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Thursday, October 30, 2014

6 Pieces of Armor for Spiritual War

Scripture: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11
Last week we discussed the real truth about the Spiritual War we are in. We cannot fight in our own strength. That’s why God has given us spiritual armor to defend ourselves from our enemy. (Ephesians 6:10-18) Here are the 6 pieces of armor you need for spiritual war.

1. The “Belt of Truth”

The belt of truth holds everything together. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father , except through me.” (John 14:6). Jesus is the Truth. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the“Spirit of Truth.” (John 16:13) Jesus said the Bible is truth God uses to sanctify us. (John 17:17) As we get everything that is untruthful out of our lives, we become more and more like Jesus, and safer from spiritual attack. Without Jesus, you are unclothed and unprotected during battle. Accept Jesus today so you can be ready for battle with the belt of truth.

2. The “Breastplate of Righteousness”

The breastplate of righteousness protects our heart. “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Romans 3:22). Jesus makes us a new person created to desire Godly things. (Ephesians 4:22-24) But it’s His righteousness, given to us (2 Corinthians 5:21), that we trust in, not our own.

3. The “Shield of Faith”

The shield of faith is our trust in the promises of Jesus. Focusing on God’s faithfulness can block accusations, doubts, and temptations that attack us. (Ephesians 6:16)

4. The “Helmet of Salvation”

The helmet of salvation protects our thoughts. Our enemy falsely accuses and lies to us. “But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

5. The “Shoes of the Gospel”

The shoes of the Gospel represent the readiness given by the Gospel. It’s important to understand the truth about Jesus well enough to explain it to others. That helps you remain standing even after some of the worst attacks. It also makes your feet beautiful! “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good new, the good news of peace and salvation, the goodness that God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7).

6. The “Sword of the Spirit”

The sword of the spirit is the Word of God and our only weapon of attack. We must become skilled in using it, which we will discuss next time.

Monday, October 27, 2014

How Do I Survive in This Crazy, Negative World?


Are we going crazy yet with all the problems going on in Washington? I find myself trying to get away from the news these days. Sadly, though, I gravitate back to it because of my great need to know what's going on. I'm reminded of what the apostle Peter wrote about being watchful: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter:5:8). So we must watch and be alert! I don't want to be caught off guard from lack of watching what is happening around me, but it can be so depressing.
I'm also reminded of a scripture that says God's people would be worn down. Daniel:7:25foretold regarding a coming false religious and governing power: "He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints [those set apart] of the Most High" (English Standard Version, emphasis added). That is how an enemy operates! He wears us down so he can destroy us. It sounds like what is going on even today to some degree!
Now who has really been doing this? Who ultimately has been wearing the people down? We think of the powers that be as people—the government, various influential groups and institutions, our relatives, our bosses. But people are just puppets in the hands of the one who is really out to destroy and conquer. It's really Satan, the enemy of God, who is the enemy of all of us! He wears away at us through speaking against the Most High, watering down and destroying God's Word, and doing what he can to make life ever more difficult.
We need to keep the right focus to counteract his ceaseless onslaught.
We should recognize that what is going on around us is what a godless society has chosen. Many do not want God in their lives! They don't want prayer in schools, they don't want the Ten Commandments posted in public places. They just don't want God involved! So they have chosen the way of Satan and elected the people that will best represent them.
The good news is that God retains ultimate control and is only allowing Satan to do what he is doing for the time being. While the world may be the puppet in Satan's hand, the fact of the matter is that Satan is the puppet in God's hands in terms of God fulfilling His overall purpose.
David, whom God had chosen to be king over Israel, also felt overwhelmed and in despair when pursued by the king he had faithfully served, Saul. And Saul wanted him dead! How would you feel if the ruler of your country sent forces to hunt you down and kill you?
David felt overwhelmed when he wrote in Psalm 13: "How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?" (Psalm:13:1). Did you know that the two-word phrase "how long" is mentioned 18 times in Psalms? In Psalm 13 alone it's mentioned four times.
David was really in despair. Yet the psalm ends with David restored to his confidence in God: "But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me" (Psalm:13:5-6).
We know that our hope is not in this world's governments. If it were, then we would all be doomed. Our hope is in the great Kingdom to come. Satan will be banished, and a new ruler, who loves and cares deeply for humankind, will take over. That Ruler, Jesus Christ, will reintroduce the Ten Commandments, the mandated laws we must live by. No vote will be taken on these laws. And their enforcement will be for our good, not political gain. The Government of God through Christ, based on love, will truly serve and help the people—not harm them. What a fair and loving world it will be!
In the meantime, we have to live amid the turmoil and watch the decline of our country. It can be overwhelming and discouraging to witness all that's happening around us. So it's vital that we focus on the big picture—that God's intervention and coming Kingdom are just around the corner.
As Paul wrote, "Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians:3:2). Trust in God, knowing that He is in control, that a new future lies ahead for all of mankind, and that allowing a distressing world for the present is part of His master plan.
David wrote beautiful words of encouragement for you and me: "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!" (Psalm:27:14). That is how we will survive in this crazy world. Our hope is for the loving, righteous King to soon return!

Monday, October 20, 2014

4 Facts About Spiritual Warfare

Scripture: “We are human, but we do not wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Have you ever felt defeated and weak in your faith? The Bible teaches that we are in a spiritual war. There are 4 vital things to know in order to win the spiritual war.

1. The Battlefield is the Mind

Our faith is based on God’s truth and promises. Doubt, guilt, and false teaching can weaken our faith. If we think the same way unbelievers do, it will keep us from knowing God. “....We must be transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:2In order to live a godly life, you must first have a personal relationship with Jesus.

2. The Enemy is Satan

“For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,...” (Ephesians 6:12). People are not our enemies. Our enemies are the spiritual forces of Satan. Satan is real, and the Bible calls him “the ruler of this world of sin” (1 John 5:19), the “Father of Lies”, a murderer (John 8:44), and “the Accuser” (Revelation 12:9-10).
Satan’s goal is to keep people from God. He attacks our thoughts with lies, temptation and guilt so we will doubt our salvation in Jesus. He can’t take away our salvation, but he can steal our joy and destroy our desire to tell others about Jesus. Because Jesus wants us to be united in love, Satan tries to divide us and set us against each other.

3. Jesus has Won the Victory

We are conquerors because Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross (Romans 8:31-39). Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit, a Helper who leads us in truth. (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us the power to have victory. “You had power over them because the One Who lives in you is stronger than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4).

4. We have Godly Weapons (Ephesians 6:10-18)

God gives us spiritual weapons to use against our enemy.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Do You Know the Real Truth?

Scripture: “The people of Berea were more open-minded and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures daily to see if Paul’s teaching was true.” Acts 17:11
The best way to recognize a counterfeit is to know the REAL thing! Most of us will not fall for an obvious lie, but we can be fooled by a slight twist of the truth.

Know the Enemy’s Strategy

In Genesis 3:1, Satan only changed a few words from God’s original commandment to confuse Eve. When Satan tempted Jesus in Matthew 4, he quoted scripture to lure Jesus into sin. Jesus quickly saw the verses had been taken out of context and used for wrong motives. People can be easily led astray by the use of scripture that gives the appearance of following God, but actually promotes selfishness and pleasure-seeking.

Know the Whole Truth

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The Bible is a complete message from God, so it all fits together. Be careful of taking verses out of context. Like the Bereans, study the scriptures every day searching for an overall understanding. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into the truth according to Jesus’ promise in John 14:16-17,26.

Know the Meaning

Pay attention to the meaning of words, and check everything against the rest of scripture. If someone talks about “Jesus,” make sure they are talking about the Jesus of the Bible who is God and rose from the dead. “...just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily listen to whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach..” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).
Some say that because God is “love,” you can do whatever you want. Some say God is a “judge,” so you must obey these strict laws. Both of these ignore the total truth of scripture summarized in John 3:16 - God does love us! He graciously gave His Son Jesus to save us. Why do we need a Savior? God’s holiness required a just punishment (death) for our rebellion (sin) against God. Peace with God (eternal life) is a free gift for ALL who believe (have faith), just as it was for Abraham in Genesis 15:6 (See also Romans 4)
The entire Bible is a love letter to us from God our Creator. From beginning to end, it shows God lovingly pursuing us to bring us back into His plan which we rebelled against. If you want to go back to God’s plan,accept Christ today. How will you respond to God?

Monday, October 6, 2014

3 Signs of a False Teacher

Scripture: “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing.” 1 Timothy 6:3-4
We need to know God’s truth so we can recognize false teachers. Jesus said, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” (Matthew 7:24) There are many signs of false teachers, but here are three common signs:

1. Contradicting Jesus’ Teaching

Religious teachers who require certain works in order to earn salvation do not agree with Jesus. Jesus taught that we are saved by grace through faith in his death on the cross. (John 1:12; 3:16) He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, but through me” (John 14:6). Teachers who say that all religions lead to God, or that everyone is going to Heaven, oppose the clear teachings of Jesus. Anyone who contradicts the truths that Jesus taught is a false teacher.

2. Not Encouraging Godly Living

God’s plan is for us to live pure lives with faith and love. Our goal is to please God, not ourselves. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey me.” (John 14:15) Teachers who tell you to do whatever feels right are not teaching you to follow Jesus. Our feelings, and even our logic, can be wrong. “Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom will be kept safe.” (Proverbs 28:26). Godly teachers always direct you to the Bible. But false teachers encourage you to trust in them as the source of truth, or in yourself.

3. Filled with pride and wrong motives

False Teachers don’t understand the true power of God’s Word. 1 Timothy 1:6-11. They debate and argue over parts of the Bible, causing divisions and putting themselves above God. Are they smarter than God, who promised that His Word would stand forever? Their purpose is not to draw people closer to God, but to raise themselves into positions of power and wealth. I Timothy 6:5 says “These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt and they have turned their back on the truth and a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.”
In order to identify counterfeit money, you must study the real thing. In the same way, when you study the clear teachings of Jesus Christ, you guard yourself from false teachers who want to sway you from the truth.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

The Feast of Tabernacles: All Year Long


When asked, most people in the Church would say the Feast of Tabernacles is the most anticipated and enjoyable festival of the year.
That would be exactly as God would want it. The Feast pictures the time when Jesus Christ has returned to earth, claimed the kingdoms of this world as His own, and establishes a government that will bring peace, joy, and abundance to all who choose to live His law and His way. It is the highlight of mankind’s existence on earth, and a time that God, all the hosts of heaven, and all of us look forward to.
It’s no surprise, then, that God built into the proper observance of this festival principles that draw our attention to it all year long.
Let’s look at just a couple of those principles.
In Deuteronomy:14:22, God instructs: “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide…that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always” (emphasis added).
Did you catch that? We tithe on our income so that we can keep God’s Feast, that we may learn to fear Him always.
There’s a financial principle implicit in our observance of the Feast. God intended us to save a “second tithe” faithfully throughout the year, then use it to enjoy “whatever our heart desires” at the Feast.
It takes character and, many times, faith in God to save the second (festival) tithe. Financial challenges can arise during the year, and it may be tempting to dip into the festival tithe and use those dollars at a time that God did not designate.
When we faithfully keep the festival tithe, exactly as God commands, we build holy, righteous character, and we learn to fear Him always. Keeping the tithe is a key financial principle that God gives us. When we abide by His principles faithfully, He blesses us.
When we faithfully set aside the tithe from our paychecks all year long, we are reminded of what we are preparing for—to be in God’s presence at the place He chooses for the Feast.
If we want to be with Him in His Kingdom when He returns, we will faithfully keep the tithe and observe His Holy Days as He instructs.
There’s another principle we learn from this tithe, too.
God makes it clear in Deuteronomy:14:26 that we save the festival tithe for our own use in observing His festivals. Observe it where He places His name. Enjoy good food, good fellowship, and the activities at the Feast, and be reminded of the peace, joy, unity, and abundance that this Feast pictures.
But notice in Deuteronomy 16, that while we are to enjoy the use of this tithe, the well-being and welfare of others cannot be forgotten. “You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates” (Deuteronomy:16:13-14).
With the tithe we have saved, we have a responsibility to see that our family enjoys the Feast, and to the extent God has blessed us with plenty, we have a responsibility to see that others at the Feast are enjoying it, too.
God is a God of “give.” He watches out for us, and He expects that we are watching out for the needs of others, as well. It’s the agape love His Spirit develops in us, and He expects us to be cognizant of the needs of others all year long.
The Feast is no exception. In fact, it’s a wonderful time for us to share our blessings to make sure everyone has an opportunity to share in the joy of the Feast.
For those who have extra, plan to share with others who have limited tithe so they can fully participate in all that the Feast offers. The spiritual food provided at daily services is free to everyone, but the Church-sponsored activities at the Feast sites are important opportunities to fellowship and rejoice at the Feast, too.
Those activities are not free, and some may not be able to enjoy if we fail to watch out for their needs. If you know someone with limited tithe, take them to dinner or lunch, offer to pay their way to family day or the senior activity. Many festival sites have a Family Helping Family fund that you can contribute to. Money donated anonymously into this fund at the Feast are used to offset the costs of activities so that everyone—all of our Feast family—can enjoy the abundance God provides at the Feast.
This year, as we go to the Feast, appreciate and adhere to the year-round spiritual and financial principles that God has built into our proper observance of it. When you do, you will be enjoying the benefits of the Feast all year long. 

Saturday, October 4, 2014

ISIS, Evil and the Day of Atonement


Evil can only be overcome by force. That’s the hard lesson the United States is learning as it leads another coalition to move into the Middle East to destroy another Hydra-headed monster. ISIS is a manifestation of evil that should teach us a vital lesson about dealing with evil in today’s world.
Despite wishful thinking on the part of President Barack Obama, the threat of Islamic terror from the Middle East has not disappeared. The beheadings of innocent civilians plastered across social media finally moved him to action intended to “degrade and destroy” ISIS. He, who a year ago drew a line in the sand with Syrian President Assad on that dictator’s atrocities, and then retreated. Evil does not respect weakness.
Evil is not appeased. It moves relentlessly toward its goal and will not cease until it consumes and destroys. ISIS is this moment’s face of evil. Shrouded in a black mask, holding a long knife in one hand and the head of a victim in another, the figure stands against the barren desert backdrop.
This is evil today and it strikes terror in the heart of all who love freedom and life. This kind of evil does not respect any life it cannot control according to its own fanatical ideology. In the end it will consume even its own followers.
Airstrikes alone will not do the job. Evil can burrow underground and wait out the bombs from the sky only to emerge afterwards and live to work another day. Experience has proven it will take combat troops to root out and destroy this kind of enemy. Boots on the ground will have to be used.
I have been thinking about this scenario with ISIS in connection with the biblical festival the Day of Atonement. Oct. 4 this year is the observance of this solemn day of fasting and reflection. The Day of Atonement for a Christian teaches two critical facts. The first is that Jesus Christ through His death delivers the means by which humans can be reconciled to God. One sacrifice for all time makes this possible.
Secondly, the Day of Atonement shows us the source of all evil in today’s world: Satan the Devil, who exists as a real being of unimaginable deception and evil. When Christians fast on the Day of Atonement, they are doing the one biblical discipline that can overcome, defeat and destroy evil. Fasting on the Day of Atonement is a Christian’s “boots on the ground” offensive against spiritual wickedness. 
We would like to think we could take a holiday from overcoming sin and the pressures of a world not exactly dialed into the God of the Bible. But we can’t. We have to draw our own line in the sand with this world’s culture and values. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John:2:15). We cannot appease evil. 
We cannot pretend with wishful thinking we live in a world perfectly tailored to produce peace, security and freedom. We don’t.
Spiritually we are engaged in a struggle “against principalities…powers…rulers of the darkness of this age…spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places” (Ephesians:5:12). This battle rages daily whether we know it or not. If we don’t see it, it is proof we are victims of the deception Satan has woven upon mankind. Western leaders like President Obama have “wished” away Islamic terror. Recent events show the folly of such actions. Evil of this nature can only be defeated by determined force. 
The Day of Atonement gives us the key to defeat our enemy: Jesus Christ in us giving us the power of God’s Holy Spirit to resist and overcome  sin, evil and Satan’s nature. When we fast we connect to God at a deeper level with this power, and thereby break the hold that Satan can employ on us individually. Fasting humbles us and allows God’s grace to work powerfully in us. Fasting is a means of submitting to God. When we do this we resist Satan and his hold is removed. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James:4:6-8).
We are living in dangerous times with daily reminders of a very real spiritual battle going on around us. God’s festivals show us the hope we have as we face these challenges. May the Day of Atonement sharpen our understanding of the great power of God.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Why Israel Matters


Why is tiny Israel, a nation about the size of New Jersey with a total population of fewer than 8 million people, so often in the headlines?
As this issue was being prepared, Israel was once again slugging it out with Hamas-ruled Gaza, where terrorists fired more than 3,000 missiles at Israeli cities and towns, with Israel predictably launching airstrikes and a bloody ground assault in return.
Terrorists from Syria and Lebanon to the north and the Egyptian-ruled Sinai Peninsula to the south took advantage of the situation to lob a few rockets of their own at Israeli territory. And further to the east, leaders of the newly declared Islamic State threatened attacks while Iranian leaders repeated their view that Israel deserves annihilation while they continued their ill-disguised goal of attaining nuclear arms.
Let's step away from the tension of these threats and ask a critical question: Why does this small Mideast Jewish state, surrounded by hostile Arab neighbors, play such a significant role in the world?
The answer to why Israel matters is important to understanding a greater question about God's faithfulness in all He promises to mankind. The answer involves understanding who the modern state of Israel really is and where it fits within Bible prophecy.
Make no mistake: There are key reasons the state of Israel matters today in the Middle East. We'll examine five.

Key reason 1: Bible prophecy requires the presence of a remnant of ancient Israel in the Holy Land.

In Daniel 9 we find a prophecy known as the 70-weeks prophecy. It deals with the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem but also stretches into the time of the end before the second coming of Jesus Christ. Key parts of this prophecy speak of the "holy city," Jerusalem, and of rebuilding and restoring it. 
Critical to this prophecy is Daniel:9:27, which speaks of the interruption of a prophetic week by an "end to sacrifice and offering" brought about by "one who makes desolate, even until the consummation which is determined is poured out on the desolate." 
A forerunner of this end-time event occurred about 167 B.C., when an evil ruler named Antiochus Epiphanes offered swine's blood in the temple (Daniel:11:31). Jesus Christ referred to this in Matthew:24:15 as a type or forerunner of another occurrence of such desecration prior to His second coming: "'Therefore when you see the "abomination of desolation," spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place' (whoever reads let him understand) . . ."
These prophecies clearly indicate that Jerusalem is the setting for the events described. They specifically deal with the coming of the Messiah to Jerusalem and can only be fulfilled if there is a Jewish state in Israel controlling the city of Jerusalem. That's why 1948, the year Israel was reestablished as a state, is seen as such a pivotal date by students of Bible prophecy. 
The presence of the state of Israel matters critically on this point alone. But there's more!

Key reason 2: The Jewish state is part of a larger biblical story.

In the Bible the nation of Israel refers to the people of the 12 tribes who marched out of Egypt under Moses in the story of the Exodus and their descendants. The 12 tribes were descended from the 12 sons of the patriarch Jacob, whose name had been changed to Israel by God (Genesis:32:28). This is the Israel of the Old Testament.
But here is a key factor many people misunderstand. One of these sons was named Judah. His descendants were known as Jews, which comes from the name Judah. This is the origin of the Jewish people. However, Judah was only one of the sons and tribes. There were other sons of Jacob: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
The descendants of these 12 sons formed the 12 tribes that made up the nation of Israel, which we can read about in the biblical books of Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings. King David ruled over this nation from Jerusalem. His son Solomon built the magnificent temple in Jerusalem.
But the tribe of Judah, or the Jewish people, were only one part of the larger nation of Israel. You don't have to be Jewish to be an Israelite!
So how did the Jews become so prominent, and why do we only remember this tribe, the tribe of Judah, today? It's a good question, and the Bible gives us the answer.
The Bible tells us that after the death of Solomon the nation went through a crisis under his son Rehoboam resulting in a division of the one nation into two. Ten of the tribes residing north of Jerusalem formed the kingdom called Israel. The main tribes of the south, Judah and Benjamin, formed the kingdom of Judah with its capital at Jerusalem.
The nation of Israel was never considered Jewish. It was the people of the southern nation of Judah who became known as the Jews. When we read references in the Bible to Israel, we are talking about either the united nation of Israel or the 10-tribed northern nation after the division. Judah refers to a different Jewish state.
We find an interesting scriptural episode that illustrates this in 2 Kings 16. It presents a story of conflict between these two nations—in fact, they are at war with each other here! A king named Ahaz reigned over Judah. Pekah was king over Israel. King Pekah of Israel formed an alliance with a neighboring king of Syria named Rezin and together they attacked Judah. 2 Kings:16:6 says, "At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath" (King James Version).
This is the first place in the Bible where the word Jews appears—and we find Israel at warwith them! It's clear that they are a different nation. Yes, the Jews are descended from Israel, but they do not bear the national title of the kingdom or house of Israel.
So we see in Scripture a distinction between these peoples. Many critical Bible prophecies of the time of the end distinguish between these two nations, calling the northern nation the house of Israel or sometimes Ephraim—this being the name for the leading tribe among the northern nation—and calling the southern nation and its descendants Judah.
The ancient northern kingdom of Israel existed for about 200 years before falling captive to the Assyrian Empire. The people of the northern kingdom were forcibly removed from the land and scattered. They are known in history as the lost 10 tribes of Israel. But they are not really lost. God knows their identity today—where they reside among the world's nations. Furthermore, history and prophecy reveal much to us in this regard.
The nation of Judah to the south survived longer than Israel, but eventually it also fell—to the Babylonian Empire. Most of the Jewish people were taken to Babylon. Several decades later, a group of Jews returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the city and the temple. A nation of Jews existed in Jerusalem with their distinctive culture until the Romans destroyed the country. Descendants of this Jewish state, who were scattered primarily throughout the Middle East and Europe, founded today's modern state of Israel in 1948.
This modern Jewish state, called Israel, bears an ancient name but represents only a small part of the entire people called Israel who once lived in the land and to whom so many of the biblical prophecies apply. So where are the rest? The answer to this question is thoroughly discussed in our study guide The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy .

Key reason 3: The modern identity of Israel includes the Jewish state but also encompasses other nations.

In current discussion about Israel, the identity of the modern-day descendants of ancient Israel is overlooked. But it matters to our understanding of the conflict in today's Middle East and where it will lead. The state of Israel is tied in many ways to Great Britain and the United States.
A key to understanding this is found in Genesis 48, where Jacob (Israel) blessed the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, and said, "Let my name be named upon them" (Genesis:48:16). He gave them his name and passed on to them the promise of blessings he received from his father Isaac, who had received it from his father Abraham.
So the great national blessings were passed on to the sons of Joseph. In Genesis 49 we see a prophecy about the tribes of Israel in the end time, and regarding Joseph it says that his descendants would receive incredible blessings from God. When we look at the modern world to find nations who have fulfilled these promises we are drawn unmistakably to the major English-speaking nations, led by Great Britain and the United States. (To learn more read The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy .)
When you understand the promises God made to Abraham and to his descendants and that much of Bible prophecy is directed specifically to certain modern nations such as America and Britain, then you can begin to really understand prophetic keys that open the Bible to deeper understanding.
When you understand that key prophecies are directed to nations and peoples who have received the physical promises God made to the ancient nation of Israel, you then begin to understand that there is a call to repentance—a call to change the way you live. You have to do something.
God calls all people everywhere to repent—and the English-speaking nations like Britain, Canada, Australia and the United States have a greater responsibility before God.
Our world is rapidly moving to the close of this age of human misrule under the influence of Satan the devil. A different world under the reign of Jesus Christ is about to dawn.
But before this world-saving event occurs, we must pass through an unparalleled time of trouble. Daniel the prophet spoke of the time just ahead of us: "There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book" (Daniel:12:1).
Here in one verse is the dire warning about the time of unparalleled world turmoil and the comforting message of deliverance.
We need to understand where we are today. We see in the Middle East a changing landscape because of the unrest occurring in so many countries. In The Good News we have many times pointed out the threat from Iran as it develops nuclear weapons. We have kept readers abreast of the changing scene in Egypt. We have repeatedly discussed the importance of Jerusalem as the centerpiece of end-time prophetic events.
And we see America, Britain and the other English-speaking nations facing mounting challenges—economic, moral, political and military—in a shifting world order that in the end will lead to the rise of new leaders with a vastly different vision.

Key reason 4: Knowing about Israel helps open up understanding of prophecy for our day—and with that comes the assurance of God's faithfulness to all nations. 

God is bringing all history to a time of transition, to the age of Jesus Christ's coming rule on the earth. God is then going to set up a restored, united Israel, far different from the tiny state of Israel today. The Jewish state is but part of one tribe, only part of the story of Israel. Of major importance regarding the Israelis and the Jews scattered around the world is the fact that they have maintained an identity rooted in the law of God. The seventh-day Sabbath, or Shabbat in Hebrew, along with the annual festivals of God and other parts of God's law, have helped shape the identity of this people.
The Jews are a visible sign today that Israel exists. Israel, the nation of tribes with which God entered into a covenant relationship—and this includes Israel's modern descendants —will play a key role in God's plan for the future of all mankind.
In the biblical book of Romans, the apostle Paul tells the story of ancient Israel's rise and fall and hope of restoration. Israel had a deep relationship with God. Their opportunity was to become an exemplary nation based on the law of God and His glory. God made special promises to this people and set them apart from all other nations. All of the physical promises were a type of the spiritual promises found in Jesus Christ, a direct descendant of King David.
But ancient Israel failed. As we saw earlier, they split apart and through a combination of idolatry and Sabbath-breaking they dishonored and disobeyed God—resulting in their defeat, captivity and exile. Over time most of Israel, with the exception of the Jews, forgot who they were.
Yet Paul's desire and his prayer for Israel, his people, was that they would be saved (Romans:10:1). Even though ancient Israel did not obey the gospel, their rejection is not total nor permanent. God has not cast Israel aside. Through Paul, God reveals that a remnant of Israel exists among today's nations and by His grace they will be regathered. 
Here, though, is the amazing and little- understood truth: Israel's rejection of God works to His glory and purpose! All other nations and peoples, those the Bible calls the gentiles, have had an opportunity for this same relationship with God based on His eternal promises. In God's time, all will have opportunity to know Him.
Paul says that blindness has come on Israel until the fullness of the gentiles has come in. In a magnificent piece of writing, he is inspired to show that Israel (all 12 tribes) and all the world will have an opportunity for salvation. All nations will have an opportunity to receive the full promises of God, both physical and spiritual.
Notice what Paul says in Romans:11:1-2: "Has God cast away His people? Certainly not! . . . God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew" (emphasis added).
Paul goes on to explain in Romans:11:11-15 that by Israel stumbling temporarily, salvation is opened to the world. And by the Israelites' being brought back into God's grace in the future, all people for all time will be saved—"the reconciling of the world" ( Romans:11:15). All the tribes of Israel, not just the present Jewish state, will be united, and Paul says that "all Israel will be saved," as God "will turn away ungodliness from Jacob" ( Romans:11:26).
When Israel is restored, all mankind will seek God. All nations will come to Jerusalem and learn of His ways (Zechariah:14:16).
So Israel definitely matters—and not just the Jewish state in the Middle East today. All the tribes, including many modern nations, matter to God and to the world.
In one last burst of inspired enthusiasm Paul exclaims: "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" (Romans:11:33).
Understanding the identity of Israel is the key to understanding today's world and the march of history toward the Kingdom of God. What God reveals about Israel shows us the enduring promises of God's salvation for all the nations. Because He is faithful with Israel, He will be faithful in His promise through Christ to all peoples—including you and me. That is the good news of the gospel!

Key reason 5: The state of Israel is a "place marker" in the Holy Land.

The Jews, as the only widely acknowledged tribe of ancient Israel, have a historic and prophetic claim to the land. The prophecies of restoration, planting and reaping the land will be fulfilled. The state of Israel is like a "place marker" in that historic, pivotal piece of land.
Through the prophet Amos, God says: "I will raise up the tabernacle of David which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old . . .
"'The days are coming . . . when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them'" (Amos:9:11-15).
Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent speech at the United Nations was a clear statement of vision and intent for the nation. He said: "We date back nearly 4,000 years to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We have journeyed through time, we've overcome the greatest of adversities, and we reestablished our sovereign state in our ancestral homeland, the Land of Israel."
It's a remarkable story, and in spite of its current threats it will endure to the coming of the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. Major challenges and a time of great trouble lie ahead, but the nation will endure and see the time when the house of David will be rebuilt with all the tribes of Israel regathered.
Their presence and this truth is further proof of God's faithfulness to His revealed intent to have all nations come to Jerusalem to learn the ways of the "God of Jacob" (Isaiah:2:3). Yes, Israel matters to the world today!

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

God's Plan as Revealed Through the Resurrections


The resurrection of the dead is listed in Scripture as one of the basic doctrines of true Christianity (Hebrews:6:1-2). This truth about life after death was spoken of in the Old Testament by David (Psalm:17:15), Isaiah (Isaiah:26:19) and Daniel (Daniel:12:2). Someday everyone who has ever lived will come to life again.
Jesus Christ Himself spoke of the future time "when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment" (John:5:28-29, English Standard Version).
The unfolding of God's plan is revealed in stages. When a Christian is called, baptized and receives the Holy Spirit, he enters a time of judgment—of evaluation of his life. Judgment is now on the "house of God," which is God's Church (1 Peter:4:17).
But as we'll soon see, there is more than one period of judgment revealed in Scripture, and more than one resurrection.
All of the pieces of the puzzle were not put into place until Jesus inspired the apostle John to write the final book of the Bible. It's titled Revelation because God revealed previously unknown teaching through it! It begins, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants" (Revelation:1:1). God gave the final inspiration through Jesus Christ of when and how people will be resurrected.
Let's review some common thinking about life after death in the New Testament era and see what the Bible actually teaches.

Diversity of beliefs in Jesus' day

We need to understand some of the background of the religious world at the time of Jesus to fully understand the Bible's teaching on this topic.
We know from the Gospels and other historical accounts that at least three main Jewish sects existed during the time of Jesus' ministry—the Sadducees, the Pharisees and the Essenes.
The Sadducees were primarily of the priestly class associated with the Jerusalem temple. They were wealthy, influential and generally corrupted by their greed. While they had the respect of the people due to their influence in the religious establishment, they were also resented because of their close relationship with the occupying Roman authority.
Pharisees were students and teachers of the law. The most influential sect among the Jewish people, they placed emphasis on strict observance to both the written law of Moses and the oral tradition that had been passed down from the Jewish elders.
The Essenes, a group not mentioned in the Gospels, emphasized separation from the rest of society. They lived away from the towns and were uninvolved in the politics of the Sadducees and Pharisees. The people of the desert community of Qumran who hid the Dead Sea Scrolls appear to have been part of the Essene movement.
These groups had different theologies and philosophies, and the people of Jesus' day were influenced by them all. One of the topics debated among the sects was what happens after death.

The doctrine of the immortal soul

According to the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, both the Pharisees and Essenes believed in the immortality of the soul, with rewards for the righteous and punishment for the wicked in a disembodied afterlife ( Antiquities of the Jews, book 18, chap. 1, secs. 3, 5).
This belief was combined with the biblical teaching of the resurrection, as they also believed that the immortal souls of the righteous would ultimately imbue enlivened fleshly bodies to live forever (ibid.; and Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies, book 9, chaps. 22-23).
They were correct in believing in the resurrection, but they were wrong in believing that the soul is immortal. This is still a common belief today—along with the idea that a good person goes as a disembodied soul to heaven at death and a bad person goes to hell when they die. But none of this is biblically correct. Scripture tells us that the soul doesn't live forever, but that it can and does die (Ezekiel:18:4Ezekiel:18:20Matthew:28:10)—and that there is no conscious awareness in death (Ecclesiastes:9:5Ecclesiastes:9:10).
So if the immortality of the soul is not biblical, where did this doctrine come from? Belief in a separate soul and body was popular in Greek culture, and was taught by one of their most famous philosophers: "In Plato's thinking, the soul . . . was self-moving and indivisible . . . It existed before the body which it inhabited, and it would survive" after the body died (Edward Fudge, The Fire That Consumes, 1994, p. 32).
For several centuries after Alexander the Great conquered the Middle East, Greek culture and beliefs dominated that part of the world. When the Roman Empire succeeded the Greeks, they were highly influenced by Greek culture and philosophy and adopted many Greek beliefs. The Greco-Roman influence rubbed off on the Jews in the time leading up to and during Christ's day.

Jewish sects disagree about the resurrection

The Sadducees were different from the Essenes and the Pharisees in that they did not believe in an immortal soul or a resurrection (Josephus, sec. 4; Hippolytus, chap. 24). They believed only in the Torah—the first five books of the Bible—as the sole source of divine authority, and it did not specifically mention the resurrection.
Even though the resurrection was understood and revealed by biblical prophets such as Isaiah and Daniel, the Sadducees, because they didn't accept their writings as Scripture, rejected it. They thought of it as a new doctrine. "The Sadducees vigorously opposed the new doctrine of bodily resurrection. They held that 'when you're dead, you're dead'" (Eduard Lohse, The New Testament Environment, 1986, p. 61). We see in Mark:12:18-27 that the Sadducees tried to provoke an argument with Jesus over this issue.
The Sadducees had major disagreements with the Pharisees because the Pharisees believed in the resurrection. This is shown in the Bible when the apostle Paul appeared before the Sanhedrin.
Paul told the assembled group: "'I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am being judged!' And when he said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both" (Acts:23:6-8).
The Pharisees were closer to what the Bible teaches than the Sadducees, but their views were nevertheless warped—their understanding woefully incomplete.

The Greek and Roman concept of death

The Greek ideas of death had become widespread in Jesus' time. The idea of hell being a place where the soul went after a person's death is rooted in the Greek concept of Hades as an underworld that was home to disembodied souls. The idea was that once a person died, the soul would live on forever in the darkness of Hades. It wasn't a pretty fate.
The biblical truth is far more just and merciful. According to Scripture, what ultimately happens to wicked people is destruction or annihilation—not eternal torment.
Recognizing that the idea of a loving and merciful God is incompatible with the idea of a divine Being who would torture people forever in an ever-burning hell, growing numbers of people interpret "hell" or even "death" as eternal separation from God. But they fail to understand the Bible's teaching about a destroying hellfire—called gehenna in the Greek of the New Testament .
Even though the Jews did not understand all of the truth, they were far better off because they had the parts of the Bible that had been written up to that time. But the Bible wasn't completed until Jesus gave the Revelation to John. Because of what is revealed in the book of Revelation, we can more completely understand the fate of the dead and God's plan of salvation.

The beliefs of Jesus' disciples

Most of Jesus' early disciples were not officially part of any of the sects of Judaism, but they believed in the resurrection. We see this illustrated in the Gospel of John. Jesus had come to visit Mary and Martha in the village of Bethany after their brother Lazarus had died. Jesus was going to resurrect Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus told Martha, "Your brother will arise again" (John:11:23). The word resurrection comes from anastasis. Anastasis comes from two Greek words— ana, which means "again," andhistemi, which means "to cause to stand." Because of Jesus' miraculous working, through His Father's power, He was going to summon Lazarus from the grave, and Lazarus would stand and walk again in a resurrected physical body.
What was Martha's belief regarding whether Lazarus would be resurrected? She said, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day" (John:11:24). We don't know if she thought this because of Jesus' teachings or already believed it before hearing His teachings.
In any case, what she stated was basically in line with the Pharisees' belief system. The Pharisees believed that everyone would arise at the same point in time: "Jews who believed in resurrection believed that it would occur on the last day when God made the new heavens and new earth. It would happen to everyone altogether" (Craig Evans and N.T. Wright,Jesus, the Final Days: What Really Happened, 2009, p. 89). Let's see what the Bible actually teaches.

"The first resurrection"—God's faithful raised to eternal life

It's important to realize that God is not calling everyone to salvation in this day and age. That should be evident when we consider some key facts. Throughout ages past, many never heard the name of Jesus Christ or never even saw a Bible. Many babies and children have died young, well before reaching an age when they are old enough to be accountable. Even today millions of people live and die without ever knowing anything about the true God or the Bible. What is God's plan for them?
Jesus plainly said that not everyone could come to Him (John:6:44), at least not at that time. But He also said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John:14:6).
God must call people to come to know Jesus Christ and receive His gift of eternal life through the resurrection of the dead. Over the centuries the mystery of the resurrection has been known to only a few.
"But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!" wrote Paul (1 Corinthians:15:51, New Living Translation). A "secret" in the New Testament is a hidden truth. Jesus is going to return at the sound of a trumpet, and "the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thessalonians:4:16).
Notice that not all are raised to life at this time—only "the dead in Christ," the true Christians who have lived and died over the centuries, with those who are still alive at that time changed and raised with them (1 Corinthians:15:51-52).
What will be the function of those who are changed at the sound of the trumpet? God gave the final pieces of the puzzle to John in a vision. He wrote about the reward of the saints: "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over 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" (Revelation:20:6).
This is plainly called "the first resurrection." It will occur at the end of "this present evil age" (Galatians:1:4) when God will deliver His people through the coming of Jesus Christ.
When the Bible says that "the second death has no power," it means that the saints will live for eternity. They will never be subject to death again after they are resurrected. Theirs will be a life of overflowing bliss, ecstasy and pleasure. God inspired David to write, "In your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm:16:11).

What about the others?

But what about everyone else? Notice this statement in Revelation:20:5: "The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended" (New International Version). Those resurrected in this group are people who never completely understood the truth of God. Rather than them being condemned to eternal suffering or never awakening from the sleep of death, they will come to life again. This will be a resurrection to physical life, during which they will have the opportunity to repent and receive God's Holy Spirit and then live forever.
It's important to understand that this isn't a second chance for people to choose to follow God and Jesus Christ. Many billions of people have lived and died without ever having had an opportunity to truly know and understand Jesus Christ and God's plan of salvation. For these people, their opportunity to know and submit to God in a day of judgment or evaluation is still coming.
Remember what Jesus told the unbelieving people of His time. While they rejected Him, He said that the people of past, sinful civilizations would have repented if they saw His great works. He concluded that "it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you" (Matthew:11:24).
Along with "the rest of the dead," the people of Sodom—a city destroyed by God for its evil—still have a time yet to come when they will have their opportunity to repent and follow God. They will at that time experience their ultimate judgment period. (Be sure to also read "Jesus Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment ".)
Then there will be another resurrection to condemnation in the lake of fire (Revelation:20:14-15). Those suffering this fate are people who despite sufficient understanding and opportunity, willfully turn away and spurn Christ, ultimately refusing to repent. Such a person will have effectively "trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace" (Hebrews:10:29).
Grace is God's free gift! It includes forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ. When we sinned, we in essence crucified Him, making it necessary for Him to die so that we might be forgiven. But once called by God and converted, we must not crucify Him again. This is what we do when we receive the Holy Spirit but knowingly turn away and reject God (Hebrews:6:4-8). Such people will die for eternity.

Trust God's promises of literal resurrection

The apostle Paul was struck down on the road to Damascus by the resurrected Christ (Acts:9:1-9). He had a personal encounter. As a Pharisee, he believed in the resurrection. After God struck him down he knew a lot more about it, and he came to personally know Jesus Christ.
Some years later, he had to convince the church at Corinth of the veracity of the resurrection. In fact, 1 Corinthians 15 is often referred to as the "resurrection chapter," since that is its subject. Paul vividly describes a time when "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet . . . the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Corinthians:15:52).
Paul beautifully taught the Corinthian Christians of a future time when they and other faithful followers of Jesus Christ would literally be brought to life again and changed into incorruptible spirit.
The resurrection is one of Scripture's key doctrines. It encapsulates the hope Christians have in a full redemption by God and Jesus Christ. It's not simply a changing redemption in a metaphorical sense, but a fully realized redemption that includes a real transformation into a glorified member of God's family for all eternity.
The apostle John assured early Christians that this change will be literal and profound: "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." Not only will Jesus resurrect His followers to life, but they will be changed to "be like Him"—a truly wonderful hope for all who trust in God!
Read your Bible. Prove the truth about the resurrections. Have faith that if you repent and obey God, you can receive the free gift of eternal life as a literal member of God's holy, eternal family. Learn about the reward for those who repent and humbly serve God! You can live forever in the Kingdom of God. That is why God created you!