from the foundation of the world has chosen us, we receive the insurance policy that entitles us to eternal life. There is the election of God on the condition of practice, and there is no other election in the Bible. Election is within our reach. "If you do these things, you shall never fall."
29. The Last Deception
The second coming of Christ is very close. However, before Christ will come in the clouds, as it is described in the Bible, something enormous will happen and it will captivate the whole world.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
In the last days Satan will appear in such a manner as to make men believe him to be Christ come the second time into the world. He will indeed transform himself into an angel of light. But while he will bear the appearance of Christ in every particular, so far as mere appearance goes, it will deceive none but those who, like Pharaoh, are seeking to resist the truth.
Matthew 24:20-31
20 But pray you that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For where so ever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Satan came as an angel of light in the wilderness of temptation to deceive Christ; and he does not come to man in a hideous form, as he is sometimes represented, but as an angel of light. He will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ. What shall we do? Christ has warned us against just such a foe, who is man's worst enemy, yet who claims to be God; and that when Christ shall make His appearance, it will be with power and great glory, accompanied by ten thousand times ten thousand angels and thousands of thousands; and that when He shall come, we shall know His voice (Matthew 25:31, Revelation 5:11, Revelation 19:14).
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Accordingly, at His second coming Christ will not come down and touch the earth. The saved ones will meet the Lord in the air. As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Savior's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation.[Revelation 1:13-15.] The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld.
The shout of triumph rings out upon the air, "Christ has come! Christ has come!" The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands, and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed his disciples when he was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Savior uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: "This is the great power of God." [Acts 8:10.] But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image,-the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God's unmingled wrath shall be poured out. And, furthermore, Satan is not permitted to counterfeit the manner of Christ's advent. The Savior has warned his people against deception upon this point, and has clearly foretold the manner of his second coming.
"There shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.... Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. "[Matthew 24:2427, 31; 25:31; Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. This coming, there is no possibility of counterfeiting. It will be universally known-witnessed by the whole world. Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures, and who have received the love of the truth, will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise.
Preparing for the Final Act. This world is a theatre. The actors, the inhabitants of the world, are preparing to act their part in the last great drama. God is lost sight of. There is no unity of purpose, except as parties of men confederate to gain their ends. God is looking on. His purposes in regard to His rebellious subjects will be fulfilled. The world has not been given into the hands of men, though God is permitting the elements of confusion and disorder to bear sway for a season. A power from beneath is working to bring about the last great scenes in the drama-Satan coming as Christ, and working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are binding themselves together in secret societies. Those who are yielding to the passion for confederation are working out the plans of the enemy. The cause will be followed by the effect.
Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Every one who has enlisted under the bloodstained banner of Christ has entered upon a warfare that demands constant vigilance. Satan is determined to keep up the warfare to the end. Coming as an angel of light, claiming to be the Christ, he will deceive the world. But his triumph will be short. No storm or tempest can move those whose feet are planted on the principles of eternal truth. They will be able to stand in this time of almost worldwide apostasy.
Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not every one that said unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
May God bless you and give you wisdom and strength that you may not be deceived by this last deception.
APPENDIX
Commandments of men
Christ and His apostles did not know.
When did these commandments come in?
Holy water ca. 120 A.D.
The changing of Sabbath to Sunday 321
Monks 348
The Latin mass 394
The purgatory 593
Veneration of Mary and saints 715
Worship of images 787
|
|
Celibacy of the clergy | 1015 |
Infant baptism replaces biblical baptism | 1200 |
Confession to a human priest | 1215 |
Infallibility of the Pope | 1870 |
Jesus says in Matthew 15:9 |
|
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Colossians chapter 3
1 If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are I above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which you also walked some time, when you lived in them.
8 But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful!
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23 And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
1 Corinthians chapter 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.
4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;
6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 Bears all things, believeth all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
"The Ten Commandments - and what they mean"
Exodus 20:1-17
Ecclesiastes 12:12-14
And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Jehovah revealed Himself, not alone in the awful majesty of the judge and lawgiver, but as the compassionate guardian of His people:
"I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." He whom they had already known as their Guide and Deliverer, who had brought them forth from Egypt, making a way for them through the sea, and overthrowing Pharaoh and his hosts, who had thus shown Himself to be above all the gods of Egypt--He it was who now spoke His law. The law was not spoken at this time exclusively for the benefit of the Hebrews. God honored them by making them the guardians and keepers of His law, but it was to be held as a sacred trust for the whole world. The precepts of the Decalogue are adapted to all mankind, and they were given for the instruction and government of all. Ten precepts, brief, comprehensive, and authoritative, cover the duty of man to God and to his fellow man; and all based upon the great fundamental principle of love. "Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Luke 10:27. See also Deuteronomy 6:4, 5; Leviticus 19:18. In the Ten Commandments these principles are carried out in detail, and made applicable to the condition and circumstances of man. "Thou shall have no other gods before Me."
Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent, uncreated One, Himself the Source and Sustainer of all, is alone entitled to supreme reverence and worship. Man is forbidden to give to any other object the first place in his affections or his service. Whatever we cherish that tends to lessen our love for God or to interfere with the service due Him, of that do we make a god.
"Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shall not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them."
The second commandment forbids the worship of the true God by images or similitudes. Many heathen nations claimed that their images were mere figures or symbols by which the Deity was worshipped, but God has declared such worship to be sin. The attempt to represent the Eternal One by material objects would lower man's conception of God. The mind, turned away from the infinite perfection of Jehovah, would be attracted to the creature rather than to the Creator. And as his conceptions of God were lowered, so would man become degraded.
"I the Lord thy God am a jealous God."
The close and sacred relation of God to His people is represented under the figure of marriage. Idolatry being spiritual adultery, the displeasure of God against it is fitly called jealousy. "Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me." It is inevitable that children should suffer from the consequences of parental wrongdoing, but they are not punished for the parents' guilt, except as they participate in their sins. It is usually the case, however, that children walk in the steps of their parents. By inheritance and example the sons become partakers of the father's sin. Wrong tendencies, perverted appetites, and debased morals, as well as physical disease and degeneracy, are transmitted as a legacy from father to son, to the third and fourth generation. This fearful truth should have a solemn power to restrain men from following a course of sin.
"Showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments."
In prohibiting the worship of false gods, the second commandment by implication enjoins the worship of the true God. And to those who are faithful in His service, mercy is promised, not merely to the third and fourth generation as is the wrath threatened against those who hate Him, but to thousands of generations.
"Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain."
This commandment not only prohibits false oaths and common swearing, but it forbids us to use the name of God in a light or careless manner, without regard to its awful significance. By the thoughtless mention of God in common conversation, by appeals to Him in trivial matters, and by the frequent and thoughtless repetition of His name, we dishonor Him. "Holy and reverend is His name." Psalm 111:9. All should meditate upon His majesty, His purity and holiness, that the heart may be impressed with a sense of His exalted character; and His holy name should be uttered with reverence and solemnity.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shall thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shall not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within toy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." The Sabbath is not introduced as a new institution but as having been founded at creation. It is to be remembered and observed as the memorial of the Creator's work. Pointing to God as the Maker of the heavens and the earth, it distinguishes the true God from all false gods. All who keep the seventh day signify by this act that they are worshipers of Jehovah.
Thus the Sabbath is the sign of man's allegiance to God as long as there are any upon the earth to serve Him. The fourth commandment is the only one of all the ten in which are found both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It is the only one that shows by whose authority the law is given.
Thus it contains the seal of God, affixed to His law as evidence of its authenticity and binding force. God has given me six days wherein to labor, and He requires that their own work be done in the six working days. Acts of necessity and mercy are permitted on the Sabbath, the sick and suffering are at all times to be cared for; but unnecessary labor is to be strictly avoided. "Turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure." Isaiah 58:13. Nor does the prohibition end here. "Nor speaking your own words," says the prophet. Those who discuss business matters or lay plans on the Sabbath are regarded by God as though engaged in the actual transaction of business. To keep the Sabbath holy, we should not even allow our minds to dwell upon things of a worldly character. And the commandment includes all within our gates. The inmates of the house are to lay aside their worldly business during the sacred hours. All should unite to honor God by willing service upon His holy day.
"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives thee." Parents are entitled to a degree of love and respect which is due to no other person. God Himself, who has placed upon them a responsibility for the souls committed to their charge, has ordained that during the earlier years of life, parents shall stand in the place of God to their children. And he who rejects the rightful authority of his parents is rejecting the authority of God. The filth commandment requires children not only to yield respect, submission, and obedience to their parents, but also to give them love and tenderness, to lighten their cares, to guard their reputation, and to succor and comfort them in old age. It also enjoins respect for ministers and rulers and for all others to whom God has delegated authority. This, says the apostle, "is the first commandment with promise." Ephesians 6:2. To Israel, expecting soon to enter Canaan, it was a pledge to the obedient, of long life in that good, land; but it has a wider meaning, including all the Israel of God, and promising eternal life upon the earth when it shall be freed from the curse of sin.
"Thou shall not kill."
All acts of injustice that tend to shorten life; the spirit of hatred and revenge, or the indulgence of any passion that leads to injurious acts toward others, or causes us even to wish them harm (for "whosoever hates his brother is a murderer"); a selfish neglect of caring for the needy or suffering; all self-indulgence or unnecessary deprivation or excessive labor that tends to injure health--all these are, to a greater or less degree, violations of the sixth commandment.
"Thou shall not commit adultery."
This commandment forbids not only acts of impurity, but sensual thoughts and desires, or any practice that tends to excite them. Purity is demanded not only in the outward life but in the secret intents and emotions of the heart. Christ, who taught the far reaching obligation of the law of God, declared the evil thought or look to be as truly sin as is the unlawful deed.
"Thou shall not steal."
Both public and private sins are included in this prohibition. The eighth commandment condemns man stealing and slave dealing, and forbids wars of conquest. It condemns theft and robbery. It demands strict integrity in the minutest details of the affairs of life. It forbids overreaching in trade, and requires the payment of just debts or wages. It declares that every attempt to advantage oneself by the ignorance, weakness, or misfortune of another is registered as fraud in the books of heaven.
"Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor."
False speaking in any matter, every attempt or purpose to deceive our neighbor, is here included. An intention to deceive is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a falsehood maybe told as effectually as by words. All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood. This precept forbids every effort to injure our neighbor's reputation by misrepresentation or evil surmising, by slander or tale bearing. Even the intentional suppression of truth, by which injury may result to others, is a violation of the ninth commandment.
"Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's."
The tenth commandment strikes at the very root of all sins, prohibiting the selfish desire, from which springs the sinful act. He who in obedience to God's law refrains from indulging even a sinful desire for that which belongs to another will not be guilty of an act of wrong toward his fellow creatures.
In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus says:
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Read also 1.John 3:23-24; John 14:15; Revelation 14:12; John 3:16; Hebrews 13:8; Exodus chapter 19:1-25 and chapter 31:12-18;
End-time study in 17 steps
1. REVIVAL AND REFORMATION AMONGST GOD'S PEOPLE
Romans 13:11; Hosea 4:6; Proverbs 29:18; Revelation 3:14-21;
2. THE SIFTING OR THE SHAKING AMONGST GOD'S PEOPLE
Amos 9:9-10; Luke 22:31-32; 1 Corinthians 10:12; Romans 8:35-39; 2 Peter 2:9;
3. THE LITTLE TIME OF TROUBLE
Luke 21:25-26; Matthew 5:11-12;
4. THE SEALING
Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:30; John 6:27; Revelation 7:1-3; Revelation 22:11;
5. THE LATTER RAIN
James 5:7; Jeremiah 5:24-25; Hosea 6:3; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 1:8;
6. THE LOUD CRY
Revelation 14:6-11; Revelation 18:1-6;
7. THE SUNDAY LAW
Revelation 13:11-17; Matthew 10:17-20;
8. SATAN HIMSELF WILL PERSONATE CHRIST
2 Corinthians 11:13-15;
9. THE CLOSE OF PROBATION
Matthew 13:30-40; Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 22:11-12; Revelation 3:10-12;
10. THE GREAT TIME OF TROUBLE
Genesis 32:26-32; Jeremiah 30:5-7; Daniel 12:1;
11. THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES
Revelation 16:1-21;
12. THE DEATH DECREE
Revelation 13:15;
13. A SPECIAL RESURRECTION PRIOR THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
Daniel 12:2; Revelation 1:7;
14. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
John 5:28-29: John 14:1-3; Matthew 24:30; Luke 17:26-30;
Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:50-53;
Matthew 25:31-41; Revelation 20:5-6;
15. THE MILLENNIUM
Revelation 20:1-5; Jeremiah 25:31-33;
16. THE SECOND AND LAST RESURRECTION
Revelation 21:2; Matthew 25:41-46; Revelation 20:7-10; Isaiah 47:14;
17. HOME AT LAST
2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 22:14; Hebrews 11:10; Revelation 21:27;
Matthew 7:21; Daniel 7:18; Revelation 22:1-5; Isaiah 11:6-9; Isaiah 65:21-22;
Prophecies of the Messiah
New Testament Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecies John 5:39-46
Micah 5:2 Jesus birthplace Matthew 2:1
Isaiah 7:14 Mother of Jesus Matthew 1:18-21
Genesis 49:10 His tribe Hebrews 7:14
Isaiah 11:1 His family Revelation 22:16
Hosea 11:1 His flight to Egypt Matthew 2:13-15
Daniel 9:25 Time of His public appearance Mark 1:14-15
Isaiah 61:1-3 His purpose Luke 4:16-21
Dent. 18:15 Jesus the Prophet Acts 7:37
Isaiah 9:2-3 Jesus the light of the world Matthew 4:12-16
Psalms 78:2 He talked in parables Matthew 13:34-35
Isaiah 40:11 The good shepherd John 10:11-14
Psalms 69:7-8 Despised by his own people John 1:10-11
Isaiah 49:4-6 Savior of the world Revelation 7:9-10
Zechariah 9:9 Triumphal entry in Jerusalem Matthew 21:1-11
Psalms 41:8-9 Betrayal of Jesus John 13:18-19,26
Zechariah 11:12 The sum for His betrayal Matthew 26:14-16
Zechariah 11:13 Use of the money Matthew 27:3-9
Isaiah 50:6 Men spit on Him Matthew 27:30
Micah 5:1 Hit with rod Matthew 27:30
Isaiah 53:7 He was silent Matthew 27:12-14
Zechariah 13:7 The disciples of Jesus fail Matthew 26:31
Psalms 22:16 Kind of wounds John 20:25
Isaiah 53:9-12 Killed among transgressors Mark 15:27-28
Psalms 22:6-7 Scorned Matthew 27:39-44
Psalms 22:1 My God, my God.... Matthew 27:46
Isaiah 53:12 Prayed for transgressors Luke 23:34
Psalms 69:21 They gave him vinegar John 19:28-30
Psalms 22:18 They divided His garments John 19:23-24
Psalms 34:20 No bone broken John 19:36
Isaiah 53:9 His burial Matthew 27:57-60
Hosea 6:2 The third day Matthew 17:23
Psalms 24:7-10 Gone into heaven 1 Peter 3:22
Zechariah 6:13 Jesus as priest on the throne Hebrews 8:1-2