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Sunday, October 31, 2010

Halloween: Will You Celebrate or Reject Evil?

Ask anyone you meet: "Do you believe in the devil?"

First, you will receive looks as though you are mad! Then, as likely as not, the person will hurry on without so much as a backward glance. The few answers you receive will almost certainly be along the lines of, "Of course not! Do you think I'm stupid?"

Yet every year at the end of October, in North America (and many other countries today) people celebrate the existence of the devil! You may be among them, if you go to Halloween parties or dress up your children in witch or wizard costumes or masks with hideous faces or outfits that represent demons and goblins. Or if you decorate your home with ghosts or carved out images of evil spirits using hollowed-out pumpkins.

"Oh, but that's just a little innocent fun," some may say. "Everybody does it, and I don't really believe the tradition behind it. I am not encouraging my children to expose themselves to the occult."

But then, why celebrate and worship something you don't believe in?

Halloween: what's behind the disguise?

Just where does Halloween come from? The Pagan Book of Days, by Nigel Pennick, explains: "Hallowe'en parties are a modern expression of the pagan festival of the remembrance of death and the departed." The Festival of the Dead—called Samhain—falls on Nov. 1 (which the Roman Catholic Church adopted as All Saints' Day).

Halloween retains these dark and demonic themes. "Halloween was thought to be the most favourable time for divinations concerning marriage, luck, health, and death. It was the only day on which the help of the devil was invoked for such purposes" (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition, Micropaedia, Vol. 4, p. 862, "Halloween"). (For more about the origins of Halloween, see "Halloween: A Celebration of Evil.")

What does God say?

The devil is not just a generalized concept of evil. Satan the Devil is a powerful spiritual being who rebelled against God. Right now Satan's plans are influencing the whole world more than you may ever have imagined!

Isaiah 14:13-14 explains the extent of Satan's arrogance and sin: "For you said to yourself, 'I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars... I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High'" (New Living Translation throughout).

The Bible states quite unequivocally that God commands us to have nothing to do with Satan, his demons or anyone who contacts them in any shape or form. "And do not let your people practice fortune-telling or sorcery, or allow them to interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is an object of horror and disgust to the Lord" (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

Why? Because these are methods used by the devil to deceive and destroy his unsuspecting victims! We need to be constantly on guard against the dangers of the occult.

Do we wish to live contrary to our Savior's example? Luke 7:21 tells us how Jesus healed many people and cast out evil spirits. Yet today people celebrate Halloween by engaging in occult practices that originated with Satan the Devil! Surely, dressing up like a witch or a demon seems to make light of evil instead of denouncing it.

Like it or not, this world is under the deceptive influence of the devil and his cohorts (Revelation 12:9; 2 Corinthians 4:4). It is up to us to stand up to such influences and reject them. James 4:7 instructs us: "So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you." That is our Creator's instruction to us! Therefore, do not join with others in celebrating the devil. Do not participate in Halloween and its occult customs.

We need to recognize the evil nature of Satan and his demons, and our need for the celebrating days that teach us about the plan of the Lord our God.

Friday, October 29, 2010

What a Former Witch Told Me About the Dark Side

Halloween is this weekend, in case you haven't noticed. But it's hard not to notice. Halloween has become the second-largest retail holiday in North America. It's second only to Christmas in sales generated by the strong consumer desire to party with the dead and macabre elements. Imitating ghosts and demons may seem like harmless fun. It's not. Playing with the darker elements of this world is inviting strong forces into your life. You do this at your own peril.

I recently interviewed a lady who spent 20 years as a practicing witch. Her story was the centerpiece of a Beyond Today program called "Dancing With the Dark Side." The program aired last week on WGN America and drew considerable comment from viewers.


One viewer wrote asking for help counseling a child who wished to become a witch. Another wrote detailing the disastrous impact on his family from involvement with the dark, satanic world. As my interview with "Mary" (the pseudonym for the woman who was once a witch) shows, you do not want to go down that road. Here is part of that interview.

McNeely: What do you think you were looking for when you entered into that world?

Mary: Power. To be special, to be unique.

McNeely: You think that's what other people are looking for, as well?

Mary: Oh yes. Yeah. I mean, you get into it seeking power to control your life, manifest or will things into your life, but the bad thing about it is after it progresses, it starts taking on a negative tone. I started out with Wicca. I started out with thinking I was just worshipping the earth because I wanted something tangible, something I could see, something I could adhere to. The equinox, the sabbaths in Wicca. It soon didn't feel like enough.

I felt compelled to check out or read books about necromancy and voodoo, and like I said, I was in it for about 20 years and there toward the end, I felt like if I hadn't had the car wreck, I would've been gone, because I would've opened myself up to channeling. I'd already started using my own blood in my own rituals, in my own spells. I'd already started making voodoo dolls and casting bad spells on people.

McNeely: Did you actually see those spells come to pass?

Mary: Mhm.

McNeely: You did?

Mary: Yes.

McNeely: Things happened?

Mary: Yes. Things always happened.

Mary went on to explain that people who dabble with the dark arts are looking for a power to control their lives and that of others. They end up being controlled by a darker power they do not understand. Fortunately for Mary, she escaped the hold of the dark side and is building a better life for herself. She finally is in control of her life, in a right way.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

What did Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 7:14 when he said children of a believer are holy, not unclean?

How are the children and the spouse of a believer sanctified? What can a believing parent do to help his or her children respond to God's calling?

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:14: "For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy."

In families where either a father or mother is a Christian believer, by virtue of God's calling, God views both the unbelieving mate and their children in a special way. This verse does not necessarily say God calls unbelieving mates, but He blesses them. They live with a converted person, which provides them with an intimate exposure to God's way of life.

The word "sanctification" is used to indicate "separation to God" (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, "Sanctification, Sanctify"). Something or someone "sanctified" is set apart in a separate category for a particular use. "Holy" comes from hagios, which "fundamentally signifies 'separated' (among the Greeks, dedicated to the gods), and hence, in Scripture in its moral and spiritual significance, separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred" (ibid., "Holiness, Holy, Holily").

While the believer's conduct may be a powerful example for the unbelieving mate, he or she can usually go further than just setting an example to the children. A believing parent can actively teach them God's way and directly develop their understanding and relationship with Him. Without the influence of a converted parent, children in the household would be no different from others who, in ignorance, disobey God and lead spiritually "unclean" lives. However, because of the parent's conversion and relationship with God, such children are in a special category. Although not baptized, they are part of the "holy nation," the Church (1 Peter 2:9). They also have special access to the knowledge of God's way of life.

In the process of maturing physically, emotionally and spiritually, children of a believer have the choice to accept and respond to God's calling. If they do, they can receive the Holy Spirit as promised (Acts 2:38-39).

As with anyone coming to conversion, children of members must experience genuine repentance. Additionally, they must understand the lifelong commitment and responsibilities of being an "ambassador for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20). Competent counseling from a variety of spiritually wise people, such as ministers, parents and experienced members, can greatly aid a young adult's development toward baptism.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Could Jesus Christ Return Tomorrow?


A little-noticed prophecy in the biblical book of Revelation shows that Jesus Christ's return couldn't take place without a revolutionary change in global mass communications—a change that has taken place only in the last few years.

I have in my office a newspaper from 1858. The front-page story is about how a mob in Lexington, Kentucky, broke into a jail and lynched an unfortunate prisoner. On the second page is a report about an upstart political candidate named Abraham Lincoln.

In the 1850s it could take weeks, even months, for a news event from another part of the world to be published in a newspaper like this. Most people had little knowledge of events outside their own community.

A simple technology like glass insulators made it possible to string tens of thousands of miles of wire for telegraph and telephone lines. Because of telephones and faster vehicles like trains, by the early 1900s the speed of communication was much faster than in the days of news delivered by horseback.

Then came radio, and soon those with a receiver could listen to a news event halfway around the world the moment it happened. Everything changed. During World War II, people in New York City or on a farm in Iowa could listen to nightly reports of the Nazi bombings of London.

In the mid-20th century the technologies of radio and motion pictures were combined to create what was called "the miracle of television." Now people could, in the comfort and safety of their own living room, watch earth-shaking events, first in black and white and then in "living color." People marveled in 1969 at the surreal images of the first man stepping onto the moon.

Today, with computer networking technology, billions of people are connected through the Internet. Satellites, orbiting thousands of miles above the earth, make it possible to receive or send images from the most remote areas of the globe. With the advent of instant visual technology, there are few places where people can't learn of news as it happens.

But did you know that this explosion in communication technology was foretold in a prophecy in the mysterious book of Revelation?

A prophecy unfathomable until our day

Revelation, the last book of the Bible, is an advance newscast of events that will happen before Jesus Christ's return. In this book the apostle John writes about two "witnesses," two divinely appointed individuals who will announce to the world the urgent need to turn to God because Jesus Christ's return is imminent. According to Revelation, these two men will perform amazing miracles.

John tells us, "And if anyone wants to harm them [these two witnesses], fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies . . . These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues" (Revelation 11:5-6).

After 31⁄2 years of proclaiming the return of Jesus Christ, the two witnesses will be killed at the behest of the political and religious leaders who oppose them, and their bodies will be left in the streets of Jerusalem. John describes the scene: "Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies for three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth" (Revelation 11:9-10).

This passage reveals two important points if you want to know the answer to the question, Will Jesus return tomorrow?

One is that these two men are killed and seen by the entire world. This wasn't possible until the explosion in satellite and computer technology. People in Beijing, the outback of Australia, the Amazon and the major cities of Europe will all see this event from Jerusalem.

This prophecy now comes alive! Television, satellites, cell phones, computers—these kinds of technologies make it possible for those the world over—"the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations" of this planet—to see the dead bodies of the two witnesses.

There's another important point in these verses: Prior to their death, these two individuals will have achieved worldwide acclaim in announcing God's message for the nations, performing miracles and stirring up opposition among political and religious leaders and many of the common people. This also hasn't happened yet.

So we're back to our original question: Will Jesus Christ return tomorrow?

Since the two witnesses haven't yet appeared on the world scene, we know that Jesus isn't returning tomorrow. But the explosion in communication technology reminds us that key conditions foretold in Bible prophecy are coming into existence and that Christ's return is getting closer every day. He's not returning tomorrow, but the stage is being set for that dramatic, earth-changing event!

By the way, the death of the two witnesses isn't the end of their story. Their bodies will lie in a street in Jerusalem for 31⁄2 days. The entire world will see them on their electronic devices like television sets, computers and cell phones.

But then—all activity screeches to a halt as all human beings look to the sky and witness the majesty and power of the second coming of Jesus Christ! Life enters into the bodies of the two witnesses and they are resurrected to meet the Christ they were killed for proclaiming!

What does it matter?

So how does this prophetic information about technology and the biblical two witnesses affect your life?

You are part of this big picture. The God of the Bible is the Creator of the universe. He is also the God of history. In all this human mess we see around us, the Creator has a plan. He has a plan for humanity. He has a plan for you. Your life can change.

In all this suffering and chaos you can actually become part of God's solution!

Christianity has enough adherents merely paying lip service. Jesus Christ wants committed disciples—men and women willing to emulate His way of life. If you're tired of powerless Christianity, it's time to find out what Jesus really taught and to live as He tells us to!

Prophecy is one way that God shows us that He really does exist and that He is involved in His creation. It is also a way for God to show you that you can have a personal relationship with Him.

He tells us the future. It's up to you to prepare for that future!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

God loves you!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16, 17

God loves you! God loves you so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for you. If you were the only person on earth, God still loves you more than you can imagine.

Are you a parent? Do you have someone on earth that you love? Picture that love — and multiply it by a million — and you begin to have a picture of God’s love for you.

How should we respond to God’s love? We can accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, and we can be faithful to God. How can you be faithful to God? You can ask His help by His Holy Spirit to love God, and obey Him, and love others. God can help you live a godly life by the power of His Holy Spirit. So rejoice that God loves you and forgives you in Jesus Christ!

This week, let us pray that God will
  • Help us to love and serve Him always
  • Bless our families and those we love
  • Cover and protect our staff and volunteers at Global Media Outreach
May God bless you!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Chilean Miners Face Test of Fame

I was thrilled as Sky News reported, "And the last miner has now been raised from an underground grave" (Oct. 14, 2010). Chilean Mining Minister Laurence Golborne promised the shaft would be filled with concrete within days.

And so the saga of the trapped miners draws to a close.

Or does it?
Just beginning?

Many experts have stated that the miners' trials are just beginning. From total obscurity, these 33 people have captured the imagination of a billion people across the world! Clearly, their story must be told.

According to YorkDispatch.com (Oct. 11, 2010), "Chile's government has promised each miner at least six months of psychological support...

"At first they'll feel besieged, poorly treated by the media and perhaps overwhelmed by even the attention of their own families, predicted Dr. Claus Behn, a University of Chile physiologist with expertise on disorders stemming from surviving extreme situations. Society will 'demand to know every minute detail, and they're going to offer enormous quantities of money and popularity.'

"The problem with being a hero is that 'if you look down from the mountaintop, all you see is the abyss. It would make anyone feel vertigo,' Behn said."

A team forged in adversity

Let us not forget the harrowing ordeal the miners have been through. While underground for 69 days, amid all the panic and uncertainty about whether they would be found, and throughout their long wait to be rescued, they remained calm and exhibited courage and gritty determination in the face of adversity! They also stuck together in an amazing fashion, forming a team that grew into personal bonding.

This togetherness became evident shortly before the rescue drills made their first breakthrough.

Telegraph.co.uk reported Oct. 10 that "the men have called in a lawyer to draw up a contract ensuring they will equally profit from the lucrative media deals they expect to secure for sharing the story of their two month survival, in the hope that they never have to work again.

"The group have already rejected requests for interviews and have instead made plans to jointly write a book about the days spent trapped below the Atacama Desert following the mine collapse on August 5."

An Oct. 9 report at the same site stated that "the rescue team vetoed any such commercial or legal activity while the men were still trapped, but the requests foreshadow the commercial scramble that will accompany their new-found celebrity status."

In today's selfish, steamroller world, such a move is startling. It demonstrates the strength of the bond that has developed between the men while underground. It's a great example of how adversity has drawn men together!

But now the situation has changed. The men have been delivered from their prison, are reunited with their families and are going their separate ways. Individually, they will be approached by the media, with different (private) offers, some of which may be very lucrative, possibly much more so than the offers obtained by their colleagues. What will be the reaction of the fortunate ones when this happens?

A promising start

While underground, it seems the miners strove to demonstrate the kind of human relationships taught by Jesus Christ. How does Jesus expect us to treat other people? Matthew 7:12 summarizes: "Do to others what you would have them do to you" (New International Version).

That Golden Rule sets a high bar and is an essential key to successful relationships.

All I can say at this stage about the Chilean miners is that they have made a very promising start. May God guide them in their dealings with the media and the pressures of stardom, and let them stay a shining example to the rest of this selfish, money-grabbing world—by remaining true to each other!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

What did Paul mean by his desire to "depart and be with Christ" in Philippians 1:23?

Was Paul saying he expected to go to heaven to "be with Christ" immediately after his death? What decision was Paul struggling with in this passage in Philippians?

In Philippians 1:21-24 Paul wrote, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you."

Sobered by the possibility of dying, and weary of the stresses of life, Paul acknowledged that he would welcome the rest death brings in some ways. Since all conscious thought ceases upon death (Ecclesiastes 9:5), and the righteous remain in the grave until their resurrection at the return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16), he would "be with Christ" in his next waking moment. However, recognizing the need for his continued service to the church at Philippi, Paul believed that he would not die before seeing the members there again.

Some try to contort this scripture to say that Paul expected to go to heaven to "be with Christ" the instant that he died. But it says nothing of going to heaven. Further, interpreting Paul's words this way would conflict with the rest of Scripture, which reveals that Christians do not go to heaven upon death.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Ezekiel's Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones: What Does It Mean?


The prophet Ezekiel saw a vision of vast numbers of people resurrected to live again as physical human beings. What is the meaning of this mystifying vision, and what does it teach us about God's plan?

From early youth Ezekiel had been educated and trained to be a priest in the kingdom of Judah. But his hopes and dreams had been dashed by King Nebuchadnezzar's invasion, taking him and other young Jews captive to Babylon. Now far separated from the temple in Jerusalem, how could his education and training be of any real value? There was no need to worry. God was looking after His own. The Creator had called Ezekiel to be a great prophet, ranked alongside Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Christian writer Christopher Wright put it this way: "So while we can value all the positive contributions that Ezekiel's education and training as a priest brought to his prophetic ministry, we must also appreciate the immense personal, professional and theological shock it must have been to him . . . [Yet] God would use all that He had built into Ezekiel's life during his years of preparation" (The Message of Ezekiel, 2001, p. 27).

When he was 30 years old, Ezekiel began to experience astonishing visions from Almighty God. Perhaps in a personal diary, he recorded the exact date on which the first vision occurred: "Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God" (Ezekiel 1:1, emphasis added throughout).

The invisible barriers between heaven and earth were supernaturally parted for Ezekiel. But what did this prophet actually see in vision? Moving beyond the introductory revelation of the awesome angelic realm, we fast-forward to verses 26 and 28. "On the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it...This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord."

Ezekiel initially reacted just like the prophet Daniel and the apostles Paul and John did later. "So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One [God] speaking. And He said to me, 'Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you'...And He said to me; 'Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel'" (Ezekiel 1:28; 2:1-3). God gave Ezekiel a great mission to accomplish. He had important announcements to make.

These were intended to reach people far beyond his own time to people down through the ages. And one important vision would serve to encourage all who have ever lived in facing the same remorseless enemy—the seemingly hopeless ending of life in death.

Looking ahead

The prophet did have a comparatively small personal audience in Babylon of fellow captives from Judah (Ezekiel 3:11). But the real import of his message was not primarily for these deported, displaced prisoners who could do little about their circumstance.

It's important to understand that the kingdoms of Israel and Judah had separated after King Solomon's death and that the people of the kingdom of Israel had already gone into captivity at the hands of the Assyrians during the latter part of the eighth century B.C.—well over a century before Ezekiel prophesied.

And by the time his prophecies began, some of the inhabitants of the kingdom of Judah were likewise already in captivity, first by the Assyrians and then the Babylonians, with most of the rest soon to follow as a result of later Babylonian invasions.

Careful reading of Ezekiel's prophetic message will reveal that it was aimed mainly at the distant future, primarily directed to the end-time descendants of Israel. Much of God's revelation to him revolved around crucial, end-time events—both positive and negative—that would take place centuries in the future.

In the prophecy Jesus Christ gave on the Mount of Olives the week He died, He plainly stated regarding the end-time, "For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written [in the Old Testament prophets, including Ezekiel] may be fulfilled" (Luke 21:22). But cataclysmic occurrences at the close of man's age are just one aspect of this overall prophetic scenario.

Notice the apostle Peter's words to the crowd gathered in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost seven weeks after Jesus' death and resurrection: "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets [again including Ezekiel] since the world began" (Acts 3:19-21).

This insightful passage depicts a future golden age brought to a suffering humanity by the returning Jesus Christ, lasting 1,000 years (see Revelation 20:1-6). Israel's prophets aptly describe this long period of peace, prosperity and well-being. One of God's annual festivals, the Feast of Tabernacles, corresponds directly to Christ's coming millennial reign. (See "Coming Soon: The Magnificent Millennium," beginning on page 9.)
A rebellious nation lost forever?

God continued to instruct Ezekiel: "Then He said to me, 'Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them'" (Ezekiel 3:4).

Our Creator speaks to a rebellious people who have rarely been inclined to take His warning messages seriously. Their descendants down through time have most often chosen to remain in the depths of idolatry and Sabbath-breaking, two sins against God that Ezekiel emphasized (Ezekiel 14:1-6; 20:12-13, 16-17, 24; 22:3, 8). Tragically, these two trends continue unabated today (see our free booklet The Ten Commandments).

But who truly represents the "Israel" today to whom these prophecies are intended? The present tiny state of Israel consists mostly of Jews descended from those of the kingdom of Judah, so the name Israel is a misnomer.

History and Bible prophecy show that the modern descendants of the other tribes of Israel stand clearly identified as the Americans, British Commonwealth and peoples of northwestern Europe. For the biblical and historical evidence, request or download our free booklet The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy. You cannot truly grasp God's prophetic message to humankind apart from the essential knowledge disclosed in this eye-opening publication.

The modern descendants of Israel have been likewise rebellious against God. And all share in the same fate—national punishment and, for each individual, the ultimate penalty of sin, which is death (Romans 6:23). The prophecies of future national blessings are encouraging, but what good are they to those who have died?

After the Exodus from Egypt, a whole generation of disobedient Israelites perished in the wilderness. Later, many died at the hands of ruthless Assyrian invaders. Much later, about 40 years after Christ's death and resurrection, many died tragically as a result of the Roman invasion of Judea and the capture of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Of course, the same fate is shared by those who never had the opportunity to choose a way of life to follow. Consider all those little babies Herod cruelly killed in a failed effort to murder the Christ child. Their parents were devastated with unrelieved grief. "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more" (Matthew 2:18). Are these children, then, now lost?

So many people among the Israelites have died as victims of evil and injustice. Today we remember the Holocaust in which 6 million Jews were callously murdered in Central and Eastern Europe. How should we try to understand all of these tragic occurrences? Is there no hope for even innocent children who died in infancy without ever knowing why?

Of course, these questions beset people of every nation—not just Israel. But God has given a special message through Ezekiel to Israel in this regard—one that holds significance for all people.

Portrait of the great resurrection

Ezekiel continued to have visions throughout his prophetic ministry. The one in the 37th chapter speaks directly to the desperate plight of Israel down through the ages. Its intriguing description of the valley of dry bones was the subject of a popular song, "Dry Bones," during the mid-1950s.

No matter how many times one rereads it, this account remains both arresting and suspenseful to the converted mind. But even more important is the profound meaning for us—and for our departed loved ones, who may never have been called of God or spiritually converted during this age. This remarkable, comforting vision assures us that we will see them again!

"The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones . . . and He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' So I answered, 'O Lord God, you know'" (Ezekiel 37:1-3).

God must not be underestimated. He asked the patriarch Abraham, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14). Centuries later He posed the same question to the prophet Jeremiah: "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27).

Ezekiel's vision continues: "Thus says the Lord God to these bones: 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live' . . . Also He said to me, 'Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, "Thus says the Lord God: 'Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live'"'" (Ezekiel 37:5, 9). Physical human beings cannot live without drawing breath—the essence of our fleshly life. Even excellent swimmers, experts at holding their breath, cannot survive long without breathing air.

"So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army" (verse 10).

God identifies this vast group

"Then He said to me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel'" (verse 11). God then summarizes what He had just described in detail. "Thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord" (verses 12-13). Most pictured here never really knew God during their previous human lives.

The closing verse of this vision reveals why God, who never does anything without purpose, has just resurrected all these people: "I will put My [Holy] Spirit in you, and you shall live" (verse 14). At that time all of these people will have an opportunity to be converted—that is, to repent of their sins, be forgiven and baptized, and receive God's Holy Spirit by which they can truly be converted and receive God's gift of eternal life.

The indication of this preceding verse is that the majority of this great multitude of people will obtain everlasting life in God's Kingdom.

The New Testament also speaks to this incredible, miraculous phenomenon. The apostle Paul wrote: "And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 'The Deliverer [Jesus Christ] will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob [whose name was changed to Israel]; For this is My covenant with them [i.e., the New Covenant], when I take away their sins'" (Romans 11:26-27).

By no stretch of the imagination is all of Israel being saved now during this present age of man. But God promises that the whole of Israel will have their opportunity for salvation in the future. Relatively few are being called now to join with the firstfruits of God's salvation. These called-out ones, true Christians, will be resurrected to receive everlasting life when Christ returns (1 Corinthians 15:50-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20-21).

What about other nations and peoples?

Is this great resurrection exclusively for Israel? Or will other peoples and nations also be included? Remember that our loving Creator remains "the God of all flesh" (Jeremiah 32:27). Several passages in the Gospel accounts show that non-Israelite rulers and peoples are to be resurrected as well.

The queen of the South (Sheba), the peoples of Tyre, Sidon and Nineveh (ancient nations and city-states that long predated Jesus' human lifetime), and even the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah will be resurrected to physical life alongside Christ's generation of Israelites (see Matthew 11:20-24; 12:41-42; Luke 10:12-14).

Jesus plainly stated: "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live . . . Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice" (John 5:25, 28).

Later Christ revealed to this same apostle John that "the rest of the dead"—referring to those not raised to life in this resurrection —"did not live again until the thousand years were finished" (Revelation 1:1; 20:5). This tells us that the timing of this resurrection is after the thousand-year period known as the Millennium.

This verse also clearly shows that there is more than one resurrection. To learn more, read our article "The Resurrection of the Dead: What Does the Bible Really Teach?" from the September/October 2008 Good News.

Is today the only day of salvation?

Most in mainstream Christendom erroneously believe that today is the only day of salvation. But this belief simply is not found in the Bible. In fact the vast majority of mankind will receive their opportunity for salvation during the great resurrection to judgment that we have been reading about in Ezekiel 37:1-14.

The apostle John also refers to this resurrection to temporary physical life in Revelation 20:11-13: "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it...And I saw the dead, small and great [now resurrected], standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books [plural, the books of the Bible]."

The "great white throne" judgment occurs not in an instant as people are raised from the dead, but instead over a considerable period of time. God will judge them over time, just as those called to salvation today are judged over time during this present age by this very same standard, the books of the Bible (1 Peter 4:17; 2 Timothy 3:15-17).

Many Bible readers misunderstand the nature and meaning of judgment, nearly always associating the term with sentencing to condemnation—not realizing that God is a merciful judge who patiently evaluates human existence with righteous discernment. He earnestly desires to see the blood of His Son Jesus blot out the sins of as many as possible. Christ Himself firmly stated, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth [by crucifixion], will draw all peoples to Myself" (John 12:32).

Paul writes of "God our Saviour, whose will it is that all should find salvation and come to know the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4, Revised English Bible). And in Ezekiel 18:32 we read, "'For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,' says the Lord God. 'Therefore turn [to righteousness] and live!'"

This coming time of judgment will give those who never really knew God during their previous lifetime a just and fair opportunity for salvation—not a second chance. (To learn more, read our article "How Will God Judge the World?" from the September/October 2009 Good News.)

The special meaning of the biblical eighth-day festival

As mentioned earlier, the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Ingathering, pictures Christ's millennial reign. But immediately following this seven-day Feast is a separate one-day celebration referred to simply as "the eighth day" (Leviticus 23:34-36; Numbers 29:35; 2 Chronicles 7:9; Nehemiah 8:18). The real meaning of this celebration is rarely understood in modern theological circles. Yet it represents an essential missing piece to the puzzle of salvation.

This special Holy Day directly corresponds to the Great White Throne Judgment period, during which God will give all those who have ever lived but never really understood the truth their first real opportunity for salvation.

Because few people are aware of the God-ordained festivals spelled out in the Bible, few understand God's step-by-step plan of salvation revealed through these celebrations. The meaning of the eighth day corresponds to Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, referring to a time when lost family members will be joyously joined together again to learn God's ways while living under utopian conditions of mutual love, peace and prosperity.

This Holy Day reminds us that God's plan promises to offer every human being the opportunity to truly repent of sin and receive a permanent place in His everlasting family, the Kingdom of God.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Spend time with God each day!

"I call out to You; save me and I will keep Your statutes. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in Your word". Psalm 119:46 , 147.

Spend time with God each day! We have the amazing joy and privilege of spending time each and every day with the one true God who is the Lord of the entire universe.

Just think of this! The most powerful and loving and magnificent Being in all of existence loves you and wants to spend time with you.

This is an incredible privilege we have. If the leader of your country called and asked to meet with you at 8 in the morning, you would probably do everything you could to make that appointment. How much more should we enjoy the privilege of meeting with God?

So, each day, I suggest you try to set aside some time to meet with God. God is with you always and you can talk with Him throughout the day, but it is a great idea to set aside special time each day when you can pray, read the Bible, and focus on God. Just take some time to be quiet before God and ask Him to speak to your heart. God loves you and He wants to spend time with you.

This week, let us pray and ask God to:
  • Help us spend time each day talking with Him
  • Give us His love and compassion for someone in need around us
  • Fill and control our staff and volunteers with His Holy Spirit each and every day
THANK YOU for your prayers and your love!

May God bless you!

Friday, October 15, 2010

The Watchmaker

Voltaire wrote: “I cannot dream that this watch exists and has no watchmaker.” All around us we see marvels of inventions and design that have resulted from numerous hours of thought, planning, design and work by a designer. We would never think that a watch we find lying on the ground just appeared. We would try to find its owner because we know that it had to have been made by a watchmaker for somebody. We do not question this.

Living creatures are far more complicated than a watch. Yet some do dream that life exists without a life-maker. Some manage to dream what Voltaire could not imagine—a watch without a watchmaker. God says that man is without excuse when it comes to having knowledge to prove God’s existence (Romans 1:20-21). When we study the evidence, we can be sure we won’t fall for the thoughts that we do not have our own watchmaker.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Great Occasions

Great occasions come our way every so often in life. They often come suddenly and unexpectedly. When they do, they shine a bright light on what we are—on our character at the moment. Occasions do not develop men into heroes or cowards, but they do reveal exactly what a man is.

When Gideon was told to gather an army to defeat the Midianites, thousands came forward for this great occasion. However, most were not prepared to be heroes. God said to send the fearful and cowardly home and about two thirds left (Judges 7:3). Those who remained had the attributes of heroes when they came. God chose 300 of those men to finish the task. Heroes rose to the occasion—the occasion did not turn them into heroes. Now is the time to think like a hero, before the occasion to be one presents itself; then you will be ready.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Is Matthew 24:41 talking about a secret rapture?

In the Olivet Prophecy, Jesus Christ says "one will be taken and the other left." What does this mean? Is this end-time prophecy talking about a secret rapture and some being "left behind"?

Matthew 24:41 says, "Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left." This verse links with a similar illustration in verse 40. A key to understanding the Bible is to examine a verse in its context. The full context begins in verse 36 with, "But of that day and hour [of Jesus Christ's second coming] no one knows." It ends in verse 44 with, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Clearly, the topic is preparedness for Christ's second coming.

In the immediate context, Christ makes plain the fact that no one knows the timing of His coming, not of His "near approach," as the rapture theory would suggest. His advice to Christians, in light of this fact, is that we need to be constantly alert, always in a state of spiritual preparedness—"Watch therefore" (verse 42).

Now the understanding of verses 40-41 becomes clear. The suddenness of His coming will catch people who are not prepared off guard. His return will surprise some living or working side-by-side with Christians who are ready. Some will be "left"—not "left behind" after a secret rapture, but left out because they were unaware.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

The Basis of Moral Concepts

Abraham Lincoln was asked how people could use the Bible to both support and oppose slavery. Lincoln's answered, "The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be, wrong. God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time." Lincoln's logic is undeniable.

This same logic must be applied to the issue of abortion. Pro-life and pro-choice are opposite viewpoints concerning the value of human life. Both can't be right. Abortion is not a political talking point like taxes or zoning laws. Abortion is fundamentally an issue of morality.

Christians who oppose abortion must make their stand on the highest moral principle—human beings are made in the image of God. To indiscriminately abort a unique human being, created in the image of God, is morally bankrupt. Every human being has value to the Creator as his child. This truth is the basis of all moral concepts.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Church is much more that a building

(Describing the church just after Jesus rose into heaven): “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42;47

Church is very important. What is church? Often we talk about church as a building where we go to worship God on Sundays.

But church is much more than a building. The real meaning of church is all true believers in Jesus Christ. So the worldwide church is hundreds of millions of people all of whom have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior.

The local church is groups of Christians gathered together. In much of the world this happens in a church building and there is a pastor who cares for the group of Christians. In some parts of the world, it is not possible to gather together like this.

Wherever you are, God did not intend for you to have to live the Christian life all by yourself. God can use other Christians in church to strengthen you; to encourage you; to teach you; and to comfort you. And you can be used of God in your local church to help and to minister to others. If you possibly can, I encourage you to get highly involved in a good local Christian church.

So, this week, let us pray and ask God to
  • Help you find a great church to be involved in
  • Help you to meet other Christians in your local area who can be used by God to encourage you
  • Protect our staff and volunteers at Global Media Outreach
THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God hears and answers prayer. At Global Media Outreach we are seeing many people come to our websites and indicate they have prayed to receive Jesus Christ. God uses your prayers to help reach many people for Jesus.

May God bless you!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Critics

Benjamin Disraeli, a British prime minister in the 19th century, noted that it is much easier to be critical than to be correct.

We are cautioned to examine ourselves before we criticize others. We are told to remove the beam from our own eye (Matthew 7:3-5). That leads to judging fairly. Even a critic can earn respect if his or her standard of judging is right. We are all critics at one time or another—sometimes unwillingly. Let our judging be with wisdom and up to a standard that shows care and humility and is for the edification of others.

Friday, October 8, 2010

All That Glitters

In lands where people lived under communism, the outside of an apartment often looked drab, dreary and in need of repair. That shabbiness often hid some beautiful rooms inside. People in these countries placed a bigger value on what was on the inside. The saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a reflection of this thought.

Our eyes only see a part of the real person. People may look weary, sad or less than handsome. They may walk slowly and wear shabby clothes, but a closer look often reveals a diamond behind those tired eyes.

All that glitters is not gold—and the most beautiful, powerful, wealthy person may glitter brightly on the outside, but be a mess inside. One sad example was King Solomon. His outer appearance may have fooled many people, but could not fool God (1 Kings 11:11). Let your real, inner self glitter.

Monday, October 4, 2010

The Holy Spirit Is The Power Of God In Our Lives

"...When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come." (John 16:13)

The Holy Spirit is God.

When Jesus Christ was on this earth, He told His followers, "...You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Earlier He had said to them, "It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." The Holy Spirit is the power of God in our lives.

When we sincerely ask Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes and lives in our lives. You can ask God's power, through the Holy Spirit, to flow through your life. You do not have to try to live the Christian life in your own strength and power. It is like trying to row a boat a long ways; it is much better if the boat has an engine to turn on the engine. God's power is much greater than your own.

So do you want to stop a bad habit? Are you tired of getting angry all the time? Do you want to be kind and loving to someone you have a bad relationship with? Then ask forgiveness for your sins in Jesus' name, and ask God through His Holy Spirit to fill you with His power to live a victorious Christian life. He will give you His power to change your life!

This week, let us pray and ask God to
  • Fill us with His Holy Spirit and give us the power to overcome one of our key problems
  • Protect our staff and volunteers at Global Media Outreach and help us all to be filled and controlled with His Holy Spirit every day
  • Bless your families and neighbors and help them to see the love of Jesus Christ in you
THANK YOU and may God richly bless you in His great love.